--- title: "October Half Term 2026 in Bath: Family Ideas In and Around the City" description: "Things to do in Bath this October half term (24 Oct–1 Nov 2026): Roman Baths, Halloween at the American Museum, pumpkin picking, Longleat and more." image: http://www.passthekeys.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_1311512777.jpg --- - [Services](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/services/?hsLang=en) - [Pricing](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/pricing/?hsLang=en) - [Sign In](https://portal.passthekeys.co.uk) - [Calculate your income](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/?hsLang=en#register) [![](http://www.passthekeys.com/hubfs/ptk-logo-website.svg)](https://www.passthekeys.com/?hsLang=en) - [Services](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/services?hsLang=en) - [Pricing](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/pricing?hsLang=en) - [Sign In](https://portal.passthekeys.co.uk) - [Calculate your Income](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/?hsLang=en#register) # October Half Term 2026 in Bath: Family Ideas In and Around the City Quick answer: October half term 2026 in Bath runs from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, with Halloween falling on Saturday 31 October. Highlights this year include a gruesome new family trail at the Roman Baths, the American Museum &... by Pass the Keys Bath | Bath | 09 Jul 2026 **Quick answer:** October half term 2026 in Bath runs from **Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November**, with Halloween falling on Saturday 31 October. Highlights this year include a gruesome new family trail at the Roman Baths, the American Museum & Gardens' first Halloween light trail, pumpkin picking at Avon Valley, and Shaun the Sheep's Halloween takeover at Longleat. Whether you're visiting or you live here, these are our favourite ideas for keeping the family busy, whatever your budget. *Updated October 2026 by Pass the Keys Bath, who are Bath parents ourselves. Dates and prices can change, so check with each venue before you go.* ## When is October half term 2026 in Bath? Schools in Bath & North East Somerset break up on Friday 23 October and return on Monday 2 November 2026, giving families nine days off including both weekends. Independent schools can differ, so check with your child's school. --- ## 1. Become a Roman doctor at the Roman Baths This half term, the Roman Baths is running **Eew! Revolting Roman Remedies**, a new family adventure into the gross and gruesome world of Roman medicine. Pick up a free trail and help Roman patients by matching their ailments to some truly revolting cures, then meet a Roman doctor and try Roman remedy-making. - **When:** trail runs 16 October to 1 November 2026. Remedy-making runs 24 to 30 October. - **Halloween:** a Scraptastic craft event with Children's Scrapstore Bristol on 31 October, at £5 per child. - **Cost:** family tickets from £51. Bath & North East Somerset residents get free entry with a Discovery Card. --- ## 2. Halloween at the American Museum & Gardens Just outside Bath at Claverton, the American Museum & Gardens is one of the city's best family days out, with sweeping views across the Limpley Stoke Valley. This half term there's plenty on both day and night. - **American Halloween Half Term (daytime):** a Halloween Charlie the Chipmunk trail around the Manor House, seasonal crafts, spooky storytelling in the Woodland Circle, cookie decorating and the hands-on *Circus of Curiosities* exhibition of moving mechanical sculptures. Included with day admission. - **Enchanted Nights of Lights & Frights (evening):** new for 2026, the gardens and Manor House are transformed after dark with glowing installations and candlelit rooms. It's designed to be eerie and playful rather than terrifying, and costumes are encouraged. It runs 16 October to 1 November, 5.30 to 8.30pm, and needs a separate ticket. --- ## 3. Pick your own pumpkin near Bath **Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park** (Keynsham, about 20 minutes from Bath) runs its pumpkin patch every day from 24 to 31 October. Grab a wheelbarrow and choose from the field, or pick from the market of pre-selected pumpkins if little legs give up. New this year is the Big Boo Trail. Pumpkins are paid for on top of entry, wellies are a must, and dogs are welcome. Book ahead, as it sells out. For an evening visit, Pumpkin Patch Nights add live music and street food. Closer to the city, the **Bath Pumpkin Patch** at Newton Farm Shop near Newton St Loe also opens on selected dates through October. --- ## 4. Sydney Gardens and the Holburne Museum For a free morning in the city, head to Sydney Gardens, Bath's Georgian pleasure gardens behind the Holburne Museum. Kick through the autumn leaves, walk along the canal, and let the kids loose in the restored play area, which has zones for different ages. Inside the Holburne, the ground-floor *Space to Make* has free, self-led craft activities inspired by the current exhibitions, and the café overlooks the park. The museum usually runs a family programme over October half term, so check the Holburne's website for this year's workshops and events. --- ## 5. Spooktacular Adventures at Longleat About 40 minutes from Bath, Longleat's Halloween event runs **24 October to 1 November 2026**. This year it's inspired by the new Shaun the Sheep film, *The Beast of Mossy Bottom*. It's included with a standard day ticket, alongside the drive-through safari, hedge maze, Adventure Castle and railway. Older children (13+) can add a Longleat House ghost tour. --- ## 6. A show at The Egg The Egg, the Theatre Royal Bath's dedicated theatre for children and young people, has shows throughout half term, including *Myth Monster* (22–24 October), *Hay* (26–28 October) and *All the Small Things* (30 October–1 November). It's ideal for a rainy day and especially good for younger children. --- ## 7. Autumn walks and trails Some of the best half-term days out are free or cheap. **Prior Park Landscape Garden** (National Trust) is beautiful in autumn and usually runs a family trail over half term. Further afield, **Dyrham Park** has a deer park and a great play area. In the city, **Royal Victoria Park** has one of Bath's biggest playgrounds, a short walk from the Royal Crescent. Check the National Trust website for this year's trails and opening times. --- ## 8. For teenagers: a Halloween scare Older teens who like a fright can try **After Dark: The Watcher** at Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein on Gay Street, an intense horror experience across five floors of the house on selected dates from 23 to 31 October. It's for ages 15 and over, and 15 to 17-year-olds must be with an adult. --- ## Where to stay in Bath for half term Half term is one of Bath's busiest weeks, so book early. A holiday home gives families more space than a hotel room, a kitchen for easy meals, and somewhere to dry muddy pumpkin-patch wellies. You can browse family-friendly apartments and houses across Bath on our [booking site](https://book.passthekeys.com/). If you're staying in winter, the [Bath Christmas Market 2026](http://www.passthekeys.com/en/blog/christmas-in-bath-2026?hsLang=en) opens a few weeks after half term. **Own a property in Bath?** Half term and the run-up to Christmas are some of the year's strongest weeks for bookings. Find out more about our [short-term management in Bath](http://www.passthekeys.com/en/south-west/bath-airbnb-management/?hsLang=en), or read [how to fill a Bath holiday let in winter](http://www.passthekeys.com/en/blog/fill-bath-holiday-let-winter?hsLang=en). --- ## FAQs: October half term 2026 in Bath ### When is October half term 2026 in Bath? Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 for schools in Bath & North East Somerset. Pupils return on Monday 2 November. ### What is there to do at the Roman Baths this half term? Eew! Revolting Roman Remedies, a free family trail about Roman medicine, plus remedy-making activities from 24 to 30 October and a Halloween craft event on 31 October. ### Where can I go pumpkin picking near Bath? Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park in Keynsham is open daily from 24 to 31 October, and the Bath Pumpkin Patch at Newton Farm Shop opens on selected dates through October. ### What Halloween events are on in Bath in 2026? The American Museum & Gardens' new Enchanted Nights of Lights & Frights, the Roman Baths' Halloween craft event on 31 October, Longleat's Spooktacular Adventures, and After Dark at Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein for ages 15+. ### What can families do in Bath on a rainy half-term day? Try the Roman Baths, the Holburne Museum's free craft space, the American Museum's indoor exhibitions, or a show at The Egg theatre. #### Read a previous blog post Everything You Should Know About A Holiday Let Agency #### Read the next blog post 5 Helpful And Handy Tips for Holiday Cottage Management ## Get started today or speak to a host advisor Book a call with our host advisors today and have all of your questions answered [Calculate your Income](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/?hsLang=en#register) [Book a call](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/?hsLang=en#contact-us) [Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/passthekeys.com) ### General [Host](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/host/?hsLang=en) [Book](https://book.passthekeys.com/) [Franchise](https://franchise.passthekeys.com/) [Privacy Policy](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/privacy-policy/?hsLang=en) [Host Resources](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/host-resources/?hsLang=en) ### Company [About Us](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/about-us/?hsLang=en) [Careers](https://www.passthekeys.com/en/careers/?hsLang=en) [![Pass The Keys](http://www.passthekeys.com/hubfs/ptk-logo-website-white.svg)](https://www.passthekeys.com?hsLang=en) Pass the Keys Limited is an independent third party and is not affiliated or endorsed by Airbnb or its affiliates, in any way. 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