We’ve rounded up our Top 30 things to do with the kids over October half-term in London. It’s a monster of a guide. Enjoy and look out for our Halloween Special coming soon!
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1. Get your panto costumes on for the Dame Dash Charity Fundraiser race, in aid of St Joseph’s Hospice and Hackney Empire, both on Mare St, E8 (Hackney Central overground). 12pm, registration adult £15/child £5/family £35 (Oct 27)
2. Travel back in time to the era of Elizabeth I & Her People for a week of storytelling, crafts and tours for families inspired by the bold new exhibition at National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, WC2 (Charing Cross tube). 11.30-4pm, all FREE (some events require tickets) (Oct 28-Nov 1)
3. Visit the Puppet Zoo for stories and crafts at London Transport Museum, WC2 (Covent Garden tube) and go on a family tour of railway memorabilia at the Depot Open Weekend in Acton (Nov 1-3). Museum entrance adult £15 (annual); under 16s FREE (Oct 28-Nov 3)
4. Head to Greenwich and find out what it means to be an Island Nation with a week of free family activities at National Maritime Museum, Queens House and Cutty Sark, SE1 (Greenwich/Cutty Sark DLR). Dates and times vary, FREE (Oct 28-Nov 3)
5. Blast off on an intergalactic odyssey in Journey to Space, the hugely popular interactive exhibition at Discover Story Centre, 383-387 Stratford High St, E15 (Stratford tube/overground). 10am-5pm (Tue-Fri), 11am-5pm (Sat-Sun); adult/child £5/family £18/under 2s FREE (until Nov 3)
6. Kids go free this half-term at the View from the Shard, London’s highest building in SE1 (London Bridge tube). 1 adult £29.95 + up to 2 children under 15 FREE (ages 0-3 are free as standard) (Oct 28-Nov 2)
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7. Take a teddy for repair at the Teddy Bear Hospital, meet Barbie and snap a photo on a kiddie motorbike at the Barbour pop-up shop, all during Half-Term at Selfridges, Oxford St, W1 (Bond St tube). Daily, FREE (Oct 26-Nov 2)
8. There’s a Monster Takeover throughout half-term at Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2 (Barbican/St. Paul’s tube) and Museum of London Docklands), E14 (West India Quay DLR), with loads of beastly activities daily. Times vary, all FREE (Oct 26-Nov 3)
9. Indulge in a Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at Dorchester, Park Lane, W1 (Hyde Park Corner tube) with performances by English National Ballet school dancers while you munch. 2.15pm & 4.45pm daily, adult £51 (includes glass of champers), child age 5-11 £30 (Oct 28-Nov 1)
10. Bookworm babes head for StoryStock, a brilliant storytelling festival for ages 0-13, at Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Rd, W12 (Shepherd’s Bush tube/overground). Times and prices vary, including several FREE events (Oct 31-Nov 2)
11. Get your skates on as the stunning Natural History Museum Ice Rink opens for the winter season. 11am-9pm (Mon-Fri) & 9am-9pm (Sat-Sun); from £8 (Oct 31-Jan 5)
12. There’s bedtime acrobatics, popcorn, storytelling and a midnight feast planned at the Pyjama Party at Stratford Circus, E15 (Stratford tube/overground). Ages 0-5 at 3pm/ages 0-8 at 6pm (Fri), ages 0-5 at 9.30am, 12pm & 3pm/ages 0-8 at 6pm (Sat); £6-£8 (Nov 1 & 2)
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13. Design your own Tattoo Tshirts aboard the HMS Belfast, Queen’s Walk, SE1 (London Bridge tube) as part of the Big Draw festival. 11am-12.30pm, 2-4pm, free with entry ticket adult £14.50/under 16s FREE (Oct 26-Nov 3)
14. Discover your super powers at fun and crafty Heroes & Sheroes workshops at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 (Bethnal Green tube). 10.30-4pm daily, FREE (Oct 28-Nov 1)
15. Make owls in flight, model diva lamps and more in Family Art Fun at Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, SE23 (Forest Hill overground), for ages 3+. 11am-2.45pm, FREE (Oct 28-Nov 1)
16. Kids and carers learn to make yummy pasta sauce and gnocchi from scratch with Sutra Kitchen Kids Cooking Class & Lunch at The Kitchen Clinic, Carnaby St, W1 (Oxford Circus tube). Ages 3-10. 1.30-4.30pm, £35 adult and child (Oct 29)
17. Create leaf crowns, bake seasonal treats and make light decorations in Amazing Autumn family activities at Geffrye Museum, Kingsland Rd, E2 (Hoxton tube). 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm, FREE (Oct 29-Nov 1)
18.Try felt making, pumpkin carving and more at Freightliners Farm, Sheringham Rd, N7 (Highbury & Islington tube), throughout half-term. 11am-4pm (Tue-Fri), FREE (Oct 29-Nov 1)
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19. Dazzling flips, aerial and juggling from the world famous Moscow State Circus at Ealing Common, W5 (Ealing Broadway tube). 2pm, 3pm, 5.45pm, 6pm, 7.45pm (dates and times vary); £10-£32 (Oct 23-Nov 3)
20. Lavish costumes, acrobatics and skaters on a shimmering winter wonderland in Nutcracker on Ice at London Palladium, 8 Argyll St, W1. 2.30pm & 7.30pm (Tue-Sat); £21-£76 (Oct 24-Nov 3)
21. Award-winning kids theatre company Look Left Look Right bring enchanting show The Many Whoops of Whoop Town to Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith W6 (Hammersmith tube). Ages 4+ 11am & 1pm (Tue-Sat), 3pm (Sat only); £8 (Oct 29-Nov 2)
22. Creepy crawlies perform death-defying stunts in hit show the Insect Circus at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Rd, N6 (Highgate tube). 12pm & 3pm, £12.95/family ticket £10 per person. (Oct 29-Nov 2)
23. Follow the adventures of one boy and his penguin pal in Ga Ga Theatre Presents: Oliver Jeffers’ Up & Down with live performance with big screen projections based on the illustrations from the book. Show is touring venues around London. (until Nov 3)
24. Watch the brilliant Monsters University and Planes at pocket money prices at Vue Kids Am (various cinemas); or the hilarious Despicable Me 2 at Odeon Kids Club (various cinemas). Top box office family films include Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Turbo, playing over half-term.
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25. Watch water birds on the move with Inflight Entertainment at London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes SW13 (Hammersmith tube). 9.30am-5pm, adult £11.65/child £6.50/under 4s FREE (Oct 26-Nov 3)
26. Visit an African Market (12-7pm, Oct 27) and browse food, crafts and fashion, then come along the next Saturday for the Film Africa Family Day (11am-4pm, Nov 2) featuring brilliant mix of short films, family photography and workshops. Both at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Rd, E1 (Shoreditch High St overground)
27. There’s stories and crafts at the interactive Peter Pan and the Ticking Crocodile family day (11am-1pm & 2-4pm, Oct 29). Also check out Picture This: Exhibition of Children’s Classics (Oct 4-Jan 26), 9.30am-6pm (Fri), 9.30am-5pm (Sat) and 11am-5pm (Sun): FREE. Both at British Library, 96 Euston Rd, NW1 (King’s Cross/Euston tube)
28. Enter a 50ft Giant Inflatable Whale at N1 Centre, Islington (Angel tube) and discover a stunning seascape. 11am-3pm, FREE (Nov 1)
29. BP Family Weekend: Time Loop is a free weekend of live music, visual arts and performance on a time-travelling theme at Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1 (Pimlico tube). For ages 0-100. 10am-5pm, FREE (Nov 2-3)
30. Find more events throughout the Family Arts Festival, across London (Oct 18-Nov 3)