What to Do this October Half Term Across the North East and Yorkshire
The half term holidays are here!
BROCKSBUSHES
Until 31st October take the whole family along to the North East’s biggest pumpkin patch where there are more than 100,000 homegrown pumpkins to choose from, just in time for Halloween. There’ll be more photo opportunities than ever before, as well as the chance to carve your pumpkins, rides and attractions, and street food on site.
Brocksbushes Farm Shop, Stocksfield, NE43 7UB
brocksbushes.co.uk
LILIDOREI
Until 1st November, spooktacular surprises await at Lilidorei, where dressing up is encouraged this Halloween. Your children will head on a Spookydorei adventure to solve riddles and find hidden objects throughout the village, and there’s a chance to vote for your favourite scarecrow made by local school children in the annual Spooky Scarecrow Contest. Pick up your trick or treat bag from the shop.
Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden, Gardeners Cottage, Greenwell Road, Alnwick NE66 1HB
lilidoreialnwick.co.uk
THE PLOTTERS’ FOREST
Let the kids run free in Raby Castle’s immersive adventure playground within their Christmas tree plantation, while parents can relax among the treetops on the deck of the Plotters’ Pantry. Plus, until 1st November, dress up, bring the whole family, and explore the enchanting woodland trail but watch out for creepy clues, spooky spiders, wicked witches and creaking skeletons on the Trick or Trail.
Staindrop DL2 3NF
raby.co.uk
LIGHT NIGHT LEEDS
Once again some of Leeds’s most iconic indoor and outdoor spaces will be transformed by dazzling light art and performances by local, national and international artists on 28th and 29th October. This year, Light Night Leeds celebrates its 20th anniversary, so when better to visit?
Across Leeds
lightupthenorth.com
RHS GARDEN HARLOW CARR
The most northerly of all the RHS gardens, Harlow Carr has woodlands, streamside plantings, herbaceous borders, wildflower meadows and small-scale model gardens to explore. This half term, children will discover plant life and the interactive garden trail and get up close with creepy crawlies from ZooLab.
Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate HG3 1QB
rhs.org.uk
WILLIAM’S DEN
Step into an outdoor Halloween experience at William’s Den this half term as it transforms into Trick or Treat Street from 24th–31st October. Solve the case of the Missing Bell Chime, meet your favourite characters, take part in fantastic activities and look out for the tricks and treats on every corner. Elsewhere, children can build dens and make friends in the sandpit, and there’s an indoor playground too.
Castle Farm, Wold Hill, North Cave HU15 2LS
williamsden.co.uk
LIFE SCIENCE CENTRE
A science hub in the city, Life Science Centre will engage curious minds. This half term it’s all about The Great Dinosaur Escape – the biggest collection of moving dinosaurs in the North. Your children will become a Dino Ranger and discover 25 dinosaurs spread across the centre.
Times Square, Newcastle NE1 4EP
life.org.uk
BALTIC
With four floors of art to explore and constantly rotating exhibitions at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, kids will love the sensory room, and you can explore the library which holds more than 13,000 books on contemporary art and visual culture. This half term, children can find out more about Baltic's resident honeybees and join artist Megan Randall in the Front Room for a hands-on, creative workshop inspired by nature and the changing seasons.
Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA
baltic.art
BUTTERFLY WORLD
Located in Preston Park, Butterfly World is home to more than 140 species of butterfly and hundreds of tropical host plants. Witness the vividly-coloured butterflies close up and learn more about them, then head to the meerkat house to see the adorable clan in their specialised habitat. There are also insects, reptiles, fish and even monkeys to see here. Visit now before it closes for the season on 30th October.
Preston Park, Yarm Road, Stockton TS18 3RH
butterflyworld.uk
SCIENCE AND MEDIA MUSEUM
Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum explores the science and culture of image and sound technologies through exciting workshops, exhibitions and events. Visitors are invited to think like a scientist in the Wonderlab and get hands-on in a variety of activities – and there are changing events throughout the year to engage children with science. Enter Shaun the Sheep's Mossy Bottom Laboratory this half term for spooky science experiments, animation workshops, live shows and film screenings.
Bradford BD1 1NQ
scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
XSCAPE
Want to ski on real snow without having to leave the UK? Xscape’s Snozone is a must-visit for both beginners and pros. But with themed climbing walls to tackle, escape rooms, laser tag, bowling, VR simulators, immersive cinema pods, and glow-in-the-dark golf, you can easily spend the whole day here. Your kids will be obsessed with the UK’s first high street slime store and you can let little ones run free at soft play.
Colorado Way, Castleford WF10 4TA
xscapeyorkshire.co.uk
EUREKA! THE NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
For both an educational and fun day out, this children’s museum in Halifax is where kids up to 11 get to spend a day focused on the business of play. There are six unique zones to discover here, filled with hundreds of interactive exhibits to inspire young minds. From 26th to 30th October, wannabe witches and wizards are invited to graduate from the Eureka! School of Witchcraft & Wizardry in an immersive drop-in experience.
Discovery Road, Halifax HX1 2NE
eureka.org.uk
