What’s On In The October Half Term?

Garden Together At Chiswick House & Gardens

Give the Chiswick House & Gardens team a helping hand preparing their historical gardens for winter – and introduce your little ones to gardening while you’re at it. These free family sessions will take place on Wednesday 25 October and Friday 27 October, and you can return in the May Half Term to see the fruits of your labour.

Details: Chiswick House, Chiswick, London W4 2QN. Sign up at chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk

© Stuart Milne Photography

Borde Hill’s Halloween Trail

Join the Borde Hill Academy of Witches & Wizards this half term, and help Sapphire the Witch’s Cat regain her magical powers on a bewitching story trail full of spells, potions and mystery. Supernatural youngsters aged 3 to 8 years old can explore the historic garden, take on fun challenges from their own spell book, and restore Sapphire’s powers in time for the Borde Hill Crystall Ball extravaganza.

Details: Running 14–31 October 2023 at Borde Hill Ln, Haywards Heath RH16 1XP. To join the adventure, it’s free for Members, or just £4.00 per child plus Garden admission. Adults: £11.50, Children (3-16 years): £8.00, Family 2+3: £35.00, Family 1+3: £26.00. Tickets booked a day in advance receive a £1 discount. bordehill.co.uk

Studfold’s Fairy Nature Trail

Help youngsters learn about and respect the environment at Studfold, North Yorkshire. The 1.5 mile trail runs through wildflower meadows and ancient woodland, while youngsters solve the series of nature-related clues as they study the growing number of intricately-carved and painted fairy homes.

HOW? studfold.com

Visit The Eden Project

Time well spent year-round, the Eden Project is a lovely space to cart the kids in October half term. Special additions for this half term include: Towering Tree Giants taking root, a staggering eight metres tall and telling magical stories about our woodlands; wand making workshops; and the lovely ice skating rink, which returns from 14 October 2023.

Details: Bodelva, Par PL24 2SG. edenproject.com

Try A Walking Trail

Spice up your half term holiday walks by following a trail, like Emma Smith’s ‘Gwelen’ trail on the section of the South West Coast Path that connects Marazion and Penzance. Inspired by the ancient forest hidden beneath the ocean waves, the installation is accompanied by a podcast. newlynartgallery.co.uk

Details: Mount’s Bay, Cornwall

Image © Mike Newman

Gravity Wandsworth

Children will easily be entertained for a whole day at this family-friendly attraction site in Wandsworth. Set over three floors, the venue uses the latest technology to create numerous exciting game zones – from electric go-karting to a 14-lane bowling alley with augmented reality.

Details: Wandsworth High St, London SW18 4TF. gravity-uk.com

Sportfish Game Fishing Centre

Fancy some fishing? Sportfish offers courses for parents and children alike who are interested in angling. Visitors can expect a delightful day filled with fishing and education around it, while surrounded by 45 acres of Berkshire countryside.

Details: Fishing Store Haywards Farm, Station Rd, Theale, Reading RG7 4AS. gamefishingcentre.co.uk

Stourhead House

This National Trust estate is perfect for all ages. From pram friendly (just avoid the grotto) to satisfying under 10s to teens, a walk around the utterly stunning landscape is the perfect afternoon pursuit to see the shoots of spring come through.

Bring a picnic, or have lunch at The Spread Eagle (a really gorgeous historic pub within the estate). There’s the obvious benefit of walking around within nature, but there’s plenty of art history to soak up too. Marvel at the Temple of Apollo, the house itself, and learn all about the intriguing Hoare family who lived here.

Details: High St, Stourton, Warminster BA12 6QE.  nationaltrust.org

Tour The Globe

Family tours are back at Shakespeare’s Globe for the October half term, introducing curious 7–11 year olds to the Bard’s London and the theatrical world he created.

Details: 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. shakespearesglobe.com

Children Of Clay

Not feeling like leaving the house? Can’t blame you, it is gloomy after all. Order The One-off Box from Children of Clay and spend some quality time together creating a masterpiece from clay. Who knows, the kid might be an artist in the (mess) making. Subscriptions are also available if you want to keep the fun going beyond the school holidays.

Details: childrenofclay.co.uk

Visit The Story Museum

The Story Museum in Oxford makes a lovely trip for the family, with plenty of activities for a range of ages. Plus, the Brilli-ANT exhibition makes learning fun for little ones curious about creepy crawlies, featuring giant cardboard insects designed to help children connect with the natural world and tackle climate anxiety. A range of celebrities have lent their voices to bring the insects to life, including Isy Suttie, Floella Benjamin, Julian Clary and Derek Jacobi.

Details: 42 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP. storymuseum.org.uk

Check out Port Lympne, Kent

A must-visit for animal-lovers, this Kent-based conservation charity is not your average UK wildlife experience. Whether you opt for a day visit or a short stay, you’ll come face to face with big cats, gorillas, giraffes and many more. If you really want to push the boat out, (and blow their minds in the process) book in for a stay at Tiger Lodge, where tigers play right outside your (very sturdy) windows.

Details: Aldington Rd, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LR. aspinallfoundation.org

Forest Nets at Celtic Manor Resort, Newport

If you want to drag the kids away from their screens and get them playing outside, take a day trip to the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales and check out the Forest Nets, where kids can clamber through the trees bouncing on suspended nets. It is absolutely as fun as it sounds, for the young and young-at-heart alike.

Details: Caerleon, Newport NP18 1HQ. celtic-manor.com

See Baby Animals At Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, Norfolk

Great Yarmouth’s Thrigby Hall Wildlife Centre is the place to be if you want to enjoy some cuteness this half term.

Details: Filby Rd, Thrigby, Great Yarmouth NR29 3DR. thrigbyhall.com

Image © Tom Jones Photography

Go for a Family-Friendly Walk in Cornwall

Exploring the rugged Cornish coastline is best done away from the crowds, so autumn is the perfect time to travel south west. Make St Mawes your base and try a family-friendly walk on the Roseland Peninsula, suitable for all abilities. See our guide here.