Half term is now upon us (I know, it feels like the kids have only just gone back to school after the summer holidays). If you are stuck for ideas to keep the little ones entertained this half term, don’t worry, we’ve got it covered in this handy guide. Autumn is a beautiful time of year to make the most of the outdoors. The amount of things you can do this week is greater than ever. Here is our list of cheap, fun things to do this week. Whether you are on a budget or want to spend a little more, there is something for everyone.
Explore the outdoors
With Autumn well and truly upon us now, there are loads of things you can do outside this half term. From visiting your local park or exploring somewhere new, there is something out there for all ages and abilities. Here are our favourite autumnal outdoor activities:
Pumpkin Picking
There are lots of different locations and farms all over the UK to pick your own pumpkins. This is a really exciting and cost effective afternoon for all the family, picking and choosing your own pumpkin then taking it home and carving it. This way is much more exciting than choosing a pumpkin in the supermarket. It gets everyone outside and exploring the fields. Perfect timing for Halloween…
Free Museums
There are 180 free museums across the UK – that’s more than enough to keep the whole family busy. Find out fascinating historical facts or even see how toys have evolved over the years. You can find your local Museum online.
Visiting London
If you plan your trip to London, it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are always so many different events going on in London especially over the half term week – and a lot of these events are free. It’s all about the planning – and if planned correctly, it can be a very cheap day out.
Don’t forget your Handy Map of Central London to help you navigate and plan where you want to go…
Our Handy Map highlights:
- Places of interest
- Buildings open to the public
- Tourist information centres
- Theatres and cinemas
- Selected stores, shops and main shopping streets
- Embassies
- Selected hotels
You should also check out this handy guide which highlights 50 different things to do in London over the half term week, perfect for helping you explore London.
Days out deals
The Eden Project: This is one of our all time favourites. You can also get 10% off when you book at least one day in advance. So you’d pay £22.50 per adult and £12.60 per child.
For more information, see Eden Project.
Thorpe Park – Fright Night: A slightly more expensive day out, however it is 100% worth it. This is a very special treat and there is something for all ages. Over the Halloween season, including the half term week – the park is open until 10pm. Depending on which day you decide to go, it varies in price, so check different days for better deals.
For more information, see Thorpe Park
Be sure to also check the MoneySavingExpert.com for current deals and money saving ideas, often 2 for 1 vouchers or money off this half term.
Explore the National Parks (Located all across the UK)
There are 15 national parks in the UK, but the number of places to visit and things to do within them is limitless. The 15 parks are located all over the UK so there is something for all ages and abilities and can make a fantastic adventure for all the family.
Lake District
Don’t forget to take a map with you and make sure you take advantage of our 35% discount on Ordnance Survey Explorer and Landranger maps!
You can also find plenty of inspiration in the National Parks “Top 15” list.
Get Outside with Ordnance Survey
One of our partners Ordnance Survey have a huge amount of recourses and ideas to entertain the kids. There are some fantastic ideas and ways to explore and get the kids outside this half term.
Geocaching
Geocaching has been increasing in popularity over the last year. If you have a GPS device, try Geocaching for a cheap and creative way to put smiles on your kids faces.
If you haven’t heard of Geocaching before, it’s basically a real world outdoor treasure hunt, that involves finding specific locations to discover what essentially is a plastic tub containing hidden ‘treasure’ (which is normally little toys) It’s a great way to educate all the family about the area you live in, learn to navigate and search for goodies.
You can get started by signing up for a free membership on the Geocaching website. Find out all the details and rules here.
Arts & Crafts – Halloween Theme
So on Monday 31st October it’s Halloween. You don’t have to stop at pumpkin carving. Here is a huge selection of arts and crafts to keep the kids busy this week. There are so many different blogs and ideas online to give you inspiration. This is one of our favourites which shows 50 different Halloween craft ideas.
Make sure you also check out the Woodland Trust activity page for a huge selection of outdoor and indoor fun, with downloadable guides and craft activities, your little ones won’t have time to get bored this week.
We hope we have given you some inspiration for your half term week!
