Autumn Activities & Half Term Fun
Days out, trails and rainy-day plans for the autumn — half term and the weeks either side, all within easy reach of the villages.
Moomins at Polesden Lacey — 4 Oct – 8 Nov, 10am–4pm
Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham
A family trail around the garden inspired by Moominvalley, with characters from the stories to find along the way. Running well before and after the break, so it is a good quieter option.
National Trust admission — free to members
We're Going on a Ghost Hunt™ family trail — 10 Oct – 1 Nov, Daily 10am–4pm
Hatchlands Park, East Clandon
Ghosts hidden around the park to hunt out, with plenty to spot along the way. Aimed at pre-schoolers and younger children, and free once you are through the gate.
National Trust admission — free to members
Half-term hauntings at Guildford Castle — 14–31 Oct, Wed–Sat, 12pm–4.30pm (last entry 4pm) · 31 Oct 10am–3pm
Guildford Castle
The Castle Keep dressed for the season, with a ghost hunt, spooky storytelling and Halloween crafts. Easy to fold into a trip into town.
£5 adults · £2.50 children · £12 family · under 5s free
Spooktacular Trail — 14–31 Oct, Wed–Sat 12pm–4.30pm (last entry 4pm)
Guildford Museum
Pick up a trail sheet and hunt the hidden ghosts around the museum at your own pace. Free, no booking, and it suits ages four and up.
Free
The Great Polesden Mystery — 17 Oct – 1 Nov, 10am–3.30pm
Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham
Polesden Lacey's prized pumpkin has gone missing and Detective Grizwald needs help. A pick-up-and-go trail around the grounds for younger children, running right through the break.
National Trust admission — free to members
Little Pumpkins Week — 17–23 Oct, 10am–5pm daily
Bocketts Farm Park, Fetcham
The gentler warm-up to half term: a spooky stamp trail, Halloween crafts and discos, plus the Pumpkin Village, the animals and all the usual indoor and outdoor play.
Event admission £21.50 adults · £23 children 3–17 · book ahead, events sell out
Merrist Wood Pumpkin Patch — 17–18 Oct, 10am–4pm
Merrist Wood, Worplesdon
Pick your own from a field of a couple of thousand pumpkins, with a climb-on tractor and plenty of photo spots. Wellies or trainers — no open toes.
£8 adults · £6 children 4–16 · £26 family · under 4s free
Pumpkin picking and Halloween trail — 17–30 Oct, Weekends 9am–4.30pm · weekdays 10am–4pm
Secretts, Milford
Pick your own pumpkins and follow the Halloween trail, with extras like biscuit decorating and a magic show. Most days sell out well ahead, so book.
£8.50 entry (age 2+) · pumpkins from £3
Whispers in the Woods — 17–31 Oct, Sat 17, Wed 21 and Sat 31 Oct at 10.30am · Mon 26 Oct at 2pm · 1 hour
Painshill, Cobham
A storyteller leads the children into the woods for tales among the trees. An hour, and they go without you — though you stay on site.
£9 per child (£4 for members) · child-only: adults need admission or membership
Pumpkin spotter trail and decorated rooms — 18 Oct – 1 Nov, Daily 10am–4pm
Hatchlands Park, East Clandon
Count the pumpkins hidden around the parkland, then go inside to see the house dressed for the season. No booking, and it runs every day of the break.
National Trust admission — free to members
Halloween Movie and Make Workshop — Mon 19 Oct, Mon 19 Oct, 10am–1pm · ages 6+ (under 12s with an adult)
G Live, Guildford
A screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas, then biscuit decorating. Costumes welcome.
From £7.50
Spring Bulb Planting — Fri 23 Oct, 12pm–2pm
Guildford Museum
Plant a pot of bulbs to take home and make a marker to remember what is in it. No booking needed, and it suits ages five and up with an adult.
£2.50 per child · no booking needed
Wizards & Witches Week — 24 Oct – 1 Nov, 10am–5pm daily
Bocketts Farm Park, Fetcham
The big one, running right across half term: science and slime shows, a reptile roadshow, the spooky stamp trail and a creepy craft corner, alongside everything the farm normally does.
Event admission £21.50 adults · £23 children 3–17 · book ahead, events sell out
Creative Collages — Tue 27 Oct, 10am–12pm
Guildford House Gallery
Make a collage to take home from fabric, ribbons, buttons and whatever else is on the table, taking its lead from the textiles exhibition upstairs. Drop in, no booking.
Free
Spooky crafts — 27–29 Oct, 9.30am–5pm
Surrey History Centre, Woking
Free drop-in crafts for 3 to 12s — mummies, flapping bats and some genuinely grisly local history. No need to book.
Free
Halloween Family Day — Wed 28 Oct, From 10.30am
Lightbox Gallery, Woking
A morning of Halloween activities at the gallery, with entry by donation.
Entry by donation
The Selfish Giant — Thu 29 Oct, 11am and 2pm
Guildford Cathedral
Riding Lights bring Oscar Wilde's story to life with puppets, live music and a good deal of joining in. Two shows in the day.
Children from £3 · adults £8 · family tickets available
Spot's Birthday Party — 29–31 Oct, Thu 2pm · Fri 10.30am & 2pm · Sat 10.30am, 2pm & 4.30pm · 50 minutes
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
The spotty dog's birthday on stage, fifty minutes with no interval, and a meet-and-greet with Spot after every show. A first theatre trip for ages two and up.
Children £16–£18 · adults £20–£22 · under 2s free
Little Ghouls Halloween Disco — Sat 31 Oct, 10.30am–12pm · ages 5–9
G Live, Guildford
A Halloween disco for younger children with music, games and prizes for the best costume, plus face painting for a small charge. Every child comes with a grown-up.
From £5
Midnight Manor — a sleepover — Sat 31 Oct, 6pm–9am
West Horsley Place
An overnight stay at Button House from the TV series Ghosts: after-dark tours of the house, a silent disco, dinner and breakfast. Adults only (18+) — and you bring your own mat and sleeping bag.
£135