October Half Term Holidays
Whether you’re into Robin Hood, wildlife, videogames, witches or apples, this October Nottinghamshire has some of the best things to do for the family to enjoy during the autumn half term break. During the school holidays, head to Nottingham, Sherwood Forest and beyond for some great activities.
With so much going on, we've put our highlight events for half-term below. You can also see a full list of Nottinghamshire half term events via the What’s On section. This special time of year also draws in Halloweeen and you'll find plenty of ghostly goings on too.
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Special offers
Free taxi transfer from the city centre
Book accommodation at the New Gables with the Nottingham Tourism Centre and the hotel will pay your taxi fair from the city centre.
From: Friday, 9th March 2012
To: Sunday, 30th September 2012
Robin Hood Pageant
29 – 30 October 2011
Adults £8, Children & Concessions £6, Family £20, Under 4s go FREE
Nottingham Castle is transformed into a medieval village where you can enjoy period crafts, archery and jousting on horseback. You might even see Robin Hood and his merry men taking on the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The grounds of Nottingham Castle will be transformed into a medieval village encampment complete with a range of colourful characters allowing you travel back in time to the 12th Century. Meet Robin Hood and his Merry Men, King Richard I in his royal camp, look out for living history demonstrations, experience wandering minstrels and historical entertainers, try your hand at turning lead into gold at the Alchemists laboratory or visit the medieval alehouse.
Cheer on your hero in the amazing live jousting tournaments and enjoy combat displays in the arena. Children can then try their hands at archery and jousting by participating in the medieval sports day with team captains Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
Children will love interacting with the costume characters and trying their hands at medieval crafts, see traditional skills such as falconry at practise, wood carving, table weaving and fletching, have a go at archery and much, much more.
Game City 6
25 – 29 October 2011
FREE
This much loved celebration of video game and popular culture returns to Nottingham in 2011, offering free events for the whole family to enjoy. Step inside the tent on Nottingham’s Old Market Square and discover games to play, things to do and adventures waiting to begin!
GameCity is a lot more than playing videogames. It’s a unique exploration of what videogames really mean to the people who play them and the people who make them too.
For us, it means creativity and innovation. It’s talking and sharing. It’s having fun and finding new ways to play. It’s dressing up as Pac-Man and running around town being chased by ghosts. It’s 3000 zombies dancing to Thriller in the Old Market Square. It’s definitely about cake. It’s an adventure... for everyone to join.
Bramley Apple Festival, Southwell
22 October, 10am – 4pm
FREE
Picturesque Southwell will host its annual Bramley Apple Festival, celebrating its status as home of the Bramley, which was first cultivated there over 200 years ago. The festival will include Children’s Apple Trails at The Workhouse National Trust Property in Southwell, the Festival of Food and Drink at Southwell Minster, Morris Men performances throughout the town and live music, activities, cooking demonstrations, tastings, art and games for the whole family to enjoy.
Half Term Halloween at Galleries of Justice Museum
Children’s Ghost Tours: 24 – 27 October at 5pm / Children’s storytelling: 28 and 30 October
Children £6.95, Adults £8.95
This half term explore the caves and dungeons of the Galleries of Justice Museum and follow the trail to break the spell of the Wicked Witch of Sherwood Forest. Our very own Villainous Sheriff of Nottingham puts the Wicked Witch of Sherwood Forest on trial! Children can join in activities including scary face painting, Halloween mask making and children’s Ghost Tours.
Autumn Antics at Attenborough Nature Reserve
25 and 27 October, 10.15am
£5 per child
Enjoy wildlife inspired autumn fun at Attenborough Nature Reserve – voted as one of the top ten places to experience wildlife in the UK. This special centre encompasses beautiful wetlands and a large array of wildlife – children will enjoy the funs activities planned which celebrate the wonder of nature.
There are lots of other half term activities across Nottingham to help keep your kids entertained, for further details visit the Nottingham City Council website.
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