How was your summer? We had a great time, and now the children are nicely settled back at school our thoughts turn to October half term! We absolutely love Autumn, and with the beginning of a chill in the air, the incredible colours, as well as the pumpkin carving, it always provides plenty of opportunities to get out there and enjoy the best of the season.
We thought we’d pull together some of our favourite places and things to do along with some new things we haven’t tried before. Do let us know if there are other tried and tested favourites of yours!
Priory Farm, Nutfield
One of our very best places is Priory Farm in Nutfield which is close to our HQ. With it’s Discovery Walk which is always spookified for the season, and the witches cave, it provides all the ingredients for a fab day.
Penshurst Places, Penshurst
Moving across to Kent, we love beautiful Penshurst Place with its spooky activities, and for older children (8+) there is a ghoulish sounding Medicines and Surgery demonstration, to show how things used to be done in the olden days! Shudder!
Weald and Downland Museum, Singleton
Over in Sussex at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, there are tonnes of activities going on during half term, including making a corn dolly and rolling your own candle. These are for an additional fee but there are also some free activities such as making a mini Guy Fawkes model and lavender bag.
Hever Castle, Hever
At Hever Castle there will be a spooky trail and fancy dress competition among other things as part of their Ghastly Goblins & Ghouls event. Looks like FUN!
Friston Forest, Seaford
For a more back to nature outdoorsy experience for children age 5+ we like the sound of this Sussex Wildlife Trust run day at Friston Forest near Seaford. Campfire, hot chocolate, making clay monsters and foraging for potion ingredients, what’s not to love?!
Local Farms
Fishers Farm Park, Drusillas, Spring Barn Farm, Godstone Farm, Bocketts Farm all have a packed schedule of events over half term and we know we’ll be struggling to pick which one to go to!
The National Trust
National Trust always do school holidays well and are perfect places for a bit of leaf kicking and puddle jumping because let’s face it, there will be rain at half term, it’s a given! Some of our favourites are Polesden Lacey, Bodiam Castle, Sheffield Park Garden and Nymans. Over half term, Chartwell and Emmetts Garden both have spooky pumpkin trails, Shalford Mill has Magical stories told by a friendly witch, Winkworth have a delightfully named ‘happy pumpkin trail’ and also offer pumpkin carving (BYO), Petworth have their Wizards Quest Trail along with Academy for Witches and Wizards, while Bodiam Castle have the Crones Corner which sounds like fun! So many fun activities here, it is truly a case of making a list and then revisiting it next year and the year after it would be impossible to cover them all in one week!
Denbies Wine Estate, Box Hill
Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking always have fun events too and this half term is no exception. We are especially looking forward to the Spooky Train Ride and Spookiest Fairy Story ever told!
Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve wild in the woods family festival where you can make a leaf crown, help build a fairy village and create a den.
Arundel Castle, Arundel
Arundel Castle are hosting a re-enactment of the life and times of the 11th century Norman Period in The Keep at Arundel Castle. We know our children will absolutely love this, what a perfect way to bring the Battle of Hastings period to life!
We hope these ideas are enough to keep you and the children busy! We will be sure to share photos of our adventures over half term, and would love to see yours too! Come and visit our Facebook page and don’t forget to like the page to keep up to date with our FREE family events. You can also follow us on Twitter @moverev and Instagram @move.revolution