Where Should Families Visit In London This Half-Term?

It might feel as though the summer holidays have only just finished, but it won’t be long before the school bell rings for another half-term. 

That’s why it is sensible for parents to start thinking about what they should do with their kids during the October holiday, with one great idea being hiring a coach to London to take part in some of the fantastic events being held over the holidays. 

Here is a small selection of the family-friendly activities taking place in the capital this half-term:

Halloween Light Trail at Kew Gardens

If your little ones want to do something fun for Halloween, then head to Kew Gardens for its eerie light trail. 

The famous botanical gardens will be transformed to create one of London’s spookiest experiences this Halloween. 

The trail, which will include a forgotten fairground, headless horsemen, illuminated spider webs, and haunted woods, will launch on October 17th and continue until November 2nd. 

The gardens will be open until 10pm, which is more suited to adults and older children, while the twilight sessions take place between 6pm and 7:30pm, and the daylight admissions are until 6pm, which are best for younger kids. 

As well as enjoying the creepy stroll past all the terrifying features, visitors can tuck into freaky fries, toasted monster marshmallows, hot toddies and hot chocolates. 

It is open to both members and non-members, with prices starting at £16.50 for adults, which is on top of the admission price for Kew Gardens. As this event is extremely popular, it is advisable to book tickets in advance.

The Paddington Bear Experience

Parents with young children should head to The Paddington Bear Experience at South Bank’s County Hall. 

Fans of Paddington will really be able to immerse in the famous stories through this multi-room experience. 

Visitors will hop on board a train carriage, which transports them from one room to the next, including Mr Gruber’s antiques store, Mrs Baird’s kitchen, and even the Peruvian jungle! 

They will also get to visit Paddington Station and 32 Windsor Gardens where Paddington and the Brown family lived, as well as enjoy celebrations at the Marmalade Day Festival. 

Here, there will be fairground games, a calypso band, and lots of marmalade treats. You can also get your photo taken with Paddington, completing this immersive experience for families. 

Tickets start at £24 for children aged two to 15 years old, and are £34 for adults. 

Halloween at Hampton Court Palace

Another fantastic Halloween experience you might want to consider this half-term is at Hampton Court Palace. 

Visit the home of King Henry VIII as you’ve never seen it before, with atmospheric projections, spooky sound effects, terrifying storytime sessions, and a creepy outdoor trail. 

This is a great opportunity to discover all the eerie events that took place in the palace, and you might even spot some ghosts as you walk around. 

At over 500 years old, the castle has been the home of some gruesome tales over the years, and the spirits of two of Henry VIII’s six wives, Catherine Howard and Jane Seymour, are thought to haunt the premises still. 

In fact, Catherine Howard is known as the ‘Screaming Queen’ as she has been heard screaming in the Haunted Gallery since her death. Jane Seymour is said to have been seen on the Silverstick Stairs as a woman in white. 

Other ghosts at the palace include Oliver Cromwell, the ‘Grey Lady’, who is thought to have been the nurse of Prince Edward, and even Henry VIII himself. 

This is a great way to get your children interested in history, helping to gauge their interest through this thrilling experience.

Ice rink at Canary Wharf

Although Christmas might still feel a while off, you and your kids can start to get into the festive spirit by heading to London’s most famous ice rink. 

On October 25th, Canary Wharf will reopen its ice rink, which is one of the biggest in the country with a 325 person capacity. 

There are 12 sessions of 45 minutes a day, starting at 10am and ending at 9:45pm, and the popularity of the rink is obvious as timeslots are often booked up, despite its colossal size. 

Visitors to the rink can also enjoy the food, drinks and views from the Oasis Bar & Terrace, while the many shops and restaurants at Canary Wharf are also well worth going to during your trip. 

Children aged between four and 12 years old need to be accompanied by an adult or person over 13, and skate aids are available for those who need some help on the ice. 

Ticket prices vary by date and time, depending on whether sessions are at off-peak or peak times, and it is advisable to book your place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

ZooTown at London Zoo

If your children love animals then ZooTown is the perfect choice over the half-term holidays. 

The immersive experience is aimed at children between three and eight years old, allowing them to have lots of roleplay fun, whether they pretend to be zookeepers, scientists, vets, conservationists or presenters. 

Thanks to the array of props and costumes available, they can pretend to look after zoo animals, treat poorly creatures at the vet hospital, make scientific breakthroughs, or hop in a jeep for a safari experience. 

There are 13 different roleplay activities on top of 2,000 toys, so your little ones will never become bored during their time at ZooTown. 

The new experience opens on October 18th, so you’ll be amongst the first to enjoy it. Tickets, which start at £1, need to be purchased online in advance, and on top of a normal LondonZoo admission. 

Of course, a trip to LondonZoo itself is well worth the journey to the capital, with the famous attraction being the home of west lowland gorillas, asiatic lions, sumatran tigers, giraffes, pygmy hippos, sloths, penguins, reptiles, birds, insects, and sea life. 

There are more than 8,000 creatures to get close to, as well as several play areas to keep children entertained.

Daily events include a flying birds demonstration, a komodo dragon talk, a penguin splash, and getting up close to the giant bugs that live at the zoo.