Autumn in Kent: 27 Family Friendly Days Out For October Half Term
Updated: Oct 6
October Half Term is just around the corner and if you're still looking for activities to fill your mini monsters' week, Girl About Kent is here with some inspiration!
From Autumnal walks and terrifying train adventures to spook-tacular wildlife experiences and creepy crafts, check out our full list of family friendly activities for October Half Term in Kent.
🍁 Autumn Magic at Birchden Vineyard
Step into the story and become a Harvest Moon Explorer on Birchden Vineyard’s actor-led immersive adventure through the vines. Little ones will meet the Keeper of the Vineyard, decorate their own Harvest Moon Key to take home, play games, follow clues and search for the missing pieces to restore the magic of the Harvest Moon.
Then, choose your own pumpkin from the vineyard before heading to the Rustic Barn for pumpkin decorating and marshmallow toasting, all included in your ticket price. Afterwards, stay a little longer and soak up the autumnal atmosphere in the barn, where the whole family can enjoy our Bavarian BBQ, seasonal food and drinks from the bar, available to purchase separately.
The event runs on select dates from 3rd - 31st October. Adult tickets are £14.95 and children’s are £34.95.
🦖 Spookysaurus Trick or Treat at Port Lympne
Take a walk on the wild side with a Half Term day out at Port Lympne Reserve where they’ll be hosting a Spookysaurus Trick or Treat Trail through Dinosaur Forest.
There will also be daily talks revealing the stranger, more spine-tingling side of the animal kingdom and seasonal food and drink to match the autumn atmosphere. It’s the ultimate safari in Kent offering the chance to meet more than 900 animals across the reserve.
🍫 Haunted House Workshop at Temper Temper Chocolate
Join Temper Temper Chocolate on 28th or 29th October for a Halloween-inspired workshop for youngsters.
Aimed at children aged 5 and over, this treat of a workshop will give the opportunity to make their own chocolate haunted house with all equipment and ingredients provided. Grown ups can either drop and go for the 90 minute workshop or relax with a cup of tea in the viewing room.
Tickets are £35 each and must be booked in advance.
🚂 Spellbound Express with KESR
Join Kent & East Sussex Railway for a spellbinding steam train adventure. Suitable for children aged 4 - 12, the little witches and wizards will have the opportunity to mix potions and practise spells with Wendy the Wicked Witch, be amazed by Merlin the Magician and even meet a friendly Baby Dragon for a photo!
The experience lasts one hour and will be running on 28th, 29th and 30th October. All children will receive a magical activity pack, with additional sweets and prizes included. Tickets start from £47 for a table for 2 and can be booked online.
💀 Halloween Trail & Crafts at Aspens
Little ones will love exploring the countryside, play areas and animals on Aspens' Halloween-themed trail around the site.
Pick up a free trail sheet from the Bluebell Cafe before heading out to follow the clues, with emus, alpacas, pigs and donkeys along the way. Complete the answers to receive a spooky treat, and perhaps even sample some of their delicious homemade cakes and pumpkin spice lattes! There’s also the chance to decorate an Autumnal owl on 28th October.
👻 Halloween Workshops & Party at Dragonfly Farm
Join Smodge Art for one of their Halloween-themed crafty workshops at Speldhurst’s wonderful Dragonfly Farm Cafe this October.
With opportunities for older children to create roguish wreaths and youngsters to make trick or treat bags, there’s something for everyone!
Visit the cafe on Halloween itself for a day-long party full of crafts, costumes and wickedly delicious cakes and bakes.
🍁 Room On The Broom at Bedgebury Pinetum
Running until 31st October, join Witch and her friends on an interactive 2km trail around the beautiful Bedgebury Pinetum.
Admission is free but parking charges apply and activity packs are £4 each from the visitor centre.
🍎 Halloween Trail, Crafts and Storytelling at Penshurst Place
Head to the beautiful Penshurst Place & Gardens to take on their Halloween-themed ‘Bad Apple’ garden trail full of mischief and mayhem.
Join bitter sweet brothers, Fergus Fang and Frightful Fred as they play nasty tricks on one another. Fergus Fang wants to get his own back and has decided to create a poison apple potion. Search the Grounds for some unusual ingredients and discover the strange side effects to each ingredient!
Running between 24th October - 1st November, there will also be crafts and storytelling on offer, as well as the epic adventure playground that is always a hit with the little ones!
🕵🏻♀️ Tudor Traitors at The Beaney
Running from 3rd October - 1st November (closed on Mondays), discover Canterbury's interactive art and knowledge museum, The Beaney, and take part in their popular annual Halloween trail.
Aimed at children aged 5 - 10, the Tudor Traitors trail sees little ones reveal the workings of a secret organisation active almost 500 years ago in Tudor Cabterbury. Uncloak the shadow figures to collect a tasty treat as a reward.
The trail cost £6 with entry to the museum itself free.
✏️ Once Upon A Drawalong at Trinity Theatre
Join beloved children’s author and illustrator Nick Sharratt as he hosts a creative workshop on 28th October at Trinity Theatre.
Combining his trademark illustrations with stories, games and plenty of audience participation, Nick will share some of his favourite books, introduce brand new ones and show audiences how to draw exciting characters and create their own.
💀 Quex Adventure Park's Trick or Treat Trail
Head to Quex Adventure Park to take on their Trick or Treat trail, select a pumpkin from their pumpkin picking patch and enjoy a ride on board the Slime Blaster Express.
With creepy characters along the trail, youngsters must survive their terrible tricks to be rewarded with a spooktacular sweet treat at the end. In addition to pumpkin picking and the Slim Blaster Express, your ticket also gives access to the adventure farm park and play areas.
Tickets start from £10.95 for adults / £17.95 for children.
🌳 Gruffalo Art Adventure at Knole Park
Visit Knole in Sevenoaks to experience their beautiful Gruffalo Art Adventure featuring 12 hand painted sculptures of one of the nation’s favourite literary characters.
Each sculpture also has a letter as its base for little ones to discover and decipher into a Gruffalo-associated phrase. There are also games and colouring as part of the activity pack, as well as a reading corner and dress-up area in the Orangery where the trail ends.
The trail is included in the admission price and booking is required.
🫖 Frights & Delights Afternoon Tea at The Spa Hotel
Indulge in some frightfully delicous treats at The Spa Hotel at their Frights & Delights Afternoon Tea.
Running between 21st October and 1st November, their themed afternoon tea is set to feature a haunyingly great selection of themed cakes, spooky sweet treats and freshly prepared sandwiches.
Booking is essential and adults are £40, children are £20.
🧪 Spooktacular Science at Hever Castle
There are few places in Kent more spectacular than Hever Castle during the Autumn months, and it's a great place for a family day out.
In addition to the stunning gardens and impressive play areas, their Spooktacular Science event will be taking over during Half Term. With puzzles to solve, craft activities to enjoy and even a timed show, there’s plenty to enjoy.
Activities are included in the admission price.
🐐 Farmyard Fright & Delights at COT's Rare Breeds Centre
The Rare Breeds Centre in Ashford is full of spooky fun this Half Term, with a Trick or Treat trail, paint a pumpkin, a maze and UV disco.
Young adventurers will visit six themed stations, receiving either a trick or a treat at each stop along the way. There'll also be pig feeding, guinea pig fishing, goat feeding and pig racing, making it the ideal destination for a great family day out.
Adult tickets are £18.50 and child tickets are £15.75 (under 2s are free).
🍁 Pumpkin Trail at Merriments Gardens
Families are invited to wrap up warm, step into the colours of autumn and follow a brand-new Pumpkin Trail through Merriments Gardens this October half term, from Monday 26 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
Set within the four-acre gardens, the trail invites visitors to hunt for hidden pumpkins, crunch through fallen leaves and enjoy a seasonal day out surrounded by glowing borders, garden paths and family-friendly discoveries. Afterwards, warm up in the cafe with some seasonal drinks including pumpkin spiced latte and white hot chocolate topped with Halloween-inspired marshmallows.
Children under 15 are free and adult admission to the gardens is just £8 including the Pumpkin Trail.
🎃 Pumpkin picking at various spots around Kent
We are spoiled for choice when it comes to pumpkin picking spots in Kent. Get your wellies and wheelbarrow ready, and check out our full guide to PYO pumpkin spots on our dedicated blog post here.
🧑🏻🔬 Professor Bubbleburp at Royal Victoria Place
Once Upon a Wish Events presents another fabulous FREE event in Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells this Half Term.
Join the wonderfully eccentric Professor Bubbleburp for an enchanting interactive experience where children can learn the art of spell casting, mix mystical potions and enjoy plenty of magical fun along the way. Packed with laughs, audience participation and Halloween-themed excitement, it’s the perfect family activity this October half term.
Running from 26th - 31st October as timed sessions throughout the day. It is a free event but booking is required.
⚓️ Ghostly trails and shows at Historic Dockyard Chatham
With a live show and ghostly trail, head to Historic Dockyard for their Yuck Yard event this Half Term.
For more than 400 years, people have whispered that Barnaby Bilge drifts around the Dockyard after dark. Once a hardworking Dockyard Matey, he can’t resist trying to help wherever he can. If you are looking for the ultimate family Halloween event in Kent that’s more “eeeuw” than “boo”, Yuck Yard delivers the perfect mix of grossness, hand-on activities, and live theatre.
With lots to explore as well as a cafe and soft play on site, Historic Dockyard Chatham makes for a fabulous day out during any season. Plus, with your tickets valid for a year, it's a great investment for the next 12 months!
🧡 Pumpkin Rainbows at Priory Farm's Discovery Land
A day at Priory Farm's Discovery Land is always a hit with us and it's particularly special at Halloween!
Celebrating the spirit of the season, step into a world of playful mischief with Discovery Land's nature-led outdoor trail. Featuring their magnificent pumpkin rainbow, follow Brother Hay and the mud monsters on a hunt filled with clever illusions, fun challenges and playful tricks.
👻 We're Going On A Ghost Hunt at Chartwell
For fans of the bestselling, lift-the-flap books, Chartwell are hosting "We're Going On A Ghost Hunt" trails for all the family to enjoy!
Join the Halloween bunnies as they set off on an adventure around this beautiful National Trust site, discovering the ghosts and surprises hidden along the way. Aimed at pre-school and younger children, little ones will play fun games and playful challenges along the way.
The trail is included with normal admission.
🍬 Betteshanger Country Park Woodland Trail & Pumpkin Patch
Running from 24th October - 1st November, see Betteshanger park transform into an enchanting adventure for all ages! Follow the creepy trail through the winding woodland paths, solving riddles and spotty spooky surprises.
Tickets are £15 per child, which includes 2 adults.
🦁 Wingham Wildlife Park
Visit Wingham Wildlife Park to pick your very own pumpkin and take part in Halloween activities, ranging from face painting to pumpkin carving and spooky activities with our education team included in the admission price.
Plus, of course, you can spend the rest of your day exploring the park and meeting all your favourite animals including some very Halloweeny ones such as wolves, bats and tarantulas!
🍄 Emmetts Garden Outdoor Family Trail
Running from 9th October - 1st November, the beautiful Emmetts Garden is running a new family activity trail as part of this year's Autumn Festival.
Help woodland warriors, Fun Gus and Myrra, save the forest and the Wood Wide Web by following clues and taking on challenges around the gardens. Discover the secret code to save the forest's hidden underground network.Once the mystery is solved, enjoy time in the fantastic natural play area and a treat from the National Trust cafe.
Trail sheets cost £3.00 which includes a prize, and normal admission applies.
🥳 The Great Pumpkin Party at Dover Castle
Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Dover Castle this October half term.
Join the Great Pumpkin Party as we celebrate the season with family activities and entertainment. There'll be interactive storytelling and spooky games, as well as a themed trail and a seasonal selfie spot around the site.
🗺️ Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Eastgate House
Visit the historic Eastgate House in Rochester to do their family friendly Halloween scavenger hunt. Follow the creepy clues to find the witch’s cauldron and earn yourself a badge.
Tickets start from £3.50 for children over 5.
🎊 Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival
Details are still TBC but it;s been confirmed that the festival will be returning and running throughout Half Term week.
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