October half term used to stress me out more than Christmas. Both my kids are under ten, my youngest still naps two hours at midday, and dragging them through TSA or Heathrow just to sit on a plane for six hours felt like punishment. So three years ago we made a rule: no flying during half term. Everything must be reachable by car or train within five hours, and somewhere kids will actually enjoy in unpredictable October weather (rain, cold snaps, one surprise 70-degree day, probably a windstorm). That constraint has been freeing. We stopped chasing the Instagram-perfect European city break and built a rotation that actually works.
This is the list of six trips we’ve done or that friends I trust have vetted with kids the same age. Three UK, three US, because Millennial Mothers readers span both. All drivable or train-accessible. All with real accommodation options and prices in USD and GBP where relevant. All picked for kids age two through ten who need a snack, nap, or meltdown break every two hours. I’ve also flagged what I would skip, because Instagram lies and some of the most-hyped family trips are logistical nightmares in October.
UK Trip 1: Centre Parcs Sherwood Forest
I resisted Centre Parcs for years because I thought it looked cheesy. I was wrong. Our October 2024 three-night midweek was the easiest trip we’ve done with the kids.
You park on arrival and don’t touch the car again. Everyone walks or cycles. The subtropical swimming paradise has slides for big kids and a shallow pool with fountains for toddlers, open regardless of weather (crucial in October). Lodges are basic but clean; the Executive tier has a private hot tub, which is why my husband agreed to go.
Cost for three-night midweek in October half term: GBP 899 to GBP 1,299 for a two-bedroom Woodland Lodge for four. Activities add up (bowling GBP 24, pottery GBP 15 per child; pool included). Bring your own food, the on-site grocery is pricey. Book six months out or pay peak.
The Rain Plan
Pool, Tumbletots soft play, bowling, and the arcade are all indoor. You could never leave the complex and the kids would still be entertained.
UK Trip 2: York for Two Nights
York is my favourite UK city with kids, full stop. Walkable, magical medieval streets (the Shambles is straight out of Harry Potter), everything within 15 minutes of the station. From London it’s 1 hour 55 minutes on the LNER Azuma, adult return GBP 90, kids GBP 45.
Stay at the Grand Hotel York (from GBP 220 per night in October, Victorian building next to the station) or the Premier Inn York City Centre at GBP 89 with family rooms.
Must-do: Jorvik Viking Centre (GBP 15 adults, GBP 10 kids 5 to 16, under-fives free). The ride through a reconstructed Viking village is a hit with jaded seven-year-olds. Pair with the National Railway Museum, free entry, actual trains kids climb on, soft play for under-fives. Add York Chocolate Story (GBP 15 adults, GBP 11 kids) for a rainy afternoon and Betty’s Cafe for a Fat Rascal scone (GBP 6, worth the queue).
UK Trip 3: Cornwall Off-Season
Cornwall in October is underrated. Crowds gone, surf schools do wetsuit-lesson combos for kids from age six, the light on the water is stunning. London drive is five hours (outer edge of tolerable), so break in Exeter or Salisbury.
Splurge: Fowey Hall Hotel from GBP 290 with a half-term kids’ club. Budget: a Cornish Cottage Holidays cottage runs GBP 850 to GBP 1,400 for a week for four.
Trelissick Gardens (free with National Trust, GBP 12 otherwise) has adventure trails. The Eden Project (GBP 40 adults, GBP 15 kids) is the wet-weather all-day. Fish and chips at Rick Stein’s in Padstow (GBP 18 adults, GBP 9 kids) and a cold beach walk at Watergate Bay.
US Trip 1: Hershey, Pennsylvania
For East Coast families, Hershey is a two to five hour drive and built for kids under ten. Hersheypark opens the first three October weekends for Hersheypark in the Dark, significantly less crowded than summer.
Stay at the Hershey Lodge (from $329 per night, kids’ activities included) or Hampton Inn Hershey at $189. Both shuttle to the park.
Park tickets: $77 adults, $52 kids ages 3 to 9 (under 3 free). Halloween decorations plus moderate weather make it more manageable than July. Height-appropriate rides for toddlers through tweens, and the free Hershey’s Chocolate Tour ride is a rainy-day guarantee. Add ZooAmerica (park admission included) and Chocolate World (free entry, trolley tour $22 per person). Two days is enough.
US Trip 2: National Park Road Trip (Shenandoah or Acadia)
October foliage in Shenandoah (Virginia) or Acadia (Maine) is a great American experience. Shenandoah is 75 miles from DC. Acadia is 5 hours from Boston or 8 from New York.
For Shenandoah: Skyland Resort (from $199, cabins available) or Big Meadows Lodge inside the park. Ranger-led kids programmes run through mid-October and free Junior Ranger badges keep 6-to-10 year olds occupied for hours.
For Acadia: Bar Harbour Grand Hotel from $189, or the classic Bar Harbour Inn from $299 with harbour views. Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain needs a $6 vehicle reservation at recreation.gov (book two months out). Jordan Pond House popovers ($12), Ocean Path walk doable for age three.
Park entry: $30 per vehicle for 7 days, or free with the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass.
US Trip 3: Chicago for Two Nights
Chicago in October is my sleeper pick. Crisp weather, summer crowds thinned, and one of the most kid-friendly US cities thanks to Millennium Park, Museum Campus, and easy transit.
Stay at the Hyatt Regency Chicago (from $189, ask for a river view) or the Marriott Marquis Chicago, both walking distance to the Bean.
Shedd Aquarium ($46 adults, $32 kids 3 to 11) day one, then Field Museum ($30 adults, $22 kids) or Adler Planetarium ($26 adults, $22 kids) day two. All three sit on Museum Campus, connected by a heated tunnel when the wind off Lake Michigan bites.
Deep-dish at Lou Malnati’s ($22 for a small, feeds two adults and a kid), hot chocolate at Mindy’s Bakery ($6), and a Chicago River architecture cruise (Wendella family fares $52 adult, $26 kids 3 to 11).
What I Would Skip in October Half Term
Skip Disneyland Paris in October half term. Crowds are summer-bad because it’s a European school holiday, weather is cold and wet, outdoor queues are miserable.
Skip the “cosy Cotswolds cottage” unless you have activities booked. A five-year-old will not entertain themselves with a stone-wall view for four days. If you must, base in Bourton-on-the-Water.
Skip New York City with under-fives. Doable with kids six and up, but toddler pushchair logistics on the underground are punishing.
If You’re Reading From Australia
None of the six trips above are drivable from AU, but the “no-fly for the school break” logic still applies within your own school-holiday windows (late September to early October is Term 3 break in most states). Direct swaps that follow the same brief (indoor rainy-day options, sub-5-hour car/train, kids under 10): Great Ocean Road with a base in Lorne or Apollo Bay, Jervis Bay from Sydney, Blue Mountains via train from Central, Daylesford + Hepburn Springs from Melbourne, and Rottnest Island from Perth. Australian dollar rough conversions of the prices above: $200 ≈ A$310, £150 ≈ A$290, £900 ≈ A$1,740. Discovery Parks and Big4 holiday parks are the Centre Parcs equivalent for indoor pool + walk-only accommodation, with cabin bookings from A$220 to A$450 per night in school-holiday weeks.
Do’s and Don’ts
| Do's | Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Do book October half term accommodation four to six months out | Don't wait until September to book, prices double or triple |
| Do choose destinations with genuine indoor rainy-day options | Don't rely on outdoor activities alone in October |
| Do keep car or train time under five hours with kids under ten | Don't push through an eight-hour drive to "save" flying |
| Do plan for a slow morning and one big activity per day | Don't cram three attractions into a single day |
| Do pack layers, waterproofs, and hats for every trip | Don't assume the forecast because October weather changes hourly |
| Do book restaurants that welcome kids in advance | Don't wander into a busy town at 6pm hoping for a table |
| Do use the National Trust, English Heritage, or America the Beautiful pass | Don't pay per-attraction if you can annualise |
| Do build in one full downtime day between activity days | Don't schedule every single day, meltdowns will happen |
| Do bring familiar snacks from home in the car | Don't rely on service stations for kid-friendly food |
| Do research the closest urgent care or GP to your hotel | Don't wait until an ear infection at 10pm to figure out healthcare |
FAQs
Is October half term more expensive than a random week? Yes in the UK: 30% to 60% higher than a regular October week. In the US, October is shoulder season so prices are reasonable except at destinations like Hershey.
What if we get sick during half term? Have your GP or paediatrician’s after-hours line in your phone. Bring basics (children’s Tylenol/Calpol, thermometer, saline spray, plasters). Travel insurance is worth it even for domestic trips.
Can I do these trips with a nursing baby plus older kids? Yes, but skip car-heavy trips. York and Chicago are best because you’re 10 minutes from your room. Centre Parcs works because the lodge is your base.
How do I keep car travel bearable with young kids? Tablets with pre-downloaded shows, snacks in individual containers, a stop every two hours, and audiobooks (Julia Donaldson for under sixes, David Walliams for 6-10s). One “car-only” surprise per five hours.
What if the weather is terrible for the whole trip? Every trip on this list has a guaranteed indoor day (Centre Parcs pool, York museums, Eden Project, Hersheypark chocolate tour, park lodges with games, Chicago museums). Build the itinerary knowing weather may derail one day.
How far ahead should we book UK train tickets? Book 12 weeks out to the day for the cheapest LNER advance fares. Family and Friends Railcard (GBP 30/year) saves 60% off child fares and pays for itself in one trip.
What about food costs at these destinations? Centre Parcs and national parks: bring groceries and cook in the lodge to save 40 to 60%. Cities like York and Chicago: budget $60 to $90 per family meal at kid-friendly restaurants, or use hotels with breakfast included.
Image Tags
1. family walking through autumn forest with fallen orange leaves 2. cosy family hotel room with two double beds and window view 3. children in raincoats splashing in puddles on cobblestone street 4. autumn foliage over Shenandoah mountain range scenic overlook 5. kids on carousel at outdoor amusement park with pumpkin decorations 6. train interior with family playing card game at table 7. Chicago skyline from Millennium Park with fall trees in foreground 8. steaming mug of hot chocolate on wooden cafe table with autumn light
