Start with the free options: Bristol's city farms at St Werburghs and Windmill Hill cost nothing to enter, and the harbourside's M Shed is a free, indoor way to fill a couple of hours whatever the weather. For a paid day that's genuinely worth the money, We The Curious (around £21 adult, £14.50 child) combines hands-on science with a planetarium and suits almost any age.
What is October half term, and when is it
October half term is the week's break most schools in England build into the middle of the autumn term, roughly seven weeks after the start of the school year in September, giving pupils and teachers a breather before the run-up to Christmas.
In Bristol, the exact dates depend on which school your children attend. Bristol City Council sets term dates for most community and voluntary controlled schools in the city, and its published calendar for the 2026/27 school year has the autumn term running to Friday 23 October 2026, with the next term starting Monday 2 November 2026. That puts the half-term break at Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, meaning schools are shut from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October.
Academies, free schools and voluntary aided schools can set their own calendars, sometimes a week either side of the council's dates, so check with your child's school if it isn't a standard Bristol City Council one. As a rule of thumb, though, Bristol's schools break for October half term in the last week of the month most years.
Where to actually go: an age-by-age table
Everything below is something you can turn up and do most weeks of the year, not a one-off half-term event, so this list holds up whatever week you're reading it in.
| Activity or venue | Indoor or outdoor | Good for what age | Approx cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Farms (St Werburghs & Windmill Hill) | Outdoor, cafés indoors | All ages, esp. toddlers | Free (donations welcomed) |
| M Shed | Indoor | All ages; darker galleries suit over-8s | Free |
| We The Curious | Indoor | All ages; under-6s can't do 3D planetarium | Adult ~£21.20, child ~£14.50 |
| Wake the Tiger | Indoor | Older children and adults | Adult from £16.50 off-peak, £25 peak |
| Aerospace Bristol | Indoor (hangars) | All ages, best from primary age | Adult ~£20, child ~£13.50, valid 12 months |
| Bristol Zoo Project | Mostly outdoor | All ages | Adult £21.36, child (2-14) £17.09 |
| Bristol Aquarium, Harbourside | Indoor | All ages | Check current prices |
| Soft play centres | Indoor | Under-5s mainly | £2.50 to £6 per child |
| Ashton Court Estate | Outdoor | All ages | Free |
| Brandon Hill & Cabot Tower | Outdoor | All ages | Free |
Free and cheap days
To keep costs down, city farms and M Shed do a lot of the heavy lifting on their own, and pairing either with a free park (Ashton Court or Brandon Hill) makes a full day without spending on entry. Our free weekend in Bristol guide has a fuller no-cost itinerary that works just as well spread across half term as over a weekend.
If the weather turns
Bristol has more indoor options than most cities its size. We The Curious, Wake the Tiger, M Shed and the soft play centres are all fully under cover, and Aerospace Bristol's exhibits sit in hangars rather than outdoors. Our guide to Bristol in the rain has the fuller list, including free options like the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and the Arnolfini.
Getting around with kids in tow
Bristol has no metro or tram, so you're relying on buses, harbour ferries, walking or a car. Aerospace Bristol and Bristol Zoo Project sit outside the centre and are easiest reached by car, while We The Curious, M Shed and Wake the Tiger are walkable or a short bus ride from Temple Meads. See our getting around Bristol guide for the practicalities, including the Clean Air Zone if you're driving in.
Planning the week
Pick one or two paid "big" days (We The Curious or Wake the Tiger for a rainy day, Aerospace Bristol or Bristol Zoo Project if you've got a car), fill the rest with the free options (city farms, M Shed, the parks), and keep a soft play morning in reserve for whichever day turns out coldest. None of these need half term to be worth doing; they're solid days out any week of the year, which is exactly why they're worth building the week around rather than chasing a one-off event.
Booking ahead matters more for paid attractions than free ones. We The Curious, Wake the Tiger and Bristol Zoo Project all get busier over school holidays, and online booking is usually cheaper than paying on the door as well as guaranteeing a time slot. City farms, M Shed and the parks don't take bookings, so you can just turn up. For a wider view of what's around, our Bristol with kids guide covers the fuller set of family days out in the city, half term or not.
Frequently asked questions
What free things can you do in Bristol during October half term?
St Werburghs City Farm and Windmill Hill City Farm are both free to enter (donations welcomed), as is M Shed on the harbourside. Ashton Court Estate and Brandon Hill with Cabot Tower are free parks with play areas, and the street-art trail through Stokes Croft and Nelson Street costs nothing either.
What's best for toddlers versus older kids?
For toddlers and under-5s, the city farms, soft play centres and Ashton Court's outdoor play areas are the easiest fit. Older children get more out of Wake the Tiger, Aerospace Bristol's Concorde hangar and the fuller galleries at We The Curious, where some elements, the 3D planetarium included, have minimum ages.
What are the backup options if it rains all week?
We The Curious, M Shed, Wake the Tiger and the soft play centres are all indoors, so a run of wet days doesn't have to wash the week out. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and the Arnolfini are free indoor alternatives too. See our Bristol in the rain guide for the fuller rundown.
Do you need to book ahead for half term?
For free venues (city farms, M Shed, the parks) you can just turn up. For paid attractions, especially We The Curious, Wake the Tiger and Bristol Zoo Project, booking online in advance is worth it during half term since they get busier and walk-up tickets can cost more.
When exactly is October half term in Bristol?
For most Bristol City Council schools, the 2026/27 autumn term runs to Friday 23 October 2026, with the next term starting Monday 2 November 2026, putting half term at Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November. Academies can set their own dates, so check with your child's school if you're unsure.
Is Bristol Zoo Project the same as the old Clifton zoo?
No. The old Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton closed in 2022. Bristol Zoo Project is a newer site at Blackhorse Hill built around larger, open habitats, and it's the one currently operating.