October half term – free and cheap days out 2022

This is my personal guide to cheap October half term and Halloween days out in and around Milton Keynes for 2022. You may need to travel further afield; book in advance; and check to see if they’re still going ahead before travelling. Also you may need to pay to park. I haven’t mentioned all parking charges, so you’ll need to check. If an activity is ticketed and you do want to go I’d suggest booking as soon as possible. You may find by the time you read this some have sold out. If somewhere isn’t ticketed but is on social media it’s also worth checking their pages before going in case of any changes – for example adverse weather conditions or car parks being full. I hope you find it useful. Milton Keynes Kids is run independently alongside my day job, I don’t get free tickets or payment, it’s purely to help others. If you do find it helpful and I’ve saved you a lot of time, and you enjoy my recommendations please do consider buying me a coffee to help with the running costs of the site and creation of content. It will only keep going for as long as you support it. I’m currently paid up until July 2023 thanks to your support, but beyond that I don’t know. Thank you so much.

Ghost trains 

Sat 29th October, 4.30pm – late – Ghost Train, Caldecotte Lake, Milton Keynes 

There’s a lovely miniature railway near Caldecotte Lake in Milton Keynes called Caldecotte Miniature Railway . It only costs a BARGAIN £1 per person which gets you two trips around the circular track. They are doing their GHOST TRAIN for HALLOWEEN. Saturday 29TH OCTOBER 4.30pm – late. Put it in your diary for and do check their page before travelling in case of problems. I took my youngest son when he was four years old in 2019. He had a great time. It can be popular so you might have to queue.  The address is Bletcham Way, Caldecotte, Milton Keynes MK7 8HP. If you’re not local to the area and want to make more of your visit then you may wish to have a walk around the lake. Do have a read of my Caldecotte Lake review before visiting. Can’t make this one? They often do a Christmas one too so keep an eye on their Facebook page for details. Do check before travelling before going in case the weather isn’t great. 

28th and 29th, Spooky train ride at Fancotte Miniature Railway, Luton Road, Toddington, Dunstable, LU5 6HT

There’s a miniature railway at the Fancott Pub which runs during the summer and on selected other dates in the year. For two nights they’re doing spooky train rides. It’s scheduled to run 6pm-9pm on 28th and 29th October. See event details on their Facebook. £3 per person. We haven’t been to this one on Halloween so I don’t know what they do to make it spooky. Like anywhere that could be affected by bad weather keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates before travelling.

Selected dates – Ghost train, Corby and District Model Railway, Quarry Close (off), Kelvin Grove, Corby, NN17 1AZ 

Ghost train rides, £1 a go, runs on 27th, 29th, 31st October. Starts at 6pm. Keep an eye on their facebook page for more details and updates. We haven’t been on this one, but it’s looked fun in the past. Cash only.

Activities (many need to be booked in advance) 

Various dates – Garden games and activities, disco, crafts at Millennium Country Park, Bedfordshire, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS

A selection of events on selected dates in October half term which you need to book in advance. Activity trail (£3), Crafts (£4) and disco (£12). We’ve not done any of them before so I don’t know how good they’ll be. Those who have been to trails there in the past have said they’re quite small and better for young children. There’s a good cafe, loos and a play area there. You do pay to park.

Selected dates, various events, Woburn Sands Emporium, Newport Rd, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8UF

There are several events taking place on different days at Woburn Sands Emporium in half term week. They include pumpkin carving (£4.99 child), painting a spooky tea light holder (£4.99 child) and animal experience (£4.50 per person). You need to book all those events in advance. Woburn Sands Emporium also has a small chargeable soft play, cafe, charity mini golf, and their Christmas decorations are out.

Various dates, Spooky Family Pumpkin Hunt, Welford Christmas Tree Farm, Northampton Road, Welford, NN6 6JF

We did this trail in 2020 and it was great fun. There are hidden spooky displays among the Christmas trees. We went on a day when the weather was awful. I’d highly recommend waterproofs and wellies if it rains. There’s also a tipi cafe and pumpkins to buy. Like most activities, it was cheaper when we went a couple of year ago. It’s £6.50 per child and £2.50 per adult. You do need to book in advance. If you’re simply looking to buy pumpkins then it’s free to visit, you just turn up. Keep an eye on their facebook page for updates.

Autumn Festival, Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough, PE2 5UU

There’s an Autumn Festival taking place at Ferry Meadows Country Park in Peterborough during half term. We went in 2020 and did the broomstick making activity, it was great fun. It’s back for this year and costs £10 per family of 4. You do need to book in advance. I recommend getting there early. The country park is big so if you haven’t been before you’ll need to locate where the activity is. There’s also four play areas there as well as a miniature train and two cafes.

24-29 October, Halloween crafts, Discover Bucks Museum, Church street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 2QP

Various Halloween crafts which you need to book in advance at Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury. There’s also a £1 Halloween trail. There is a cost for adults to enter the museum. Kids are free. If you’re travelling further afield you may want to make more of your visit and also visit the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery which you pay for separately. It’s a hands-on fun gallery.

£5 films at MK Gallery, 900 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 3QA

Did you know there’s a smaller independent cinema at Milton Keynes Gallery? Children’s films are £5 and they sometimes do relaxed screenings. The screen is smaller than the big cinemas so may be better suited to younger children. During half term they’re showing Tad the Lost Explorer and Lyle, Lyle Crocodile. You do need to book in advance on their website.

29th October, free craft activity at Centre MK 

There’s a free Incy Wincy spider craft making activity in Centre MK shopping centre in Milton Keynes on Saturday 29th October. 11am – 4pm outside Marks and Spencer. It may be worth a look if you’re in town anyway. More details on their website.

Various dates – Free craft sessions, or pay forward if you can, Shrimp and Doodle, Brooklands Square (Opposite Cakebox, Brooklands, MK10 7NG

There’s a lovely independent stationary and craft shop in Brooklands, Milton Keynes. It’s quite hidden. The owner’s fighting to keep it open. She regularly offers free craft sessions for those that need them or you can pay it forward whilst you’re there. Craft sessions need to be booked in advance. If they’re fully booked then keep an eye on her Facebook page for more – or if you’re after supplies then do pop in and try and support.

26th and 27th Oct, Free potion making, Midsummer Place shopping centre, Milton Keynes (aka the new bit) 

Midsummer Place is the shopping centre next to Centre MK in Milton Keynes. They have a free potion making activity on 26/27th Oct. 11am to 4pm opposite the frog clock near Next Home and Beauty. Annoyingly as it’s a drop in event, it does say on their website that it’s first come first served, workshop may be subject to change, goody bags for those dressed in Halloween outfits are also first come first served. So I think it’s one of those things where you’re best to get there early as if it’s popular they may run out. With anything where you don’t need to book and just turn up I always have a back up plan if we arrive and it’s finished. 

Selected days and locations, free and cheap activities with The Park’s Trust in Milton Keynes

The Park’s Trust is running a number of free or cheap activities on different days including an apple day, nature session, craft session, open days, and archeology afternoon. Some you just turn up. Others are bookable. All the info is on the Park’s Trust website. 

TRAILS 

October half term 21st – 31st October, Pumpkin Trail, Rushmere Country Park, Linslade Rd, Heath and Reach, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0EB

£3 trail around the woods, you also get a goody bag. Expect to see more details on their Facebook page. There will be a Halloween fun sheet for £3.50 which you can buy. There a cafe, loos and play area at Rushmere. It’s a fantastic place for an Autumnal walk with fairy doors and lots of other sculptures. If you haven’t been recently do have a look at the change to parking costs. It’s well worth reading my previous review to see more pictures and details of what’s there. No booking required.

22nd – 30th October – A Cat’s tail trail at Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2GY

A Cat’s Tail trail, Trail plus broom making. Cost £3. 10am – 4pm. Due to limited supplies the broom making craft will be operating on a first come first served basis out of a daily quota. I’m not sure how many they have so may be best to go early. Excellent cafe there. Take a kite, it’s one of the best places locally for flying one. No booking required for the trail. You do pay to park there unless you’re a National Trust member.

22nd – 31st October – Halloween trail at Stanwick Lakes, Northamptonshire, NN9 6GY

There’s a Halloween Trail at Stanwick Lakes in Northamptonshire. £3 for an activity leaflet. Includes a prize, no need to book. Stanwick Lakes has an excellent assault course and adventure trail as well as a big climbing frame that re-opened this year. You do pay to park. Take wellies and a change of clothes if you plan to get muddy.

Various dates – Ikea, Milton Keynes, various free drop-in activities 

I don’t know how good they’d be, but Ikea has some free activities on. Hide and seek with ocean friends – Grab an activity sheet and start tracking down the creatures around the store, to win an ice cream; Ocean themed photobooth; And there’s also a face painter and balloon modeller. Do check the events section of their website for times and details before visiting. 

Various dates – Various activities plus trail at Nene Wetlands, Rushden Lakes retail park, Northamptonshire, NN10 6AR

It’s free to park at Rushden Lakes retail park in Northamptonshire for 5 hours. (I’ve heard you can extend it at customer services). There’s a nice lake there to walk around and also an otter themed play area. During half term they have extra activities on including a spooky Halloween trail between 22nd and 31st Oct 10am – 3.30pm (£3 no need to book). There’s also crafts, bone detective, pond dipping, potions. Some of them it’s essential to book so have a look at the Nene Wetlands website. It’s also worth having a look at the Rushden Lakes Facebook for up to date info. 

On all the time – Love Exploring app – More than 60 augmented trails including a Halloween one