If you’re not planning on jetting off to a warmer climate this October half term, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun does it? Of course not, there are plenty of great adventures that you can have in the UK so here’s just a handful of activities which I have spotted that you might like to try;
London
My Great Orchestral Adventure at The Royal Albert Hall
This is a unique event aimed at families for a half term treat. The concert during is designed for children over the age of three to introduce them to symphony orchestra. The performance will take the children on a magical adventure with the orchestra’s conductor who has lost his baton. On a search to find it, the conductor will take the audience to mythical lands with singing, dancing and music from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.
Listing info:
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP. 020 7589 8212 / www.royalalberthall.com
Wednesday 26th October, 13.00 and 16.30
Tickets: from £12.70
The View from The Shard – Kids Go Free!
We had a blast when we last visited The View from The Shard with the Beans although we didn’t enjoy the queuing aspect of it. My top tip would be to watch the weather forecast and try to visit on a clear sunny day or to visit at a slightly obscure time, perhaps first thing in a morning before everyone has had a chance to get there. We then followed up our visit with a trip to The Tower of London which was amazing too.
Boo at the Zoo – ZSL London Zoo
We are big fans of London Zoo and visit a couple of times a year. Our most recent visit was in August this year when we got to see the newborn Tiger Twins playing with their Mum. During October Half Term week ZSL London Zoo will be seeing the welcome return of ‘Boo at the Zoo’ with all kinds of spooky activities planned as well as Halloween themed animal talk and crafts. You can even do FREE Pumpkin Carving with every child ticket purchased online.
Lincolnshire
Belton House – Hallowe’en Half Term
Get dressed up in your best spooky Halloween attire and join Belton House for all kinds of ghostly activities including storytelling, face painting, and puppet shows. Free event but you do need to pay the usual admission charges. There is no need to book in advance.
Halloween Fun at Tattershall Castle
Tattershall Castle was somewhere that I loved to visit as a child so I think it is high time that I took the Beans to see one of my favourite castles don’t you?! At Tattershall Castle this October Half Term there will be a special spooky Halloween Trail and Halloween themed craft activities.
Hallowe’en trail costs £2 per person. (Additional charges for trails and crafts). Booking Not Needed. Dogs on leads welcome. Time: 11am to 4pm. Tel: 01526 342543. General Admission Prices Apply. Tattershall Castle, Sleaford Road, Tattershall, LN4 4LR www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events
Halloween Fun at Rand Farm Park
With lots of spooky half term Halloween fun, treat the kids to a ghoulish family day out
- Enter the Spooky Village, if you dare
- Take part in Haloween crafts
- Watch Magic Shows, every day at 2pm in the Barn Theatre
- Carve your very own pumpkin (small charge applies)
- Have lots of horrifying Halloween fun
Plus there’s loads of indoor play and outdoor excitement for children of all ages!
Book online today
Cambridgeshire
Audley End Estate – Halloween Special Event
Experience a spoooooky Halloween Train Ride deep into the woods of the Audley End Estate to visit the Witches at their Haunted House! Meet the Witches themselves, receive a special treat and watch them perform their wonderful witchey dance, but make sure you behave yourself so the Witches don’t cast a spell on you! Once you have returned from the Witches Haunted House, you can then visit the Craft Area where you can create your very own Halloween themed craft!
Audley End Miniature Railway, Saffron Walden, CB11 4JB. Tel: 01799 542134
Curse of the Egyptian Mummy – Peterborough Museum
A mysterious, Ancient Egyptian object has come to Peterborough Museum and – and someone’s ghastly ghost is not very happy! Will you be the one to brave the creepy corridors, decode hard-to-read hieroglyphics and use all the clues you can find to break the chaotic curse – or will the spooky spirit have you running for your Mummy? Drop in 10am – 5pm (last entry 4pm).
Peterborough Museum, Peterborough, PE1 1LF. Tel: 01733 864663
www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/curse-of-the-egyptian-mummy
Gangsta Granny – Cambridge Arts Theatre
From the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories comes the world premiere of the amazing story by David Walliams, the UK’s best-selling author for children.
It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny! There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure – it’s going to be sooooooooo boring!
But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could possibly imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny!
Tickets: Adults £23/Child £18 Cambridge Arts Theatre, CB2 3PJ. Box Office: 01223 503333
Lots of great ideas here, thanks for sharing it – have a friend in Cambridge who would love these ideas too xx
Thank you, sometimes you just don’t realise what great things you have on your doorstep. We are definitely doing three of these 🙂
What lovely ideas. I love taking my two on trips. Once never been to London Zoo, so have been thinking of visiting there.
Oh we just love to spend a day at London Zoo, always so much to see and their events are always great fun too x
Lots of amazing ideas. I live here and am yet to go and see the view from The Shard!
Oh you really should go, the views are amazing!!
Lots of good ideas. We’ve been thinking about going to London. Will have to check hotel prices ASAP x
Oh yes don’t leave it too late x
Some fun ideas here – the view from the shard is amazing
Isn’t it just, we shall definitely go back again when the Beans are older x