Looking for affordable things to do this half term?
It might feel as though the six-week holidays have only just ended, but October half term is already upon us! So it's time to get our creative brains thinking on how to entertain the kids for the whole week without breaking the budget.
If you’re not planning a half term holiday this year, and you don’t want to spend a fortune on expensive activities, then take a look at our roundup up of affordable ways to keep the family entertained, whatever the weather ends up looking like.
We've got a range of ideas to suit all families and age ranges from visiting free galleries to how to get discounts for those big popular days out.
Also, if you’re looking for something with a Halloween theme then you could also check out our roundup of the best Halloween events around the UK.
1. Art gallery activities
It’s worth looking up your local gallery as they often run kids activities in the holidays. Manchester Art Gallery, for example, is running a free Creative Families holiday programme on various dates over half term, while Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool is running Walker Art Party: Renaissance Rediscovered on 2nd November, with a host of mostly free activities for kids. Or, if you are visiting London, you can get a family ticket to the Affordable Art Fair’s Family Mornings on 19th and 20th October, for £22, with arts and crafts, face painting and more. Those between the ages of 7 and 12 can also join The Little Grand Tour exploring popular artwork and techniques.
2. Free donkey sanctuaries
A great, free outing that most kids – and adults – love. Depending on where you live, there's The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon, Hayling Island Donkey Sanctuary, Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary in Oxfordshire, and also Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Aylsham, Norfolk, to name a few. Look up if you have one near you. Although you can't normally ride or feed the animals, you can usually pet them and there's generally a nice coffee shop too. Some offer fun children's activities in the holidays such as this Trick or Trot Halloween Trail.
3. Leisure centre offers
Leisure centres often offer discounts for children during holiday periods as well as putting on fun activities, so see what your local centre is doing. South Reading Leisure Centre, for example, is offering Kids for a Quid Swims over the half term. While Bath Sports and Leisure Centre is running Spooktacular Halloween Bounce sessions from £12 a ticket.
4. Craft classes
There are great kids' craft classes available in the holidays. It's worth looking as they are often inexpensive. Take a look at Hobbycraft's offerings here. Or, if you happen to be in Devon, these cute pom pom workshops by Pom Stitch Tassel will get you set up for Halloween. You can also order some to do at home.
5. Butlin's day pass
Did you know you can visit a Butlin's resort just for the day? Prices between 22nd October and 31st October start at £15 for a child (two to 14-year-olds) and £23 for an adult. The price includes entrance to the Splash Waterworlds, fairgrounds, family shows and some impressive new activity centres which include (depending on the resort) climbing walls, slides and tunnels and interactive gaming experiences. Find out more at the Butlin's site.
6. Sculpture parks
Kids seem to love sculpture parks, with all the weird and wonderful objects to explore – and they're great for grown-ups too. Yorkshire Sculpture Park is free for under 18s and only £9.50 per adult. There's also the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Park in St Ives, which is also free for under 18s and £7 to £9 per adult.
7. PYO pumpkin
You don't have to get caught up in elaborate Halloween events, kids just love choosing their own pumpkins. So for a cheaper, more chilled-out experience, find your nearest, free PYO field and just pay for what you take. Goddenwick Farm near Haywards Heath and Durleighmarsh Farm Shop in Petersfield are two lovely examples but check availability before you travel.
8. Eat for free
Lots of restaurants offer free or £1 meals for children in the holidays which can help lower the cost of a day out. Check out Prima's roundup that we regularly update.
9. Caving for kids
For something a bit different, see if you are within reach of a child-friendly cave experience. City of Caves, Nottingham for example, offers adult tickets at £8.75 and children at £7.65 (under 5s go free) while Chislehurst Caves offers a lamp lit guided tour for £8 an adult and £6 a child.
10. Kids Pass and other discounts
There are lots of ways to save on the cost of theme parks, gardens and other attractions:
Kids Pass: Members can access over 1,000 offers, including kids-eat-free deals and up to 40% off cinema tickets. There's also up to 56% off theme parks, up to 40% off zoos and safaris and up to 50% off family holidays. A 30-day trial costs just £1. Monthly membership is £3.99 and annual membership is £39.99.
Boundless:If you're a current or retired member of the civil service or public sector, you can join Boundless from £40 a year, getting you a Kid's Pass, TasteCard, access to Wildlife and Wetland Trust sites, unlimited access to Kew Gardens and more.
Kelloggs: If you have a Kelloggs cereal packet you can get 25% off Merlin attractions, including Alton Towers, Legoland and The London Eye. Or, if you go a lot, Merlin also offer annual passes.
11. Affordable theatre
Going to the theatre can be eye-wateringly expensive, especially in London, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for any cheaper offers or productions. You can catch this production of The Elmer Adventure, for example, which is on at the South Bank Centre in London during half term, with tickets starting at £16. Or, for something a bit different, the CBeebies Rainbow Adventure at Westfield London offers a 55-minute, immersive theatrical experience for children under six from £15 a ticket.
12. Child-friendly museums
As well as being free or cheap for children to enter, museums often offer additional kids activities during the holidays. The Little Liverpool Gallery at the Museum of Liverpool, for example, is running free children's sessions on the Monday of half term with lots of interactive, hands-on activities for children under six. While at the Museum of Farnham, three- to seven-year-olds can enjoy a drop-in Craft Kids session for £4.50.
13. Autumn displays
Younger children love leaves and a great autumn display is always a joy. Take a picnic to your nearest woods or visit somewhere known for it's colour-changing trees, such as The National Trust's Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey, or The New Forest.
14. Cinema deals
The big cinema chains offer cut price tickets for family films in the holidays. Vue has Mighty Mornings, for under 11s, at £2.49 for adult and child tickets, while Odeon offers family tickets where the adult pays child prices.
15. Local library events
Libraries will also often put on free holiday activities for children. At Dudley libraries, for example, they are running a host of free workshops this half term including LEGO challenges, witches potion trails, badge making and crafts. To find out what your local library has on, you can look it up here.
16. Great gardens
Visiting a good garden can be a win-win, especially if there's a playground or trees to climb. Look for offers on annual memberships on the bigger gardens, which also put on free and cheap kids activities in the holidays.
Some RHS gardens are running free (to members) Wicked Plants trails from 26th October to 3rd November, with others offering face painting and crafts for a small charge. Kew has a free Room on the Broom trail and Wakehurst in Sussex is collaborating with with National Geographic Kids magazine on it's Nature Heroes: Seed Seeker mission. The activity and badge costs £3.
17. Head to the city
With easy transport links into London, why not take advantage of everything the city has to offer. For those looking for free activities, check out he museums and their events calendars like the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum.
There's also free art and theatre shows on offer with such as the workshops at Tate Modern or the National Gallery's free story times. Don't forget the ample parks and and street entertainers also costing you nothing.
If you looking for something a bit more, you could head to the London Aquarium or take a ride on the London Eye. There are so many choices!
It might feel as though the summer holidays have only just ended, but October half term is already hurtling towards us!
If you’re not planning a half term holiday this year, and you don’t want to spend a fortune on expensive activities, then take a look at our roundup up of affordable ways to keep the family entertained whatever the weather ends up looking like.
If you’re looking for something with a Halloween theme then you could also check out our roundup of the best Halloween events around the UK.
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