October Half Term and Halloween

Discover a wealth of outdoor events, indoor activities, and spooktacular Halloween fun across South East England this October half-term. Watch out, you'll find some spooky adventures with a few jump scares, wizarding magic, and friendly ghosts along the way, along with the chance to enjoy the autumn colours and award-winning all-weather attractions.

Fiendishly Good October Half-Term Events  

Explore our spooktacular list for ideas and inspiration for things to do and places to visit over the October half-term and Halloween, or keep heading down to the bottom of the page to find hundreds of ghoulishly fun events to keep the whole family entertained.  

• Venture into the Forest of Light this Halloween with a stay at Sandy Balls Holiday Park, Hampshire, and keep a lookout for things that go bump in the night.
• Wasing Estate, in Berkshire, is delighted to announce the return of its annual 'Pick Your Own Pumpkins & Woodland Trail' event this Autumn, running on selected dates between 17th–31st October 2025.
• Ending a momentous year of festivities under the banner of Chichester950, marking the Cathedral’s 950th anniversary, visitors are invited to experience an immersive light and sound installation by the internationally acclaimed artistic collaboration Luxmuralis.
• This October Half Term, come and meet the rescued animals at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary – including the newest arrivals, Benji and Balu!
• From Witches to Stitches - Tudor Medicine at the Mary Rose Museum inside Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth.
• For older students, Safe Space, Jamie Bogyo's whip-smart, hilarious and bracing new play, will be showing at Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, West Sussex
• Immerse yourself in spooky interactive experiences ar Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, Hampshire, as Pumpkinville takes place with something for kids and adults to enjoy. 
• Climb, swing, and zip your way through the night with Go Ape Sundown Adventures across the region, including Itchen Valley Park, Southampton, Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire, and Alice Holt Forest, Surrey.
• Effel is starring in her favourite show with all new Effel’s Whiffs and Woofs, she has a few tricks up her sleeve and is brewing up something magical at the Rare Breed Centre, Ashford, Kent.
• A great way to see the city of Oxford is with a hop-on and hop-off bus tour with City Sightseeing, full of fascinating stories, you can also include entry to the famous Carfax Tower.
• There is lots going on at Bekonscot, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire,  this October half-term. From exploring the seven model villages to autumnal craft activities (available on selected dates) to a pumpkin treasure.

• Join Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire for a series of thrilling installations and immersive encounters that will delight chill-seekers of all ages and get scarier as dusk falls.
• Get ready for a wild, wacky science-filled adventure this Halloween at Bluebell Railway in East Sussex,
• Join Solent Hotel & Spa in Fareham, Hampshire, for a spooky afternoon tea including delicious delights! There will be a selection of sandwiches and treats
• The Brickworks Museum, near Southampton will be welcoming a host of traction engines back for one last celebration of brickmaking before the Museum closes for the winter months.
• Calling all young Ghost Hunters to Borde Hill in West Sussex this Halloween half term, can you find out what's spooking the Powers Family at Mortal Mansion. 
• Prepare yourself and your little ones for a wickedly spook-tacular family evening this Owl-O-Ween at the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Andover, Hampshire

What's on near me this October Half Term and Halloween?

Use the search bar at the top of the page to filter events by specific dates or counties. You can find fiendish things to do in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Dorset, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire.  If you're looking for something near you, or if you are travelling to a part of South East England for a short break or day trip, use the 'map view' button to find something local to you, or head on over to specific county what's on pages in the navigation to find something right for you. Don't forget you can sign up below to receive October half-term events straight to your inbox.

When is the October Half Term 2025?

Most schools in South East England break up for the October half term on Friday 24th October 2025, returning to school on Monday 3rd November 2025. Schools in the Isle of Wight however get an extra week off with students breaking up a week earlier on Friday 19th October returning to school on Monday 3rd November 2025. Halloween falls on a Friday this year and as always is celebrated on the 31st October.

Don't forget our rainy day guide is also here to help whatever the October half-term holiday weather brings, ensuring you have a great day out.