October 2026 · Family guide
Free adventures, indoor escapes and just enough spooky stuff to keep the older ones happy.
Many London schools break from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 — or Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November including the weekends. Dates and inset days vary, so check your own school's calendar. These dates match the Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea term calendar.
A week off doesn't have to mean a week of expensive tickets. Start with one thing your children actually want to do, leave room for snacks, and have an indoor backup. Here are our picks from the KidsFun.London listings.
These are year-round venues to visit in October, not a list of confirmed half-term workshops or limited-date events. Follow each listing to check current opening times, ticket prices and availability on its official website.
Big adventures, no entry bill. These picks have free general admission; special exhibitions, rides, food and shopping can still cost extra. Check the venue's current booking arrangements before setting off.
A massive, world-class museum filled with dinosaur skeletons, minerals, and interactive natural science exhibits. Pack a lunch to eat on the East Lawn on nice days, and make sure to pre-book a free timed ticket online to skip the main queue.
See details★ 4.6Dinosaur fans, this one's for you. Pick a few must-see specimens rather than trying to conquer the entire museum, and reserve a free timed-entry ticket.
Packed with hands-on space rockets, steam engines, and interactive technology zones. Head straight to the basement's Pattern Pod for toddlers or the Garden play area to burn off early energy before the crowds peak - older kids will enjoy Wonderlab (see separate listing) and Power Up (paid for).
See details★ 4.6Rockets, engines and big questions make this a brilliant indoor option. General admission is free; Wonderlab and Power Up are separate paid experiences.
Houses millions of historic artifacts, including ancient Egyptian mummies and the Rosetta Stone. Grab a free family activity trail map at the Information Desk in the Great Court to turn your visit into an engaging scavenger hunt. Book your (free) ticket online first, you'll probably still have to face a short queue but it moves quickly.
See details★ 4.2Turn mummies and the Rosetta Stone into a treasure hunt: ask about the family activity trails, and choose a handful of rooms to explore.
This eclectic museum in Forest Hill ostensibly covers natural history - the kids will love the musical instruments, aquarium, and famous overstuffed walrus. The huge gardens and animal walk are free, making it ideal for a low-cost family picnic with London skyline views. There is a fee to enter the aquarium and butterfly house.
See details★ 4.6Meet the famous walrus, then head into the gardens if the weather behaves. General museum and garden admission is free; the aquarium, butterfly house and some exhibitions cost extra.
This 5-acre urban farm is nestled next to Morden Hall Park; it's sweet and free - though a donation to the charity running it is appreciated. Animals include alpacas, pigs, donkeys, ducks, geese, and owls alongside rare British farm breeds, and there's a riding school too. You can buy small bags of feed pellets to give to the friendly goats, sheep, and cows.
See detailsA small, manageable animal adventure near Morden Hall Park. Farm entry is free, donations are welcome, and feed or riding activities are extra.
This 7-acre urban oasis features adventure playgrounds, a city farm with small animals, sandpits, and adults are only allowed in if they're with kids. Its annual free play day includes even more activities, from crafts to bouncy castles and snacks.
See details★ 4.7A playground break in the middle of London: useful when a museum morning has used up everyone's patience. Adults must be accompanied by a child.
When October does its October thing, swap damp playground negotiations for stories, climbing and indoor adventures. The first four free picks above also work when it's raining; these are paid alternatives.
One of my favourite London museums for under 7s, this imaginative centre includes indoor and outdoor playgrounds, storytelling rooms, exhibitions crafted around authors and books, and creative arts activities. It is wonderful for inspiring creativity in toddlers and younger children - I like to tire mine out with a morning here, then enjoy their buggy nap as I stroll around neighbouring Westfield. Discounts are available for Newham residents - everyone should remember to book a storytelling session while booking entry tickets.
See details★ 4.3A lovely choice for younger children, especially under-sevens: imaginative play and storytelling in Stratford. Book storytelling sessions alongside admission if you want to include them.
We like this bright, well-run indoor soft play, with multi-storey play, slides and a toddler zone. A decent rainy-day escape valve when the walls start closing in! Under-5s get the most out of it, but there's enough climbing, jumping and slides to keep older kids going too. There's lots of parent seating with easy supervision, and VR plus trampolines too. Insider tip: book the first session of the day; it's calmer, cleaner and you'll actually get a table with a plug socket and a coffee.
See detailsSlides, climbing and a toddler zone for children who need to move. Our listing recommends the first session of the day for a calmer start.
This super-interactive museum lets children truly explore. It gets very busy (go early) but kids of all ages can experience what it's like to drive a train, learn about London's changing transport, go on old buses, follow an informative trail, get involved in workshops and more - it's an in-depth day out for kids who are obsessed with how things move. There's a cafe, and tickets are valid for a year so you can revisit as much as you like. It's in Covent Garden with lots of entertainers, shops and cafes to visit too.
See details★ 4.4For bus- and train-obsessed children: old vehicles, transport stories and interactive play. Check current adult tickets and children's admission rules before booking.
Premier indoor rock climbing centre housed inside a stunning Victorian former water pumping station that looks like a ... castle (duh). Kids enjoy the castle-climbing adventure while getting a full physical workout. Book a registered "Family Taster" or kid's session in advance if you're not an experienced climber yourself, as parents need certification to belay independently.
See detailsOlder children can burn energy in a Victorian pumping station that looks like a castle. Book a Family Taster or supervised children's session; parents need certification to belay independently.
Indoor theme park and arcade centre in Camden - including a mini rollercoaster, bumper cars and simulation rides
See details★ 4.4An indoor theme park in Camden with rides and arcade games. Set a spending limit before you arrive and check ride height restrictions for your children.
Tucked inside County Hall right next to the London Eye, this interactive, actor-led walk-through experience takes kids on a mission to Far Far Away. It starts with a 4D flying bus ride piloted by Donkey, followed by interactive live-action rooms where kids help solve puzzles, meet fairytale characters and save Shrek. Look out for: the 4D magic bus ride, the Poison Apple Pub, and meeting Shrek for a photo at the end.
See detailsA fairytale mission inside County Hall, with a 4D bus ride and actor-led rooms. Reserve a timed entry and check age, height and access guidance for your group.
Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October 2026. You don't need a seasonal festival to add a spooky note to the week: this existing London tour is an option, subject to its current timetable. This is not a confirmed Halloween-only event.
Part comedy show, part historical tour, this 75-minute evening ride on a restored 1960s Routemaster Necrobus is perfect for tweens and teens who love spooky stories without getting genuinely terrified. Led by a sinister conductor-actor, the bus winds through London's most infamous sites of execution, plague, and hauntings, combining dark history with laugh-out-loud theatrical tricks and onboard gags. Key sights to look out for: the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Fleet Street and Westminster Abbey, illuminated at night.
See detailsDark London history with theatrical jokes on a vintage bus: our listing recommends it for ages eight and up. Think about your child's tolerance for spooky stories, and check departure times before booking.
Choose the Natural History Museum or Science Museum in South Kensington. Resist squeezing both into one day; keep the second as your rainy-day backup. Budget separately for paid galleries and exhibitions.
Book Discover in Stratford or an Apple Town soft-play session. One proper outing, a lunch break and time to wind down can be more successful than a packed timetable.
Try supervised climbing at the Castle, or a Ghost Bus evening if spooky stories appeal. Check the activity's age rules, and book before promising it to the children.
For an all-weather splurge, read Lucy's family day out at The O2. The activities, meals and roof climb cost extra — this is not a free day-out recommendation.