October half term in London is one of my favourite times to be in the city. There are lots of Halloween-themed activities to enjoy with (or without) kids plus other fun events for the family to enjoy.
This year, the October half term dates for most schools run from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026. Private school term dates vary with some schools enjoying a two week half term starting from Monday 19 October.
Given how quickly the October half term has rolled around, you may well want to start thinking about Christmas too. If that’s the case then here’s what I recommend doing with kids over the Christmas holiday in London.
Our top picks for the October half term in London 2026
- Expect spine tingling thrills when you walk Kew’s spooky Halloween trail
- Are you brave enough to face death eaters and dementors? You have the chance this October half term at the Harry Potter Studios
- Pick your perfect pumpkin at the London Pumpkin Patch and then go trick-or-treating
- Meet the resident ghosts when you visit the Tower of London
- Celebrate the Festival of Light at Trafalgar Square for their annual Diwali celebrations
- Discover the SUPER natural in the local wildlife when you visit the London Wetland Centre
- Take part in Day of the Dead celebrations – and eat delicious Mexican street food – at the Horiman Museum
Halloween Fun in London 2026
Halloween at Kew
Traditionally known for their Christmas lights, Kew Gardens have a devilishly good Halloween trail. Wander through the illuminated haunted woods filled with giant neon cobwebs, enormous spiders, wicked witches and ghastly ghouls and then treat yourself to a hot chocolate at the end. Halloween at Kew runs from 16 October – 1 November. The trail is open from 6pm to 10pm from 16 October to 24 October and from 4pm to 10pm from 25 October. Tickets cost £20.55 for non members (off peak £16.75).
Discover the Dark Arts at WB Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter
My favourite corner of the Harry Potter Studios at this time of year is the Great Hall with its 100 floating pumpkins and tables laden with piles of sweets and cakes. But autumn – and Halloween – is also when you can discover the Dark Arts. Keep an eye out for the Dark Mark as you explore the studios, beware of the Dementors floating high above the Forbidden Forest and practice your spell-casting skills when you meet the Death Eaters in your Defence Against the Dark Arts class.
Discover the Dark Arts runs until 8 November 2026 and is included in the admission price.
**Note that there are two processions of Death Eaters throughout the Studio Tour, it is possible to bypass the areas where the processions take place, simply speak to a team member.
Kid-Pop Demon Hunters – Halloween Family Disco
If you’ve got tweens in the house then chances are you know all the words to the hit song Golden. Well, this October half term in London you can sing along to all of the catchy tunes from the animated movie at the Kid-Pop Demon Hunters family disco. Held at The Red Lion in Leytonstone, this daytime dance-fest promises plenty of music alongside projects from the movie, goody bags, colouring stations, fancy dress prizes and more.
Kid-Pop Demon Hunters takes place on Sunday 25 October, 2pm – 5pm. Tickets cost £6 and can be booked here.
Raver Tots Halloween Party
Taking place on the final weekend of half term at Boxpark Wembley, is this family-friendly rave. Families are invited to put on their best fancy dress and dance away to house, garage, drum and bass, and old skool club classics. As well as great tunes, you can expect bubbles, confetti blasts, enormous balloons, face painting, and a licensed bar alongside some of the biggest names in dance music.
Raver Tots takes place on Sunday 1 November from 12pm – 2pm. Book your tickets in advance as there are no tickets available on the door.
Halloween Outdoor Cinema – Hocus Pocus at Osterley Park & House
Get in the mood for Halloween with a special screening of the film Hocus Pocus at Osterley Park and House. Don’t forget your fancy dress and your spooky picnic! Hocus Pocus will be showing on 25 October from 5pm to 7pm and you must book tickets in advance. Tickets cost £15 for adults, £10 for children. Family tickets (two adults, two children) are £35.
Curse of the Mummy at the London Dungeons
Discover the story of amateur archaeologist Thomas Douglas Murray this Halloween at the London Dungeon. When Victorian England was at the height of Egyptomania, Murray travelled to Cairo and returned with a well-preserved mummy of a High Priestess Amen-Ra…and a curse. Everyone who came into contact with the mummy met a terrible fate.
Live and breathe this terrible tale from 17 October to 1 November. Curse of the Mummy is included in your London Dungeon ticket.
Halloween fun at the Chelsea Physic Garden
London’s oldest botanic garden always hosts fun family activities over the school holiday and this October half term is no exception.
Choose from a handful of Halloween-themed activities at the Chelsea Physic Garden including Stories from the Spooky Sensory Play (22 October), Pumpkin Carving (22, 23, 26, 27, 29 October), Witch’s Hat Making workshop (25 October), Silly Slime Making (28 October) and more. These activities always sell out in advance so make sure to book your tickets quickly.
Halloween at the Tower of London
The Tower of London is swapping crown jewels for creepy tales this Halloween, as nearly a thousand years of dark history comes back to life. Families can follow a trail through the fortress to discover the Haunted Forge, the Enchanted Wishing Well and the Raven’s Observatory, with ghostly stories and surprises around every corner. It’s a great mix of history and Halloween fun.
Halloween at the Tower of London takes place from 24 October to 1 November, 10.30am to 4pm daily and is included in the admission price.
Peppa Pig Halloween Sightseeing Bus Tour
Enjoy the Halloween season on board Brigit’s double-decker bus with Peppa Pig for company. Brought to you by B’s Bakery who offer traditional afternoon tea on board a double-decker bus, this frighteningly good afternoon tea is a wonderful way to see London’s top attractions. Don’t forget your fancy dress costumes either, the best dressed family will win a prize!
The Peppa Pig Halloween sightseeing bus tour runs from 19 October – 1 November 2026.
Frightfully Fashionable at the Museum of Brands
The Museum of Brands is one of my favourites lesser known London museums and this October half-term they are hosting a fashion-themed Halloween trail through the decades. Once you’ve discovered the fancy dress inspirations hidden in the Time Tunnel, you can get creative and design your own Halloween costume in a family-friendly colouring activity.
Frightfully Fashionable takes place from 24 – 31 and kids go free with a fee paying adult.
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace
Double, double, toil and trouble, who dares to explore Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted palace? Head to Hampton Court Palace this October half term and discover the palace transformed by magical spells. Tiptoe through the dark and winding corridors and courtyards and see if you can spot the ghost of William Shakespeare wandering the halls. If you can’t find them, don’t worry, the resident ghost hunters are on hand to help!
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace takes place 24 October – 1 November 2026. Pre-booking is recommended.
Pick a pumpkin at Hobbledown Heath
Head to Hobbledown Heath this October half term to pick your pumpkin, ready for Halloween. West London’s play barn has lots for families to do from outdoor adventure parks, indoor play and new handcrafted marble runs. It’s also home to a huge pumpkin patch. Pick a pumpkin, toast marshmallows by the fire pit, and snap photos a themed picture spots. New for 2026 are fairground rides, live entertainment and street food. Tickets start from £7.
The Pumpkin Patch will run from 25 September – 1 November, 2026.
Hair-Raising Halloween in Hyde Park
Celebrate spooky season in Hyde Park with some fun, free activities including frighteningly fun “feely boxes” in the Witches’ Den, a hair-raising nature trail, spooky stories and more.
Halloween activities take place between 11 – 3.30pm 27 to 29 October and are free but it’s best to register interest in advance.
Halloween Family Fiesta
Head to the 15th floor of the Treehouse Hotel this Halloween in London for a family fiesta. Taking place in Madera, the hotel’s Mexican-themed restaurant, this Cali-Mexican-inspired brunch is tasty for all the family. Plus, kids can enjoy 90 minutes of Halloween-themed games, activities and fun courtesy of Sharky & George. Don’t forget to wear your costume!
The Halloween Family Fiesta takes place on Sunday 25 October at 12pm and 1.30pm with a set menu adults / children £40/20). Make sure to book in advance.
The London Pumpkin Patch & Trick or Treat Lane
Pumpkin picking in central London is a little tricky but you can still enjoy a frightfully good day out at the London Pumpkin Patch in Parsons Green. This Halloween, Parson Green has been transformed into an enchanted woodland filled with magical doors, interactive characters, colourful scenes and the chance to pick your perfect pumpkin to take home.
Located next to the pumpkin patch – through an enchanted archway – is Trick-or-Treat Lane where children can set off on a trick-or-treat adventure with colourful doors waiting to be knocked on, and delightful characters waiting to give treats. New for 2026 is a new play zone with a giant Halloween connect four, pumpkin bowling, a Jack-O-Lantern toss and more.
Entry to the London Pumpkin Patch is £6 per person (under 2s go free) and entry to Trick-or-Treat Lane is £10 per person. Both are open from 24 October – 1 November, from 10am to 7pm daily.
Zombie Train at the London Museum of Water & Steam
Escape the zombies this Halloween at the London Museum of Water & Steam, the only place safe from a zombie outbreak. Aimed at adults (and young adults who are happy to be spooked), the Zombie Train features scare actors, an immersive train ride, a bar, music and late access to the museum.
Zombie Train takes place on 29 and 30 October from 6.30pm – 9.30pm. Tickets are £18.
Halloween Half Term at Eltham Palace and Gardens
Be prepared for some spine-tingling fun this October half term when you visit Eltham Palace and take part in their Halloween themed trail with spooky storytelling and games, and the chance to snap a seasonal selfie.
Halloween Family Fun at Eltham Palace takes place from 24 October – 1 November 2026, 10am to 4pm daily.
Explore the Super Natural at the London Wetland Centre
Weave a willow wand, join a fungi hunt, mix a marshland potion, and create a magical fairy mushroom ring this October half term when you discover just how super nature can be. And, if you dress up as your favourite magical character, you might just win two family tickets to WWT London.
In addition to these experiences, there are some additional activities that you can book. These include a gently spooky theatre adventure, Professor Prankster’s Magical Mistake, pumpkin carving to give to the otters, sculpting a wetland creature out of clay and more.
Half term activities at the London Wetland Centre take place from 24 October – 1 November, 2026. Pre-booking is recommended.
Trick or Treat Trail at Covent Garden
Covent Garden is always fun with kids and this half-term it’s even better with a Trick or Treat trail taking place. Learn fun facts, explore the neighbourhood and pick up a treat or three! Head to Covent Garden on Saturday 31 October between 11am and 5pm and pick up the printed trail from the first stop anytime before 2pm. Only trail holders can follow the route, claim the goodies and enter the party at Halloween HQ!
You must register in advance to take part.
Trick-or-Treating at the Paddington Bear Experience
Windsor Gardens has been decorated for Halloween at the Paddington Bear Experience with lots of sweets on offer for mini trick-or-treaters. Frustratingly, the Trick or Treat package requires an additional upgrade of £15 per child but you do save up to 35% if you book online in advance. Don’t forget to wear your best costume!
Halloween at the Paddington Bear Experience runs from 17 October – 1 November, 2026. Time slots are available to book from 3pm daily.
Halloween Crafts at the Old Operating Theatre
The Old Operating Theatre is the oldest surviving surgical operating theatre in Europe and a great place to visit in London with kids. This Halloween they are running a free family day on 27 October with a number of activities. These include a drop-in art workshop, the chance to make your own pomander to take home and the opportunity to meet the museum’s famous medical leeches.
The museum is also hosting a Halloween Film Night. On 27 October they will be hosting an after-hours screen of James Whale’s 1931 horror film, Frankenstein.
Fright Night at Rivoli Ballroom
One for teens in London is the Rivoli Ballroom’s pop up cinema. Held at the Grade II listed Rivoli Ballroom, there are three nights of frighteningly good cinema taking place; Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922) on 28 October and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (29 and 30 October).
October half term: Museum exhibitions & experiences
Free crafting activities at the Ragged School Museum
Discover the Ragged School Museum this October half term in London, the only school of its kind left in England. Themed around the Victorian Canals, these free crafting sessions are perfect for keeping kids aged 2 – 12 entertained. The museum is also holding their immersive role-play Victorian lessons over the school holidays. Held in an original Victorian schoolroom, these take place at 11:30am and 12:45pm on Sunday 1 November.
Drop in crafting sessions take place on Thursday 29 October between 10.30am and 3.30pm.
Along the Piccadilly line at the London Transport Museum
It’s hard to believe it but the Piccadilly line first opened in 1906! It now stretches over 70km with 53 stations and was the first Tube line to reach Heathrow. This October half term in London, the London Transport Museum is celebrating the 120th anniversary of this iconic underground line with a series of family-friendly crafts and events: make your own flying Tube train, design your own tube station, take part in a storytelling session and more.
Activities take place throughout the half term week and are included in admission price. Check the website for details.
Family day at the Old Operating Theatre
Climb the spiral staircase to Britain’s oldest surviving operating theatre, hidden in the roof of a church near London Bridge, for a free family day on Tuesday 27 October. Kids can hear short, family-friendly introductions to the historic operating theatre and Herb Garret, make pomanders from sensory herbs and meet the museum’s resident medical leeches.
There are also drop-in art workshops, drawing activities and family trails. There are two sessions, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm, and entry is free for families with children under 13. Make sure to book ahead.
Everest: The First Ascent
This October half term you can conquer Everest without even leaving London thanks to a new immersive VR experience. Travel back to 1953 and the first ascent of the world’s highest mountain, following in the footsteps of Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay and the Sherpas who made the climb possible. Expect icy glaciers, towering icefalls and a sense of the determination it took to reach the top.
Everest: The First Ascent takes place at Eclipso London, an immersive escape venue in Camden. The experience last 40 minutes and is suitable for children aged 8+. Tickets start from adult / child £27/21 but you can get a 10% discount using the code GLOBETOTTING10. Book your tickets here.
October Half Term at the V&A Museum
Get ready for the V&A Museum’s free half term festival with lots of fun activities taking place for kids of all ages. vOctober Half Term Festival at the V&A. Kids can drop in to design their own future city, catch pop-up musical performances, experiment in a digital wind play lab, or enjoy the Design Baby sessions for the youngest visitors. There’s also a BSL performance on 28 and 29 October. Everything is free and there’s no need to book.
The half term festival opens on Monday 26 October and runs for the week.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends
You only have a couple of weeks left to enjoy the Aardman animation exhibition at the Young V&A . Held to celebrate the animation studio’s 50th anniversary year, this family-friendly exhibit peeks behind the scenes of everyone’s favourite stop-motion animations to find out how the clever folk at Aardman bring clay to life.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends runs until 15 November.
The Music is Black: A British Story at V&A East
Stratford’s new V&A East Museum in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is hosting a multi-sensory journey through more than 125 years of Black British music. Over 200 objects trace the story from its roots to lovers rock, jungle, UK garage, grime, drill and afrobeats. Highlights include Winifred Atwell’s piano, Jme’s Super Nintendo, and outfits worn by Little Simz, Seal and Dame Shirley Bassey. It’s a great half-term outing for music-loving teens and parents alike.
The Music is Black runs until 3 January 2027, with tickets from £20, from £10 for under-26s, and free for V&A Members.
Ossie Clark + Celia Birtwell at the Fashion and Textile Museum
Step into Swinging London at the Fashion and Textile Museum, one of London’s more unusual museums. This October half term a new exhibition celebrates one of fashion’s great creative partnerships. Ossie Clark’s glamorous rock-and-roll designs met Celia Birtwell’s romantic, playful prints, inspired by the Ballets Russes and Art Deco, to define the look of the 1960s and 70s. Expect archive pieces from the C20 Vintage Fashion collection, early sketches and rare photographs. It’s a great pick for fashion-mad teens.
The exhibition runs 2 October 2026 to 11 April 2027, open Tuesday to Saturday, and tickets cost £12.65 (concessions available).
October Half Term at the Horniman Museum
You only have one week left to enjoy the Horniman’s Voyage to the Deep exhibition where kids can board Jules Verne’s Nautilus submarine, explore kelp forests and meet a giant squid. Younger fans can follow a free Octonauts trail or book a storytelling and craft session for 4 to 7 year olds on 27–28 October. On 26 October, 5 to 12 year olds can dress up as spirit creatures and make live music and sound effects for animations at The Enchanted Cinema. Half term ends with a Day of the Dead Family Festival on 31 October, with mariachi, Aztec dancers, mask-making and face painting.
The activities take place over the half-term holidays. While the museum is free to visit, most activities listed are paid-for. Check the website for details.
Pokémon and the ESA at the Science Museum
This half term, the Science Museum has teamed up with the European Space Agency to take Pokémon into space. Pick up the free Pokémon Space Trail and follow it around the museum, with stops that mix favourite Pokémon with real space science. There’s also a dedicated Pokémon x ESA shop on the mezzanine for anyone keen to take home a souvenir.
Museum entry and the trail are both free, but you’ll need to book a general admission ticket, plus a free timed ticket if you want to visit the shop. It runs daily from 10am to 6pm until 3 January 2027.
October Half term at the British Museum
There’s plenty to keep families busy this half term at the British Museum. Join Bastet, the ancient Egyptian guardian cat, and the Smurfs on a free trail to find crystals hidden across six galleries or follow the BTS-inspired trail through the Korea gallery. Head to the Families Desk in the Great Court and pick up one of the free activity backpacks themed on African adventure, ancient Greece and archaeology. Older kids can explore with Museum Missions on a phone or tablet.
For something unmissable, the Bayeux Tapestry is on display in England for the first time in nearly 1,000 years – the next ticket release takes place 21 October at 10am.
The Jolly Postman at the Postal Museum
The Postal Museum is always fun for the whole family and this May half term is no exception. Daily drop in sessions take place over the school holidays in the Mail Rail depot where children can design their own postcard and write a message on the back. You can also make your own shadow puppet this October half term in free drop-in sessions that run daily from 10am to 4pm.
Combine these activities with a tour of the museum’s permanent exhibition, a play in the Sorted! play area and a ride on the Mail Rail. See more information here.
Magic Lantern Show: Victorian Halloween at the Florence Nightingale Museum
Step back in time for a spooky Victorian treat at the Florence Nightingale Museum in Waterloo. On Monday 26 October, lanternists Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker bring a Victorian Halloween to life with an authentic triple magic lantern, the Victorians’ answer to cinema. Their show mixes original 19th- and 20th-century glass slides with slides they’ve made themselves.
The show lasts about 30 minutes, and your ticket includes an hour to explore the museum afterwards. Family shows are at 2pm and 4pm, with tickets costing £7.50 for children, £15 for adults or £20 for one adult and one child. Booking is required.
Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep at the Natural History Museum
If you haven’t seen Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep at the Natural History Museum yet then this October half term is the perfect time to do it. The exhibition explores the legends of Earth’s prehistoric oceans. Meet the gnarly-toothed pliosaur, come face-to-face with the speedy ichthyosaurs and discover the T.Rex of the sea, the fearsome mosasaur.
Jurassic Oceans runs until 3 January, 2027. Tickets cost from £15 for adults, £7.50 for children.
October half term at the National Maritime Museum
Creepy crawlies are taking over the National Maritime Museum this half term. There are bug-themed activities running from 24 October to 1 November where kids can make paper silverfish puppets, beaded moths and mini beetle companions, and meet the conservation experts who protect the museum’s treasures from hungry insects.
Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko perform The Great Big Bug Show on 28–29 October. There’s also a Halloween-themed LEGO challenge on 30 October. Space fans can also book Astronomers Take Over, which includes a planetarium show, live science demos and Mars rovers (from £8).
Jet & Space Week at the RAF Museum
Blast off this half term at the RAF Museum in Colindale, where Jet & Space Week runs from 24 October to 1 November. Kids aged 3 and up can join Percy & Mr Fox on a mission to count the clones hidden around the museum, with prizes for the best space detectives (£5 per child). From 24 to 27 October, a mobile planetarium takes visitors aged 6 and up on a 45-minute tour of the universe (£6.50 per person). From 29 October, kids aged 7 and up can dodge lasers and duck behind inflatable obstacles in a game of laser tag (£6.50 per child).
Museum entry is free, but activities need to be booked in advance.
Half term at the Twist Museum
Things aren’t quite what they seem at Twist Museum this Halloween. Alongside more than 80 mind-bending illusions, kids can take a UV torch on a free ghost hunt around the museum and win a prize if they find all the hidden spooks. From 24 October to 1 November, there are also live Halloween magic shows at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 3pm, full of impossible tricks and spooky mischief. Spaces are limited, so book ahead. Don’t forget your Halloween costume either: visitors can post a costume photo tagging @twist_museum on social media for a chance to win a prize.
October half term: Festivals & Days Out
Day of the Dead Family Festival at the Horniman Museum
Celebrate Día de Muertos at the Horniman Museum on Saturday 31 October. Inspired by Mexico City, the festival opens with a ceremonial procession of Aztec dancers and musicians, followed by mariachi, folk dance, stilt walkers and Sonidero DJs. Kids can enjoy mask-making, face painting, storytelling and a discovery trail, and everyone can add to the community ofrenda.
There’s also a market selling Mexican crafts, textiles, food and coffee. The festival runs from 11am to 4pm, and tickets cost £8 for adults, £6 for under-16s and is free for under-2s. Tickets must be booked in advance.
SUPER Natural at London Wetland Centre
From 24 October to 1 November, the London Wetland Centre is celebrating wetland folklore and the “superpowers” of its wildlife. Kids can craft willow wands, mix marshland potions, build fairy mushroom rings and go on fungi and cryptid hunts. There’s pumpkin carving for the resident otters, and clay creature-making too. On Saturdays, don’t miss the interactive theatre show Professor Prankster’s Magical Mistake. All activities are included with standard entry and free for WWT members, and you’ll save 10% by booking online.
Diwali on Trafalgar Square 2026
Trafalgar Square lights up for the Mayor of London’s free Diwali celebration on Sunday 25 October, from 1pm to 7pm. The festivities open with 200 dancers in traditional dress, followed by music, dance and performances from London’s Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities. Families can try sari and turban tying, yoga, dance workshops and puppet shows, and stalls offer vegetarian and vegan food. It’s free and there’s no need to book.
London Literature Festival
Now in its 19th edition, the London Literature Festival is back this month at the Southbank Centre to celebrate the written and spoken word. The Children’s Bookshow with Katherine Rundell takes place on Wednesday 21 October at 11am and is a great option for families over the October half term. Listen to the the author discuss her epic fantasy series and answers audience questions.
MCM Comic Con
This three day festival of all things pop culture is taking place at ExCel London. Older children will enjoy meeting their favourite stars from anime, film and TV; gaming; and exploring the Pop Asia zone and much more. For younger kids there’s The Treehouse where activities including mask making and creating comics are taking place.
MCM Comic Con takes place 23 – 25 October.
Family Tour: Souls, saints and stories at Westminster Abbey
Uncover the strange stories beneath the stones on this free family tour of Westminster Abbey, running daily from 26 to 30 October. Over an hour, families will hear tales of kings, queens and a saint, along with surprising ends and unusual burials, and find out how the church calendar links to the autumn season. Tours start at 10:30am and 1pm and are suitable for ages 5 and up. With a maximum of 15 people per tour, spaces are limited, so book early.
St Katharine Docks
Head to the water this October half term in London where St Katharine’s Docks is celebrating the school holidays with a range of activities. On 24–25 October (10am–5pm), the Coronarium hosts free family activities: make a leaf-rubbing wish with oil pastels and hang it on the new Wishing Tree, or decorate a pot and plant an acorn to take home. A pop-up coffee bar serves chai, maple and pumpkin brews.
October Half Term Shows & Plays
Come Alive!
Roll up! Dazzling acrobatics meet The Greatest Showman’s biggest hits, sung live in the round beneath a purpose-built Big Top at the Empress Museum. Arrive early to enjoy pre-show entertainment and themed refreshments. Ages 6+. Come Alive! runs until 11 April 2027.
Paddington The Musical
If you’re lucky enough to nab tickets to Paddington The Musical this October half term then make sure you do. This heartwarming musical, winner of seven Olivier Awards including Best New Musical is playing at the Savoy Theatre. Ages 6+.
My Neighbour Totoro
My family have seen this show twice and we enjoyed it both times. You haven’t got much longer to see the show, however, as it leaves the West End at the beginning of January 2027. Watch Studio Ghibli’s forest spirits leap to life through astonishing puppetry in the Olivier-winning My Neighbour Totoro.
Matilda the Musical
Matilda is one of my favourite musicals in London and a brilliant option for families this October half term. Watch Roald Dahl’s book-loving heroine to life in this award-winning West End hit at the Cambridge Theatre.
Family Shows at the Polka Theatre
Wimbledon’s children’s theatre, the Polka Theatre, has three shows on over half term, so there’s something for every age:
- Toto (ages 3–8, until 1 November): A new musical about a little donkey who dreams of becoming an astronaut and blasts off to the moon in a carrot-filled rocket. It’s based on Ximo Abadia’s picture book, runs for 55 minutes and costs from £10. The 30 October 11am show is captioned, and the 1 November 11am show is BSL interpreted.
- At Sea (ages 6–12, 28 October to 1 November): A puppet show without words, following a sailor whose heart compass has been stolen, through coral reefs and a sirens’ lair to the bottom of the ocean. Puppetry, projections and original music are used throughout. It runs for an hour, with shows at 11:30am and 2:30pm, and tickets cost £15.
- You’ll See (ages 8–12, 24–25 October): Irish company Branar retells James Joyce’s famous novel for young audiences, using live performance, intricate paper artistry and an original score. It runs for 45 minutes and tickets cost £14.
Family Shows at the Unicorn Theatre
The Unicorn Theatre always puts on fantastic shows for kids and they have a couple of fun options for October half term in London.
- Pocket Money (ages 7–12, until 1 November): A world premiere that puts children in charge of the money. Each young audience member gets a voting pad and helps decide what happens next, and there’s a live DJ set along the way. It’s an interactive, high-energy introduction to money and choices, running for about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Home Song (ages 6–18 months, until 8 November): A gentle, multi-sensory show for babies and their grown-ups. It follows young Adwoa and her mum from the busy streets of Kumasi in Ghana to London as they discover what home means. The show uses puppetry, interactive soundscapes and a cappella singing, and lasts about 30 minutes, with play time afterwards.
Family Shows at the Little Angel Theatre
London’s Little Angel Theatre has two shows, a set of workshops and holiday camps running over half term:
- Family workshops: Children aged 3 to 5 can make Pip and Posy animal puppets, and on 31 October, 5 to 9 year olds can make light-up ghost and pumpkin lantern puppets for Halloween.
- Pip and Posy Live on Stage (ages 2–5): Axel Scheffler’s much-loved friends go on adventures through jungles, swamps and skies in this 45-minute show, with catchy songs, beautiful puppets and plenty of audience participation. Tickets cost £16 for adults and £14 for children, and there’s a relaxed performance on 1 November at 3:30pm.
- The Pied Piper: A Rat’s Tale (ages 5+): The classic Hamelin legend retold by Horatio, an adventurous river rat, using puppetry, storytelling and original music. It runs for 50 minutes, with tickets at £16 for adults and £14 for children.
- Puppet Playcation camps (ages 5–9, 27–30 October): Drop-off days running from 9:30am to 3:30pm, where kids make space-themed puppets from recycled materials and perform them on a mini puppet stage. There are two themes, Space Rangers! and Alien Explorers! Each day costs £75, or £45 for siblings, and children need a packed lunch.
Half Term events at the Arts Depot
There are loads of fun things taking place over the autumn half term at the Arts Depot in north London.
- Dear Zoo (23–27 October): Rod Campbell’s classic lift-the-flap book comes to life on stage. It’s ideal for the youngest theatregoers.
- Club Origami (25 October): A playful show for little ones, full of ripping, folding and scrunching paper.
- The Amazing Bubble Man (29 October): Louis Pearl brings more than 30 years of bubble magic, science and fun to the stage.
- The Magic Flute (1 November): Dance company Protein presents Luca Silvestrini’s acclaimed dance-theatre adaptation of Mozart’s opera.
- Book Buzz (25 October, free): The annual book festival returns with a focus on comics, manga and graphic novels, plus book swaps, stalls and drop-in activities.
- Holiday camps (26–30 October): LEGO robotics on Monday, Minecraft coding on Tuesday, yoga and art on Wednesday and Thursday, and a Halloween “Spooktacular Show in a Day” on Friday.
Show tickets start at £13.75. There’s also free soft play and a café serving hot lunches.
Photo credits: Depositphotos.com
