Birmingham October Half Term - Family Activities 2026

Looking for things to keep the children entertained this October half-term? Here are some family-friendly activities across Birmingham, including free museum visits, Halloween fun, creative workshops and educational experiences to share with your school community- hopefully some are useful!

Free activities and days out

• Surreal Shadow Creatures – MAC Birmingham, B12/B13: Tuesday 27 October, 10am–12pm and 1pm–3pm. Children aged 3+ can create shadow creatures and explore puppetry. Free drop-in activity.
• Family Nature and Halloween Activities – Kings Heath, B14: Saturday 31 October, 10am–12pm. Enjoy leaf art, autumn mandalas, pumpkin printing and nature discovery. Check the organiser's details before attending.
• Lapworth Museum of Geology – University of Birmingham, B15: Discover dinosaur skeletons, fossils, rocks and natural history. Free general admission; check opening times before visiting.
• Halloween Heads – The New Art Gallery Walsall: 27–31 October, 10am–4pm. Create spooky or silly character heads in this free, drop-in art activity.
• Warrior Arm Bands – The New Art Gallery Walsall: Wednesday 28 October, 11am–3pm. Children aged 4+ can make their own warrior armband inspired by artwork.
• Cradley Library Half-Term Activities – Dudley area: 26–31 October, 11am–2pm. Look out for free children's activities and creative sessions. Check the library for the daily programme.
• Family Hub Halloween Activities – Walsall and Wednesbury: Look out for spooky play, creepy crafts, autumn activities and sessions for younger children. Booking may be required.
• Dudley Museum at the Archives – Dudley: Explore local history, fossils and geology. General admission is free; check opening times before visiting.
• RSPB Sandwell Valley – West Bromwich: Enjoy wildlife spotting and birdwatching at this family-friendly nature reserve. Some activities or parking may cost extra.
• Sandwell Museums: Look out for family crafts, creative sessions and local history activities at venues such as Oak House Museum and Haden Hill House Museum.

Free family performances at Birmingham libraries

The family dance-theatre show Noori and Her Fantastical World is touring Birmingham libraries during half-term. Check the organiser's website for confirmed dates, times and booking details.

• Handsworth Library, B21: Saturday 24 October.
• Selly Oak Library, B29: Monday 26 October.
• Northfield Library, B31: Tuesday 27 October.
• Hall Green / South Yardley: Tuesday 27 October.
• Shard End Library, B34: Wednesday 28 October.
• Yardley Wood Library, B14: Thursday 29 October.
• Perry Common Library, B23: Friday 30 October.
• Ward End Library, B8: Saturday 31 October.

Halloween and paid family attractions

• Cadbury World, Bournville: Enjoy Halloween-themed entertainment, chocolate attractions and seasonal activities. Check ticket availability and prices before visiting.
• Thinktank Science Museum, B4: Explore hands-on science exhibits and look out for the Magic Mayhem Science Show and special Halloween activities.
• LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, B16: Enjoy Halloween-themed LEGO building challenges and indoor family activities.
• National SEA LIFE Centre, B1: Discover sharks, rays, penguins and the underwater ocean tunnel.
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens, B15: Check for seasonal family activities and Halloween events.
• West Midlands Police Museum, B4: Look out for special half-term activities, including family-friendly mystery and Halloween-themed experiences.
• Disney On Ice, Solihull: A family show featuring Disney characters, music and ice skating, with performances scheduled around the half-term period.

Useful links for more activities

• Visit Birmingham – October half-term guide
• Birmingham Museums – family events
• MAC Birmingham – family workshops
• Birmingham Libraries – events and activities

A little reminder: Please check dates, opening times, age suitability and booking requirements before travelling, as some activities have limited spaces. Free general admission may not include special workshops or seasonal events.