October half-term: outdoor things to do with kids across the UK

The best October half-term activities are the ones that still work when the weather turns: donutting and tubing on dry slopes, guided river paddles, woodland laser tag and indoor surfing, all bookable online. Most schools in England and Wales break up in late October, but dates vary by council, so check with your school or local council before you book.

We've grouped our picks by region, with ages and what to book for each one.

Quick picks for half-term

• Donutting at Alpine Snowsports Aldershot: spin down the slope in an inflatable ring, from age 4.
• Tubing at Norfolk Snowsports Club near Norwich, for ages 6 and over.
• Family White Water Rafting in Cardiff, on slowed-down rapids for ages 6 and up.
• Woodland laser tag with The Outdoor Ed School, for ages 8 and over.

South East and London

Alpine Snowsports Aldershot is the place for a guaranteed giggle. Donutting means hopping into an inflatable ring and sliding down the dry slope forwards, backwards or spinning, with no experience needed and children welcome from age 4. Inclusive Donutting sessions run with smaller numbers for children and young adults with special needs, their carers and siblings, and you can add a party table if it's a birthday. Book a donutting session here, or read more on our Alpine Snowsports Aldershot page.

On the Thames, Paddle Richmond runs two-hour group paddleboard and kayak sessions near Richmond Bridge, with qualified coaches and photos taken on the water. Families with children aged 12 and over can book the Richmond Group Kayak Experience together, with under 14s sharing a double kayak with a parent.

Photo: Paddle Richmond

North of London, Whoosh Explore is a community canoe club on the River Stort at Sawbridgeworth, a short walk from the station. Its Family Paddling sessions put families and friends in easy-to-paddle canoes and kayaks, with coaches on hand, and the Taster Canoe Session is a gentle there-and-back paddle that suits a parent with a young paddler.

For older kids who want a mission, The Outdoor Ed School runs woodland laser tag at Alice Holt, Parley and Wendover Woods. Sessions are designed for ages 8 and up and use infrared guns, so there's the thrill of paintball without the pain. Look out for the Halloween zombie specials too.

South West

Cornwall's surf schools keep going after the summer. At Crantock, Big Green Adventures teaches surf lessons in small groups of up to six for ages 8 to 108, with C-Skins wetsuits and boards included. Younger or more nervous paddlers can try a SUP Taster Lesson on the calm, shallow estuary pools at low tide.

Koru Kayaking leads two-hour guided trips in sit-on-top kayaks, either along the cliffs and caves of St Agnes or up the sheltered Helford River near Falmouth. The Helford Kayak Adventure is the calmer choice for families.

Photo: Koru Kayaking

If it pours, Cornwall Laser Tag's neon-lit indoor arena in Newquay runs a Halloween Special for children and adults, with spooky decorations and no staff jumping out of dark corners. Further east, UKAO @ Avon Valley, between Bath and Bristol, has Beginner Target Archery with ArcheryGB instructors and Kid's Axe Throwing for ages 8 and over with an adult.

Heading to Cornwall for the week? See our guide to things to do in Cornwall in autumn and winter.

Wales

Cardiff International White Water in Cardiff Bay packs a full day into one place. On certain days the pumps are turned down so children from age 6 can join Family White Water Rafting, and the 90-minute Family Kayak/Canoe Taster in the flat water pool is made for parents and kids learning together. The indoor wave is ideal if the weather turns.

Photo: Cardiff International White Water

Across the city, Cardiff Ski & Snowboard Centre has 30-minute Mini's ski lessons for first-timers aged 4 to 6, with all kit included. At Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs, children aged 4 and over can carve a pumpkin to take home at an indoor Pumpkin Carving session, and Llandegfedd Lake near Pontypool runs Halloween Pumpkin Carving in its lakeside café for ages 3 and up, with fancy dress welcomed.

More ideas for a wet week in Wales are in our round-up of rainy day activities in Cardiff.

East and North

Norfolk Snowsports Club, near Norwich, runs tubing for ages 6 and over: a supervisor collects your group, there's a helmet fitting and safety brief, then 45 minutes of sliding. Parents can watch from the bar and café that overlook the slopes. Read more on our Norfolk Snowsports page.

Photo: Norfolk Snowsports Club

In Lancashire, The Hill, home of Ski Rossendale, has Fun Tubing on two slopes, the smaller one with a lift to tow the tubes back up. Children aged 5 and over who fancy trying skis can book a Ski Taster Session with the centre's instructors. See our Ski Rossendale page for more.

How to plan half-term without the stress

• Book weekends and the middle of the week first. Popular slots fill early in school holidays.
• Check the age and height limits on each booking page. Some activities, like the indoor wave in Cardiff, have a minimum height as well as a minimum age.
• Dress for the outdoors. Dry slopes, rivers and woods are all outside, so pack layers, gloves and a full change of clothes.
• Ask what kit is included. Most watersports centres provide buoyancy aids and many include wetsuits, but it varies.

October half-term FAQ

When is October half-term?

Most schools in England and Wales take a week off in late October, but each council or academy trust sets its own dates and some break a week earlier. Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own dates too. Check your school's calendar or your council website before you book.

What can kids do at half-term if it rains?

Head indoors to the wave machine at Cardiff International White Water or the laser tag arena in Newquay, or pick an activity where you get wet anyway, like rafting or a paddling session. Pumpkin carving at Lisvane and Llanishen is an indoor event too.

What age can children go donutting or tubing?

Donutting at Alpine Snowsports Aldershot is open from age 4. Tubing at Norfolk Snowsports Club is for ages 6 and over, and The Hill in Rossendale has a gentle nursery slope suitable for children aged 5 and over. Each booking page lists the exact rules.

Related reading

Planning more family days out? Read where to go donutting in the UK and our 8 spooky activities to do this Halloween.

Find more half-term ideas on eola

Search by place and date, from river paddles to dry slope tubing, and book your half-term plans in a few clicks on the eola marketplace.