Looking for things to do in London during the October half term break? In this guide, you’ll find a list of activities and events to help plan the upcoming October half term in London with kids.
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When are the October half term school holidays?
The October half term school break for most schools in London is from Monday, 27 October to Friday, 31 October 2025. Some London schools start the October half term break earlier and have two weeks off, from Monday, 20 October to Friday, 31 October.
What’s On October Half Term in London with Kids
Plan your October family days out with this list of things to do with kids in London during October half term break 2025. I will continue to add to the list as more family events and activities are announced in the coming weeks.
Recent additions to what’s on in London over October half-term include Flight, Camera, Action! at the Tower of London, Halloween Trail at Kenwood House and Jet and Space Week at the Royal Air Force Museum.
Since many London attractions are running Halloween-themed activities and events during October half-term, there is some overlap with my post of things to do for Halloween in London with kids.
You can also find more autumn days out inspiration in my post on Pumpkin Picking near London.
Discover the Dark Arts at WB Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter
12 September – 9 November 2025
The Making of Harry Potter studio tour is an amazing experience going behind the scenes of the work that went into filming the Harry Potter movies. In celebration for Halloween, there will be 100 floating pumpkins in the magnificent Great Hall and tables laden with sweets, cakes and pies, as seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The WB Studio Tours London are also featuring the Dark Arts this autumn. Keep an eye out for the Dark Mark projected in various parts of the tour and learn the moves behind a wand combat scene, just like the Battle of Hogwarts, in a live duel with Death Eaters.
Read more: Dark Arts at Harry Potter Studio Tour London
Book tickets for Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter
Kew Gardens – Halloween at Kew
17 October – 2 November 2025
Join family and friends to wander from dusk into darkness between one ghostly space to another in an after-dark Halloween trail at Kew Gardens.
Related: Autumn Colours at Kew Gardens
Watch out for tricks in the forgotten fairground and beware of the monsters lurking in Frankenstein’s laboratory. Wind your way through the illuminated haunted woods filled with creepy neon cobwebs, ghastly ghouls, wicked witches, larger-than life spiders and beastly bats.
Sweet treats will be on offer, including hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.
Book tickets for Halloween at Kew Gardens
Kenwood House – Halloween Trail
17 October – 2 November 2025
A brand-new illuminated Halloween trail is at Kenwood House this October half-term! Features of the Halloween trail include a Headless Horseman who rides across a path, a glowing spider tunnel swarming with 50 neon spiders and a chilling fire show performed by three spellbinding artists.
Recharge between frights with a range of spooky snacks for all ages along the trail, from hot dogs and burgers to hot chocolate and warming hot toddies.
Book tickets for Halloween at Kenwood House
Hobble’ween at Hobbledown Heath
25 October – 2 November 2025
Hobbledown Adventure Park are running a special Hobble’ween line up at both their Hobbledown Heath and Epsom locations on October weekends and during the October half term break.
Enjoy Halloween-themed interactive activities, playful performances, costume parade and a spooky Hobbleween trail.
Book tickets for Hobble’ween at Hobbledown Heath
Hobbledown Heath Pumpkin Patch
26 September – 2 November 2025, selected dates
This autumn, browse through a wide variety of pumpkins at the Hobbledown Heath Pumpkin Patch, take part in seasonal games and enjoy a whole range of seasonal delights at the street food vendors.
Related: Pumpkin Patches around London
Tickets from £7.50 per person ages 2+, £2 for ages 12 to 24 months and free for under 1s. Bundle tickets also available to combine your pumpkin patch visit with entry to Hobbledown Heath.
Book tickets for the Pumpkin Patch at Hobbledown Heath
If you are looking to plan a full family day out, you can also combine your pumpkin patch visit with all-day entry to Hobbledown Heath Adventure Farm Park and save up to £6 per person compared to when booking separately.
Flight, Camera, Action! at the Tower of London
25 October – 2 November 2025
Step into the world of a 1940s news reporter at the Tower of London this October half-term and discover what life was like after the Second World War.
Join this roving reporter and their entourage in uncovering the fascinating stories of life within the Tower’s walls after its reopening in 1946, from the medal-winning heroics of GI Joe the pigeon to the barrage balloon tethered in the moat.
Flight, Camera, Action! features a cast of actors in 1940s period costume, with set dressing from the time. Performances will take place throughout the day at various times and locations around the Tower of London.
Book tickets to visit the Tower of London
Halloween Family Fun at London Zoo
25 October – 2 November 2025
Visit the London Zoo for a fun family adventure over October half term. Halloween-themed activities include spooky animal talks, crafting a menacing mask and an extinct species graveyard.
Explore the Boo at the Zoo pumpkin patch, where you can choose your own pumpkin and capture photos. Additional charges apply for pumpkin decorating and face painting.
Book tickets to visit London Zoo
London Pumpkin Patch & Trick or Treat Lane
25 – 31 October 2025
Celebrate the week of Halloween on Parsons Green in Fulham as it transforms into central London’s largest pumpkin patch and trick-or-treating adventures.
This half-term Halloween celebration will feature thousands of pumpkins to choose from, Halloween installations for family photos, a Haunted House and Trick-or-Treat Lane, an immersive trick-or-treating experience created especially for children.
Entry tickets cost £6 for adults and children (ages 3 – 10) and children under 2 enter free.
Trick or Treat Lane costs an additional £10 and is a timed experience with limited spaces to keep it safe. Please allow at least 30 minutes to enjoy the Trick or Treating interactive experience.
Book tickets for the London Pumpkin Patch
Jet and Space Week at the Royal Air Force Museum
25 October – 2 November 2025
The Royal Air Force Museum London is offering a wide range of family fun activities and workshops this October half term break for Jet and Space Week.
Jet and Science Week will be celebrating the RAF’s leading role in helping the UK and our allies to reach higher and further than ever before. Activities include cosmic robot races, space-themed musical story-telling, an out-of-this-world planetarium, aircraft access and more.
Read more: Royal Air Force Museum London with Kids
Activities with an additional charge this October half term include a Groove onto the Moon sci-fi adventure with three intrepid astronauts (£6.50 per person), the Space Odyssey Planetarium (£6.50 per person) and the Jet Provost Aircraft Access (£10 per person).
Book tickets to visit Royal Air Force Museum
Halloween Half Term at Eltham Palace & Gardens
25 October – 2 November 2025
Enjoy a ghoulishly good day out at Eltham Palace and Gardens this half term. Follow the trail to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.
Book early online and save 15% off the ticket price.
Book tickets for Eltham Palace & Gardens
Super Natural October Half Term at WWT London Wetland Centre
25 October – 2 November 2025
The London Wetland Centre in Barnes are running an exciting programme of October half-term activities. Get ready for a fun-filled Halloween, bubbling over with magical activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Related: London Wetland Centre Barnes with Kids
Make magical memories and experience the wonder of wetlands through enchanting activities, including making a willow wand, mixing magical potions and sculpting your own clay creature.
Book tickets to visit the WWT London Wetland Centre
Halloween Trail at Hampton Court Palace
25 October – 2 November 2025
Explore Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted palace along a spooky, family-friendly Halloween trail with atmospheric projections and creepy sound effects.
Work with ghost hunters to seek out all of Hampton Court Palace’s spirits, and afterwards, cosy down to hear some spooky stories and enjoy a Halloween-themed treat from the café.
Book tickets to visit Hampton Court Palace
Roaring Twenties at London Transport Museum
25 October – 2 November 2025
Step back in time to the roaring twenties with the London Transport Museum over October half-term. Take part in a series of fun family activities celebrating this iconic decade, including arts and crafts and family friendly tours.
Read more: Visiting the London Transport Museum with kids
Find out more about vehicles from this decade, the stories of those who rode them and the influence of the art deco movement on London transport. All October half term family activities are free with LTM admission.
Book tickets to visit the London Transport Museum
Meet the Monsters at London Museum of Water & Steam
25 October – 2 November 2025
Step into a world of giant machines, hissing pipes, and puffing pistons as the steam engines become the monsters at London Museum of Water and Steam this October half-term.
Book tickets to visit London Museum of Water & Steam
October Half Term Activities at the National Maritime Museum
26 October – 2 November 2025
Take part in a range of myth and legend themed activities at the National Maritime Museum. Featuring craft workshops and storytelling sessions, there is something different happening every day of October half term.
Family activities over the half term break include crafting sea monster masks, making your own papercraft monsters and building your own mythical sea creatures. All activities are free and drop-in.
Book free tickets to visit the National Maritime Museum
Hair-Raising Halloween at Hyde Park Learning Centre
28 – 30 October 2025
Celebrate Halloween with the little ones at a free drop-in Halloween-themed Discovery Day at the Hyde Park Learning Centre. Take part in a host of free creepy crawly activities including guessing the gruesome contents of “feely boxes”, exploring an eerie nature trail and learning about the bats in the Royal Parks.
Related: Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in London
Drop in to this free event between 11am and 3:30pm. Dressing up is encouraged and everyone is welcome – their grounds are fully accessible. The Hyde Park Learning Centre do ask for no more than 3 children per adult. Only assistance dogs are allowed.
Register your interest for the Royal Parks Discovery Day
Nature Road Shows at the Regent’s Park
28 and 30 October 2025
Take part in free drop-in activities this October at the Nature Roadshows in Regent’s Park. Solve clues on a spooky Halloween-themed nature detective trail, get creative with wild crafts and take a closer look at nature specimens.
Drop in anytime between 11am to 3pm at the Broad Walk in Regent’s Park. Check the map at the link below for the Nature Roadshow location.
Register your ticket for the Royal Parks Nature Roadshows
October Half Term Activities at the National Army Museum
28 – 31 October 2025
Join in on family activities and art workshops this October half-term at the National Army Museum.
Create your own artillery-themed landscape (free. drop-in), take part in a Nerf battle (£10 per child, book ahead) or put your coding skills to the test and navigate a catapulting artillery robot (£5 per child, book ahead).
Read full details and book workshop tickets at the National Army Gallery
Creative Sessions at the National Gallery
28 – 30 October 2025
Explore the National Gallery this October half term in one of their family sessions: Decoding Pictures and What’s the Point in Pointillism.
Sessions are drop-in and suitable for ages 5+. Please collect a wristband from a member of staff in the Welcome Space in the Roden Centre for Creative Learning to join the tour.
Find out more and check drop-in session times at the National Gallery
Zany Zines Workshop at the Sir John Soane’s Museum
29 October 2025
Learn about the art of zine making, combining crafting and writing in this 4 hour workshop. You will visit the museum’s new exhibition, Egypt: Influencing British Design 1775-2025, explore the work of modern artist Sarah Sallam and create your own personal zine.
Participants will be expected to attend on their own, and must be 8 to 12 years old to take part. Tickets cost £12 per person.
Book tickets for the Zany Zines Workshops at the Sir John Soane’s Museum
Day of the Dead Family Festival at Horniman Museum
1 November 2025
Celebrate Mexico’s iconic cultural tradition at the Horniman Museum Day of the Dead Festival. This vibrant event brings together live performances, craft activities, delicious food and colourful displays for visits of all ages.
Tickets cost £8 for adults and £6 for children 2+. Infants under 2 enter free.
Book tickets to visit Horniman Museum and Gardens
Pumpkin Picking near London
One of the top things to do in London with kids during October is picking pumpkins at the pumpkin patch for carving, decorating and baking. There are several pumpkin patches near London in Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Hertfordshire which I have listed and will keep updating for Halloween 2025 in the Pumpkin Patches Near London post.
In previous years, we have been to Tulleys Pumpkin Farm, Cammas Hall Farm, Crockford Bridge Farm and Garsons Farm for pumpkin picking and family fall activities.
Halloween for Kids in London 2025 Map
I am also pinning the top places around London for Halloween family events, activities and workshops as well as pumpkin picking near London in my “Halloween in London with Kids 2025” Google Map Guide.
For a direct link to the map to bookmark, click here. To explore the map, click on the door sign with an arrow just before the map title.
Museums in London for Kids
Top Museums in London for Kids – plan a visit to one of London’s top family-friendly museums
Read on for more family days out inspiration with our reviews on top museums in London for kids;
Family Day Out at the British Museum
Visiting the Horniman Museum and Gardens with Kids
Wonderlab at the Science Museum London
London Transport Museum with Kids
Day Out at the National Maritime Museum
Dino Snores for Kids at the Natural History Museum
Royal Air Force Museum London with Kids
Cutty Sark Activities for Kids
London Museum of Water and Steam with Kids
National Portrait Gallery London with Kids
Autumn in London with Kids
Autumn is a wonderful time of year to explore London with kids. Discover the best parks, gardens and unique spots to see the autumn leaves in London in my recently updated post: Best Places to See Autumn Colours in London.
Read on for more inspiration for family days out in London’s beautiful parks, gardens and outdoor attractions;
Children’s Garden at Kew Gardens
Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace
Visiting Osterley Park National Trust with Kids
Gruffalo Adventure Trail at Horsenden Hill
Dinosaur Adventure Golf West London
Things to Do in St James’s Park London with Kids
If you are looking for places to visit outside of London to see the fall foliage, I can also recommend these National Trust sites which are beautiful to visit in autumn;
Autumn Colours at Winkworth Arboretum Surrey
Day Trip to Scotney Castle Kent
Pin for Later – October Half Term in London with Kids 2025
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, so if you do click through and make a purchase I may receive a small amount at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! This post was updated on 10 October 2025 with latest information on what is coming up over London October half term.
