In Things to do

Planning some day trips or looking to get away over half term? Here are our suggestions for accessible attractions and activities to keep the whole family entertained over October half term and into Halloween.

London and the South East

If you’re visiting London and the South East over half term, there are no end of things to see and do, including visiting the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. Featuring one of the world’s greatest collections of paintings and with free entry, the National Gallery is a wonderful place to while away the hours. Over half term, they are hosting a Decoding Pictures event throughout the day with the educator team who will give you a chance to ask questions about the art on display. Find out more about the National Gallery’s accessibility here.

While you’re in London why not stop by Tower Bridge – one of the city’s most iconic bridges. As well as being a way to cross the river, Tower Bridge is an attraction in its own right, with guided tours and additional activities throughout the school holidays. Find out more about Tower Bridge’s accessibility here.

Looking for somewhere to stay while exploring London? On the outskirts of London is AbleStay which offers the highest level of mobility support and can sleep up to six people. Find out more here and book your stay.

If you’re in the South East region, you can visit WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. Home to a collection of pelicans and sea ducks, there are a host of accessible facilities and activities taking place throughout the year and a series of interactive workshops and events being held throughout half term as part of eek! week! See their accessibility information here.

Visiting West Sussex and its popular towns of Chichester, Hove or Brighton and need somewhere accessible to stay? Stubcroft Farm Campsite is close to some of the best beaches in the region and was designed with accessibility in mind, complete with two wheelchair accessible shower rooms and toilets.

For those of you visiting Oxfordshire, spend a day at Fairy Tale Farm. The site prides itself at being autism friendly and has a host of new facilities that have been designed with accessibility in mind. Over half term, they are hosting Pumpkins n Pirates, a family friendly Halloween event and Illuminated Evenings, where the whole site will become a magical wonderland for the whole family to enjoy. Find out more about their accessibility here.

South West

For those of you in the Gloucester area, spend some time enjoying the changing of the seasons at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Home to all six species of flamingo and with accessible hides throughout, this is a great option for an accessible day out. Like Arundel, they and other WWT centres are hosting eek! week! a fun, interactive set of activities all themed around Halloween.

Elsewhere in the south west in Wiltshire, Longleat Safari Park is hosting the Great British Autumn, their much loved family event which is taking place throughout half term. Full of autumn themed adventures, as well as all the usual fun and games, Longleat offers a great day out for the whole family. Find out more about their accessibility here.

Alternatively, if you fancy a trip to the coast, there are lots of options across Devon and Dorset. One option is Moors Valley Country Park and Forest. As one of the region’s most visited attractions, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the site, no matter what your access needs. Over half term, they are hosting Halloween at Moors Valley, which includes a Halloween trail, mini landrover adventures, Moors Valley railway, adventure golf and more. See more from their accessibility information here.

For those looking for a hotel stay, Marsham Court isn’t far and has some amazing options for those who have additional access needs, including a Changing Places toilet and shower room, as well as hoists, profiling beds and sensory rooms.

North East

If you want to see the seasons change, Helmsley Walled Gardens is a must visit. The historic walled garden in the North York Moors has five acres of plants to enjoy and over half term, you can join the team for their Apple Day on 21st October. The tradition of Apple Day has been running since 1990 and if you’re a fan of baked treats, make sure to pick up bags of apples and delectable apple goods. Plan your journey with their accessibility information here.

North West

Looking for a performance or two? Head to Theatre by the Lake for their Octoberfest. There is something to suit everyone in the programme, including family theatre shows, community performances, talks and more. The theatre offers a range of accessible performances which can be found here.

Want to find more accessible things to do this half term? See more options here.

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