Whether your little ones are heading back home from school for half-term or you’re looking after the grandchildren for a weekend, here are 10 ways to keep them entertained this autumn.
1. See Whitby Abbey illuminated
Book tickets for an after dark visit to Whitby Abbey between 30 October and 2 November and see the building aglow with coloured floodlights.
2. Visit Kew Gardens‘ tower of pumpkins
Hallowe’en doesn’t necessarily mean “trick-or-treating”. Why not mark the holiday with a trip to see Kew Gardens’ pyramid of 75 squashes before 3 November.
3. Go blackberry picking
There’s been a bumper crop of juicy blackberries this year. Hit the hedgerows with The Woodland Trust‘s guide to bramble-hunting. If all the berries make it home, try out our easy recipe for blackberry jam.
4. Spot some red squirrels
Celebrate the rise in distribution of endangered red squirrels with a guided walk through Brownsea Island in Dorset.
5. Head to the first nationwide family arts festival
From classic ballet Sleeping Beauty to an operatic performance of The Importance of Being Earnest, hit one of 1000 child-friendly arts events taking place across Great Britain from 18 October – 3 November.
6. Make a crumble
No pudding smells as autumnal as a fruity crumble bubbling away in the oven. Let your children help you make one of these quirky crumble toppings on a Sunday afternoon.
7. Take a tour of the Royal Albert Hall as a Victorian
Follow two Victorians around the impressive building and discover what it would have been like to see a show at the London concert hall when it first opened 140 years ago.
8. Hit the beach in the rain
Cooler weather shouldn’t stop you having fun by the seaside. Visit the reputed birthplace of King Arthur, Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, and take shelter in Merlin’s Cave if you get caught in a downpour.
9. Hunt for mushrooms
Make the most of fungi season by heading to one of the National Trust events across the country throughout October. Led by experts, you’ll get to forage in their beautiful gardens.
10. Have a conker fight
It might be a very traditional game, but the thrill of winning a conker a fight never gets old. Go on the hunt for Horse Chestnut seeds before drilling holes and attaching string through them. Then it’s time for a tournament.