Frighteningly fun family days out in Kent for the October half-term
It’s time to dig out your vampire fangs and witches hat and get ready for a hair-raising half-term.
The October break is full of spook-tacular things to do, from outdoor mazes full of creepy creatures to Halloween blockbusters and fancy dress contests. Here’s our top pick of Kent’s half-term activities…
THE BEANEY, Canterbury
Evil alchemist Blanche the Bland is trying to drain all the colour from The Beaney, Canterbury’s free museum and gallery. It’s up to visitors to follow the interactive trail, solve puzzles and figure out clues to help restore the fun to the museum. While there, you can check out the fascinating collections, including Rupert Bear and Bagpuss.
Details: Daily, except Mondays, until Sunday, November 3. Trail costs £5, no need to book.
BETTESHANGER COUNTRY PARK, Deal
Whether you love a good jump scare or want to enjoy a classic family film, you and the kids can bundle into the car and pull up at the pop-up drive-in cinema. There will be lots of different films showing, from family-friendly blockbusters like the Nightmare Before Christmas, Coco and Ghostbusters to white-knuckle thrillers such as The Exorcist, the Blair Witch Project and The Shining.
Details: Monday, October 28 to Sunday, November 3 at Betteshanger Country Park in Deal. Book online here.
BROGDALE, Faversham
Make the most of the fresh, seasonal produce right here on our doorstep. Kids can make their own apple juice from the fruit grown in Faversham, as well as take a tour through the orchards and pick apples straight from the trees while they are at their very best. Tickets include a reusable bottle and pressed juice to take home.
Details: Monday, October 28 to Wednesday, October 30 at Brogdale in Faversham. Book online here.
DOVER CASTLE
Battle fire-breathing dragons, come face-to-face with the grim reaper and follow the castle rat through the underground tunnels at Dover Castle. This year, the Halloween quest is bursting with fun characters that can help you solve the clues and complete the challenge, all while telling some not-so-scary stories.
Details: Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3 at Dover Castle. Book online here.
HEVER CASTLE, near Edenbridge
The award-winning grounds and gardens at Hever Castle will be transformed into a pumpkin patch during the half term. Find your way through the orange pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns and see if you can solve the Halloween riddle to claim your prize. You can also listen to stories from Dr Frankenstein and the Witch and create your own trick-or-treat bag in the craft workshops.
Details: Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3 at Hever Castle, near Edenbridge. Book online here.
FORT AMHERST, Chatham
While the bone-chilling Halloween Horror mazes at Fort Amherst are usually a screamfest for even the bravest visitors, those who want to bring the family along can skip the scares and instead head to the children’s maze. This experience is suitable for guests aged 4 to 12 and, although there are still a few hairy moments and creepy characters, it’s mostly just family-friendly fun.
Details: Wednesday, October 23 to Friday, October 25 and Thursday, October 31 to Friday, November 1 at Fort Amherst in Chatham. Book online here.
HISTORIC DOCKYARD, Chatham
Follow the Ratcatcher’s Trail and discover some of the foul food left behind on the Dockyard floor, all while finding out some stomach-churning foodie facts. You can also fire blasts of slime on the gallery walls, get your face painted as a ghost or ghoul and join the action in the Battle of the Bilge where interactive characters will fight it out for the Yuck Yard Cup.
Details: Friday, October 19 to Sunday, November 3 at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. Book online here.
HOWLETTS WILD ANIMAL PARK, near Canterbury
Take the kids on a totally wild day out for free this half term. Children aged under 15 can enjoy free entry to Howletts during the October school holidays and get stuck into a host of spine-tingling activities such as following the Halloween trail, holding bugs and reptiles in the Craft Cave, listening to daily ranger talks and picking up an autumnal snack.
Details: Friday, October 19 to Sunday, November 3 at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Bekesbourne, near Canterbury. Book online here.
LEEDS CASTLE, near Maidstone
The popular Halloween trail returns to Leeds Castle for another year, bringing back everyone’s favourite mythical beasts. As children set off on the quest to find the magical coloured stones, they will meet characters including Ember the Autumnal Witch, Diablo the Cursed Castle Hound and Rocky the Stone Monster who will help visitors find their way through the grounds.
Details: Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3 at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone. Book online here.
LULLINGSTONE CASTLE, near Swanley
The team at the historic Lullingstone Castle are seeing out the season with one final celebration. Join the staff in a host of autumnal activities, including pumpkin carving, spooky garden tours, tricks by torchlight and fancy dress costumes. There will also be a chance to meet and even hold some critters with the help of the Zoolab ranger.
Details: Sunday, October 27 at Lullingstone Castle and World Garden in Eynsford, near Swanley. Entry costs £12.50, kids go free, no need to book.
MAIDSTONE MUSEUM
Do you have an art lover in the family? Let your kids get hands-on with craft sessions at the Maidstone Museum. Running across three days, the sessions include making your own witch or wizard hat, designing your own hanging bat decoration and creating dancing skeletons.
Details: Tuesday, October 29 to Thursday, October 31 at Maidstone Museum. Book online here.
MARGATE CAVES
Those who dare to travel below ground and explore the Margate Caves this Halloween should be prepared to meet the frightening fiends who lurk beneath the seaside town. The caves will be filled with decorations, characters and crafts for underground explorers of all ages.
Details: Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3 at the Margate Caves. Adult tickets cost £5, no need to book.
PENSHURST PLACE, near Tonbridge
Join an immersive storytelling experience that puts visitors at the heart of the adventure. When an angry wizard puts a spell on the local villagers, it’s down to the audience to help lift the curse and save them. When you’ve rescued the village, it’s time to try your hand at the code-cracking garden trail, create your own masks and dream catchers in the Old Coach House and admire the autumnal displays in the gift shop.
Details: Friday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3 at Penshurst Place in Penshurst, near Tonbridge. Adult tickets cost £5, no need to book.
PORT LYMPNE RESERVE, near Hythe
Bag a bargain this half term with a day at Kent’s biggest wildlife park. During the school holidays, kids can enter the park for just £10. Follow the guide to spot the park’s resident beasts, come face-to-face with prehistoric creatures in the Dinosaur Forest and meet more than 900 animals. Also, just for the October half term, children can eat at Babydolls Wood Fired Pizza and Pasta or the Garden Room Restaurant for £10 and join an animal encounter or ranger safari for, you guessed it, £10.
Details: Saturday, October 19 to Sunday, November 3 at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve near Hythe. Book online here.
PUMPKIN MOON
The three pumpkin patches run by Pumpkin Moon are some of Kent’s busiest pick-your-own spots at this time of year. There are more than 100 varieties of pumpkins across the three sites in Maidstone, Rainham and Faversham, from traditional orange ones to weird and wonderful shapes. Fancy dress is encouraged so you and your kids can create that perfect family photo.
Details: All three sites will be open on weekends until Sunday, October 20, then daily until Thursday, October 31. Book online here.
RARE BREEDS CENTRE, near Ashford
There’s plenty of magic in store at the Rare Breeds Centre. Brew potions and cast wicked spells with the help of the mischievous Effel Fartwaffer, listen to ghost stories from pirates who have sailed the high seas, take part in the fancy dress competition and find your way through the tricky Halloween trail.
Details: Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3 at the Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch, near Ashford. Book online here.
THE REINDEER CENTRE, near Ashford
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to creepy things to see and do at this year’s Spooky Spectacular. The jam-packed programme of fang-tastic events includes the Tunnel of Terror (or the fun Witches Path for younger visitors), a scarecrow pumpkin patch, selfie stations, a bouncy castle and pirate ship, fancy dress contests, monster dance parties, assault courses and free treats for the kids to take home.
Details: Wednesday, October 23 to Thursday, October 31 at the Reindeer Centre in Bethersden, near Ashford. Book online here.
Don’t forget to visit Kent’s pick-your-own pumpkin patches this half term and enjoy a family day in the great outdoors.
