There’s great family friendly exhibitions like Olafur Eliasson at Tate Modern and Antony Gormley at the RA. Also a perfect opportunity to visit places like the Old Royal Naval College and The Royal Collection have a bunch of cool child friendly things happening throughout half term.
But in case you need more inspiration we have also collated our favourite picks below.
Baby Block party
Whether the proud parent of a Lil Wayne, a Missy Elliot or a whole crew of Beastie Boys and Wee Papa Girls Rappers, FUN DMC is the jam for you and yours. A real block party experience designed with both parents and children in mind with areas to dance (obviously) to Hip-Hop, Funk & Disco classics; practice your graffiti or just chill and enjoy a drink. So grab your ‘kid and play’ during Dance Umbrella’s Fairfield Takeover.
When: Friday 18 October 2pm
Where: Fairfield Halls in Croydon
How much: free more info here.
Family Activity Day
Enjoy some fun family activities inside Tower Bridge and learn all about current facts and past history through creative workshops, art and more.
When: Sat 19 October 10am til 4pm
Where: Tower Bridge
How much: Adult tickets are £8.80 if booked here. All activities included in your admission ticket.
National History Museum Ice Rink
Get into the winter spirit with an experience at the Natural History Museum ice rink. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a skating bambi the backdrop of one of the most iconic museums in the city is bound to make you happy (and make that icy fall a little lighter!). Surrounded by fairy lights nestled in frost-covered trees, with the smell of mulled wine (or hot chocolate) in the air, this is a must for any Londoner.
When: Ice rink opens 19 October
Where: Natural History Museum, South Kensington
How much: £1265 for adults and £8.80 for children. More info and booking here.
Grim Keepers
Young Londoners can journey through an avenue of ghoulish gourds and hair-raising haystacks to take the perfect Halloween family picture at the Pumpkin Patch, before listening to spooky stories on how nature bites back at Halloween-themed animal talks. Those with a flair for creepy creativity can make bat masks and design pumpkin carvings at Spooky Arts and Crafts before transforming into all manner of fiendish beasts at the hands of the Zoo’s coven of frightening face painters.
When: 19-27 October
Where: ZSL London Zoo
How much: Adult tickets start at £29 Grim Keepers activities taking place between 11:00am – 4pm. Book online now for a 10% discount at www.zsl.org
Hocus Pocus
Voyage into the unknown with this dreamlike spectacle in which gravity dissolves, bodies bravely contort and optical illusions conjure other worlds Out of the darkness strange shapes appear as if from nowhere, illuminated by horizontal strips of white light. This family show should be great fun. Recommended for ages 7 and above.
When: 19 October 2pm & 5pm
Where: The Place
How much: £10 for adults £8 for children more info & booking here.
Low Tide Walk
A guided adventure for adults and accompanied children ages 9+ in Deptford Creek. Wade in a wild river and experience a different perspective of London history and urban wild.
When: Sun 20 October
Where: Creekside Discovery Centre SE8 4SA
How much: £12 for an adult and £8 for children. More info and booking here.
Reggae Tots Halloween Party
Get your reggae moves and groove with the kiddies in this fright fest in East London celebrating all things Halloween. Family fun includes face painting, UV lights, bubbles, balloons, confetti and giant parachutes in a rave style atmosphere with some of the UK’s top DJ’s all playing the best in Reggae & Dancehall!
When: 19 October 12 til 2
Where: Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
How much: £9 for kids and £10 for adults more info & tickets here.
Family Open Day
An opportunity to have a look at the buildings and engines, to take in the exhibition and learn something of the Victorian sewer system which continues to serve the capital. Today you will also be able to see one of the four engines, Prince Consort, in steam. There is a newly restored narrow gauge railway line (still in its infancy) which will be able to take visitors from the car park (at the Thames Water site entrance) to the main Engines building – currently it covers over half the distance and is served by a restored Diesel engine.
When: Sun 20 October 10:30 til 4pm
Where: Thames Water Sewage Treatment Works
How much: £8 for adults and children aged 5-15 £2. Option ride on the steam engine is £3 per person for a return journey to and from Abbey Wood railway station. More info here.
Spooky Eltham Palace
Grab your broomsticks for a bewitchingly brilliant day out at Eltham Palace and Gardens this Halloween half term where you can get hands-on with creepy crafts and a wicked witch-themed quest. There’s a fancy dress competition every day so come in your best witch and wizard outfits to be in with a chance of winning. Plus, meet some amazing animals – including snakes, spiders and more – and learn all about these creepy crawly creatures.
When: Sun 20, Fri 25 and Sun 27 October
Where: Eltham Palace
How much: £17 for an adult, £10 for a 5-17 year old and children under 5 are going free. More info and booking here.
The Fairy Tale Trail
Set off on a magical DIY adventure for families guided by a playful trail kit. Discover the secrets of your favourite fairy tales through cryptic puzzle solving, creative play and lots of games.
When: Mon 21 til Sun 27 October
Where: Royal Festival Hall
How much: free
Family Jazz Session
A jazz session with child friendly twist, where adults and little ones can bop away to live world-class jazz and take part in interactive musical activities.
When: 22 October
Where: Stratford Circus Arts Centre
How much: £8-£10 more info & booking here
Anansi Dance and Storytelling Workshop
After the performance of Anansi take your children to the dancing world of Anansi the spider and his fabulous tales.
When: Wed 23 & Thurs 24 at 12:30pm
Where: Unicorn Theatre
How much: £12 for one adult and one child but the show tickets start at £10 more info and bookings here.
Storytelling with Florence Nightingale
Join Miss nightingale for a storytelling session in our new Family Corner. Dress up as a nurse and discover how Florence made hospitals better for patients and nurses and how she still inspires people today.
When: Tues 22 & Thurs 24 October at 11:30, 1:30 and 3pm
Where: Florence Nightingale Museum
How much: Adult tickets are £8 more info and booking here.
Play Well
Pay Well explores the transformative power of play in childhood and in society at large. Through toys, games, artworks and design from the mid-1800s to now, this exhibition investigates how we played as children and how children play now, as well as its importance in developing social bonds, emotional resilience and physical wellbeing.
When: from 24th October onwards
Where: Wellcome Collection
How much: free
Family Workshop: Take a Breath
Inspired by the Buddhism exhibition this family workshop encourages you to take time out of busy life to look, make and relax together. Explore a selection of multi-sensory activities, experimenting with sound, mark-making, colour, drawing and collage. You can also choose to take part in a simple meditation exercise, before finishing with our short mindful sculpture walk through the Library. Suggested for children aged 5 and over.
When: 26 October 10:30 til 12 and again at 1pm til 2:30
Where: British Library
How much: free drop in more info here.
BFLF Halloween Rave
Come rattle your bones alongside the world famous Big Fish Little Fish at their Halloween Spooktacular family rave with acid house, techno, drum n bass and more in 3 rooms with live DJs. Dance together on a dance floor filled with bubbles, balloons, glitter and topped by the parachute dance in this amazing under the arches venue! Get creepy crafty on the Captain Cookie Craft tables and enjoy the Villa Pia baby chill out or play areas.
When: 26 October 2pm til 4pm & 27th October 2pm til 4pm
Where: Lighbox in Vauxhall on Saturday and Queen in Hoxton on Sunday
How much: £10 adults and £7 for kids more info & booking here.