Looking for things to do this October half term? From spooky events and exciting Halloween events to stunning light displays and gorgeous lanterns, there are plenty of fun family days out and events in the October half-term!
If you’re wondering what the school term holiday dates are – we’ve detailed the school holidays for you. But your location may have its own individual school holidays, so please check with your school.
Top October Half-term Activities
Stroll Spooky Treasure Trails for Fearless Families!
If you’re looking for fang-tastic outdoor activities that are family-friendly, we’ve got something you can sink your teeth into.
Exploring with Treasure Trails! Did you know there are over 1,2000 self-guided Treasure Trails across the UK, which are only £9.99? That means you can find loads near you and won’t break the bank… Can you crack cryptic codes en route to unlocking scary stories from the past? And can you solve the mystery at the end?
Put on your spooky costumes and get going!
Go Pumpkin Picking
What better way to celebrate the October half-term than go pumpkin picking? It’s the perfect autumnal and Halloween activity, and you can enjoy some fresh air too. We’ve even rounded up a list of over 50 great places to go pumpkin picking for you too!
It’s a family activity that can involve everyone! From grandparents and little tots to your furry friends. Find the perfect pumpkin for you and start pumpkin decorating! Whether you kick off your Halloween with pumpkin carving a spooky smile, popping the pumpkins around the house or making a pumpkin soup!
Attend Creepily Cool Halloween Events
Fancy doing something spooky this half-term? We’ve got a list of lots of family Halloween events for kids and families that you can enjoy over half term, and it’s the perfect way to get into the spooky spirit! With spooky stories, creative face painting and more!
You’ll find bags of fun activities to do this half-term at any Halloween event! From spooky trails and a thrilling adventure for ages to match the whole family, you can bet your Halloween will be spookily cool!
Half Term in the North East
Spooky Autumn at Life Science Centre
Make your own ‘crankenstein monster’, scary slime and more with some arts and crafts! Keep your eyes peeled as you explore the spooky trail…You might even find some life-sized skeletons that are out of the closet! Enjoy the brand new science show where you can discover a fire that burns underwater and ice boiling water! How is that possible!?!!
discover incredible stories with the new live show Light Up the Dark and treat your senses in the Experiment Zone. All before heading up to Space! Watch the night sky as you sit back and experience a tour in the Planetarium, or stare in awe at the seven-metre wide replica of our planet…
Life Science Centre International Centre for Life Times Square,
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4EP
28th - 5th November 2023
Adults £12.27
Child £9.09
Child under 2 free
Wicked Week at Magna Science Centre
Not to mention the special Trick or Treat trail to enjoy this half-term, the family Halloween workshops and the Sci-Tek outdoor adventure!!
If you don your spookiest costumes you can win a Halloween Hamper…
Magna,
Sheffield Road,
Templeborough,
Rotherham,
S60 1DX
23rd October - 3rd November 2023
Adults £15.95
Child £13.95
Half Term in the North West
The Glorious Glowing Lantern Parade at BeWILDerwood Cheshire, Cheshire
Watch as the magical story unfolds as you wander through the illumination and mysterious woodland paths. Make marvellous memories with the family and light up the woods at Haze’s Hideaway! Don’t forget to munch on some yummy grub and dress in your spookiest costumes!
BeWILDerwood Cheshire,
Bickley Moss,
Whitchurch,
Cheshire,
SY13 4JF
14th and 15th
19th - 31st October 2023
Tickets from £12.50
BRICK OR TREAT MONSTER PARTY at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester
Embark on a scavenger hunt, meet scarily good characters like Lord Vampyre and build your own LEGO® pumpkin! Spin the wheel of fortune and see if you’ve won any tricks or treats!
Don’t forget to dress in your beastly costumes and snap some pics!
Trafford Palazzo in Trafford City next to The Trafford Centre,
Manchester
M17 8AS
23rd September - 31st October 2023
Tickets from £17.50
Half Term in the Midlands
Spooky Spectacular at West Midland Safari Park, Worcestershire
For frightful fun head to the West Midlands Safari Park’s Pumpkin Patch where Patch, the new pumpkin scarecrow, and his live Pumpkin Party stage show awaits…
Spooky adventurers can also take part in the free Spooky Trail to locate magical missing potion ingredients. Follow the clues and find all the items for a special prize!
Fun for all the family, sink your teeth into this spooktacular event!
Psst…they have extended their hours on certain days so brave explorers can discover something prehistoric…in the dark.
Spring Grove,
Bewdley,
DY12 1LF
21st October – 5th November 2023
Tickets £24.00
Child (under 2) free
Scarefest at Alton Towers, Stoke-on-Trent
For kids, you can explore the creepy maze after park, enjoy live entertainment and hair-raising rides in the dark!
If the adults are brave enough, you can venture into the Alton Towers Mine for an extra spooky experience…there may be a skin snatcher on the loose. Accept The Invitation as you wear headphones in this audio led adventure by the lakeside cemetery…
Farley Ln,
Alton,
Stoke-on-Trent,
ST10 4DB
7th, 8th & 13th - 31st October 2023
Scare attractions start from £34.00
Child (under 3) free
Half Term in the South East
Halloween at Leeds Castle, Kent
The Guardians of the Grounds welcome you to their haunted Halloween quest… Young adventurers become spell seekers on an interactive journey through Leeds Caslte. Equipped with a special quest sheet, you’ll need to collect missing pieces of a powerful spell that will unlock the secrets of the enchantered castle and break the curse!
Are you up to it?
Discover the Autumnal Witch, Bramble the Tree Goblin, Rocky the Stone Monster and even more mystical creatures and characters!
Broomfield,
Maidstone,
ME17 1PL
21st - 29th October 2023
Adults £30.00
Child £22.50
Pumpkins n' Pirates at Fairytale Farm
Meet the pumpkin pirates on Patch Island and learn the ways of the sea with shanties, dances and swashbuckling!
Carve your very own pumpkin, find the hidden treasure along the Pumpkin Pirates trail and receive a Scarily Ever After treat! Plus, if you come after dark you can enjoy the magical illuminations that spark up the night!
Fairytale Farm,
Southcombe,
Chipping Norton,
Oxfordshire,
OX7 5QH
21st - 29th October 2023
Adult from £7.19
Child from £7.19
Half Term in the South West
Pumpkinfest at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol
Then embark on an animal myth busting trail, as you learn really cool facts about misunderstood animals, before watching a Birds of Prey display!
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm,
Clevedon Road,
Wraxall,
Bristol,
BS48 1PG
9th October - 5th November 2023
Adult from £16.50
Child from £13.35
Spook-fest at Crealy, Devon
Your favourite attractions are back and spookier than ever. From the brand new Creaky Hotel full of spooky surprises and the scarecrow scare maze! Be on the lookout for what’s lurking around the corner though. Then travel back in time to the prehistoric era with the Dino Jeepers Creepers for some roar-some adventures!
Settle down for an all-new pop-up street entertainment featuring frighteningly scary characters like the Halloween Sooty Show.
Crealy Theme Park & Resort,
Sidmouth Road,
Clyst St Mary,
Exeter,
Devon,
EX5 1D
14th, 15th and 20th – 29th October 2023
Tickets from £18.00
Child (under 90cm) free
Half Term in Wales
SpookWood at Greenwood Family Park
A forest full of family fun and adventure awaits you, where you can wander through the scare maze for some friendly frights or head to the pumpkin patch to pick your favourite pumpkin, carve it and take it home! Explore the ghostly woods on a spine-tingling adventure where you may find things lurking in the dark…
It wouldn’t be Halloween without sweet treats! There’s plenty to sink your teeth into.
Make sure to dress up BOO-tifully (parents are included too!)
Bush Rd,
Y Felinheli,
LL56 4QN
21st October – 5th November 2023
Adult £12.00
Child £14.00
Child (under 3) free
Half Term in Scotland
Edinburgh Horror Festival, Edinburgh
From theatre shows, comedy, magical mayhems, scary movies, games, creepy workshops, interactive events and much more!
Prepared to be spooked and enjoy spine-tingling chills.
City Art Centre,
2 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DE
26th - 31st October 2023
Price TBC
Half Term in Northern Ireland
A Hallow's Eve at Castle Ward, County Down
Explore the grounds and be on the lookout for shadows lurking within the trees… From enchanted trail adventures and spook-tacular treats to horse carriages and theatres! There’s so much to get stuck into this Halloween.
Strangford,
Downpatrick,
BT30 7BA
28th October 2023
Adult £12.00
Child £6.00
Found something epic to do this half term? Whether you dress up and attend some fang-tastic events or you stay home and carve pumpkins – October half-term is the best time to sit back and relax. You’ll find plenty of family-friendly events with spooky goings to really put a fright into your Halloween adventures. Make sure to take part in the fancy dress competitions – there may be some treats in it for you!
If you’re looking for some scarily good Halloween activities to do this year, check out Halloween colouring activities, and head out on an autumn adventure with Halloween trails near you!