Ideas for fun and low-cost half-term activities in the South

As we enter the October half-term holiday families will be searching for fun but low-cost ideas for activities and days out.

Across the south of England, many museums, libraries and community venues offer events aimed at children.

With Autumn in full swing and Halloween around the corner, here are some ideas from across Dorset, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.

At Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot, families can enjoy free art activities throughout the half-term break, as well as a mix of entertainment and live performances.

On Saturday 24 October there will be a colourful ballet, Alice in Wonderland, and the holiday will finish with a Halloween-themed K-Pop Icons performance on Saturday 31 October.

Members of the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime cast will also be at Cornerstone during the day for a meet-and-greet.

For pumpkin-picking lovers, Rectory Farm in Stanton St. John near Oxford has brought back The Pumpkin Patch for 2026.

Aside from the pumpkin picking, visitors can also enjoy interactive fete games, daily live music, face painting and more.

The Patch is open every day in half term, from 09:00 until 17:00 GMT daily, with last entry at 16:00.

Tickets cost £8.50 per person, while children under two go free and require no ticket for entry.

On the topic of pumpkin patches, Wasing Pick Your Own Pumpkins and Woodland Trail in Berkshire is another fun but relatively low-cost option for a family day out.

The patch near Aldermaston is open from 23-31 October.

Tickets are £6.50 on weekdays and £7.50 on weekends, and children under two go free.

Meanwhile, a pumpkin carving evening is a great option for a fun and low-cost activity and can be done in the comfort of your home.

Hungerford Library is hosting a series of Folklore and Legends events throughout half term, starting with a quiz trail and craft event on Tuesday from 10:30 until 12:00.

These will also be held on Friday from 14:30 until 17:00 and on Saturday 10:30 until 12:00.

On Wednesday there will be rhyme-time and colouring sessions at 10:00 and 11:00.

These are free activities, but the library says donations to cover costs are welcome, and children under the age of eight must be accompanied.

Lego fans, this one is for you.

The Royal Logistic Corps Museum, near Winchester, will once again be hosting the Lego Logistics event from 27–31 October.

There will be brick-based challenges and figures hidden throughout the museum for families to find – all free to take part in.

The museum itself is free to visit and has free parking.

For those into folklore, Gilbert White's House is holding a Folklore and Fable Autumn Trail until 1 November.

Organisers say this is is perfect for children and adults, but best for over five year olds.

Trail sheets cost £2 and admission tickets are also required.

Families looking for something different to do in the Isle of Wight can discover the island's prehistoric history at Fort Victoria.

Visitors can join guided fossil hunts, discover marine wildlife through rock pooling sessions and learn more about the creatures that lived here millions of years ago.

A Fossil Fun Day will take place at Fort Victoria on Monday, beginning with a free drop-in event from 11:00 to 13:00 in the Corner Room.

Visitors will be able to learn about fossils found locally, including ancient fish, turtles and crocodiles and even bring along their own fossil finds for identification.

The day will continue with a guided fossil hunt at 14:00, led by the Ranger Service and renowned fossil expert Dr Martin Munt.

Guided walks, with visitors able to join the Ranger to explore the shoreline, will be held each day.

No booking is required for the guided sessions, with participants asked to meet outside the Rangers Office at Fort Victoria. Sessions last between one and one-and-a-half hours and cost £3 per person or £10 per family.

At Nothe Fort in Weymouth there will be family ghost walks held throughout half term.

These are guided tours exploring some of the folklore and superstitions of the Fort's history.

These will be held daily from 26 to 31 October every 30 minutes from 11:00 until 15:30, with a break at 13:00.

The tours, which will last for 10-15 minutes, have limited spaces and are suitable for children above the age of six.

Places can be booked for free from the shop desk on the day of visiting.