Take advantage of autumn within the metropolis earlier than winter begins in earnest, with a number of the finest issues to do at October half-term in London with youngsters – and it’s not nearly Halloween.
You’ll discover actions for toddlers and youths, in addition to loads of inspiration for days out in London for October half-term, whether or not your youngsters love animals or animation, getting outdoor or escaping rain at half-term in London.
When you’re trying particularly for some ghoulishly good concepts for Halloween in London with youngsters, I’ve bought a separate submit with a number of the finest concepts, together with some which run all through October half-term in London and others happening on the ultimate weekend of the month.
Half-Time period enjoyable on the Cutty Sark
Greenwich’s iconic Cutty Sark is internet hosting quite a lot of family-friendly occasions to assist preserve youngsters entertained this October half-term.
Households can meet vibrant character actors from Cutty Sark’s previous (on October 22-24 and 28-30). Or embark on a Halloween-themed journey with musical storyteller Paul Rubinstein (on October 25-27) to discover the extra creepy and disgusting tales from the ship’s historical past.
Be careful for one more immersive possibility happening over October half-term too, with the Cutty Sark’s Ice Survival occasion (October 23-27), the place friends of all ages can uncover how sailors as soon as survived the freezing temperatures of the Antarctic.
Plus older youngsters (12+) can nonetheless climb the ship’s well-known masts within the thrilling Cutty Sark Rig Climb Expertise.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the Cutty Sark for those who e-book by way of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Prime Trumps Path at London Zoo
Take a look at ZSL London Zoo’s Halloween Prime Trumps path – a brand new path to maintain youngsters entertained this October half-term.
To participate within the problem, all you could do is seize a event card while you enter the zoo, then head off to search out the large Halloween Prime Trumps playing cards across the enclosures.
When you’ve discovered a card, select your animal and class and begin the battle. You’ll be able to compete with the zoo to see in case your animal is the cutest, quickest, longest residing, or highest rated.
Plus, don’t overlook to go to the Terrace Restaurant the place youngsters can have a go at designing their very own animal Prime Trumps card.
Mexico Household Fiesta at Kew Gardens
Halloween isn’t the one large vacation happening over October half-term in London. You can too head to Kew Gardens to have a good time Day of the Useless (Dia de los Muertos) at their Mexico Household Fiesta.
From October 22 to 31, the Temperate Home at Kew Gardens will placed on a complete host of enjoyable household actions themed across the conventional Mexican vacation. You’ll get to take pleasure in vibrant parades, dress-up stations, carnival dance workshops, artwork installations celebrating Mexican tradition, and extra.
Tickets to the Day of the Useless household occasion are included with entry to Kew Gardens.
There’s a reduction on tickets for tickets to Kew Gardens for those who e-book by way of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
ELMER and Associates on the Horniman Museum
Top-of-the-line issues to do in London for October half-term with youthful kids is to pay a go to to the Horniman Museum and discover the model new ELMER and Associates exhibition.
Opening on October 21, the exhibition – ELMER and Associates: The Vibrant World of David McKee – celebrates 30+ years of one of the broadly learn kids’s e-book sequence of all time.
Little ones can absolutely immerse themselves on the earth of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant as they wander by way of Elmer’s jungle, encountering vibrant characters and thrilling tales alongside the best way.
The exhibition options lots of McKee’s hanging illustrations, themed Elmer video games, studying areas, dressing up stations, and loads of enjoyable household photograph alternatives. Entry to the Horniman Museum is free, however there’s a cost for the exhibition of £5 for adults, £2.50 for kids.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park: Hair-Elevating Halloween
Wrap up heat and head exterior with the household this half-term for one more version of Hyde Park’s household discovery days.
The park’s Hair-Elevating Halloween Discovery Day will probably be filled with loads of enjoyable and academic hands-on actions for youthful kids. You’ll be able to discover the eerie nature path, guess the ugly contents of the feely packing containers, hearken to spooky interactive tales, and be taught concerning the many bats that decision London’s Royal Parks house.
Dressing up can also be inspired. The free half-term occasion will run each day from October 25 to 27, between 11am and 3pm.
EEK! Weeks at WWT London
Take pleasure in an eek!citing (their phrases not mine) day trip at London Wetlands Centre in Barnes this half-term with their EEK! Weeks household actions between October 15-30 – useful in case your youngsters’ college begins its October half-term earlier.
Embrace London’s superb wetland nature on the interactive path and tackle the centre’s many spooky interactive actions. Littles ones can put their hand in a snake field, get a photograph with an actual bat, and create pure potions within the mud kitchen. It’s additionally your remaining likelihood to go pond dipping in 2022.
EEK! Week actions are fully free to take pleasure in. However for those who’re not a WWT member, you will have to buy an entry ticket to the centre.
Play the Sport household path on the Museum of London
Preserve the children energetic this October half-term in London with the Museum of London’s free household video games path.
‘Play the Sport’ is an interactive path through which you discover the museum galleries trying to find sporting objects from London’s previous. As soon as you discover the objects, youngsters are inspired to finish enjoyable sporting challenges and play themed video games to earn the abilities essential to develop into a sports activities famous person.
The path is totally free for households – simply choose up a path information when coming into the museum.
Secrets and techniques of the Metropolis on the London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum in Covent Backyard additionally has quite a lot of enjoyable household actions happening this October half-term in London.
The museum’s Secrets and techniques of the Metropolis occasion will embody a household path that reveals ‘hidden jobs’ on the transport community, thriller object dealing with, dance and motion workshops, and humanities and crafts stations.
Plus, don’t miss the museum’s present ‘Hidden London’ exhibition, the place youngsters can be taught a few of London’s finest stored secrets and techniques, such because the protected bat colony on the disused Highgate station, together with an opportunity to make bat masks.
There’s a reduction on tickets for tickets to the London Transport Museum for those who e-book by way of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Science Fiction: Voyage to the Fringe of Creativeness on the Science Museum
October sees the beginning of a model new exhibition on the Science Museum – Science Fiction: Voyage to the Fringe of Creativeness, working all through half-term (from October 6 to Could 4, 2023).
Geared toward youngsters aged 8+, the immersive occasion takes you by yourself science fiction journey as you board a spaceship, scout an unknown planet and examine how each scientists and the creators of science fiction have imagined and constructed new worlds.
Alongside the best way, you’ll be able to see objects from movie, TV, and books, together with art work and pictures.
There’s a separate cost for this occasion (from £18 for adults, £16.20 for youths) with 10% off for those who e-book prematurely: entry to the primary museum continues to be free, prebooking suggested throughout half-term.
Video games embody every part from Pong to Pacman, Mario Kart to Minecraft, and Energy Up is beneficial for ages 5+.
There’s a separate cost for this occasion (from £8) which must be booked prematurely: entry to the primary museum continues to be free, prebooking suggested throughout half-term.
MCM Comedian Con London
MCM Comedian Con is again at London’s Excel Centre from October 28-30, with a three-day celebration of all issues popular culture and a improbable method to spherical off half-term in London with youngsters.
There’s one thing for all ages too. Older kids and youths can dress up of their finest cosplay, hearken to dwell panels and duties, play on the consoles and retro gaming machines, compete in board video games and RPG tournaments, and even meet a few of their favorite TV and movie stars.
And for youthful kids, The Treehouse presents a relaxed household lounge, face portray, workshops, masks making, comedian creation, and different family-friendly actions. Plus, youngsters below 10 go without cost!
BFI Southbank Masters of Suspense Movie Making Workshop
Inspiring filmmakers can harness their abilities this half-term with an thrilling Halloween-themed movie making workshop for 12 to 16-year-olds on the British Movie Institute (BFI) on Southbank, one of many BFI’s string of movie golf equipment.
Run by skilled movie producer Paul Cotrulia and movie educator Sa-Ra Zwarteveen, the workshop will educate college students the methods used for creating suspense on display screen. Over 4 days, the younger producers will work collectively to plan, shoot, and edit their very own horror movie.
The workshop takes place from October 24 to 27, with every each day session lasting from 10:30 to 16:30. It’s a enjoyable and academic method to fill the college holidays! Tickets price £105 per pupil, restricted availability.
Shakespeare’s Globe Household Workshops and Demonstrations
Be a part of a household workshop led by one of many Globe’s gifted actors, lecturers, or administrators and get the little ones within the nation’s most iconic playwright, Shakespeare himself.
Over the October half-term in London, the Globe is working a sequence of sensible Household Workshops. You’ll be able to select between The Winter’s Story, Macbeth, or Hamlet, with devoted classes for 5-8, 9-12, 12+ and 15+ 12 months olds. The workshops will use quite a lot of actions and video games to attract out components of language, characters, and themes within the performs.
The workshops aren’t the one household occasions happening on the Globe this half-term. You can too take pleasure in particular guided household excursions, sword combating demonstrations, dressing demonstrations, and storytelling classes. One of the crucial instructional and strange half-term days out in London for households.
Household Quest at Eltham Palace and Gardens
English Heritage’s Eltham Palace and Gardens is as soon as once more internet hosting considered one of their nice household quests this October half-term. This 12 months, you’ll be able to be a part of Dennis the Menace, Gnasher, and buddies on a spooky Halloween journey.
Working from October 22-30, the household path could have creepy clues that you simply’ll want to unravel and observe across the grounds of the lavish historic home.
When you’ve accomplished the search, youngsters can meet costumed performers and listen to unusual and supernatural tales from occasions previous. Tickets are free for members, in any other case there’s a reduction for reserving prematurely.
Tree Treasure Hunt Workshop at Morden Corridor Park
One other wonderful means for youthful youngsters to attach with the pure world and get artistic this half-term at Morden Corridor Park’s Tree Treasure Hunt Workshop.
Geared toward kids aged 2-6 years outdated, the workshop encourages little ones to embrace the seasonal modifications of autumn by occurring a treasure hunt across the park to search out pure supplies resembling twigs and vibrant leaves. Children will then use their finds (together with string, glue, tape, and crayons) to create their very own autumn story equipment.
The treasure hunt and workshop are happening on October 24 and 25 between 10am and 4pm. Whereas entry to the positioning itself is free, there’s a £10 cost for the workshop.
Horrible Histories: Horrible Thames Boat Journey
Soar aboard one of many remaining cruises of the Horrible Thames boat tour for 2022, to listen to the ugly and horrible historical past of one of the well-known rivers on the earth from the folks behind Horrible Histories.
This immersive Thames boat tour takes you alongside the river to discover a number of the capital’s most well-known websites whereas listening to fascinating tales from extremely entertaining actors. Tailor-made towards youthful kids, the tour brings London’s historical past alive in a enjoyable and interesting means.
With loads of uncommon details and engrossing tales concerning the capital that you simply received’t hear on different excursions, the Horrible Histories boat journey is a novel exercise the complete household is bound to take pleasure in. Ebook tickets right here.
Take a look at what we considered the boat journey in my assessment of the Horrible Thames tour
The Gunpowder Plot Immersive Expertise
Keep in mind, keep in mind the fifth of November… or quite than remembering it, how about experiencing it for yourselves?
The Gunpowder Plot is an immersive layered actuality expertise through which you’ll journey again in time and try to cease the notorious plot to explode the Homes of Parliament.
Appropriate for youths aged 12+, the Gunpowder Plot makes use of a mixture of VR know-how, particular results, immersive theatre, and bodily sensations to take you again to London in 1605.
The expertise takes place within the Tower Vaults, beneath the Tower of London, the place Man Fawkes and his fellow trailers had been imprisoned and tortured after their plan was foiled.
And simply to high all of it off, Man Fawkes himself is performed by Harry Potter star Tom Felton.
For extra October half-term occasions on the Tower of London, take a look at the Halloween enjoyable happening – plus extra concepts for Bonfire Night time in London with youngsters
Puss in Boots at Shrek’s Journey
En garde! Puss in Boots is again at Shrek’s Journey for October half-term, with the possibility to satisfy the swashbuckling hero and exhibit your personal sword-fighting poses, take pleasure in some additional actions and pose for images as a part of the go to.
There’s additionally the same old enjoyable for Shrek followers, to discover the world of Far Far Away, encountering Princess Fiona and Donkey and an journey on the 4D flying bus.
Working from October 21-31, it’s included in normal entry and takes place after the primary Shrek meet and greet of the expertise. Prebooking beneficial
Household actions at HMS Belfast
HMS Belfast has some nice nautical enjoyable once more over October half-term with a string of household actions.
From October 22-30, youngsters can earn their Sea Legs in an interactive exercise that entails them finishing enjoyable duties across the ship.
Plus don’t miss HMS Belfast’s devoted household day on October 28. These occasions welcome some particular friends who will draw upon their private experiences at sea to fascinate youngsters with their superb tales.
Halloween enjoyable in London
When you’re in search of extra Halloween issues to do in London with youngsters at October half-term, I’ve picked a number of the finest spooky enjoyable on this submit, devoted to all issues spine-chillingly good.
Extra days out with youngsters in London: ongoing
Jurassic World: The Exhibition
Be careful for dinosaurs within the Docklands this summer season – Jurassic World: The Exhibition, a 20,000-square-foot immersive expertise is nonetheless working at ExCeL London over October half-term.
Based mostly on the blockbuster films, you’ll be greeted by a velociraptor, T-rex and a brachiosaurus, earlier than encountering life-size dinosaurs roaming by way of the positioning – to not point out some child dinos.
Designed to imitate earth’s surroundings again within the days when these prehistoric creatures did stalk the globe, it’s a fantastically fearsome summer season day trip in London with youngsters.
Prebook tickets right here – finest for age 8+ though open to all, it’s accessible through the brand new Elizabeth Line from central London. Permit round 45 minutes to at least one hour, though you’ll be able to keep so long as you need.
Dippy on the Pure Historical past Museum
After touring the nation, Dippy the diplodocus is again on the Pure Historical past Museum in time for half-term, showing till December.
In addition to an opportunity to see the well-known dinosaur once more, there’ll be an exhibition on the UK panorama and some of Dippy’s reminiscences from the tour.
You don’t want separate tickets however prebooking entry to the museum is very beneficial throughout college holidays.
Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature on the V&A
Wanting far past Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggywinkle, this family-friendly exhibition on the Victoria & Albert museum takes guests on a journey to find Beatrix Potter’s life as a scientist and conservationist.
There’s loads on her well-known characters too, together with the locations and animals which impressed them, in addition to some really stunning illustrations to encourage younger artists and animal lovers alike.
Prebooking is very beneficial, with tickets already getting snapped up for Could half-term. Grownup tickets price from £14, with kids below 11 coming into free: household tickets are additionally obtainable. Runs to January 2023.
There’s additionally loads extra to entertain youngsters throughout October half-term in London on the standard household points of interest – take a look at my choose of one of the best 59 issues to do in London with youngsters
Disclosure: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Cutty Sark/London Wetland Centre/Transport Museum/Horrible Thames copyright Mummytravels, all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos
