THE kids have broken up for half term and are running riot around the house, but you haven’t made any plans to keep them entertained – what do you do?
Don’t panic – we’ve pulled together last-minute October half-term activities you can still do – and best of all, they’re completely free.
Four in ten parents say they fork out a huge £645 to keep the kids occupied over the half-term school holiday, according to Capital One bank.
Here we share the ultimate free activities guide that the kids (and your wallet) will love…
Museums
The National Railway Museum in York has live theatre performances Monday to Friday this week. There’s interactive storytelling with a quirky twist, plus a family trail and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) activities.
Or visit the ‘Travelling Museum’ in Edinburgh, Keighley and Blackpool. It’s a free history lab on wheels, and there are still spaces available to book.
You can also take a trip back in time to the Welsh Workhouse Museum at Llanfyllin. Children will love dressing up in Victorian workhouse costumes and practising their handwriting on a slate.
And get your swords (not real ones, of course) at the ready, when you visit the Grosvenor Museum in Cheshire. Kids older than five can go to Gladiator school for free.
Take part in Jet and Space week at RAF Museum Midlands in Cosford too. There are aircraft from Spitfires to a Vulcan Bomber on display, and exhibitions about the Cold War and the Battle of Britain.
Nature
Channel your inner Hedwig and see rescue owls and other birds of prey at The Owls Trust in North Wales.
Join in half-term activities at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. There are 400 memorials recognising different groups of people who made sacrifices for the country and two outdoor playgrounds.
Check out Gruffalo sculptures in woodlands with Forestry England. Find a “Gruffalo” forest near you.
Go on a Bear Hunt at the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire, which is running a free exhibition of Helen Oxenbury’s illustrations of the classic children’s book.
Take a trip to a pumpkin patch. It’s free entry at Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire, Lathcoats Farm in Essex, Gower Fresh Christmas Trees in Swansea and Picking Patch in Fordingbridge, says OutdoorToys.com.
You’ll have to pay for any pumpkins you take away.
Stories and imagination
The British Library in London and Leeds offers free exhibitions and workshops this half term. There’s the Story Explorers exhibition in London, and a Spooktacular Family Day on October 31 in Leeds with authors including Piers Torday and Lucy Farfort.
Take to the stage in one of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s free workshops in Stratford-upon-Avon. There’s a free Murder Mystery activity based on Macbeth, a creative writing session or a stay-and-play session based around Shakespeare’s Witches for younger children.
Visit Great Malvern, the town that inspired CS Lewis to write The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, for the Great Malvern Festival of Stories for Children. There will be storytelling and free art activities.
Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire is well worth visiting to see a detailed and realistic sculpture of the moon with sound, on display until November 4. There’s also a free storytime between 3-3:45pm under the moon every day between 27-31 October.
Follow the Monster Mash trail from the Highcross Mall in Leicester and crack the secret code to visit the monster’s ball.
Shows and spectacles
See fireworks for free on November 1 at Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.
Get free admission to the ‘most haunted house in Southampton’ at Tudor House & Garden on October 30. Book a place on a ghost tour, join ghost hunters for spooky stories, and take part in games and craft activities.
Watch a free outdoor spooky film at Folkestone Harbour, including family favourites Hotel Transylvania and The Addams Family.
Get your skates on at the Castle Quarter in Norwich on October 30 at the free Skate and Scare event for spooky lighting, themed decorations, costumed staff and the chance to get on the ghoulish roller skater rink yourselves.
Free from 10:30 till 4pm.
Science
The Space Gallery at the Science Museum has reopened in time for half-term. Book tickets in advance as they sell out quickly.
The Power Hall gallery at the Science & Industry Museum has hands-on activities and steam engines in action. Book your ticket quickly to secure free entry.
‘I won’t be spending a penny during half-term’
IMOGEN Tinkler has planned a jam-packed half term holiday for her two children – and she won’t be spending a penny.
Photographer Imogen, 43, from Whitstable, Kent, will be taking Xanthe, 3, and Athene, 7, to Halloween trails in Tankerton.
They are also planning to visit children’s authors visiting their local Waterstones, and craft sessions at the local library.
Special spooky days on the high street where stores in Tankerton and Whitstable, as well as further afield, offer Halloween trails take the children to decorated stores ‘trick or treating’.
“We’ll also spend a lot of time outside in the woods and have little fires on the beach. It creates a really lovely feeling,” she says.
“Another thing the children like to do is go on bat walks, and you don’t need any money for that.
“People always say to us, ‘What can you do for free in the holidays if you’re not in London,’ but actually there are absolutely loads.
“You can get outside, and there’s so much for Halloween if you look in the local Facebook groups.”
Arts and Crafts
Join in free arts workshops in Dover with the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership. Create a creepy clay ghost, pop-up skeleton, or follow a Halloween Trail and end with a craft session.
Head to the Back Gallery Art Club in Manchester on November 1 between 2 and 3pm for a free family-friendly craft workshop.
Free meals
Burger King is offering a free King Jr Meal when accompanied by an adult buying a burger meal until November 2.
Bella Italia offers free kids’ meals all day every Thursday with the purchase of an adult meal, and for £1 until 6pm Sunday to Wednesday.
Franco Manca offers kids under 12 a free pizza with an adult’s meal between Monday and Thursday.
One kid’s meal is free with an adult meal all day, every day at TGI Fridays.
Morrisons Café offers free kids’ meals with any adult meal worth over £5 from The Breakfasts or The Classics menu.
