Surrey schools break 19 to 30 October, academies 26 to 30 October. The Gruffalo at Alice Holt, Birdworld's show, Maltings workshops and prices.

October half term in Farnham is two different weeks this year, depending on the school. Surrey’s council-run schools break for two weeks, Monday 19 to Friday 30 October 2026. Weydon, Farnham Heath End, All Hallows and Rodborough take one week, 26 to 30 October. Most of what is on locally falls in that second week, and most of it is either free or included with normal admission.

The quick answer

  • Surrey council-run schools: 19 to 30 October. The big academies: 26 to 30 October only. Every school’s dates are on our Farnham school term dates page.
  • Free and no booking: Gruffalo Granny storytime at Alice Holt Forest, Monday 26 October, 10.30am to 3.30pm, with the Gruffalo himself.
  • Included with admission: Birdworld’s autumn science show, 24 October to 1 November, five times a day. Book online a day ahead to save £2 a ticket.

Which week is half term?

School October half term 2026
Surrey council-run primary and secondary schools Monday 19 to Friday 30 October
Weydon, Farnham Heath End, All Hallows, Rodborough Monday 26 to Friday 30 October
Hampshire schools (Birdworld plans around these) Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November

Surrey’s own dates are on the county’s term dates page for 2026 to 2027. Academies set their own, so check your child’s school letter. Birdworld tells visitors its half term runs from 24 October to 1 November, which is the Hampshire week. The Rural Life Living Museum and most of the Maltings programme land in the week of 26 October.

Outdoors and animals

1. Gruffalo Granny storytime, Alice Holt Forest, Monday 26 October. Forestry England is marking the new Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler story with storytelling sessions, a meet-and-greet with the Gruffalo and colouring, from 10.30am to 3.30pm. It is free and you do not book: sessions are first come, first served, and Forestry England says to arrive early (Forestry England, Alice Holt events).

2. Awesome Autumn at Birdworld, Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November. Professor Featherstone’s 25-minute science show runs at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm each day, with a photo afterwards. You choose a session when you arrive, and it is included with your ticket (Birdworld what’s on).

Birdworld ticket (booked at least a day ahead) Price
Adult, 16 and over £22.95
Child, 2 to 15 £22.95
Over 60s and students £20.95
Under 2 Free

Tickets bought on the day cost £2 more. Parking is free. In winter the bird park closes at 4.30pm and last entry is 4pm (Birdworld FAQs and plan your day). Keep your Stagecoach bus ticket from Farnham or Aldershot station and Birdworld takes 10% off entry.

3. Stranger Folk at Winkworth Arboretum, 10 October to 8 November. A free app-led folklore trail for 7 to 12 year olds and adults, with normal admission. Winkworth opens at 9am through the autumn, but the National Trust names half term (19 October to 1 November) as its busiest time and advises going mid-week. Prices and the Sunday shuttle bus are on our Winkworth Arboretum page.

4. Scarecrow Trail, Rural Life Living Museum, Tilford, 26 to 30 October. Local families make the scarecrows, on the theme “Once Upon a Time”, and they are judged on 29 October (Rural Life Living Museum, Scarecrow Trail). The museum’s own opening page says that from September it is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, and closed Mondays and Tuesdays (opening times), so the trail is realistically a Wednesday to Friday visit.

5. Activity Thursday, Rural Life Living Museum. On school holiday Thursdays the volunteers run crafts, woodturning, spinning and tractors. The listing starts on 22 October, the first Thursday of Surrey’s half term (Activity Thursday).

6. Military and Commercial Vehicle Day, Rural Life Living Museum, Sunday 25 October. Buses, lorries, fire engines and military trucks, with Dennis of Guildford as the theme. The event ticket includes museum entry (event page).

Farnham Maltings and the Museum of Farnham

The Maltings has the biggest indoor programme. Prices include the £1 booking fee, and the box office is on 01252 745444 (Farnham Maltings family listings).

Date Event Ages Price
Tue 20 Oct, 10am to 2pm 3D Design and Make: Autumn 8 to 16 £66
Wed 21 Oct, 11.30am and 1.30pm Ghost Stories drama workshop 5 to 7, 7 to 11 £14
Mon 26 Oct, 10.30am Print your own Halloween T-shirt 6+ £42
Mon 26 Oct, 2.30pm Holmes and Watson and The Curious Case of the Masked Magician 7+ £17 (£64 for four)
Tue 27 Oct, 10.30am Special effects stage make-up (fake blood, not for the squeamish) 7 to 11 £34
Wed 28 and Thu 29 Oct, 10.30am to 12.30pm Crafty Kids, Museum of Farnham 3 to 7 £5 on the door
Fri 30 Oct, 10.30am and 12.30pm Silent Disco: Trick or Treat? 18 months+ £6.50 per headphone set
Sun 1 Nov, 12pm The Mystery of Farnham Maltings 7+ £12 (£44 for four)

Sources: the Maltings event pages for 3D Design, Ghost Stories, Halloween T-shirt, Holmes and Watson, stage make-up, Crafty Kids, Silent Disco and The Mystery of Farnham Maltings.

Crafty Kids is a drop-in, so you may have to wait for a place, and children must have an adult with them. For the T-shirt workshop, under 10s need an adult too.

Getting about in half term

Park in the town centre for the Maltings; tariffs for every Waverley car park are on our Farnham parking page. The town centre works are still running, so check our Farnham roadworks page before you set off. For more ideas that work in any week, see things to do in Farnham.

Still to be confirmed

  • Alice Holt’s other half term activities. Forestry England lists only the Gruffalo Granny day so far; Wild Learning’s paid holiday camps are listed without dates.
  • More Maltings events. The family listing is still being added to. We will check it again on 12 October and update this page.

Bonfire Night follows straight after half term: see Farnham fireworks 2026.