The first half-term after a move is a chance to find the places your family will return to: a museum where the children can get involved, a favourite lunch stop or a neighbourhood you enjoy exploring together. With autumn weather to work around, it helps to have a few good options ready.
We have brought together nine outings, including a floating puppet theatre, a Halloween craft activity inspired by Victorian London and an autumn day at Windsor Great Park with the dog. Start with the quick guide, then choose one main activity for your day. There is no need to fill every hour.
Dates to know: Many London schools have half-term from 26 to 30 October 2026, with Halloween on Saturday 31 October. School calendars vary, so check yours before booking. Find the right outing for your family.
Find the right outing for your family
The first five options are indoors. For seasonal activities, start with the Brunel Museum, Hyde Park or Priory Farm. For an autumn walk with the dog, try Windsor Great Park. Select an outing below to jump to its details.
| Outing | Area | Age guide | Entry |
| Puppet Theatre Barge | Little Venice | 3–7 | Paid |
| Pattern Pod | South Kensington | Under 9 | Free |
| Wonderlab | South Kensington | 7–14 | Paid |
| London Transport Museum | Covent Garden | All Aboard play zone 0–7 | Under-18s free; adults paid |
| AHOY at the National Maritime Museum | Greenwich | 0–7 | AHOY paid during half-term |
| Halloween paper craft at the Brunel Museum | Rotherhithe | Family activity | Under-16s free; adults paid |
| Halloween Discovery Days | Hyde Park | Mainly 3–11 | Free |
| Pumpkin picking at Priory Farm | Surrey | Family outing | Paid entry; pumpkins extra |
| Windsor Great Park | Surrey / Berkshire | All ages | Park free; parking and Adventure Play paid |
Age guides refer to the featured activities. Booking, food and access details follow below.
Indoor outings for rainy days
Pattern Pod at the Science Museum in South Kensington
At a glance: Under 9s · Free · Book free museum admission
Pattern Pod gives younger children room to explore through play. Its interactive displays invite them to investigate shapes and patterns, making it a useful choice for children who like to touch, try and see what happens.
Keep the visit manageable: allow time to play, stop for lunch, then decide whether everyone has the energy to explore more of the museum.
Food nearby: The on-site Energy Café serves hot food and children’s lunch options. Packed lunches are welcome in designated picnic areas. Plan a Pattern Pod visit and see the food options.
Wonderlab at the Science Museum in South Kensington
At a glance: Recommended ages 7–14 · Paid · Book Wonderlab and free museum admission
For children who want to know how everything works, Wonderlab combines experiments with demonstrations and live science shows. There is plenty to try independently, with opportunities to ask questions along the way.
It is in the same museum as Pattern Pod, which helps when planning for siblings with different interests. Check the activities together before booking so each child has something to look forward to.
Food nearby: The on-site Space Café offers family meals, including pizza and burgers. The Shake Bar near Wonderlab is an option for a smaller treat. Explore Wonderlab and book.
Puppet Theatre Barge in Little Venice
At a glance: Ages 3–7 · Paid tickets · Book ahead · 45-minute show
Before the curtain rises, there is already something for children to talk about: their theatre is a boat. This fully indoor, heated barge stays moored throughout the performance, making it an inviting rainy-day outing in Little Venice.
This half-term, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse tells Aesop’s fable with puppets, music and nursery rhymes. Performances run on selected dates from 24 October to 15 November 2026, with no interval. A relaxed performance takes place on 31 October at 10.30am. Some half-term shows are already sold out, so check remaining dates first.
Food and access: Try the nearby Waterside Café for a snack afterwards. There are steps into the theatre, no wheelchair access, and buggies are stored on deck. Choose a performance and check visiting details.
London Transport Museum in Covent Garden
At a glance: All Aboard play zone ages 0–7 · Under-18s free; adults paid · Book timed entry for everyone
For a child fascinated by red buses and Underground trains, the London Transport Museum turns a familiar journey into something to explore. Discover the city’s transport history, then let younger children spend time in the All Aboard play zone.
For newly arrived families, it is a lovely way to connect an outing with the vehicles children are beginning to recognise on their everyday journeys.
Food nearby: Canteen, the museum café, offers a convenient stop overlooking Covent Garden Piazza. Include the free children’s tickets when reserving your entry time. Plan your visit and book.
AHOY at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich
At a glance: Ages 0–7 · AHOY paid during half-term · Book a 45-minute play session
Boats, cabins and imaginative play make AHOY! an appealing choice for little explorers. The timed sessions can also make the outing easier to plan with younger children. The museum’s main galleries are free; the separate AHOY! charge applies during school holidays.
Food nearby: Stop at the Ocean Court Café inside the museum. If the rain clears, Greenwich Park’s playground, designed for children up to twelve, gives you an optional outdoor extension to the day. Book AHOY! and find the playground.
Halloween outings and autumn adventures
From indoor Halloween crafts to a day in the countryside, these outings let you make the most of the season.
Halloween paper craft at the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe
At a glance: Family craft activity · Under-16s free; adults paid · Check museum admission arrangements
At the Brunel Museum, children can create a Halloween “peepshow”: a miniature three-dimensional world made from layers of illustrated paper. Inspired by historic examples in the collection, it is a creative way to explore a little Victorian history and leave with something they have made themselves.
The activity is available during museum opening hours until 31 October 2026. The museum has announced daily half-term opening from 26 October to 1 November, 10.30am–3.30pm, with last entry at 3pm.
While you are there: Pick up the new Isy the Mole family trail to discover the Thames Tunnel through questions and activities. See the Halloween craft activity and plan your visit.
Halloween Discovery Days in Hyde Park
At a glance: Mainly ages 3–11 · Free · Drop-in with no booking required
For a daytime Halloween outing, head to Hyde Park Learning Centre, also known as The Lookout. The Royal Parks’ Discovery Days combine a nature trail with bat facts and spooky storytelling. Younger children are welcome too.
The event runs 27–29 October 2026, 11am–3.30pm, with last entry at 3pm. Leave time to explore and allow for possible queues; registering online does not guarantee entry. If your child needs a quieter moment, ask the team about the designated quiet space.
Planning tip: Keep this as your main outdoor activity for the day and check the forecast before setting off. See the event details.
Pumpkin picking at Priory Farm in Surrey
At a glance: Family outing · Paid entry; pumpkins extra · Book ahead · Outdoors
For a countryside trip, Priory Farm in South Nutfield offers pumpkin picking until 31 October 2026. Let everyone choose a pumpkin to decorate at home, with seasonal displays and a hay-bale maze adding to the visit.
The Pumpkin Field and Tractor Adventure have different ticket options. Tickets are required for visitors aged one and over, so check which experience and entrance you are booking. Bring wellies and allow for the journey from your part of London: this is a trip into Surrey.
If you only have a short afternoon: Buy a pumpkin locally and decorate it together at home. Compare Priory Farm’s pumpkin options.
Windsor Great Park for an autumn day with the whole family
At a glance: All ages · Outdoors · Park entry free; parking and Adventure Play charged · Dogs welcome in permitted areas
Some half-term days call for fresh air and room to explore. Windsor Great Park gives children places to play, adults beautiful walks among old trees and the family dog a proper outing too. With autumn colour around the lake at Virginia Water, it is an appealing escape from London. Choose a short lakeside stroll or a longer walk to suit everyone’s energy.
For children who love climbing: Adventure Play, beside The Savill Garden, has woodland walkways, slides, sculptures and treehouses, with different levels of challenge for ages 2–12. Adults can join in, making it fun to explore together. Sessions last two hours; book online ahead, especially during half-term. Everyone needs a ticket, with at least one paying adult for every four children, including infants.
Adventure Play prices: The published peak tariff is £12 per adult and £16 per child aged 2–17; off-peak prices are £10 and £13 respectively. Under-2s and eligible carers enter free; carers need supporting documents. Check the rate for your chosen date. Paid entry includes parking at The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park; ask staff to validate your parking ticket. Check prices and book Adventure Play.
For younger children and a free play stop: Obelisk Lawn has low-level equipment suited to pre-schoolers, two minutes from The Savill Garden Visitor Centre, with a refreshment kiosk nearby. If you are visiting Windsor town, Home Park Public has a separate free fenced playground for ages 3–12, with swings, a seesaw and climbing frames. It is near Windsor Castle, so plan it as a different starting point. Compare the children’s play areas.
Bringing the dog: Dogs are welcome on many park walks, but pet dogs cannot enter Adventure Play or The Savill Garden. If you are visiting with another adult, one can walk the dog while the other accompanies the children into Adventure Play. Follow the designated lead areas and keep dogs under control; in the Deer Park, dogs must stay on a short lead and visitors should keep their distance from deer. Check the dog walking rules and map.
Food and parking: Virginia Water Café is a convenient stop by the main lake entrance, with a children’s menu and a Dog Terrace for families bringing a pet. Use the Virginia Water car park for a lake walk, or The Savill Garden and Adventure Play car park for the play areas there. The Adventure Play parking benefit applies to the latter. Plan your café stop.
Before you go: Bring waterproofs and check visitor updates, particularly after high winds. The current notice also warns of blue-green algae in Obelisk Pond; keep dogs out of the water and do not let them drink from it.
Your first Halloween in London
A simple guide to trick or treating
Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October this year. If trick-or-treating is new to your family, ask a neighbour or another school parent which streets usually take part. Joining someone you know can make the first evening easier while you are still learning your way around.
- Keep younger children with an adult and choose a short, familiar route early in the evening.
- Visit decorated homes that clearly welcome callers, and respect “no trick-or-treating” signs.
- Knock once; if nobody answers, move on.
- Take only what is offered and remember to say thank you.
- Participation varies from street to street. A few friendly neighbours can be enough for a memorable first outing.
For children who prefer a gentler celebration
A painted pumpkin, a favourite character costume or a hunt for paper pumpkins at home can be a celebration in itself. Invite a school friend to decorate biscuits, or finish the afternoon with a familiar film. Let your child’s enthusiasm set the pace, especially if they are still adjusting to a new country.
Before you set off
Choose the easiest journey. With a buggy, fewer changes may matter more than saving five minutes. TfL’s Journey Planner lets you select step-free access, less walking and fewer changes. Check service updates before travelling.
Sort out lunch in advance. Pick your food stop before everyone is hungry, or bring a packed lunch where there is a designated eating area. Remember that free museum entry does not necessarily include special galleries or events.
Leave room for a change of plan. One booked activity and an optional walk give you flexibility. Keep outdoor plans earlier as the evenings draw in, and leave quieter days for the library, a local playground or a new friend.
Getting to know the neighbourhood you might call home
If you are considering a move, use an outing to spend time in a neighbourhood beyond the property viewing. Notice whether you can walk comfortably with a buggy, find somewhere for a quick lunch and reach activities your children would enjoy regularly.
Let the children have a say. A favourite climbing frame or a café they ask to revisit can tell you something about how your family would use the area. Return during term time to assess the school run and commute too; holiday visits only show part of everyday life.
At The Property Story, we help families find homes that fit the way they want to live in London. We consider work journeys and the school run alongside the property itself, helping you understand which neighbourhoods suit your priorities.
Planning a move with children? Tell us about your family and what you are looking for. We would love to help you find your home in London.
Details checked on 26 October 2026. Event schedules, opening arrangements and ticket availability can change; check the linked venue pages before travelling.
