Council schools in Richmond break 26 to 30 October 2026, academies from 19 October. Halloween at Kew, Hampton Court, Strawberry Hill and the Wetland Centre.

October half term in Richmond upon Thames is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for the council’s community schools, and a fortnight from Monday 19 October at Orleans Park, Teddington School, Hampton, Lady Eleanor Holles and St Paul’s. Christ’s and Waldegrave break on 26 October and do not return until 3 and 4 November. The full school-by-school picture is on our term dates page.

The week itself is Halloween week, and the borough’s big attractions have built their programmes around it. Everything below is from the organisers’ own listings, checked on 25 September.

The quick answer

  • Council schools: 26 to 30 October. Academies and independents mostly take 19 to 30 October; check your own school.
  • The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, and Richmond Park’s vehicle gates close at 4.30pm from Monday 26 October.
  • Halloween at Kew runs 16 October to 1 November and Kew expects it to sell out; Hampton Court’s Halloween is included in admission from 24 October to 1 November.

The big four

Halloween at Kew, 16 October to 1 November. Kew’s after-dark trail returns for a third year with a new “cursed tomb”, fire performers and the Headless Horseman. Sessions run 6pm to 10pm until 24 October, then 4pm to 10pm from 25 October, with last entry strictly at 8.30pm. Kew grades its slots by darkness: Daylight (up to 6pm) for the youngest, Twilight (6pm to 7.30pm) and Moonlight (after 7.30pm). Non-member adults pay £19.50 off-peak or £24 peak, members £16.75 or £20.55, with family and child tickets available. Entry is by Victoria, Elizabeth and Brentford gates only, and there are no exchanges or refunds. Details and booking on Kew’s Halloween page. Daytime, Kew’s Hey Duggee outdoor trail runs 17 October to 1 November, 10am to 4pm until 24 October and 10am to 3pm after the clocks change, included with garden entry.

Halloween at Hampton Court Palace, 24 October to 1 November. Projections, sound effects and “ghostly figures” through the palace, a pumpkin and scarecrow trail in the Wilderness and daily storytelling. It is included in palace admission and members do not need to book: Historic Royal Palaces.

Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham. The house opens seven days a week during half term. The Halloween Garden Trail runs 23 October to 1 November, 9am to 4pm, at £2 per trail map with a sweet if you solve it; “Halloween at Walpole’s Little Gothic Castle” runs the same dates 10am to 4pm and is free with admission; and the After Dark magic lantern show is on Friday 30 October at 5pm and 7pm. The bat walks on 7 to 9 October are already sold out. All on the house’s what’s on page.

WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes. “SUPER Natural” runs 24 October to 1 November: willow wands, a marshland potion at 2.15pm, a fungi hunt and a fairy mushroom ring, pitched at younger children as a scare-free week. Professor Prankster’s Magical Mistake, a ticketed interactive show, runs 24 to 31 October. Booking online saves 10%: WWT London.

Ten more, by date

Date What Where
Sat 24 Oct, 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm East Sheen Halloween Hunt: collect letters round the shops, prize at the end. Book a slot via DesignMyNight Hare & Hounds, Upper Richmond Road West
Sat 24 Oct, 10am to 4pm Be Richmond’s Halloween Fun Fest Duke Street Church, Richmond
24 to 31 Oct, 11.30am to 3.30pm Cabinets Unlocked: Sensory Explorers, a half-term trail through Ham’s cabinet collection Ham House and Garden, National Trust
24 Oct to 1 Nov Haunted Treehouse Tea, a Halloween afternoon tea Richmond Hill Hotel
Sun 25 Oct Let’s Get Creative: October, a family workshop Orleans House Gallery, Twickenham
Mon 26 Oct, 10.45am to 4pm Musical Theatre Workshop, ages 8 to 12 Richmond Theatre
Tue 27 Oct, 10.45am to 4pm Musical Theatre Workshop, ages 12 to 16 Richmond Theatre
26 to 30 Oct Halloween Train at the London Museum of Water & Steam, open daily that week Green Dragon Lane, Brentford
All October Something Spooky! free family trails, plus Lego Club on Sat 31 Oct, 1pm to 3pm Museum of Richmond, Old Town Hall
Sun 1 Nov, from 1pm Diwali celebrations in the town centre Twickenham High Street

Sources: the organisers’ listings on VisitRichmond’s October half term page, Orleans House Gallery and the Museum of Richmond. Orleans House also has its “Play Explore Draw” family activity running until 30 November and the Ronald Moody sculpture exhibition opening on 2 October.

The week ends with Richmond’s Family Fireworks Night on Sunday 1 November at Richmond Athletic Ground, gates 4.30pm, which sold out in each of the last four years. Prices, timings and the early-bird deadline of 30 September are on our fireworks page.

Richmond Park in half term

The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October. Under the Royal Parks’ 2026 opening times, the vehicle gates are open 7.30am to 6pm from 19 to 25 October and 7.30am to 4.30pm from 26 October to 8 November. Pedestrian gates stay open around the clock until the deer cull begins on 1 November. It is the rutting season, so the park asks for dogs on leads and a 50-metre distance from the deer, 100 metres if a stag is active. Winter hours and the cull closures are on our Richmond Park in winter page.

Getting around

There is no rugby at Twickenham during half term week; the next big fixture is England v Australia on Sunday 8 November. Current roadworks are on our roadworks and travel page and car park prices on parking in Richmond.

Related: term dates · fireworks · things to do in Richmond