October half-term is just around the corner and we’ve rounded up the best deals on activities and days out to keep the kids entertained during the school break.

With National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab) you can make incredible savings on some of Britain’s top attractions and days out when you travel by train, including 2FOR1 and 1/3 OFF deals on spook-tacular Halloween themed events, family days at iconic landmarks, and lots of fun activities to suit the unpredictable Autumn weather. 

Don’t forget, when you travel with a Family and Friends Railcard, up to 4 adults can save 1/3 off most rail journeys when travelling with up to 4 kids – who get 60% off! At just £30 a year, a Railcard will provide you with savings too good to miss. 

For more Halloween inspiration, check out 10 Fangtastic Halloween Days Out by Train.

Family days out across Britain

4. Ascot’s Fireworks Spectacular Family Raceday  

• Get 2FOR1 tickets to Ascot Racecourse with National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab)

Jump racing returns with a bang, crackle, and boom at Ascot’s Fireworks Spectacular Family Raceday. Alongside the excitement on the racetrack, kids can prepare to be dazzled by frivolous fairground rides, enthralling live entertainment, and over 20,000 fireworks.

Ascot’s Fireworks Spectacular Family Raceday takes place on Saturday 2 November.

Nearest station:  Ascot (Berks) 

5. Crimes and Capers, Half-term Fun: The Black Country Living Museum

• Get 2FOR1 entry to The Black Country Living Museum with National Rail’s Days Out Guide (external link, opens in a new tab)

There’s trouble afoot this half-term and The Black Country Museum needs your investigative skills to help put things to right. Join the Museum for a fun-family day out where you’re invited to be judge and jury, looking at crime and punishment throughout history. From spies to petty thieves, stay vigilant and help their police detective crack the case! Guilty or not guilty? That’s up to you. 

Crimes and Capers at The Black Country Museum runs from 26 October to 3 November. 

Nearest Station: Tipton 

6. Silly Spookiness at Newcastle Castle

• Get 2FOR1 entry to Newcastle Castle with National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab) 

For Halloween, visitors can enjoy a host of creepy activities throughout the Black Gate and Castle Keep! Including spooky displays and Creepy Crafts to participate in. Remember to come in costume! 

Halloween at Newcastle Castle runs from 26 October to 3 November.

Nearest station: Newcastle 

7. Freddo’s Spooktacular Stage Show returns to Cadbury World this Halloween  

• Get 1/3 OFF entry to Cadbury World with National Rail’s Days Out Guide (external link, opens in a new tab)

Ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and ghouls... Freddo is back this Halloween with his Spooktacular Stage Show at Cadbury World. Expect plenty of spooks, surprises, tricks, treats and games... plus a lot of fang-tastic family fun! But make sure to shout if you see the big green monster! 

 Treat yourself this Halloween and explore an assortment of chocolatey zones, plus, stock up on plenty of chocolatey delights including handcrafted chocolate pumpkins, and an assortment of seasonal treats.  

Freddo’s Spooktacular stage show at Cadbury's World runs from 19 October to 3 November. 

Nearest station: Bournville 

8. Halloween at Thorpe Park

• Get 1/3 OFF entry to Thorpe Park with National Rail’s Days Out Guide (external link, opens in a new tab)

Get ready for an adrenaline-packed day filled with terror and thrills that will leave you breathless! When the sun goes down, the park transforms into a heart-stopping playground of horror, where frights lurk at every corner. With mind-blowing live shows and twisted Scare Mazes – thrill-seekers beware! 

Nearest station: Staines 

9. LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort: Brick or Treat 

• Get 1/3 OFF entry to LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort with National Rail’s Days Out Guide (external link, opens in a new tab)

The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort is once again hosting Brick or Treat, where the LEGO Monsters are taking over and throwing a Monster Party to celebrate their favourite time of the year! Join the festivities with the return of the frightfully fun 4D movie, The Great Monster Chase!, get stuck in with awesome themed LEGO builds, watch the Monster Jam show on the Harbour, plus ‘Monster Street’ returns for all those who dare to visit. Brick or Treat is sure to get your little monsters ready for Halloween this half-term. 

Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort is open now and runs until 3 November.

Nearest station: Windsor & Eton Central 

10. Warwick Castle: Haunting Half-term Fun 

• Get 1/3 OFF entry to Warwick Castle with National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab) 

The castle’s spookiest residents invite you to join them for half-term Halloween fun at The Haunted Castle. Enjoy mysterious mazes, eerie entertainment, and frightful delights for the whole family as over a thousand years of haunted history come to life this October half-term. 

Nearest station: Warwick 

11. Pumpkin Patch at Hobbledown Heath

• Get 2FOR1 entry to Hobbledown Heath with National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab) 

This Autumn, Hobbledown Heath adventure park and zoo has two incredible seasonal experiences. Their new Pumpkin Patch is the ultimate spot for making memories. Stroll through the scenic meadow by the River Crane, pick your favourite pumpkin, and enjoy tasty street food, fairground rides, and plenty of Instagram-worthy moments. 

Pumpkin Patch at Hobbledown Heath is open now and runs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 3 November.

Nearest station: Hounslow

12. Hastings Contemporary Gallery: IMMORTAL APPLES, ETERNAL EGGS

• Get 2FOR1 entry to Hastings Contemporary Gallery with National Rail’s Days Out Guide (external link, opens in a new tab)

Young artists can explore the rich and complex genre of still life in this major new exhibition, showcasing work from artists including Phyllida Barlow, Louise Bourgeois, Sarah Lucas, Henry Moore and Ai Weiwei. 

The exhibition juxtaposes world-class contemporary sculpture, video and installation alongside traditional still life painted works, asking viewers: what really is still life? 

The exhibition runs until 16 March 2025.

Nearest station: Hastings 

13. Brighton Museum and Art Gallery: Football and Photography

• Get 2FOR1 entry to Brighton Museum and Art Gallery with National Rail’s Days Out Guide 

Footie fans young and old are in for a treat as the Brighton Museum celebrates Albion's historic 2023/24 campaign, when the club played in Europe for the first time in its history, at Brighton & Hove Albion: A First Year in Europe. Photographs, ephemera and kit tell the memorable story of matches against Ajax, Marseille, AEK Athens and AS Roma as the club competed in the UEFA Europa League. A Brighton & Hove Museums collaboration with Brighton & Hove Albion. 

Brighton & Hove Albion: A First Year in Europe runs from 19 October to 27 April 2025.

For both budding photographers and animal lovers, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition comes to Brighton Museum and Art Gallery from September – perfect afternoon activity for October half-term. 

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year runs until 16 March 2025.

Nearest station: Brighton 

14. Winkworth Arboretum

• Get 2FOR1 entry to Winkworth Arboretum with National Rail’s Days Out Guide(external link, opens in a new tab) 

Autumn is spider season and it’s also the best time to spot them outdoors. On dewy or frosty mornings, their delicate spider webs reveal themselves, like jewels, glistening amongst the trees.  

In celebration of these fascinating creatures, Winkworth Arboretum have teamed up with children’s author Hillary Robinson, writer of the Sarah the Spider book series, bringing her books to life on an autumn trail through the arboretum. Climb through a giant spider’s web and enter a world where Sarah has lost her boots - follow the trail around the arboretum to help her find them.  

Sarah the Spider half-term trail runs from 19 October to 3 November.

Nearest station: Godalming