Free October Half-Term Fun for the Whole Family!

Half-term is just around the corner, which means the kids will be off school and up for an adventure! Don’t worry though, keeping them busy doesn’t have to break the bank. We’ve found the best free things to do this October half-term so you can make the most of that little snippet of quality time.

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This is one for any budding artists. Have a look around the renowned National Gallery and its hundreds of pieces of artwork before stopping by their Family Sketching Salon. To mark their month of well being, the National Gallery are giving you a chance to get creative as a family by capturing paintings and places in playful ways. 

You don’t normally find a farm so close to a city, but Hackney City Farm makes a great day out. The farm is a community hub all about local produce and of course has a range of animals, including donkeys, pigs, goats and guinea pigs. Make sure you pop by the brilliant cafe and deli, Frizzante, while you’re there.

This is a beautiful exhibition by the Japanese children’s illustrator, Anno Mitsumasa. His work is characterised by a sense of warmth, curiosity and playful humour and this exhibition clearly demonstrates why his illustrations have appeared in children’s books for over 50 years. With a reading library and a chance to introduce beginner’s Japanese to the whole family, Anno’s Journey at Japan House is one not to be missed.

If you plan on going to the Museum of London's Beasts of London exhibition over half-term, make sure you do when there is a free event to go with it. There’s Behind the Scenes Magic, Backstage Tales, Teaser Trailers and so many more interactive workshops to get involved in. From storytelling to arts and crafts, there’s something for everyone.

You probably haven’t been to the Francis Crick Institute before, the biomedical research centre doesn’t automatically spring to mind when thinking about how to entertain the kids. However, Craft and Graft: Making Science Happen is a brilliant exhibition to showcase how the life-changing scientific research they do actually happens. Find out how the team feed a million fruit flies and why an eyelash is such an important scientific tool.
 

Lets face it, sometimes the kids are better at using technology than we are. This is a chance for them to put their digital skills to good use! The V&A are hosting innovative digital workshops where you can create your own fantasy world using their programming system. The sky's the limit so get creative and bring those drawings to life!
 

There’s nothing better than a free show! This interactive music and theatre performance is another great thing to schedule into your visit at the Museum of London. Follow Splat, the Time Travelling Dormouse on his adventures through London’s past. You’ll have to avoid the plague, soothe some lions and join the circus, what a busy afternoon! This one is bound to be popular so make sure you book in advance.
 

As part of the London Literature Festival, the Southbank Centre have organised a magical fairy tale trail for families to complete as a do-it-yourself adventure. Using their trail kit, discover the secrets of your favourite fairy tales as well as some more dark and mysterious stories. There may even be a reward if you manage to complete all the puzzle-solving and tasks along the way!
 

Finish half-term off by getting outside and into the Halloween spirit. Hyde Park is one of London’s most popular open spaces in the Autumn, but this hair-raising Halloween discovery day at the LookOut will make your visit a bit different. Explore the nature trail, investigate the witches den and create a potion before listening to a spooky story! Dressing up is encouraged so don’t forget you creepiest costume. 

There are plenty of half-term activities to keep you busy but if you're still stuck, have a look at our other blog posts, 11 Fantastic October Half-Term Deals to Book Now and 13 Fun Things To Do With Kids This October Half Term.