Take advantage of autumn within the metropolis earlier than winter begins in earnest, with a few 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 teenagers, 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.
If you happen to’re wanting particularly for some ghoulishly good concepts for Halloween in London with youngsters, I’ve acquired a separate submit with a few 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 a lot of family-friendly occasions to assist hold 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 an additional immersive possibility happening over October half-term too, with the Cutty Sark’s Ice Survival occasion (October 23-27), the place visitors 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 in the event you ebook via my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Prime Trumps Path at London Zoo
Try 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’ll want to do is seize a event card once you enter the zoo, then head off to seek out the enormous Halloween Prime Trumps playing cards across the enclosures.
When you’ve discovered a card, select your animal and class and begin the battle. You possibly can 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 too can 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 in the event you ebook via my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
ELMER and Buddies on the Horniman Museum
Probably the greatest issues to do in London for October half-term with youthful youngsters is to pay a go to to the Horniman Museum and discover the model new ELMER and Buddies exhibition.
Opening on October 21, the exhibition – ELMER and Buddies: The Vibrant World of David McKee – celebrates 30+ years of one of the crucial broadly learn youngsters’s ebook collection of all time.
Little ones can totally immerse themselves on this planet of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant as they wander via Elmer’s jungle, encountering vibrant characters and thrilling tales alongside the best way.
The exhibition options a lot 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 youngsters.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park: Hair-Elevating Halloween
Wrap up heat and head outdoors with the household this half-term for an additional version of Hyde Park’s household discovery days.
The park’s Hair-Elevating Halloween Discovery Day will likely be filled with loads of enjoyable and academic hands-on actions for youthful youngsters. You possibly can discover the eerie nature path, guess the ugly contents of the feely bins, hearken to spooky interactive tales, and study concerning the many bats that decision London’s Royal Parks dwelling.
Dressing up can be inspired. The free half-term occasion will run day by 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) time out 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 ultimate likelihood to go pond dipping in 2022.
EEK! Week actions are utterly free to take pleasure in. However in the event you’re not a WWT member, you will have to buy an entry ticket to the centre.
Play the Recreation household path on the Museum of London
Hold the youngsters energetic this October half-term in London with the Museum of London’s free household video games path.
‘Play the Recreation’ is an interactive path during which you discover the museum galleries looking for 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 talents essential to change into a sports activities famous person.
The path is totally free for households – simply choose up a path information when getting into the museum.
Secrets and techniques of the Metropolis on the London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum in Covent Backyard additionally has a wide range 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 study 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 in the event you ebook via 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 Might 4, 2023).
Aimed 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 possibly can see objects from movie, TV, and books, together with paintings and images.
There’s a separate cost for this occasion (from £18 for adults, £16.20 for teenagers) with 10% off in the event you ebook prematurely: entry to the principle museum remains to be free, prebooking suggested throughout half-term.
Video games embody every little thing 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 ought to be booked prematurely: entry to the principle museum remains 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 implausible option to spherical off half-term in London with youngsters.
There’s one thing for all ages too. Older youngsters and teenagers 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 youngsters, The Treehouse provides a relaxed household lounge, face portray, workshops, masks making, comedian creation, and different family-friendly actions. Plus, youngsters below 10 go totally free!
BFI Southbank Masters of Suspense Movie Making Workshop
Inspiring filmmakers can harness their expertise 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 strategies used for creating suspense on display. 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 day by day session lasting from 10:30 to 16:30. It’s a enjoyable and academic option to fill the college holidays! Tickets value £105 per pupil, restricted availability.
Shakespeare’s Globe Household Workshops and Demonstrations
Be part of a household workshop led by one of many Globe’s proficient actors, academics, 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 collection of sensible Household Workshops. You possibly can select between The Winter’s Story, Macbeth, or Hamlet, with devoted periods for 5-8, 9-12, 12+ and 15+ yr olds. The workshops will use a wide range 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 too can take pleasure in particular guided household excursions, sword preventing demonstrations, dressing demonstrations, and storytelling periods. Some of the academic 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 one among their nice household quests this October half-term. This yr, you possibly can be part of Dennis the Menace, Gnasher, and associates on a spooky Halloween journey.
Working from October 22-30, the household path may have creepy clues that you just’ll want to resolve and comply with 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 instances 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 good way for youthful youngsters to attach with the pure world and get artistic this half-term at Morden Corridor Park’s Tree Treasure Hunt Workshop.
Aimed toward youngsters aged 2-6 years previous, the workshop encourages little ones to embrace the seasonal modifications of autumn by occurring a treasure hunt across the park to seek out pure supplies comparable to twigs and vibrant leaves. Youngsters will then use their finds (together with string, glue, tape, and crayons) to create their very own autumn story package.
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 ultimate cruises of the Horrible Thames boat tour for 2022, to listen to the ugly and horrible historical past of one of the crucial well-known rivers on this planet from the individuals behind Horrible Histories.
This immersive Thames boat tour takes you alongside the river to discover a few of the capital’s most well-known websites whereas listening to fascinating tales from extremely entertaining actors. Tailor-made towards youthful youngsters, the tour brings London’s historical past alive in a enjoyable and interesting means.
With loads of uncommon info and engrossing tales concerning the capital that you just received’t hear on different excursions, the Horrible Histories boat journey is a singular exercise your complete household is bound to take pleasure in. Guide tickets right here.
Try what we considered the boat journey in my evaluation of the Horrible Thames tour
The Gunpowder Plot Immersive Expertise
Keep in mind, keep in mind the fifth of November… or somewhat than remembering it, how about experiencing it for yourselves?
The Gunpowder Plot is an immersive layered actuality expertise during which you’ll journey again in time and try and cease the notorious plot to explode the Homes of Parliament.
Appropriate for teenagers aged 12+, the Gunpowder Plot makes use of a mixture of VR expertise, 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 have 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, try the Halloween enjoyable happening – plus extra concepts for Bonfire Evening 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 fulfill the swashbuckling hero and exhibit your personal sword-fighting poses, take pleasure in some additional actions and pose for photographs as a part of the go to.
There’s additionally the standard 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 customary entry and takes place after the principle 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 visitors who will draw upon their private experiences at sea to fascinate youngsters with their superb tales.
Halloween enjoyable in London
If you happen to’re in search of extra Halloween issues to do in London with youngsters at October half-term, I’ve picked a few 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 time – Jurassic World: The Exhibition, a 20,000-square-foot immersive expertise is nonetheless working at ExCeL London over October half-term.
Primarily based on the blockbuster motion pictures, you’ll be greeted by a velociraptor, T-rex and a brachiosaurus, earlier than encountering life-size dinosaurs roaming via the positioning – to not point out some child dinos.
Designed to imitate earth’s atmosphere again within the days when these prehistoric creatures did stalk the globe, it’s a fantastically fearsome summer time time out in London with youngsters.
Prebook tickets right here – finest for age 8+ though open to all, it’s accessible by way of the brand new Elizabeth Line from central London. Permit round 45 minutes to 1 hour, though you possibly can 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 recollections from the tour.
You don’t want separate tickets however prebooking entry to the museum is extremely beneficial throughout college holidays.
Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature on the V&A
Trying 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 a lot on her well-known characters too, together with the locations and animals which impressed them, in addition to some actually lovely illustrations to encourage younger artists and animal lovers alike.
Prebooking is extremely beneficial, with tickets already getting snapped up for Might half-term. Grownup tickets value from £14, with youngsters below 11 getting into free: household tickets are additionally accessible. Runs to January 2023.
There’s additionally a lot extra to entertain youngsters throughout October half-term in London on the ordinary household sights – try my choose of one of the best 59 issues to do in London with youngsters
Disclosure: This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Cutty Sark/London Wetland Centre/Transport Museum/Horrible Thames copyright Mummytravels, all different photographs courtesy of Depositphotos
