October half term is always one of our favourite school holidays. The start of the school year always takes some getting used to and so, by October half term, we’re all in need of a break. Plus, it’s autumn, the perfect time to snuggle up at home, make hot chocolate and play board games together.
But, it’s also lovely to get our and about, go for a walk and make some memories surrounded by all the signs of autumn. So I thought I’d put together some ideas of things to do across Surrey this October half term.
When is October half term in Surrey?
October half term in Surrey runs from 24 October to 28 October 2022. Some schools will have an inset day or two attached to the start of end of the half term, making it a little longer.
So here we have ideas of things to do this autumn half term. I hope it’s helpful and if there’s anything that I’ve missed please do get in touch and let me know.
Days Out in Surrey
If you’re just looking for a day out to enjoy over October half term then we have a lot of inspiration for you and these posts should be helpful:
Afternoon Tea
If you fancy going for afternoon tea as a half term treat there are plenty of places to choose from and these guides may help you find somewhere perfect!
Fireworks in Surrey
Half term is when all the fireworks displays start to happen and there are so many across Surrey this year. This post has all the information you need to add fireworks to your half term plans:
Half Term Activities in Surrey
Wherever you are in Surrey, there’s bound to be somewhere nearby with organised activities to keep your children entertained over the holidays. Here are a few suggestions of things to do in the October half term in Surrey:
Squires Garden Centre
Create and Grow Spooky – Fun Craft Activities – 24 October 2022 – 28 October 2022, 9am to 3pm
Paint a Spooky Tealight Holder – £6.50
Paint a ceramic pumpkin or bat tealight holder, yours to take home with a complementary battery-operated LED tealight. Put them on your windowsill to brighten up your room during those long, spooky evenings.
Ghost Pursuit – Free activity
Follow the trail of ghost characters around the centre for a spooky sticker and a chance to win a prize.
Watts Gallery
The Make Space – Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October plus Wednesday 26th to Sunday 30th October – Bookable time slots 10.30 – 11.30am, 1-2pm and 3-4pm.
Explore sustainability and create a ceramic tile inspired by Watts Chapel. Once completed, photograph your tile and contribute to a digital collage that will feature on the Watts Gallery website and take home your hand-crafted masterpiece.
£3 per child | £2 per child for Friends (accompanying adult free with admission)
Days Out with Activities in Surrey
Hampton Court
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace – 22nd to 30th October 2022 – Included with Palace admission tickets
Lose yourself in atmospheric projections and creepy sound effects as the spirit world is brought closer than ever before. Head to the Gallery of the Damned and see eerie portraits come to life, or stop by the Council Chamber to take part in a spine-tingling séance. Whose voice will echo from beyond the grave?
Designed to put you on edge, rather than push you over it, prepare yourself for a thrilling family-friendly adventure that you won’t forget.
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace: After Dark – 28th and 29th October 2022 – Adult £12.50, child £8, £45 for a family of 4. Historic Royal Palace Members get a 50% discount.
Be one of the few to take this rare opportunity to explore Henry VIII’s haunted palace at night. Famous figures from years past are unearthed as the eeriness from the palace’s daytime event is ramped up.
Designed to put you on edge, rather than push you over it, prepare yourself for an unforgettable interactive family-friendly adventure. Enjoy our delicious food and drink trucks and make an evening of it with your closest friends and family.
You can read about our visits to Hampton Court Palace here:
- Palace of Stardust – the Hampton Court Palace Light Trail Review
- A Family Trip to Hampton Court Palace
Painshill Park
Fairy Door Trail – 22nd October to 13th November 2022 – 10am to 4pm – Included with Painshill admission
Walk around the Painshill landscape and discover a series of secret doors – there are fairies living in the gardens! Wooden fairy doors are hidden around the woodlands and lake for you and your family to find. As you wander the route you will see the best spots for autumn colour. Enjoy some stunning trees, collect autumn leaves and celebrate the season.
You can read our review of Painshill Park here
Brooklands Museum
October Half Term ‘Air Heads’ – 22nd to 30th October 2022 – Included with museum admission
Explore the history of aviation at Brooklands for a fun family day out! Join a family workshop to make a paper aeroplane and watch it fly, have a spin on a pedal plane, become a detective for the day on the activity trail and watch history come to live with the costumed storytellers around the museum. Plus so much more!
Godstone Farm
Once Upon a Crime – 22nd to 30th October – Included with farm admission
Visit Godstone Farm this October half term for the Once Upon a Crime event, which includes all the usual farmyard fun plus October Halloween Half Term activities. Jam-packed with fun, you can meet Griswalda the witch for wand making and wand lessons, explore the Nursery Crime Trail and become a clever detective in a world of nursery crimes! Plus, pumpkin carving will be available at an extra charge.
You can read our review of Godstone Farm here
Chessington World of Adventures
HOWL’O’WEEN – 15th – 30th October 2022 – £37 per person when booked online
Things are getting spoOoky once again at Chessington this October, with a Fa-BOO-lous Halloween event for the whole family! Don’t miss out on a family adventure this October half term with plenty of new tricks and treats you won’t want to miss.
You can read about our visits to Chessington here:
- Visiting Chessington World of Adventures in the Winter
- The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure at Chessington World of Adventures
- A Winter’s Tale Christmas at Chessington World of Adventures Review
Thorpe Park
Fright Nights – Selected dates from 1st – 31st October – Recommended 13+ years – From £39 per person when booked online
Pray you don’t have the key to the door or risk unlocking your deepest, darkest nightmares as the award-winning Halloween FRIGHT NIGHTS return to THORPE PARK Resort for a 21st birthday celebration like no other!
With no fears going untouched, you’ll be sleeping with the lights on after you come face-to-face with the most horrific, dreaded and tormented terrors at Thorpe Park this fearful FRIGHT NIGHTS. Featuring spine-tingling scare mazes, truly terrifying scare zones and awe-inspiring shows, PLUS some of the UK’s most thrilling rides in the dark including the world’s first horror movie themed rollercoaster SAW – The Ride!
You can read our review of Thorpe Park here
Rural Life Centre
Halloween Half Term – 24th Oct, 2022 – 30th Oct, 2022 – Various prices, find out more here
Get ready for a week of spooky goings on at the museum. Visit the Rural Life Centre for spooky make and take crafts and activities. Plus, on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th there’s also a pumpkin carving zone so make sure you pre-book your spot.
You can read about our visit to the Rural Life Centre here
Syon Park
Halloween Spooktacular Fun – 26th to 30th October – Included with admission
Visit Syon Park for spooky tales about Syon’s past, with costumed guides and hair-raising stories. There’ll be tours in the House and trails to follow in the gardens. Wear your creepiest costume to join in the fun.
You can read about our visit to Syon Park here
RHS Garden Wisley
October half term: Deadliest Plants and Bugs – 22 October – 30 October 2022 – Included with admission
It’s all going on at RHS Garden Wisley this October half term. There are lots of opportunities to investigate all sorts of amazing insects with ZooLab and hands-on sessions at RHS Hilltop. Head to a fun craft and planting workshop to design a deadly bug or start growing your own plant. You’ll also have the chance to go gardening with the Education Team to find out more about the wicked wildlife who make Wisley their home.
Bocketts Farm
Witches and Wizards Week – 23rd – 31st October 2022 – Included with admission
There’s so much going on at Bocketts Farm this half term. Visit the Reptile Roadshow, watch Science and Slime shows, explore the Pumpkin Village and make something in the Creepy Craft Corner. Plus, meet the Owls and Birds of Prey, complete the Witches & Wizards Quiz Trail, enjoy the Indoor Soft Play, hop on the Tractor Ride and explore acres of Outdoor Play!
You can read about our visit to Bocketts Farm here
Kew Gardens
Mexico Family Fiesta – 22 October to 31 October 2022 – Included with admission
Celebrate Day of the Dead with all the family at Kew Gardens during October Half Term. Immerse yourself in the vibrancy of Mexican culture with a whole day of fun and family activities. Dress-up stations, carnival dance workshops, parades plus unique art installations in the Temperate House that bring Mexico to life.
You can read about our visits to Kew Gardens here:
National Trust Days Out with Activities
Hatchlands Park
Pumpkin hunt at Hatchlands Park – 22 October – 31 October 2022 – Included with admission/membership
Explore the garden at Hatchlands this Halloween half term and see if can find the hidden Halloween pumpkins.
October half term trail at Hatchlands Park – 22 October – 31 October 2022 – Included with admission/membership
Head out into the parkland at Hatchlands Park this October half term on a Halloween spotting trail.
Halloween in the house at Hatchlands – 23 October – 31 October 2022 – Included with admission/membership
It’s Halloween and so the ghosts have all come out again to play this October half-term. The showrooms have been transformed for some spooky fun.
You can read about our visits to Hatchlands Park here:
Morden Hall Park
October Half-Term: Tree Treasure Hunt Workshop for 2-6 years olds – (Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th October – £10 per child
Go on a treasure hunt in the park for natural materials to make your autumn story kit. This activity will spark the imagination and connect you and your little one with all the seasonal changes of autumn.
You can read about our visit to Morden Hall Park here
Claremont Landscape Garden
Enchanted Claremont – Half Term Trail – 15 October – 30 October 2022 – £2 per person
The Wandering Witch was at the Annual Witches Convention last week, and while she was away the goblins have been up to no good and hidden some of her magickal items with creatures that live in the garden. Can you help her track them down?
You can read about our visits to Claremont Gardens here:
- Claremont Landscape Gardens After Lockdown {National Trust}
- Claremont Landscape Gardens {National Trust}
Winkworth Arboretum
October half term: Weird, wacky, and wicked Halloween trail – 22 October – 30 October 2022 – £2 per child
Uncover the spookier side of trees this October half term on a haunted trail around the arboretum.
You can read about our visit to Winkworth Arboretum here
Treasure Trails
If you want to get outside but you don’t really know where, we love Treasure Trails. It’s an adventure that the whole family can get involved in. Solve a mystery, save the day or be a spy! It’s great fun and we always really enjoy it. Here are some of the Surrey Treasure Trails – you can see the full list here.
- Box Hill Spy Mission
- Dorking Treasure Hunt
- Reigate Detective Mystery
- Epsom Detective Mystery
- Weybridge Treasure Hunt
- Guildford Spy Mission
- Woking Detective Mystery
- Kingston Spy Mission
- Godalming Spy Mission
- Wimbledon Detective Mystery
You can read about one of our Treasure Trail adventures here.
Theatre Shows
Going to the theatre is a great activity that the whole family will enjoy and Surrey has a lot of great theatres to really make the most of. Here are the family shows on during October half term:
Rose Theatre Kingston
Dinosaur World Live – 26 October 2022 – 30 October 2022 – 50mins + 15min post-show meet & greet with the Dinosaurs – Best for age 3+
Dorking Hall
Dinosaur Adventure Live – 24th October 2022
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show – 22 October 2022 – 23 October 2022 – 1 hour, no interval – Best for age 3+
Read our review of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show here.
Harlequin Theatre Redhill
Boogie Monsters Haunted Halloween Party – 26th October 2022 – 1 hour
Epsom Playhouse
Fireman Sam Saves The Circus! – 29 October 2022
Indoor Activities Surrey
If the weather isn’t great over half term then you may want to do something indoors that still gets you out of the house. Here are some ideas:
Leisure Centres in Surrey
Leisure centres can be a fantastic place to spend time as a family and they’ve come far over recent times, now having so much more than just swimming pools. Many have climbing facilities, soft play centres and even trampoline parks within them! Here are all the ones in Surrey to choose from:
- Guildford Spectrum – Bowling – Swimming – Climbing – Ice Skating
- Places Leisure Camberley – Swimming – Climbing – Soft Play
- Woking Leisure Centre – Swimming – Inflatazone – Soft Play
- Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex, Walton – Swimming – Climbing – Soft Play
- Donyngs Leisure Centre, Redhill – Swimming – Soft Play
- Rainbow Leisure Centre, Epsom – Swimming – Soft Play
- Leatherhead Leisure Centre – Swimming – Soft Play – Junior Gym (12-15)
- Spelthorne Leisure Centre, Staines – Swimming – Junior Gym (11-15) – Junior Badminton – Trampolining
- Sutton Sports Village – Trampolining – Soft Play
- Tadworth Leisure Centre – Swimming
You can read about out climbing experience at Places Leisure Camberley here.
Trampoline Parks in Surrey
Trampolining is a fantastic activity that children love and it’s perfect for a wet weather day – which is often the case in October half term! Here are the trampoline parks in Surrey – and many of the leisure centres above offer trampolining classes too. It’s great fun for all ages.
Soft Play and Indoor Play Centres in Surrey
Soft play and other indoor play centres are fantastic for children and are great for bad weather days too. We have so many great indoor activity hubs in Surrey from typical soft play centres to role play dressing up experiences.
- Pirates Landing – Camberley – You can read our full review here.
- Imagination – Camberley – You can read our full review here.
- Little Street – Frimley and West Byfleet – You can read our full review here.
- Kidabulous – Sunbury
- Meadowbank Soft Play – Dorking
- Let’s Pretend – Redhill
- Wacky Kingdom – Redhill
- Piglets – Hersham
- Let’s Explore – Horley
- Rascals – Motspur Park
- The Play Cafe at Sandown Park – Esher
- Kidspace – Croydon
Shopping Centres in Surrey
Shopping centres are a great place to spend time. You can wander round the shops, grab some lunch and there are often organised activities and events in to make the most of as well.
- The Square Camberley
- The Friary Guildford
- Bentalls Kingston
- Woking Shopping Centre
- The Heart Shopping Centre Walton
- The Ashley Centre Epsom
- The Swan Centre Leatherhead
- Belfry Shopping Centre Redhill
- Church Walk Caterham
- Centrale and Whitgift Centre Croydon
Pottery Painting in Surrey
Pottery painting is a fantastic activity for the whole family as well as being a calm and relaxed experience. Children of all ages will love it and it’s so nice to have something to take away with you afterwards – or pick up a few days later when it’s been fired! Here are our Surrey pottery painting destinations.
- Mrs Potts Place – Camberley – You can read our review here
- Fired Frog Pottery Cafe – Woking
- Ceramics Cafe – Farnham and Hersham
- Appletree Studio – East Horsley
- Kate Creative – Lingfield
- Happy Glaze Ceramics – Epsom
- Paint Your Own Ceramics – Dorking
Bowling in Surrey
Bowling is another great activity for the whole family and perfect when the weather isn’t great. Here are the Surrey bowling alleys to choose from.
- Guildford Spectrum
- Ten Pin – Kingston, Camberley, Croydon,
- Hollywood Bowl – Tolworth
Laser Tag in Surrey
Laser Tag was such a new thing when I was a child but they’ve grown massively in popularity over recent years and now laser centres are everywhere. Here are both indoor and outdoor laser tag sites across Surrey.
- Laser Quest – Woking and Croydon
- Campaign Laser Tag – Cobham
- Go Laser Tag London – Whyteleafe
- The Big Apple – Woking
- Ten Pin Sector 7 Laser Tag – Camberley
You can read more about the laser tag options in Surrey here
Climbing Centres and Aerial Adventures in Surrey
Climbing is another great family activity and we have so many centres across the county – plus those included in the leisure centres above. Here are some more indoor and outdoor centres to give you some climbing inspiration.
- Surrey Sports Park – Guildford
- Craggy Island (now Spider Climbing) – Guildford and Sutton
- White Spider – Surbiton
- Go Ape – Farnham and Chessington – read our review here
- Skywalk Adventure – Esher
- WildWood – Guildford
You can read more about the climbing options in Surrey here
Cinemas in Surrey
Most cinemas have reduced tickets at weekends and in school holidays, a great budget activity that the whole family can enjoy together
Vue – Mini Mornings – Camberley – Croydon – Staines
At Vue’s Mini Mornings you can see the best kids and family films from only £2.49 each. Mini Mornings run every Saturday and Sunday morning from 10am plus every day in the school holidays.
Odeon – Odeon Kids – Kingston – Epsom – Guildford
With special Odeon Kids screenings of the most spellbinding fairy tales and animated films, grown-ups pay kids’ ticket prices, making it a great value day out for the whole family.
There are many other cinemas in Surrey – Everyman, Empire and Harlequin to name a few, but they all seem to have the same ticket prices and offerings during school holidays.
Holiday Workshops in Surrey
G Live Guildford
Dance in a Day: Ghostbusters – 26 October 2022 – Ages 7-11. Session from 10am to 4pm
Theatrical Makeup: Special FX – 26 October 2022 – Ages 12 – 16. Session from 10am to 4pm
Play In A Day – 27 October 2022 – Ages 7-11. Session from 10am – 4pm
Computer Xplorers: Animation – 28 October 2022 – Ages 7 – 11. Session from 10am to 4pm.
Holiday Clubs in Surrey
If you need to work over the holidays and need childcare then holiday clubs are a really popular idea – and there are so many across Surrey that you’re bound to find one perfect for your children that’s close to where you live or work.
Surrey Wildlife Trust Holiday Club
Where: Nower Wood Education Centre, near Leatherhead
When: Tuesday 25 October 2022 – Wednesday 26 October 2022 – 9:30am – 3:30pm
Ages: Wild Explorers Holiday Club: 5-11 Year olds
Wild Explorers Holiday Club is the perfect place to embark on adventures, forge friendships and turn school holidays into lifelong memories!
When: Thursday 27 October 2022 – 9:30am – 3:30pm
Ages: Wild Rangers Conservation Club: 11-17 Year olds
Help manage the ancient woodland reserve and learn skills including tree felling, coppicing and habitat surveying as well as fire lighting, whittling and carving.
YMCA East Surrey Holiday Club
Where: YMCA Sports and Community Centre, Redhill
When: Monday 24 – Friday 28 October 2022 – 08:00-08:30 to 4pm or 6pm
Ages: 4-12 year olds
The focus is on having fun in a warm and welcoming environment while learning new skills and enjoying a range of activities including sports, crafts and games. Children have access to a new outdoor play area, a fantastic sports hall and dedicated children’s activity rooms.
Explore Activity Centre Activity Camp
Where: The Quays, Coleford Bridge Road, Mytchett, Surrey, GU16 6DS
When: 24th – 28th October 2022, 9am-5pm
Ages: 7+
Mainly land based bush craft activities. These include making bow and arrows, crafting wooden mallets, as well as cooking chocolate baked bananas, toasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate along with many other land based activities like obstacle courses, orienteering, team games and shelter building.
Koosa Kids
Where: Ashford Park Primary School, Ashford – Danetree Primary School, West Ewell – Knaphill Lower School, Woking – Manby Lodge Infant School, Weybridge – St Edmund’s Primary School, Godalming – St Joseph’s Primary School, Guildford
When: 24th to 28th October 2022
Ages: 4 – 13 year olds
Experience all the fun and excitement of the Winter Olympics at KOOSA Kids February Half Term Holiday Clubs. With a mixture of active and non-active games and activities, the Winter Olympics Spectacular caters for all tastes and interests.
Ultimate Activity Camps
Where: Prior’s Field School, Godalming – Amesbury School, Haslemere – Holy Cross Prep School, Kingston – Manor House School, Bookham – Lingfield College, Lingfield – Surbiton High School, Surbiton – Hinchley Wood Sports Ground – Sutton High, Sutton –
When: Most school holidays – Check website for dates
Ages: 4 – 14 year olds
At Ultimate Activity Camps, children will enjoy a fantastic range of sports, games and art activities every week led by engaging staff at amazing locations. Fun is at the heart of everything they do.
Fit For Sport
Where: Places Leisure, Camberley – Westcroft Leisure Centre, Carshalton
When: 24th to 28th October 2022
Ages: 4 to 12 year olds
Fit For Sport’s holiday camps have been running for over 30 years and are designed to engage all children through multi-sports, games, arts and crafts and more so that they can make friends and keep active throughout the holiday.
You can read our Fit For Sport review here.
Camp Beaumont
Where: Chinthurst School, Tadworth – Claremont Fan Court School, Esher – Halstead Prep School, Woking – Hobbledown Adventure Farm, Park and Zoo, Epsom – Lyndhurst School, Camberley – RGS Guildford, Guildford – St Mary’s School, Reigate – St Ives School, Haslemere – Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames – Wallington County Grammar School, Wallington
When: 24th to 28th October 2022
Ages: 3 to 16 year olds
Camp Beaumont award-winning half-term adventure day camps feature over 50 activities including archery, football and tennis, teaching children new skills whilst making new friends and enjoying their best half-term break yet.
Premier Education Holiday Camps
Where: Twickenham Preparatory School, Hampton – Elmbridge Xcel Leisure complex, Walton – Our Lady of the Rosary RC Primary School, Staines – Walsh CofE Junior School, Ash –
When: 24th to 28th October 2022
Ages: 4 to 12 year olds
Premier Education have a range of fun and exciting holiday camps to keep children active. Each Holiday Camp features a range of activities and with a choice between a Multi-Activity camp, Multi-Sport camp, Performing Arts camp, or a Sport-Specific camp.
Barracudas Activity Camps
Where: Gordon’s School, Woking – Notre Dame School, Cobham – Edgeborough, Farnham
When: 24th to 28th October 2022 8:30am – 5:30pm with extended hours available
Ages: 4.5 – 14 year olds
A great solution for parents during the school holidays, Barracudas activity camps offer high quality care and activities for kids with an emphasis on FUN!
I hope that’s given you some inspiration when it comes to organising your half term childcare, days out and activities. I’ll add more events as they’re announced and please do get in touch if I’ve missed your favourite event off the list.
