HALLOWEEN

Spooky season coincides perfectly with half term – which means you can easily spend half the week on pumpkin picking and prep alone. Try pumpkin carving with Growing Space at Christ Church Kensington (27 Oct), or Stanley Arts in Norwood Junction (29 Oct) or the Tea House Theatre in Vauxhall (29 Oct).

A dab hand with a pumpkin already? Pick some up at Covent Garden Farmers Market to carve at home. While you’re there, let the kids loose round the Trick or Treat Trail – a free trail round the market where they’ll collect fun facts and tasty treats along the way. Register here (27 Oct).

Speaking of trails, be prepared to bump into the ghost of Henry VIII while touring the grounds of Hampton Court Palace (21-29 Oct), or get them dotty for Dickens during a Victorian ghost touraround Bloomsbury where there’ll be plenty of spooky facts, ghostly games and, um, scary smells to uncover (25-26 Oct). Halloween but make it classy? Take a turn round the Pumpkin Trail in Belgravia and check out the stunning seasonal displays down Elizabeth, Ebury and Motcomb Street, followed by a treat (or two) from Peggy Porschen.

And for burning off some of their sugar-fuelled energy, head to Eltham Palace where there’s creepy quests, ghost stories galore and 19-acres to bomb round (21-29 Oct).

London Zoo is another half term hero, and they’ve got more Halloween events going on than you can shake a broomstick at: pumpkin decorating, ghoul school for learning spells, crafts, a bubble disco – oh, and plenty of animals to see as well (21-31 Oct).

Failing all that, city landmarks the Tower of London, The London Dungeon and London Bridge each come into their own at Halloween. Just to sure to book in advance, as they’ll be popular.

OUT AND ABOUT

For something far less likely to give them (and you) nightmares, step into Michael Rosen’s gorgeous book We’re Going On A Bear Hunt at Kew Gardens, where the fun interactive trail will take you round the lake and into the must-see arboretum (21-29 Oct).

Step back in time during the Behind the Bricks Festival at Battersea Power Station for a week-long celebration of the London landmark (21-29 Oct). there’ll be crafts, activities, talks and tours galore looking back at its 1930s origins through to present day.

The National Maritime Museum have Diwali, the Festival of Light, covered this month. During the day expect live music, workshops and art displays culminating in a lantern parade through Greenwich in the evening (22 Oct).

For more freeform fun, The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace is well worth a visit – a one-acre adventure playground and topiary maze to let them loose in. Mini nature fans will love the bug hunting, bat spotting and scavenger hunts happening at Hyde Park and Bushy Park & Brompton Cemetery throughout the week.

And with just under two months to go until (whisper it) Christmas, the first of London’s festive ice rinks opens for business at Canary Wharf this month. What’s more, this baby even has a roof so the inevitable rain won’t wash out your plans (from 21 Oct).

EXHIBIT THIS

Discover the Dark Arts at Warner Bros Studios

For when the weather inevitably takes a turn for the worse, it’s time for a museum! Luckily the brand new Disney100 exhibition will keep them entertained while you cling onto the last shreds of your sanity. Celebrate a century of Disney in magical style with this multi-media marvel spanning 20,000 sq feet of the ExCeL, from 13 Oct.

Harry Potter more their jam? Send them to Discover the Dark Arts at the Warner Bros Studio Tour. They’ll learn wand combat, dodge Death Eaters and follow the Dark Mark – fittingly spooky and always a fun visit. Tickets available until 5 Nov.

The Science Museum has a brand new exhibition that’s literally banging. Turn It Up: The Power of Music is an interactive musical playground where kids can explore the effect music has on our lives. There’s a musical robot and plenty of unusual instruments for them to try out – ear plugs essential, (19 Oct-6 May).

For something quieter, the Young V&A opens its first exhibition this month: Japan: Myths to Manga explores the influence folklore has had on Japanese art and design and looks at everything from Pokémon to Studio Ghibli to robots. Get tickets from 14 Oct.

If it’s a particularly wet week, the BBC Earth Experience, Ted’s Space Adventure at the Royal Observatory, the Titanosour exhibit at the Natural History Museum and the Brick Dinos exhibitionat the Horniman Museum might not be new but they’re still well worth your time.

ENTERTAINMENT

*A Midsummer Night’s Dream* by Norwich Puppet Theatre

Take a break from entertaining for an hour or two and leave it it to the professionals. Like the lovely folk at Wimbledon’s Polka Theatre where there’s two sanity saving shows on offer – Oh No, George! (19-29 Oct) which combines acrobatics and slapstick to bring Chris Haughton’s award-winning book to life, and a dreamy puppet show of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (25-29 Oct).

For more puppets, get on down to Artsdepot in North Finchley for an immersive retelling of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Tales from Acorn Wood, (21-25 Oct). The Comedy Club 4 Kidsat The Cabaret Club Wonderville are putting on a hilarious family friendly stand-up show (22 Oct) which will keep the kids laughing (while you rock in the corner).

And if none of these are a hit, West End wonders like The Lion King, Frozen, Wicked and Matildaare still winners (even if it’s the fifth time you’ve seen them!).

Bookworms will love some of the family friendly events going on throughout London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre: fan favourite Jacqueline Wilson will be introducing her new book, The Best Sleepover in the World (26 Oct), Jeffrey Boakye will be running a fun, interactive, game show style event (27 Oct), and we’re sure Strictly‘s Oti Mabuse will have everyone on their feet with her new book Dance with Oti (28 Oct).

And for some screen time you can all enjoy, Family Film Week is back at the Barbican (21-29 Oct) showing a mix of new blockbusters, international animations and special screenings throughout the week, including the new Chicken Run animation, Dawn of the Nugget (so excited for this!).

GET CRAFTY

If pumpkin carving isn’t enough to keep small hands busy, let them make a mess at the British Museum where there are two Aztec Mask Making Workshops going on (14 and 28 Oct) or take your pick from the assortment of activities at the Natural History Museum during its Family Festival, (21-29 Oct).

Arty kids will enjoy making posters at the London Transport Museum (21-29 Oct) and drawing at the different art classes at the National Gallery (25 and 26 Oct).

FOR TEENS

‘The Missing Thread: Untold Stories of Black British Fashion’ at Somerset House

Too old for trick or treating? The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is always a lovely exhibition and sure to appease the stroppiest of teens. Catch the snaps at the Natural History Museum from 13 Oct.

For the fashion obsessed, REBEL: Thirty Years of London Fashion (Design Museum, until 11 Feb) which takes a look at the work of over 300 London designers who have influenced the global fashion scene from Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard and all her tulle to Christopher Kane and the gorgeous Erdem. Continue the vibe at The Missing Thread: Untold Stories of Black British Fashion, Somerset House, until 7 Jan.

For something fittingly spooky (it is October after all), Neil Gaiman’s sensational novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane (above) has been adapted for the stage and it is out of this world (literally) – read our Muddy review before booking tickets at Noel Coward Theatre (until 25 Nov). Or immerse them in the dystopian world of George Orwell’s 1984 at Hackney Town Hall in this critically acclaimed theatrical experience they are sure to love (19 Oct-26 Nov).

Lastly for you teen musical enthusiast, Musical Con 2023 returns to the ExCel (21-22 Oct) and with it a whole host of special guests (including current Strictly star Layton Williams), performances, previews, cast reunions, talks and interviews – jazz hands at the ready.

It’s not a trick! 50 London treats for your October half term

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