Activities & Days Out / 25 September, 2023 / Christina Walter
Get ready for a ghoulishly good time this October half term as we unveil a thrilling roundup of spooky Halloween adventures waiting to haunt London and beyond! From eerie events to pumpkin-packed parties, prepare to embark on a spine-tingling journey filled with tricks, treats, and terrifyingly fun activities that are sure to send shivers down your spine. Whether you’re a fan of ghostly tales, spine-chilling thrills, or simply want to indulge in some devilish delights, this guide will ensure your Halloween is a hair-raising experience you won’t forget. So, gather your little monsters and witches as we delve into the best spooky happenings to make this October half term a scream!
Keep checking back – we’ll be updating this post as the days go by, and if you have something spoooooky you’d like included, get in touch!
Enjoy a spellbinding Hobble’ween in West London! From the 21st to the 29th of October, Hobbledown Heath is gearing up to unveil Hobble’ween for the Halloween season, where visitors can be bewitched by an array of enjoyably haunting activities, including Einstein’s Experiments, a Bug Brunch, Bubbles at Buckbridge, Storytime at the Thinkery and Meerkat talks.
Plus, don’t miss the Halloween Monster Ball with bubbles, eerie treats, and ghoulish tunes, or embark on an adventure with the pumpkin hunt as you follow clues to find hidden pumpkins. And get ready to book your super-special Halloween extras*. These include:
Prepare for a hair-raising adventure this half term as the Lastminute.com London Eye River Cruise transforms into a ghostly delight on the Thames. From October 21st to 29th, embark on the ‘Fright on the Thames’ Halloween tour, a spine-tingling 40-minute boat journey.
Join Guy Fawkes and his crew as they plot to blow up Parliament, learn of the ill-fated Princess Alice ship’s ‘Moonlight Trip’ to turmoil, and listen for blood-curdling cries from the Old London Bridge. This thrilling voyage blends history and ghostly tales, making it perfect for families and thrill-seekers. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the spookiest season, so book your tickets now and sail into the unknown!
Returning for 2023, the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort is once again hosting BRICK OR TREAT – where the LEGO® Monsters are taking over and throwing a Monster Party to celebrate their favourite time of the year!
The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort will be transformed into a pumpkin-filled wonderland for what is sure to be the most frightfully fun event of the year, perfect for the young and the young at heart!
Brick or Treat! LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is excited to announce a spooktastic Monster Party– and you’re invited!
Get ready to build some Halloween memories as little monsters can enjoy all the chills and thrills LEGOLAND Discovery Centre has to offer with this spooktacular experience!
Along with two awesome rides, lots of LEGO build & play zones, and an exciting soft play area, guests will be able to sink their teeth into a whole host of fang-tastic seasonal activities, including
Paultons Park has confirmed the return of its popular Halloween Spooktacular this autumn. The Halloween Spooktacular sees the leading attraction undergo a ghoulish makeover for the event taking place between Thursday, 12th October and Monday, 30th October 2023. A western-themed transformation for Tornado Springs is sure to thrill guests with a ghostly surprise or two, while Peppa Pig World’s ghoulish makeover will bring a spooky touch to the famous experience.
The Legend of Paultons Manor show, an all-singing and dancing extravaganza, returns on selected dates throughout October with a special Halloween tale suitable for families to enjoy. Paultons Park’s very own Halloween mascot, the Spirit Squad, will be haunting the park with several opportunities for visitors to meet the friendly phantoms. Families can enjoy late-night openings and the unique opportunity to experience Paultons Park at dusk on Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th of October 2023.
Families can enjoy an adventurous half-term at Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex. The beloved story “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” comes to life through a new trail, immersing young explorers in sensory installations amidst the stunning autumn landscapes. Kids can follow the characters’ footsteps, braving swishy swashy grass, oozy mud, swirling snowstorms, and more as they search for the mysterious bear. The trail showcases the beauty of the natural world, set in unique surroundings, from golden birches in Bethlehem Wood to towering Wollemi pines in Coates Wood.
The adventure includes a Tree Trunk Trek for burning off energy and a visit to Wild Wood, with woven sculptures and friendly creatures. Families can also explore Wakehurst’s wild landscape, reveling in autumn’s golden colors, crunching leaves, splashing in puddles, and capturing the beauty of the Katsura ‘candyfloss’ tree at Westwood Lake.
In addition to the main trail, the Tracker Trail is part of Wakehurst’s ongoing family program, Nature Heroes. Children can complete quests during school holidays, like the fifth mission in October, to earn a branded We’re Going on a Bear Hunt badge for their superhero cape. It’s a magical adventure for the whole family!
Survival Games are coming, giving you the opportunity to prove your worth & elevate your social status. Will you choose the path to victory, or will it be game over in this gruesome scare maze?
Pack your bags and enter your cryo-pod aboard The Terminal for a one-way trip to an intergalactic utopia. Sit back, close your eyes & prepare for a NEW out-of-this-world audio scare experience.
Venture into The Locksmith’s lair & come face-to-face with 21 daunting doors, each hiding a sinister secret. Will you dare to enter this scare zone and knock on Death’s Doors?!
Kids and their parents can dress up in their most fantastically frightful Halloween outfits and venture around the Stadium, where a host of Halloween spooks, ‘hat-tricks’ and treats lie in store.
Spooky characters will ensure there’s a surprise around every stadium corner. Families can show off their skills and score a penalty against the ‘ghoulie’ to win a sweet treat for every ‘ghoul’ scored. Sonny’s Slime Lab will be home to the ultimate slime-making workshop, whilst magic shows will be on the cards at Manor (Solomon’s) Magic Manor throughout the day. Little artists can sketch pumpkins to display on the famous stadium walls and look out for the pumpkins carefully carved with the iconic Spurs emblem.
As families explore the world-famous venue, they must keep their eyes peeled to discover a secret code hiding within for the chance to win a tasty treat. Over in the home team dressing room, fans will even get the chance to see their favourite players immortalised in pumpkin form, as their faces appear above their respective famous football shirt.
With a whole line up of activities to explore, from freakishly fabulous face painting to dastardly decorations in Count Vicario’s Vampire Lair and Postecoglou’s Potion room there’s never been a better time to visit one of the world’s best sports and entertainment stadiums – where families don’t need to be a Spurs fan to have a fun filled family day out.
The Spooky Spurs Stadium Tour Experience runs from October 21– October 29 (excluding matchdays) with tickets priced at £27 for adults and £16 for juniors (5-15 years old), with One Hotspur Junior Members going free with a paying adult.
Enjoy an inclusive park and ride or tube and ride service from Epping station on board one of the railway’s vintage London buses. This will bring you to North Weird where there are reports of ghosts haunting the station. Can you find them all? Take a steam-hauled journey on this full-size ghost train, but watch out for the living dead who are lurking on board and may scare and entertain in equal measure!
There will be a short break at Ongar where the Manic Magician will enthrall and entertain with his mysterious magic show. The train will then return to North Weald via the ancient and eerie Epping Forest.
Share a picture of your family on the Epping Ongar Railway Facebook or Instagram page and the best-dressed family each day will win a prize!
This Halloween half term, Bockett’s Farm is brewing up a cauldron of spooky delights for families to enjoy. Get ready to be amazed by Tom’s Talking Reptiles Roadshow, where you can come face-to-face with some of the creepiest critters around. For those who prefer science to scares, the Science and Slime shows promise a mix of education and entertainment. Don’t miss the enchanting Pumpkin Village, where you can pick your perfect pumpkin.
Get crafty in the Creepy Craft Corner, or channel your inner wizard in the Witches & Wizards Trail. You can also meet majestic Birds of Prey and have close encounters with small animals. For some indoor fun, explore the Soft Play area, and for outdoor adventurers, there’s a tractor ride, pony rides, and acres of outdoor play. And when the sun goes down, boogie your heart out at the Monster Mash Bubble Disco. It’s a Halloween extravaganza you won’t want to miss!
Visit Holkham this Halloween for pumpkin carving, storytelling, web weaving and more! Step through Holkham’s 259-year-old door and take part in the Haunted Hunt, meet Bert’s amazing creatures in the Walled Garden and uncover members of the squash family tree in Holkham Stories. Visitors are encouraged to grab a spooky map and explore the estate while keeping a look out for the creepy crawlies made out of pumpkins as you go!
There is also the option to pedal through the park with Holkham’s Cycle Hire or swing from the tree tops on the Ropes Course. You won’t go hungry either. There will be plenty of festive food and drink options at Holkham’s cafés too!
Guests have the chance to share a storytime session with PAW Patrol pups, Chase and Skye during October half-term and zoo tickets are on sale now!
The dynamic duo will be taking a break from Adventure Bay on Tuesday 24 October, Wednesday 25 October and Thursday 26 October. The Sessions will run at intervals on each day. Chase, the police pup and Skye, the air rescue pup join zoo guests on the back lawn of Marwell Hall.
The visits will follow the launch of “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie”, which releases in the UK on Friday 13 October.
PAW Patrol is a popular children’s TV show and movie franchise which follows the adventures of a boy called Ryder and his brave pack of rescue dogs.
From rescuing sea turtles to jungle adventures and dinosaur missions, these plucky pups work together to overcome the odds and defeat Foggy Bottom’s Mayor Humdinger and the Kitten Catastrophe Crew.
Date: Tuesday 24 October, 2pm
Place: Cotton Hotel & Spa, Knutsford, Cheshire
Make your own edible slime and ghostly chocolate lollipops with the expert help of Oli the Choc – fun and yum. Refreshments are available for everyone and parents who book afternoon tea can enjoy the discounted rate of £27.50 per person while they watch.
Date: Friday 27 October, 5pm to 7pm
Place: Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve, Liverpool, L29 8YA
A Halloween-themed evening spent looking for bats and other nocturnal creatures at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve will be both exciting and educational, as a guide uses detectors to find the furry little creatures and point out where they live and what they eat. Guests are encouraged to wear bat-themed clothing.
Date: Saturday 28 October, 11am to 12.30pm
Place: Omved Gardens, London, N6 5JF
Children from the ages 6 to 12 can collect sticks, pine cones, branches, wildflower seed heads and autumn leaves during a walk through Omved Garden and then have fun making Halloween spooky monsters to hang from trees with the artist, Corrie Wingate.
Gather the family for an interactive storytelling of some of Shakespeare’s most loved plays, led by one of the Globe’s practitioners. Storytelling this half term includes:
Family Storytellings (ages 5-12)
Family Workshops (ages 5-8 and 9-12)
Interactive workshops for the whole family take place in one of the Globe rehearsal rooms, led by a highly experienced practitioner. Activities and games will help you explore the play, and you’ll even get to peek inside the Globe Theatre to hear about the history of Shakespeare’s London and the theatrical world he created. Family Workshops this Half Term include:
Young Actors Short Courses (ages 8-10)
These short courses will run across five half-days this half term. Led by Globe practitioners, this interactive course is designed especially for aspiring actors, including a tour of the Globe Theatre and culminating in a small sharing of work.
Guided Tours (ages 7-11)
Our Family Guided Tour runs throughout autumn. These are a great way to introduce younger visitors to Shakespeare’s London and theatrical world. During October half term, families can also join a special family-friendly spooky guided tour of the Globe Theatre on our Ghosts & Ghouls Family Tour.
For older children, the Globe is also offering a Macbeth Workshop (12+) and Macbeth GCSE Boost Workshop. With the Globe’s production of Macbeth running until 28 October, these are perfect activities for young people to explore the play in more depth. Other workshops for older children include Othello Onstage Workshop and Much Ado About Nothing Workshop.
Introduce a whole new world of fun to their playtime with this incredible personalised wooden doll’s house gift set. Complete with furniture to decorate the living room, kitchen, bedroom, nursery and bathroom, and an adorable wooden family, this set is truly the ultimate doll’s house for little storytellers.
Make this charming doll’s house gift set all theirs by adding a sweet plaque to the front with their name on it.
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