Cheap and free things to do this October half term: family fun on a budget

You’ve got through the summer holidays and the kids went back to school. Before you know it, they are off on holiday for another week.

If you are wondering how to entertain the kids on a budget during this October half-term, SaveMoneyCutCarbon has compiled some of the best cheap and free family activities you and your family can enjoy.

National Trust free family day ticket

The weather in October can be temperamental, with blustering winds, rain, or dry and sunny. But autumn is a wonderful time to see the great outdoors, catch all the different colours of falling leaves, spotting squirrels and birds. The National Trust is offering a free family day ticket (two adults and four children, valid until 30th November) to visit one of the Trust’s many historic homes and UK parklands.

Get spooky 

Halloween falls at the end of the half-terms, so why not spend some of the holiday getting crafty and create some DIY Halloween decorations? There are plenty of ideas online that involve a bit of creativity and a lot of glue.

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Pumpkin picking

Pumpkin picking has now become a full day’s activity, with mazes, hay bales to climb, picnic areas, bouncy castles, and Halloween-inspired games to enjoy with thousands of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes this family day out will be one to enjoy year-on-year. See if there is a pumpkin patch near you.

DIY hedgehog house

Hedgehogs typically hibernate from late December until late March time, so why not build a safe habitat for our prickly garden friends? With help from an adult, an old wooden box, and some dry leaves or straw, you’ll be able to create a cosy shelter from cold weather and hungry predators. BBC Gardener’s World has a step-by-step guide to help.

Get active 

Where you want to escape the rain and go swimming, play some tennis, or try some indoor climbing, exercise is a great idea to get the heart pumping and ensure a good night’s sleep. Find your closest leisure centre here.

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Pinecone bird feeder

A 2-4-1 activity, enjoy a nature walk and collect pinecones. These pinecones make excellent eco-friendly bird feeders. They are easy to make, fun, and inexpensive. It involves spreading peanut butter onto the pinecone and then sprinkling the bird seed to it stick to the peanut butter. Then tie twine or string around the top of the pinecone and hand them from a tree or hook and enjoy watching all the different birds come to visit.

Most Haunted 

One for the older kids that are not easily spooked, a ghost tour is a great seasonal way to pass the time. A spooky walk is a spooktacular way for the kids to learn about the history of your city. Find a tour in your city.

Visit a farm

Enjoy a taste of rural life and makes friends with the animals on the farm. Many farms this time of the year have extra Halloween-themed activities charging a small fee, take a picnic along for a cheap day out.

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Go bowling

If the weathers are disappointing, that doesn’t mean your half-term break should be also. If you have a local Tenpin they have a special promotion running until 1st November. You can book two games of bowling for the price of one for both adults and children between Monday and Friday from 10am to 6pm.

S’mores in the back garden 

S’more is a delicious popular American camping trip treat that you can enjoy making on your barbecue, bonfire, or campfire. Method: Roast marshmallows on a stick in an open campfire, why not use our eco-friendly firelighters? If they catch fire, quickly blow it out. When the marshmallow is nearly melted and falling off the stick, place it between two chocolate digestives, like a sandwich. Then eat the melting, gooey mess!

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