October Half Term in Surrey 2024
*This article is in the process of being updated – many attractions haven’t announced their activities for this year yet so I’ve kept last year’s events on for some attractions until I can update them.
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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 28 October to 1 November 20224 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:
If you’re happy to go a little further afield then these posts may be helpful too:
- Family Days Out in the South East
- Educational Days Out in the South East
- Educational Days Out in London
- Things to Do on a Family Trip to London
- Things to do in London on a Rainy Day
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 – Woking | Leatherhead | Walton-on-Thames | Farnham | Cobham | Chertsey | Reigate | Farnham | Godalming | Surbiton
Create and Grow Spooky – Fun Craft Activities – 28 October – 1 November 2024, 9am to 1:30pm
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.
Witches Trail – Free activity
Follow the eerie witches trail around the garden centre, discover the magic word and receive a sticker!
Watts Gallery – Down Lane, Guildford GU3 1DQ
October Half Term – Saturday 26 October – Sunday 3 November 2024
This October have an adventure with a day out at Watts Gallery. Explore the enchanting exhibition Flower Fairies: The Magical World of Cicely Mary Barker, followed by a Tree Fairy Trail across the Watts Gallery site. Visit the home of George and Mary Watts and have an adventure in the Verey Playwood!
There’s also lots of opportunities to get creative as a family with Clay Club, Watts Tots and figure drawing workshops.
Days Out with Activities in Surrey
Hampton Court – Hampton Court Way, East Molesey KT8 9AU
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace – 26th October to 3rd November 2024 – Included with Palace admission tickets
Explore Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted palace for Halloween, the spookiest time of the year at Hampton Court Palace. Lose yourself in atmospheric projections and creepy sound effects as the palace is transformed by magical spells.
As you tiptoe through the dark winding corridors and courtyards, you’ll feel the chilling presence of the infamous ghosts hiding around every corner. Work with the ghost hunters to seek out all of Hampton Court Palace’s spirits, but keep your distance – these ghosts are best kept to the past.
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 – Portsmouth Road, Cobham KT11 1AG
ZooLab Trail – 26th October to 3rd November 2024 – 10am to 4pm – Included with Painshill admission
Can you find all the spooky creatures as you explore Painshill? Pick up a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and use the clues at each stop to help you fill in the missing word.
You can read our review of Painshill Park here
Brooklands Museum – Brooklands Drive, Weybridge KT13 0SL
October Half Term – 26th October to 3rd November 2024 – 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!
You can read about our trip to Brooklands Museum here
Godstone Farm – Tilburstow Hill Road, Godstone RH9 8LX
Halloween at Godstone Farm – 26th October to 3rd November
Get ready for a fang-tastic October and visit Godstone Farm’s spook-tacular half term Halloween event! Accept the challenge of braving the wall by placing your hand into the unknown! Enjoy a host of family-friendly Halloween activities, including thrilling mini golf, pumpkin carving and marshmallow toasting, a fun spooky quiz trail and fang-tastic arts and crafts.
You can read our review of Godstone Farm here
Chessington World of Adventures – Chessington KT9 2NE
HOWL’O’WEEN – Selected dates, 5th October to 3rd November 2024 – £35 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 – Staines Rd, Chertsey KT16 8PN
Fright Nights – Selected dates from 4th October to 3rd November 2024 – Recommended 13+ years – From £37 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 – The Reeds Rd, Tilford, Farnham GU10 2DL
Halloween Half Term – 24th Oct, 2022 – 30th Oct – 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
RHS Garden Wisley – Wisley Lane, Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB
October half term: Wicked Plants – 26 October – 3 November – Included with admission
Follow this family garden trail and spot the ingredients for a witch’s potion to cast your own magic spell! Learn about beautiful but toxic flowers, insect-munching carnivorous plants, freaky fungi called dead man’s fingers and plants used for spells and potions.
Bocketts Farm – Young Street, Fetcham, Leatherhead KT22 9BS
Witches and Wizards Week – 26th October to 3rd November 2024 – 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 – Richmond, London, TW9 3AE
Halloween at Kew – 18 October to 3 November 2024 – Included with admission
This brand-new, after-dark Halloween trail is filled with so many hidden surprises. Join family and friends to wander from dusk into darkness between one ghostly space to another. Watch out for flickering flames in a fiendish fire garden, daring fire artists and grinning pumpkins aglow. Wind your way through the illuminated haunted woods filled with creepy neon cobwebs, ghastly ghouls, wicked witches, larger-than life spiders and beastly bats. Could it be a trick of the light or do things really go “bump in the night”?
You can read about our visits to Kew Gardens here:
National Trust Days Out with Activities
Hatchlands Park – East Clandon, Guildford GU4 7RT
Halloween Half Term – 26 October – 3 November 2024 – Included with admission/membership
Visit Hatchlands for some Halloween fun with a pumpkin hunt in the garden for the little ones and spooky activities on the parkland trail. There’s even some broomsticks to help you on your way!
You can read about our visits to Hatchlands Park here:
Morden Hall Park – Morden Hall Rd, Morden SM4 5JD
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 – Portsmouth Rd, Esher KT10 9JG
Enchanted Claremont – 19 October – 3 November 2024 – £2 per person
Join the Wandering Witch and her merry band of magical creatures for an adventure trail around the garden this October half term.
You can read about our visits to Claremont Gardens here:
- Claremont Landscape Gardens After Lockdown {National Trust}
- Claremont Landscape Gardens {National Trust}
Winkworth Arboretum – Hascombe Rd, Godalming GU8 4AD
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 – 24-26 High St, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1HL
The Baddies – 29th October to 3rd November – Age 3+, 1 hour run time.
Epsom Playhouse – 42 Ashley Ave, Epsom KT18 5AL
Ministry of Science – 28th October 2024
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.
- 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
- 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 – Mighty 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 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: Most school holidays
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: Most school holidays
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: Most school holidays
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: Most school holidays
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: Most school holidays
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: Most school holidays
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: Most school holidays
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: Most school holidays
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: Most school holidays
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.
If you’re looking for more things to do in Surrey this October half term, these posts might help:
- Pumpkin Picking in Surrey
- Family Days Out in Surrey
- 38 Pubs with Play Areas in Surrey
- Where to practice Archery in Surrey
- Where to play Crazy Golf in Surrey
- Where to go Go Karting in Surrey
