Free indoor play sessions, photography workshops and autumn trails are among the options for families in Sussex this October half-term. There are also sports camps for older children, castle activities and Halloween events, with programmes running across Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.
This guide covers Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, including both weekends around the main school holiday. Some trails start earlier. Dates, advertised prices and booking conditions were checked against organisers’ websites on 17 October; follow the event links for availability before travelling.
Each venue below has an address, travel advice and an expandable Google map. Use the directions link to plan your own journey, and check bus and train timetables for your chosen date.
Map of October half-term days out in Sussex
Explore all 17 venues in one map. Orange pins mark museums and heritage, green pins mark gardens, wildlife and pumpkins, and brown pins mark play and sport. Select a pin for its address, travel advice and directions. Event dates vary, so check the individual listing before booking.
Open the Sussex half-term map in Google Maps
When is October half-term in Sussex?
The main half-term week is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. East Sussex’s published school holiday runs from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, while West Sussex lists the five weekdays. Schools can set different dates and training days, so check your own school’s calendar before booking. The East Sussex school calendar and West Sussex term dates set out the council dates.
Free half-term activities
Family photography at Hove Museum of Creativity
Saturday 24 October, 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Free; advance booking required.
Playing with Your Eyes gives families a chance to experiment with photography and visual tricks alongside artist Alma Haser and Photoworks. The hands-on sessions are part of Photoworks Festival 2026 and are advertised for all ages. This is an indoor option for the first Saturday of the holiday, but free entry does not mean you can simply turn up: reserve a place through the Hove Museum family photography event page.
Hove Museum of Creativity address: 19 New Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 4AB.
Getting there: Allow about 20–25 minutes to walk from Hove station. Buses from central Brighton stop nearby on New Church Road. On-site parking is for Blue Badge holders only; other drivers can use paid bays in neighbouring streets. Hove Museum travel and access information.
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Black History Month storytime in Hove
Monday 26 October, 10.30–10.50am, noon–12.20pm and 3–3.20pm. Free; drop-in.
Hove Museum’s short storytelling sessions introduce stories from around the world as part of its Black History Month programme. They are open to all ages, with children under 13 accompanied by an adult. Sessions take place upstairs; families with access requirements should check arrangements with the museum. See Black History Month storytime at Hove Museum.
Address: Hove Museum of Creativity, 19 New Church Road, Hove, BN3 4AB. See the Hove Museum directions and map above.
Free indoor play days in Mid Sussex
Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 and Friday 30 October, 2–4pm. Free; no booking.
Mid Sussex District Council is bringing its play days indoors for half-term. Activities are designed for children under 10, although everyone is welcome, and equipment is provided.
- Tuesday 27 October: Kings Centre, Burgess Hill, RH15 9LR.
- Wednesday 28 October: Jubilee Centre, East Grinstead, RH19 2HL.
- Friday 30 October: Dolphin Leisure Centre, Haywards Heath, RH16 1LY.
Admission is first come, first served, with limited capacity and parking. The dates and arrangements are in the council’s half-term play-day announcement.
King’s Centre, Burgess Hill address: 33–35 Victoria Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9LR.
Getting there: Head to The King’s Church on Victoria Road for this play day. Use the Burgess Hill address when planning your route: the similarly named Kings leisure centre is in East Grinstead. The council encourages local families to walk where possible because play-day parking is limited. King’s Centre venue details.
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Jubilee Community Centre address: Charlwoods Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 2HL.
Getting there: East Grinstead railway station is about 0.9 miles away, with taxis available at the station. The centre has a free car park, but spaces for the play day are limited; the main entrance is on Charlwoods Road. Jubilee Centre travel and access guide.
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The Dolphin Leisure Centre address: Pasture Hill Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1LY.
Getting there: The centre is within walking distance of Haywards Heath railway station. Drivers must enter their registration at an entrance parking pod to receive up to three hours of free parking. Allow time to find a space on the play-day afternoon. Dolphin Leisure Centre travel and parking.
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Creative activities and sports in Brighton and Hove
Museum Makers for children aged five to 12
Brighton: Wednesday 28 October. Hove: Friday 30 October. Sessions at both venues run 10–11.30am and 2–3.30pm.
The museums’ Black History Month craft sessions offer indoor activities inspired by their collections, but the charging arrangements differ. Museum Makers at Brighton Museum is a drop-in activity included with museum admission, so the museum entrance charge still applies.
Museum Makers at Hove Museum costs £7 per child, or £15 for three tickets bought in advance. Both programmes are for ages five to 12, with children under 13 accompanied by an adult.
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery address: Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1FN.
Getting there: Brighton station is about a 15-minute walk away. Buses stop at Old Steine and North Street, close to the Royal Pavilion estate. There is no museum car park; use a city-centre public car park or plan a public-transport journey. Brighton Museum travel and access information.
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Hove session address: Hove Museum of Creativity, 19 New Church Road, Hove, BN3 4AB. See the Hove Museum directions and map above.
Basketball and badminton camps at the University of Sussex
Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October, 9am–3pm. £34 per child for each day; advance booking.
For older children who would rather spend a day playing sport, Sussexsport has two separate courses. The Monday basketball camp is for ages 10–14 with some basketball experience, covering skills and match practice at the University of Sussex Sport Centre.
The Tuesday badminton camp accepts ages nine to 16, from beginners to club players, and has a maximum of 24 places. Check the booking information for arrival arrangements and what children need to bring.
University of Sussex Sport Centre address: Sportcentre Road, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9RB.
Getting there: Take the train to Falmer and use the pedestrian subway beneath the A27, following University of Sussex signs. Drivers should follow campus directions from the A27 and check the camp’s drop-off instructions. P5 serves the Sport Centre and visitor parking is charged. The Sport Centre and Falmer Sports Complex are separate facilities. University of Sussex travel directions. Campus visitor parking.
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Pumpkins, autumn trails and Halloween days out
Pick your own pumpkins in Sompting
Daily during half-term from 24–31 October, 10am–4pm; last entry 3.30pm. Free entry and parking; pumpkins and extras cost more.
You do not need to book, and pumpkins are priced by size after you have chosen them. Crafts, food and drink are paid extras, while tractor rides operate at weekends only. This is a working field, so take footwear suitable for mud. Check the Sompting Pumpkins visiting information and pumpkin-picking arrangements before setting out.
Sompting Pumpkins address: Halewick Lane, Sompting, West Sussex, BN15 0NE.
Getting there: The field entrance is off Halewick Lane, close to the A27, with event signs from the Brighton and Worthing approaches. Field parking is free. The organiser also identifies a bus stop on Halewick Lane; check current services before travelling. Sompting Pumpkins arrival information.
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Wallace & Gromit’s Fantastic Fungi trail at Wakehurst
17 October–1 November. Trail packs £3, plus garden admission; book ahead.
Wakehurst’s trail uses Wallace and Gromit to introduce the science of fungi through activities along the route. Packs contain an activity guide and stickers, and the organiser describes the paths as buggy-friendly. The trail opens at 10am, with last entry at 5pm up to 24 October and 4pm from 25 October.
Published garden admission is £18.50 for adults and £4 for children aged five to 16; under-fives enter free. The pack is free for Wakehurst family members. National Trust members receive free garden entry but pay for parking, so check the total cost for your household. See the Wakehurst Wallace & Gromit trail and garden ticket arrangements.
Wakehurst address: Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6TN.
Getting there: Wakehurst is on the B2028 between Ardingly and Turners Hill. Follow the visitor signs on arrival: Kew warns that sat-nav can send drivers to the wrong North Drive entrance. Metrobus 272 stops outside, with connections from Haywards Heath station; check the timetable for your date. Parking is included with general admission, but National Trust members pay parking charges. Wakehurst directions and parking.
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We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt at Nymans
10 October–1 November, 10am–4.30pm. Trail included with admission; no booking needed.
This book-inspired garden trail at Nymans in Handcross is aimed at preschoolers and younger children. Families can look for hidden ghosts, play hoopla and try broomstick races before collecting a sticker.
Standard admission without the optional Gift Aid donation is £21 for adults and £10.50 for children, with under-fives free. National Trust members enter free. It is an outdoor activity, and the property notes that some paths are steep or uneven. See the Nymans Ghost Hunt programme and admission and access information.
Nymans address: Handcross, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EB.
Getting there: Follow the brown signs from the A23 to Handcross. Parking is free. Metrobus 271 and 273 stop nearby; Crawley station and its opposite bus station provide a rail-to-bus connection. Balcombe is also a nearby station, but the National Trust says there is no onward public transport from there to Nymans. Nymans travel and visitor information.
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The Owl Who Stole Halloween at Borde Hill
17 October–1 November, 10am–5pm. Trail £3.50, plus garden admission.
Borde Hill’s Halloween trail is designed for ages three to eight and includes a prize. It is free with Child or Family Membership. Selected days have additional activities: magic on 26 October, wand-making on 27 October and Tomfoolery on 28 October require separate activity tickets as well as admission.
For an option without an extra activity charge, the craft sessions on Thursday 29 October are included with garden entry and run 11am–12.30pm and 1.30–3pm, without booking. Check the Borde Hill Halloween programme for the activity you want before choosing a date.
Borde Hill Garden address: Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XP.
Getting there: The garden is on Borde Hill Lane, about 1½ miles north of Haywards Heath. Use RH16 1XP for the driving destination. By train, travel to Haywards Heath and take a taxi; Borde Hill estimates the taxi journey at around five minutes. Borde Hill travel directions.
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SUPER Natural at WWT Arundel
24 October–1 November. Main programme included with admission.
WWT Arundel’s nature-themed Halloween programme is aimed at younger children and explicitly avoids jump scares. Daily activities include willow-wand and toadstool crafts, with silent discos and wizard potion shows added on 30 and 31 October.
Advance online admission without the optional Gift Aid donation is £14.63 for adults and £9.36 for ages three to 17; under-threes enter free. Members enter free. Some extras, including owl-pellet sessions, have additional charges. See SUPER Natural at Arundel and WWT Arundel ticket prices.
WWT Arundel address: Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9PB.
Getting there: Drivers can follow the brown duck signs along Mill Road beside Arundel Castle; parking is free. Arundel station is about 1.3 miles away, with taxis available. The walking route includes a final section on the road and stretches without street lighting. No public bus runs directly to the centre, so consult WWT’s walking directions before setting off with children. WWT Arundel travel and walking directions.
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Shriek Week at Drusillas, Alfriston
24 October–1 November. Paid admission; a conditional £1 child-ticket offer is available.
Drusillas combines its zoo and play areas with Halloween activities during Shriek Week. The Sugar Skull Witch appears daily at 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 2.55pm. Families interested in meeting spiders should choose 28, 29 or 30 October, when the Spider’s Den operates.
The half-term offer allows one accompanying child aged two to 15 to enter for £1 with each full-paying adult or child. It must be purchased as the combined offer ticket online by midnight the day before visiting, is subject to availability and cannot be combined with other discounts. It is not a £1 ticket for every child in a group. Read the Drusillas Halloween programme and £1 child-offer conditions.
Drusillas Park address: Alfriston Road, Alfriston, East Sussex, BN26 5QS.
Getting there: The park is just off the A27 on Alfriston Road, with free visitor parking. Drusillas recommends Polegate station followed by a taxi. Berwick station is another option, about 20–30 minutes away on foot via public footpaths. Cuckmere bus services vary by day; check the park’s transport information for your chosen date. Drusillas directions and public transport.
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Castles, museums and hands-on history
Halloween Adventures in Lewes
26–30 October, 10am–4pm. Included with general admission.
Lewes Castle’s seasonal trail explores All Hallows’ Eve and changing Halloween traditions. There are craft activities from Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 October, 11am–3pm, plus storytelling at Barbican House Museum on Monday 26 October, 11am–2pm.
Friday’s storytelling takes place at a different venue: Anne of Cleves House, from 11am–2pm. Check that your admission ticket covers the property you plan to visit. The Sussex Past Halloween Adventures programme is advertised for all ages; Sussex Archaeological Society members receive free entry.
Lewes Castle & Barbican House Museum address: 169 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1YE.
Getting there: Lewes railway station is a short walk away and buses stop on the High Street near the castle. Drivers can approach Lewes from the A27, A26 or A275 and use town car parks. Head to the castle and adjoining Barbican House Museum for the trail, crafts and Monday storytelling. Lewes Castle travel and access information.
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Anne of Cleves House address: 52 Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1JA.
Getting there: Use this Southover address for Friday’s storytelling. Sussex Past places the house about a five-minute walk from Lewes station and around ten minutes from High Street bus stops. There is no dedicated on-site parking; use a public car park in Lewes. Anne of Cleves House travel information.
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The Great Pumpkin Party at Battle Abbey
24 October–1 November, 10am–4pm. Included with admission; English Heritage members free.
Battle Abbey’s programme includes interactive storytelling, games, a trail and a fancy-dress competition. It is an option for families in the eastern part of the county.
English Heritage advertises a 15 per cent saving when admission is booked in advance. Select your date for the current price through the Battle Abbey Great Pumpkin Party page.
Battle Abbey address: High Street, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 0AE.
Getting there: The abbey entrance is at the southern end of Battle High Street; drivers can take the A2100 from the A21. Battle station is about a 15-minute walk away. Parking near the entrance is charged for non-members; members must validate their parking with their membership card. Battle Abbey directions and parking.
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Leaf detectives at Amberley Museum
Sunday 25 and Wednesday 28–Friday 30 October, 11am–2pm. Main activities included with admission.
Amberley’s Trees for Trades trail and Leaf Detectives workshop offer an alternative to Halloween scares. Children can make leaf rubbings and assemble them into a small folding book. These are drop-in activities, and the museum’s train and bus rides are included with admission.
Woodturning on Thursday 29 October costs an extra £2. Check the Amberley October half-term activities and museum admission arrangements; the special workshop does not run every day of the holiday.
Amberley Museum address: New Barn Road, Amberley, near Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9LT.
Getting there: Amberley railway station is beside the museum entrance, with about a 200-metre walk to the ticket office. Check that your train calls at Amberley. Drivers can reach the visitor car park from the B2139; museum parking is free only after you register your vehicle at the shop. Amberley Museum directions and parking.
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Plagues and Potions at Weald & Downland Living Museum
24 October–1 November, with additional activities on selected days. Paid museum admission.
A seasonal trail links the historic buildings at the museum in Singleton, near Chichester. Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 October brings crafts, potion activities and woodland walks, while ghost stories are scheduled for 27 and 29 October. Check the daily programme if one activity is the reason for your visit.
Published online October admission is £16.90 for adults and £8.80 for children aged five to 17, with under-fives free. The listed online prices drop to £14.90 and £6.80 respectively from 1 November. The venue also offers reduced tickets for eligible Universal Credit recipients. See the Plagues and Potions programme and Weald & Downland admission information.
Weald & Downland Living Museum address: Town Lane, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0EU.
Getting there: Reach Singleton via the A286 between Chichester and Midhurst. Follow signs to the free visitor car park on the right as you enter; it is around five minutes’ walk from the museum entrance. Stagecoach 60 serves Grooms Yard in Singleton, also about five minutes’ walk away. Chichester is the nearest railway station, with an onward bus journey needed. Weald & Downland travel directions.
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Choosing a day out for your family
For a day with no admission charge, start with Hove’s photography and storytime sessions or the Mid Sussex play days. For indoor creative activities, compare the two Museum Makers sessions carefully: Brighton’s activity is included with museum admission, while Hove charges for the workshop.
Families with younger children may prefer Nymans, Borde Hill’s three-to-eight-year-old trail or Arundel’s programme without jump scares. Older children have the basketball and badminton camps, with different age and experience requirements. When comparing paid attractions, add adult admission, trail packs, parking and optional activities to the headline price.
More autumn ideas
- Rainy-day outings across Sussex for indoor alternatives.
- Haunted Sussex for the history and folklore behind local ghost stories.
- Sussex bonfire nights for procession dates, fireworks and travel planning.
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