Things to do in Herefordshire October half term 2026
If you’re looking for things to do in Herefordshire during October half term 2026, there are plenty of family-friendly days out and Halloween events to choose from.
I’ve rounded up the best Herefordshire October half term activities for families, including Halloween trails, pumpkin picking, spooky events, National Trust days out, outdoor adventures and things to do with children of different ages.
There are options across the county, from Hereford and Leominster to Bromyard, Ledbury and the surrounding countryside. I’ve included dates and useful booking information wherever it is available, but always check with the attraction before travelling as events can change.
Herefordshire October half term runs from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, making Halloween weekend part of the school holiday this year.
This post covers the county of Herefordshire only. If you are looking for October half term days out in nearby counties, please see below:
Berrington Hall National Trust Herefordshire October half term 2026
Berrington Hall’s Ghastly Georgians trail offers a regency-themed Halloween adventure for families — follow a trail sheet around the house and grounds to uncover gruesome (and entertaining) facts from the Georgian era, take part in spooky family activities and collect a prize at the end. Find out about the revolting remedies, gruesome punishments and odd superstitions. Meet eccentric characters along the way.
No advance booking is needed. £3 per trail on top of normal admission cost.
Dates: 24th October to 1st November 2026.
Website: Berrington Hall
Brockhampton National Trust Herefordshire October half term 2026
Marvellous Mushrooms Trail at Brockhampton
Head to Brockhampton near Bromyard for a family-friendly autumn adventure exploring the fascinating world of fungi. The Marvellous Mushrooms Trail takes you through the grounds, with activities to complete, mushroom facts to discover and plenty of opportunities to spot different types of fungi along the way. It’s a lovely option if you’re looking for an October half term activity in Herefordshire that gets the family outdoors and is a little different from the usual Halloween events.
No advance booking is needed. £3 per trail on top of normal admission cost.
Dates: 24th October to 31st October 2026.
Website: Brockhampton
Croft Castle National Trust Herefordshire October half term 2026
There are a two fab events happening at Croft Castle this October half term ensuring both daytime family fun and evening entertainment for the adults. I absolutely love Croft Castle in Autumn anyway, especially visiting for a walk with my dogs.
Haunted Half Term Trail
Step into a world of myths, magic and mystery at Croft Castle with a family-friendly Halloween trail through the historic grounds. Follow clues and solve puzzles while discovering ghostly tales, woodland spirits and legendary characters including the Grey Lady, Black Dog and Green Man. It’s a great choice for families looking for a spooky October half term activity in Herefordshire.
No advance booking is needed. £3 per trail on top of normal admission cost.
Dates: 24th October to 1st November 2026
After Hours Ghost Tour
Step beyond the familiar for a thrilling night-time adventure at Croft Castle with the After-Hours Ghost Tour, offering brave families a spine-tingling experience as they explore the castle’s haunted corridors under atmospheric lighting. As you wander through this evocative historic setting—twilight heightening the dramatic Gothic architecture—you’ll uncover eerie tales and ghostly whispers that linger within these storied walls. It’s a hauntingly memorable way to experience the castle from a different, more mysterious perspective.
Dates: 27th October to 31st October 2026
Website: Croft Castle
Goodrich Castle English Heritage Herefordshire October half term
There are no particular events taking place at Goodrich Castle during October half term 2026, but it’s always a great day out and they’re open all week. This is a fascinating historical castle that offers visitors a free audio guide to hear about its eventful past. Children will enjoy the free family game that features nine cartoon characters. Each one represents someone who would have lived at the castle. If you manage to climb to the top of the tower, you will enjoy views across the Wye Valley and both English and Welsh countryside.
Dates: Open daily throughout October 2026.
Website: Goodrich Castle.
Museum of Cider: Fright Night at the Museum
If you’re looking for a genuinely scary Halloween experience for older children and adults, Fright Night at the Museum offers the chance to explore the museum after dark. Head into the dark cellars, meet strange and ghostly inhabitants and solve riddles as you try to escape the horror maze. This event is for over-16s only, with under-18s required to attend with an adult. Online booking is essential.
Date: 30th October 2026.
Website: Museum of Cider.
Pumpkin Pete’s – Pumpkin Picking October Half Term 2026
Pumpkin Pete’s near Ledbury has a whole season of pumpkin picking and themed activities for families. The 2026 programme includes:
- 4–5 October – Food weekend: Food from The Beefy Boys, pizza, sweets, fudge and a bar.
- 11–12 October – Circus weekend: Circus entertainment, alongside food and pizza.
- 18–19 October – Farmfest: Tractors, vintage machinery, farrier demonstrations and other agricultural activities.
- 25–26 October – Animals weekend: Get up close to snakes, spiders and other animals.
- 27–30 October – Craft: Family-friendly creative activities with Wye Valley Makers.
Face painting, a barrel train, craft stalls, coffee, cakes and hot chocolates are available throughout the event. There are also plenty of pumpkins and gourds to choose from across the pumpkin patch.
Website: Pumpkin Pete’s.
Ralph Court Gardens
Halloween at Ralph Court Gardens
Ralph Court Gardens near Bromyard is a great choice if you’re looking for a family-friendly Halloween day out in Herefordshire. The gardens are transformed for Halloween, with spooky displays, singing pumpkins, ghosts, witches, a graveyard, haunted house and plenty of quirky surprises along the way.
Daytime Event
The daytime Halloween experience is designed to be suitable for all ages, including younger children, and there is also a Halloween quiz for children to complete during their visit. New for 2026 is Chewin Charlie, who you’ll find waiting on his porch.
During the daytime Halloween experience, Ralph Court Gardens is transformed with plenty of spooky surprises, but it is deliberately not too scary, making it suitable for younger children as well as older ones. You can explore the gardens while discovering Halloween-themed displays and characters along the way, with plenty of opportunities for children to get involved and enjoy the atmosphere without the frights being too intense. The gardens are fully accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs, so it’s a good option for a family Halloween day out.
Evening Event
For older children and adults looking for something spookier, Ralph Court puts on brilliant Halloween evenings, with a haunted house, graveyard, inflatables, animatronic witches and a new space-themed experience involving aliens and a cosmic adventure. There is also a Halloween light show after dark.
Ralph Court Gardens has 15 themed gardens to explore, so there’s plenty to see beyond the Halloween attractions. There is also a restaurant on site if you want to make more of a day of your visit, and it serves a fun Halloween themed menu at this time of year. For the evening event, the restaurant reopens at 5pm so you can grab dinner there before heading into the gardens.
Ralph Court Gardens Halloween 2026 dates
- Daytime Halloween: 3rd October to 1st November 2026
- Halloween evenings: 22nd to 31st October 2026
Advance online booking is recommended, as popular dates can sell out.
Website: Ralph Court Gardens.
Skeleton Search at The Weir Garden (National Trust)
Young aspiring archaeologists can head to The Weir Garden near Hereford and explore the riverside and walled gardens in search of cheeky skeletons hiding around the grounds. The Skeleton Search is a fun, family-friendly activity for October half term, with a trail and a prize at the end.
No advance booking is needed. £3 per trail on top of normal admission cost.
Dates: 24th October to 1st November 2026.
Website: The Weir Garden.
Dog-Friendly October Half Term in Herefordshire
If you’re looking for dog-friendly things to do in Herefordshire during October half term, there are several options where your four-legged family members can join in too. Events at the following locations are detailed in full above, but they are all dog friendly:
- Berrington Hall
- Brockhampton
- Croft Castle
- Goodrich Castle
- Pumpkin Pete’s
- The Weir Garden
You can also check out my full list of dog friendly days out in the West Midlands region which includes Herefordshire as well as nearby counties.
Herefordshire October Half Term 2026 FAQs
Dates: Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October 2026
Return to School: Monday 2nd November 2026
Pumpkin Pete’s is the most popular place for pumpkin picking in Herefordshire.
Ralph Court Gardens daytime event, Pumpkin Pete’s and all the National Trust events are great for younger children.
The Ralph Court Gardens evening event and Fright Night at the Cider Museum are both great for teens (although the cider museum is 16 and over only).
