If you're looking for more ideas for days out, why not join our FREE days out Facebook group here.
Things are very much up in the air about what could happen over October Half Term - there may be extra restrictions in place by then and events may be cancelled. Booking anything mentioned on this page is at your own risk and please always check details with venue direct before booking anything / heading out.
Despite everything though, I am determined to make October Half Term a good one. We have already decided that the kids won't be trick or treating this year which is very disappointing for them but we will be decorating the house for Halloween , carving pumpkins and watching lots of scary movies.
In fact, Steve and the boys have decided they are going to watch a horror movie every day in October!
I am hoping to get away to Scotland for a day or two but I am holding off booking anything until a few days before - then I will see how I feel.
Despite everything though, I am determined to make October Half Term a good one. We have already decided that the kids won't be trick or treating this year which is very disappointing for them but we will be decorating the house for Halloween , carving pumpkins and watching lots of scary movies.
In fact, Steve and the boys have decided they are going to watch a horror movie every day in October!
I am hoping to get away to Scotland for a day or two but I am holding off booking anything until a few days before - then I will see how I feel.
Apologies for the font size in this post - it is not playing ball with me today and one of those classic Computer Says No scenarios. I will try and fix it again soon.
Free Days Out with no pre-booking required
- 30+ Cycle Routes for Kids
- Enjoy one of these woodland walks
- Pumpkin Picking (some of the places on this list require no pre-booking)
- Go Blackberry Picking - here is my guide to some of the best spots
- Climb Penshaw Monument
- Visit one of these hidden gems in Durham (walks, rides and picnic spots)
- 15 of the Best Playgrounds in North East England
- Visit Low Hauxley Nature Reserve
- Visit Bedlington Country Park / Humpford Woods
- Find the Giant Spoon in Northumberland
- Visit East Cramlington Nature Reserve
- Try the Plessey Woods Art Trail (look out for the Ogre Swamp)
- Climb Northumberlandia
- 10 of the Best Family Walks with Parks & Cafes Nearby
- 13 Pushchair Friendly Walks to Try
- Try the Nature Trails & Visit the Adventure Playground at Derwent Waterside Park
- Hunt for Seaglass at Seaham
- Take a Waterfall Walk
- Visit the Thornley Woodland Centre and try their Sculpture Trail
- Enjoy the Walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle
- Visit Druridge Bay Country Park
- Spend the Day at the Rising Sun Country Park
- Climb Roseberry Topping
- The Sill (Friday - Sunday)
- Visit Auckland Castle Deer Park
- Visit Causey Arch Picnic Spot (there are some accessible walking routes)
Rainy Day Ideas
- Most of these events / days out will require pre-booking. Please check direct with venue before making plans. Click on the blue text to be taken to the venue website.
- Tynemouth Aquarium
- 40+ Educational Rainy Day Activities for Tweens to try at home
- Hire / partially hire PaddlePod Swimming Pool
- Angry Birds Golf
- Victoria Tunnel Tours
- Segedunum Roman Fort
- FREE Sunderland Winter Gardens (+ various events)
- FREE Great North Museum
- FREE Discovery Museum
- Seven Stories (partial re-opening and bookable events)
- Roman Army Museum
- FREE South Shields Museum & Gallery
- FREE Shipley Art Gallery
- Butterfly World
- Some Cinemas are open - check your local
- Some Indoor Swimming Pools are open but usually need to be pre-booked
- FREE Stephenson Railway Museum
- Canny Crafty Pottery Painting in Gosforth
- Whitley Bay Ice Rink
- Many amusement arcades are now open
- Hatchet Harrys
- Bailiffgate Museum
- Clip n Climb Metrocentre
- Woodhorn Museum
- FREE Baltic
- FREE Locomotion
- Brick Dinos LEGO Exhibition at LIFE (opens 1 August, pre-booked tickets only. £20 per family ticket)
- Indoor softplays are open - check your local
- Bowling alleys are open - check your local
- YuMe World in the Gate features VR gaming and arcades - no need to pre-book and fab for teens / tweens.
Mini Adventures (Less than £20 for a Family of 4)
Most of these events / days out will require pre-booking. Please check direct with venue before making plans. Click on the blue text to be taken to the venue website.
Most of these events / days out will require pre-booking. Please check direct with venue before making plans. Click on the blue text to be taken to the venue website.
Big Adventures (£20+ per family of 4)
Halloween Events
- Click here to read our full guide to North East Halloween Events.
- Click here to read our guide to pumpkin picking near Newcastle
Ideas for October Half Term at Home
- Join in with a Pumpkin Hunt - decorate your window with Pumpkins and then head out for a walk. For every pumpkin your child spots, you give them a little treat. They can collect in their usual Halloween baskets / buckets and it is a fab, safer alternative to traditional trick or treating.
- Get ahead and make your Christmas Cake - here is my easy recipe
- Check out Nyomi's Guide to the Best Halloween Movies for Little Ones
- Make Chocolate Orange Slow Cooker Fudge
If you have enjoyed this post and found it useful, here are some ways you can say thanks and support North East Family Fun:
1 - Click here to sign up to our FREE monthly guide to what's on. This monthly email will feature lots of ideas for things to do for the month ahead plus exclusive deals.
2 - Join our Days Out Facebook Group here which includes lots of ideas for things to do - you can post your own recommendations too.4 - Share this post with your friends5 - Follow North East Family Fun on the following platforms :Thank you for your support as always.Please follow social distancing rules & Government guidelines , respect the local area. leave no trace, take litter home, park responsibly and if somewhere is busy on arrival, please consider leaving and returning at a later date.
Always check updated opening hours / protocols with venues direct before setting off as things may have changed since this post was published.
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