October Half-Term Family Activities 2024
It’s half-term and that means there’s more on than usual! We’ve pulled together a listing of the goings-on that families can enjoy together in the area, with the activities also featured in our Calendar. We’re adding more and more as and when things are announced, so do keep checking back!
- No special half-term events but Chiswick House has lovely dog-friendly gardens to walk around, a great cafe, and an adventure playground for under 7s. Visiting information can be found here.
26th October – 3rd November, 10.00am-5.00pm: Magic Potion Trail at Ham House.
- Join Ham House for family-fun on a potion-themed outdoor trail in the gardens surrounding the 17th-century house. Seasonal spotter and autumn leaves colouring-in sheets will also be available. These free activities are a fun way to engage littles ones with nature and the changing seasons. Visit the Orangery Café for delicious warming treats and lunches. No additional cost for activities, including trail. Normal admission applies.
26th October – 3rd November, 10.00am-4.00pm: Halloween at Hampton Court Palace.
- Explore Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted palace during the spookiest time of the year at Hampton Court Palace. Lose yourself in atmospheric projections and creepy sound effects as the palace is transformed by magical spells. As you tiptoe through the dark winding corridors and courtyards, you’ll feel the chilling presence of infamous ghosts hiding around every corner. Keep your distance – these ghosts are best kept to the past. After all that exploring, cosy down to hear some spooky stories and then relax with a Halloween-themed treat from the café. The Palace does not allow visitors to be in costume, but during this event children under 12yrs can visit wearing Halloween costumes as long as these have no loose glitter. Normal admission applies.
- No special half-term events listed at time of writing, but Hounslow Urban Farm is always a treat to visit with the little ones. Stroll around the pens with goats, pigs, donkeys, llamas, peacocks and owls, and you can even feed some of the animals. There are also animal encounters throughout the day, where you can meet and handle small mammals, reptiles and more. They usually put on some special activities during school holidays too. You can buy tickets at the farm or online.
18th October – 3rd November, various times: Room On The Broom and Halloween at Kew Gardens.
- Dive into the magical world of Room On The Broom. Immerse yourself in Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved tale as you follow the kind witch on her enchanting journey across the stunning autumn landscape. Explore the winding paths of Kew as you spot familiar characters from the story. Each step of the way, engage with playful installations and enjoy family-friendly activities that bring the magic of the book to life! Normal admission applies.
- There is also a brand-new, after-dark Halloween trail (separate ticket required)! Watch out for flickering flames in the fiendish fire garden and grinning pumpkins aglow. Wind your way through the illuminated haunted woods teeming with creepy neon cobwebs, ghastly ghouls, wicked witches, larger-than life spiders and beastly bats. Enjoy the sweetest of treats on offer with a wickedly good hot toddy or devilishly decadent hot chocolate and toast a marshmallow with someone special. You can book here.
London Museum Of Water And Steam (Brentford)
26th October – 3rd November, 10.00am-6.00pm: October Half-Term at the London Museum Of Water & Steam in Brentford.
- The London Museum of Water & Steam presents October Half Term, with Ghost Hunts, Haunted Tours, and Ghost Crafts! Head to the museum for spooky craft in the Waterworks Gallery and pay just £1 to take part in a Ghost Hunt around the museum from 10.00am-4.00pm every day. Plus there are After Hours History Tours from 28th – 31st October, 5.00-6.00pm, where you can explore the Waterworks past, along with local legends and oddities (recommended for ages 10+yrs). Tickets must be prebooked. For younger children there are Family History Tours from 28th October – 1st November, 1.00-1.30pm, which are shorter with content directed at children age 3+yrs. Tickets can be purchased on the day, but pre-booking recommended for guaranteed access. Normal admission also applies.
London Wetland Centre (Barnes)
26th October – 3rd November, 10.00am-5.30pm: October Half-Term at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes.
- Explore the Super Natural this half-term. Discover activities that show just how super wetland nature can be! Weave a willow wand, head off on a fungi hunt, craft a clay familiar and much more in a week of wetlands magic. Begin your adventure at the Super Natural Hub, where you can uncover your unique super wetland name and craft a nature-inspired headband. With a scavenger hunt card in hand, embark on a journey through the wetlands, revealing its hidden wonders – from vibrant fungi to the breathtaking hues of nature (10.00am-3.30pm). Tap into the magic of wetlands by brewing your own nature potions using local plants (11.30am). Bring the wetlands to life by sculpting your own clay creature (2.30pm). Celebrate the beauty of wetlands by creating a temporary art piece using leaves, sticks, and rocks (all day). Normal admission applies.
26th October – 3rd November, 10.00am-4.00pm: Family Halloween Trail at Osterley Park.
- Creepy Creatures: How far can a frog jump? How many bugs does a bat eat? Learn this and more in the Creepy Creatures Trail. Find the nine activity points around the Gardens and Long Walk (£1 with a small sticker pack prize). Normal admission applies. Pesky Pests: A trail of pests around the Principal Floor of the house. You will be given a printout of what pests you are looking for and the rooms they are hiding in. You may see Bonnie the Booklouse hiding in the Breakfast Room and Lucy Ladybird in the Long Gallery! Running 26th, 27th, 30th October & 1st-3rd November, 11.00am-3:30pm. Pest Station: For extra bug fun, there will be a pest station in the Long Gallery with real examples of pests we find around the house! Running 26th/27th October & 2nd/3rd November, 11.30am-2:30pm. Normal admission applies. Plus Zoolab are visiting on the 31st October with their animal encounters (12.00-3.45pm; separate ticket required)
26th October – 3rd November, 10.30am-4.30pm: Halloween Events at Syon House & Gardens in Isleworth.
- Weird Woodland Trail (26th Oct-3rd Nov): Follow the Weird Woodland Trail, and look for some creepy characters in the gardens. Ghosts, Guts & Gunpowder! (30th & 31st October): Join the rotten underbelly of the house to go back through time, on a family friendly tour. Creepy Critters (30th & 31st October): Your Witch or Wizard host will introduce to you a range of animals including snakes, lizards, tarantulas and more as they tell you all about the spooky, gruesome facts (separate ticket required). Normal admission applies.
.
You can also follow Family Hub on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter.
