If you're already wondering “What are we going to do with the kids for an entire week during October half term?”, don't worry, we've got you covered!
From autumn adventures and Halloween fun to creative activities, rainy-day ideas and things you can do without spending a fortune, we've put together 50 fun things to do with kids this October half term. Whether you've got little ones aged 4-7, energetic primary school children or tweens and teens who are harder to impress, there should be something here for everyone. And because October weather can be... well, unpredictable, we've included plenty of indoor and outdoor October half-term activities too!
When is October half term 2026?
In many parts of England, October half term falls from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026, although dates can vary between schools and local authorities. Always check your child's school calendar before making plans!
Autumn Activities for Kids
1. Go on an autumn scavenger hunt
Make a list of things your children need to spot on a walk – a red leaf, a yellow leaf, an acorn, a conker, a feather, a pinecone and something shaped like a star.
You can make it competitive for older children or keep it simple for younger ones. If it's dry you can spend time creating a checklist beforehand, get them to draw and write what they need to find on a piece of paper with an empty box next to each item, then on the walk, when they spot the item they can tick it off!
2. Jump in a giant pile of leaves
Is it even autumn without jumping in leaves? Find a safe pile of fallen leaves, wrap up warm and let the kids loose. Just remember to check for anything hidden underneath first!
3. Collect conkers
Head to your local park or woodland and see who can find the biggest conker! Why not turn it into a fun competition? Who can find the biggest, smoothest, roundest or funniest-shaped conker? Can anyone discover a double conker? You could even bring your treasures home and get creative, turning them into fun decorations, characters or little conker creations! Don't forget the game 'Conkers'!
Collect some interesting leaves and use them to create pictures.
Try making:
- Hedgehogs
- Lions
- Butterflies
- People
- Monsters
- Trees
All you need is paper, glue and some crayons or felt tips.
5. Have an autumn nature walk
Turn a normal walk into an adventure by encouraging children to look for signs of autumn. Can they spot different coloured leaves? Birds? Mushrooms? Acorns? Squirrels?
It's a simple free activity for October half term that can easily fill an afternoon.
6. Make an autumn wreath
Collect fallen leaves, twigs and other natural materials and turn them into a colourful autumn wreath for your front door.
7. Go on a woodland adventure
Find a local woodland and explore somewhere you've never been before. Give the kids a map, make up a treasure hunt or see how many different types of trees they can find.
8. Have a leaf-rubbing competition
Place leaves underneath paper and rub over them with crayons.
Who can make the biggest picture? Who can find the most unusual leaf?
9. Go pumpkin picking
Nothing says October quite like choosing your own pumpkin! Visit a local pumpkin patch and let everyone choose their favourite. Then save them for a Halloween carving session.
10. Visit a farm or nature reserve
Autumn is a brilliant time to get outside and explore. Look for local farms, nature reserves, wildlife centres or seasonal events happening near you.
Halloween Activities for Kids
Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday 31 October, making October half term the perfect time to get started with spooky preparations.
11. Carve a pumpkin
Choose your pumpkin, draw a design and get carving! For younger children, adults should always handle the sharp tools.
Don't fancy pumpkin carving? Grab some paint and turn your pumpkins into:
- Ghosts
- Spiders
- Monsters
- Witches
- Vampires
They're fun, colourful and can be kept for longer than carved pumpkins!
13. Make Halloween decorations
Turn your home into a spooky den with homemade decorations.
Try making:
- Paper bats
- Ghost garlands
- Monster bunting
- Spider webs
- Pumpkin decorations
- Cardboard haunted houses
14. Have a Halloween treasure hunt
Hide spooky clues around the house or garden and challenge the children to find the Halloween treasure. For older children, make the clues into riddles.
15. Make Halloween biscuits
Get the baking supplies out and make spooky biscuits. Decorate them as ghosts, pumpkins, bats and monsters. Just don't expect them to last very long!
16. Create Halloween costumes from things you already own
You don't need to spend a fortune on a costume. Raid the dressing-up box and see what you can create from old clothes, cardboard boxes and a little imagination.
17. Have a spooky movie afternoon
Put on pyjamas, make some popcorn and choose a family-friendly Halloween film. Add blankets and hot chocolate for the ultimate cosy afternoon.
18. Make Halloween slime
Kids love slime and adding a little Halloween magic makes it even better. Try orange, green or purple slime and add spooky-themed decorations!
19. Play Halloween party games
You don't need a Halloween party to enjoy Halloween games.
Try:
- Musical statues
- Halloween charades
- Pin the spider on the web
- Monster races
- Mummy wrapping competitions
- Halloween bingo
20. Make a spooky sensory tray
For younger children, create a Halloween-themed sensory tray using safe household items and decorations. Think fake spiders, coloured spaghetti, plastic pumpkins and spooky objects to discover.
Enjoying these autumnal ideas? When you need full-day cover during half-term, explore Ultimate Activity Camps for multi-activity day camps for ages 4–14!
Rainy-Day Activities for October Half Term
Let's face it: British weather isn't always going to cooperate. That's why every good list of October half-term activities needs a rainy-day backup plan.
21. Build an indoor den
Grab blankets, cushions and chairs and build the biggest den you can. Once it's finished, turn it into a reading corner, cinema or secret hideout.
22. Have an indoor treasure hunt
Hide objects around the house and create clues for children to follow. For younger children, use pictures instead of written clues.
23. Have a family board-game tournament
Pick a few favourite games and keep score throughout the day. Winner gets to choose the evening film!
Give everyone their own pizza base and let them create their perfect combination of toppings. You could even turn it into a MasterChef style competition.
25. Have a baking afternoon
Bake cookies, cupcakes, brownies or a cake. For an October twist, decorate everything with autumn or Halloween themes.
26. Create an indoor obstacle course
Use cushions, chairs, blankets and masking tape to create an obstacle course around the house. Time each person and see if they can beat their own score.
27. Have a family dance party
Create a playlist, clear some space and have a 30-minute dance-off. Perfect for burning off some energy when it's pouring outside.
28. Make a giant puzzle
Choose a jigsaw that's suitable for the whole family and work on it together. For older children, try a particularly challenging one and see how quickly you can finish it.
29. Have a craft afternoon
Put out paper, cardboard, paint, glue, crayons and anything else you've got in the craft cupboard. Then give the children one challenge: “Make something!” You might be surprised what they come up with.
Want to take their creativity a step further? Ultimate Activity Camps school holiday day camps in Oxford, UK are launching a brand-new Ultimate Art 3-Day Programme, packed with creative projects, fun and plenty of opportunities for budding artists to get stuck in!
30. Create a home cinema
Close the curtains, make some popcorn and turn the living room into a cinema. You could even make tickets and create a snack bar.
Active Things to Do With Kids This Half Term
Kids don't stop needing to burn off energy just because it's October!
31. Go on a bike ride
Wrap up warm and head out on a family bike ride. Choose a route that's suitable for everyone and stop somewhere for a hot chocolate.
32. Visit your local park
Sometimes the simplest activities are the best. Take a football, frisbee or ball and spend an hour letting the kids run around.
33. Try a new sport
Use half term as an opportunity to try something new.
How about:
- Tennis
- Swimming
- Climbing
- Martial arts
- Skateboarding
- Basketball
- Dance
- Gymnastics
You never know - you might discover a new favourite hobby.
34. Create a family Olympics
Set up a series of challenges in your garden or local park.
Try:
- Sprinting
- Target throwing
- Football skills
- Long jumps
- Egg-and-spoon races
Keep a scoreboard and award medals at the end.
35. Go swimming
A rainy day is the perfect excuse for a trip to the swimming pool. It's fun, active and suitable for a wide range of ages.
36. Try an adventure activity
For older children and teenagers, look for local activities such as climbing, high ropes, skate parks or adventure courses.
Cheap & Free Things to Do This October Half Term
You don't need to spend lots of money to have a great half term.
37. Visit your local library
Libraries aren't just about borrowing books. Many run free children's activities, storytelling sessions and holiday events.
38. Have a free nature walk
Pick a local park, woodland or countryside route and go exploring. Make it more exciting with a scavenger hunt.
39. Have a picnic
It might be chilly, but there's no rule saying picnics are only for summer! Pack some warm food and find a beautiful autumn spot. If it's too cold outside, have an indoor picnic instead.
40. Make a “bored jar”
Write lots of activities on pieces of paper and put them into a jar. Whenever someone says “I'm bored!”, they have to pick an activity.
Ideas could include:
- Draw a picture
- Build a den
- Read a book
- Make a cake
- Do 20 star jumps
- Tidy your bedroom
- Make something from cardboard
- Go outside for 10 minutes
- Create a dance routine
41. Have a family photo challenge
Give everyone a list of photographs to take.
For example:
- Something red
- Something spooky
- Something tiny
- Something that makes you laugh
- Your best autumn photo
42. Explore somewhere you've never been
You don't need to travel far. Choose a nearby town, village, park or walking route that you've never properly explored. You might discover a new family favourite.
October Half Term Activities for Older Kids & Teens
Keeping older children entertained can be a completely different challenge!
43. Try an escape room
Escape rooms are brilliant for older children and teenagers and encourage teamwork, problem-solving and communication. Check age restrictions before booking.
44. Have a cooking challenge
Give each child the same ingredients and challenge them to create something. Or have a “Bake Off” style competition with different rounds.
45. Try photography
Give older children a phone or camera and challenge them to capture the best autumn photographs.
Create categories such as:
- Best landscape
- Best wildlife photo
- Funniest photo
- Most creative photo
- Best Halloween photo
46. Have a gaming tournament
For gamers, organise a tournament with friends or family. Keep score throughout the day and crown an overall champion.
47. Try something completely new
Half term is a great opportunity to try something your child hasn't done before. Maybe it's climbing, cooking, pottery, skating, photography, coding or a new sport.
Family Activities to Finish Half Term
48. Have a family games night
Put the phones away, order some favourite food and play games together. It doesn't have to be complicated to be memorable.
49. Make a half-term scrapbook
Print photographs from the week, the summer, or a recent holiday and let the children create a scrapbook of their favourite memories. It's a lovely way to remember everything you got up to.
50. Let the kids choose the final activity!
Give each child a vote and let them decide how to spend the final day.
It could be:
- A movie day
- Pizza making
- A walk
- Pumpkin carving
- Swimming
- Crafts
- Gaming
- Baking
The important thing is spending time together.
Need Childcare This October Half Term?
Of course, half term isn't always a holiday for parents! If you're working during October half term, finding fun, reliable and engaging childcare can be one of the biggest challenges of the week. That's where holiday camps can make half term much easier.
Rather than trying to organise a different activity every day, holiday camps give children the opportunity to spend their days playing, being active, making friends and trying new things, while parents can get on with work and everyday life.
Ultimate Activity Camps October half-term camps are designed for children aged 4-14, with a fun-filled programme of activities to keep children entertained throughout the school holidays. Whether your child loves sport, games, creative activities, challenges or simply making new friends, there's something for everyone.
Save this list, pick your favourites and start planning your October half term activities! And if you need a little extra help keeping the kids entertained while you're working, Ultimate Activity Camps October half-term camps are here to help, running this half term in Ascot, Brentwood, Bromley, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Edgbaston, Faringdon, Kingston, London, Clapham, Newbury, Oxford, Reading, Sutton, and Wallingford! 🎃🍂
Happy half term!