Free museums that work with kids, the Halloween trail at Kew and a few tips for a busy week.
October half-term 2026 in London: free museums and Halloween days out
Most London schools break up for half-term from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, though some schools and boroughs differ, so check yours. Here are good days out that cost nothing, plus one Halloween event worth paying for.
Free museums that work well with kids
- Natural History Museum, South Kensington: free, open daily. Booking a time slot is a good idea in the holidays.
- Science Museum, South Kensington: free, next door to the Natural History Museum. Same advice on booking.
- Young V&A, Bethnal Green: free, daily 10am to 5:45pm. Some workshops need booking.
- Horniman Museum and Gardens, Forest Hill: free entry, with a Day of the Dead festival on 31 October. Some attractions inside are paid.
- London Museum Docklands: free, with half-term activities, some of which need booking.
At the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, under-18s get in free with a paying adult.
Halloween at Kew: 16 October to 1 November
A 1.5km illuminated night trail through Kew Gardens with a haunted tomb, a Dracula’s lair, a headless horseman and fire performers. From 16 to 24 October it runs 6pm to 10pm, and during half-term, from 25 October to 1 November, it opens earlier, at 4pm.
There are three types of session: daylight, which suits younger children, twilight, and moonlight after 7:30pm, which is the scariest. Adult tickets are roughly £19.50 to £24 depending on the date, with family tickets available.
Tips for half-term week
- Go early. Big museums are calmest in the first hour after opening.
- Book free time slots in advance where offered. It saves queuing outside.
- Pack lunch. Museum cafés are busy and expensive in the holidays.
For more ideas, see our guide to London’s free museums.
Sources
- Visit London: October half-term 2026
- Visit London: Halloween at Kew 2026
- ianVisits: Night-time Halloween trail at Kew Gardens
Last checked: 9 October 2026. Dates, prices and times can change, so check with the organiser before you travel. Photo: Sung Jin Cho / Unsplash.
