October half term is upon us and it's the perfect time to enjoy some quality time together as a family.
The arrival of the school holidays comes with the question of what to do to keep the kids entertained during the week off. Luckily, there's plenty of things to see and do in Liverpool and beyond, with days out to suit all budgets and ages.
This half term offers plenty of chances to get into the spirit of spooky season with an array of Halloween-themed activities and events to enjoy.
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Whether you are looking to enjoy an informative day at the museum or fancy treating the kids to a day trip, we've found some of the best events taking place in Liverpool and beyond this October half term. Check out our guide below for some spooktacular school holiday inspiration.
Ottersghoul at Otterspool Adventure
Otterspool Adventure will be hosting the spooky Ottersghoul Event every day from Saturday, October 22 to Monday, October 31. The event includes a live Halloween Spooktacular show starring a trio of witches and their ghoulish guests in a production full of Halloween songs and magic.
New for this year, guests can also unlock the door to the abandoned Hocus Pocus House and explore the spooky secrets that lie within as part of an immersive experience. Another new addition is a tombstone trail. Those who enter the hallowed grounds of Old Burial Hill can walk through the ancient graveyard.
When: Every day from Saturday, October 22 to Monday, October 31.
Where: 37 Otterspool Drive, Liverpool, L17 5AL
Price: Tickets cost £20 for children, £10 for adults and £10 for children aged 12 to 23 months. Under ones go free. Otterspool members can receive a 10% discount on tickets for the Ottersghoul event.
National Museums Liverpool
There's plenty of fun things to see and do at Liverpool's museums this half term, making it an ideal choice for a fun and educational day out. Here's a list of some of the exhibitions and activities that families can enjoy:
Museum of Liverpool: Little Liverpool, Up Close With Archaeology, Liverpool Irish Festival Family Day, Up Close With Toys, Craft at the Museum, Music at the Museum, Story Time at the Museum.
World Museum: Aquarium, Planetarium, Worlds of Wonder: Our Alien Planet, Up Close With: Ancient Egypt, Stargazing Events.
Walker Art Gallery: Rhymetime, Craft and Create: Halloween, Song Explorers, Family Art Club.
Maritime Museum: The Old Dock Tour, Craft at the Museum, Story Time - Polar, the Titanic Bear, Morse Code Challenge - Interactive Music Fun.
Lady Lever Art Gallery: Art Play, Music At The Gallery, Saturday Studio, Family Art Club.
Knowsley Safari Spooktacular Safari Trail
A special animal-themed Spooktacular Safari Trail will be taking place at Knowsley Safari, with tickets included in the general admission price. Visitors can head to the Foot Safari where they'll be spellbound by ghoulish actors, fun facts and riddles to solve.
Families can learn more about animals including tigers and cats, as well as taking part in a range of interactive activities together. The spooky adventure will see each child treated to a special Halloween gift by one of the trail's mischievous characters.
When: From Saturday, October 22 to Sunday, October 30.
Where: Knowsley Safari, Prescot, L34 4AN
Price: Included in the admission fee. Tickets to Knowsley Safari cost £18.50 for adults and £15 for children and concessions. Children under three go free.
River of Light
The River of Light festival is currently underway with Liverpool's waterfront illuminated by a range of spectacular artwork. The free exhibition is self-guided with no need to book a ticket.
For 17 nights until Sunday, November 6, the exhibition will showcase artworks created by local, national and international artists in a walking trail spanning 2km. The light installations will be switched on at 5pm and switched off at 9pm every evening. You can find out more here.
When: Every night until Sunday, November 6.
Where: The 2km loop is located on Liverpool's waterfront.
Price: Free
Liverpool ONE Halloween party and parade
A spooky extravaganza will be coming to Liverpool ONE this Halloween. The retail and leisure destination will host a special Halloween party on Sunday, October 30 from 12pm until 5pm. Families of all ages are encouraged to join in with the packed programme of activities, whilst donning their spookiest fancy dress for the chance to win Liverpool ONE gift cards.
The event is hosted by Radio City, and will see a giant spider puppet, Arachnobot, make its way through the crowds. There will be a special Halloween parade led by local drumming favourites Katumba, as the participants of the fancy dress contest will show off their scary attire to the crowds.
When: Sunday, October 30 from 12pm until 5pm.
Where: Liverpool ONE, Liverpool, L1 8JQ
Price: Free
Free swimming
Children can go swimming for free at seven pools across Liverpool this October half term. From Monday, October 24 to Sunday, October 30, children aged 16 and under will be able to swim for free at all seven Lifestyles pools. Children can make the most of the offer and swim as much or as little as they want. The list of participating pools are:
- Alsop
- Aquatics at Wavertree
- Austin Rawlinson
- Ellergreen
- Everton Park
- Garston
- Park Road
Everyman and Playhouse
There's plenty of family friendly events taking place at Liverpool's Everyman and Playhouse theatres this half term. The packed programme of events includes theatrical productions and interactive workshops offering kids the chance to get creative.
The Smartest Giant in Town will be providing families with half-term entertainment at the Playhouse from Tuesday, October 25 to Saturday, October 29. The play is based on the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and tells a heart-warming story of friendship.
Half term will also see the return of the Everyman's popular drama week from October 24-28. Run by experienced youth theatre directors, the event aims to introduce children aged eight to 11 to a theme for the week, which they will then build on using imaginative storytelling.
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