Calendar

After dark

9 – 31 OCTOBER

We dare you to take a walk on the wild side this scary season by booking an Edinburgh Zoo Spooktacular family slot. While you’ll be able to check in with all of your favourite fauna, from the parading penguins to super-cute red pandas, there will also be a host of creepy hidden characters to keep an eye out for along the illuminated trail, including scarecrows, witches and wizards. Yikes! edinburghzoo.org.uk

Wild at heart

9 – 31 OCTOBER

If your brood likes their half-terms action packed, there are few destinations better equipped for adventurous youngsters than luxury Perthshire hotel and estate, Gleneagles. The iconic five-star country hideaway has a full-to-bursting programme of more than 50 outdoor pursuits, from junior golf and archery to tree climbing and zip wiring. And with a fully tricked-out spa on site, grownups can fit in a spot of R’n’R around the mayhem too. gleneagles.com

Clay havoc

26 OCTOBER

This Halloween, lifestyle brand Daylesford has teamed up with artisanal pottery studio London Wildflower to o er an at-home workshop for kids aged six to 12. The Zoom session’s cost (£60) covers essential equipment, from reusable tools to air-drying clay, which will be sent out ahead of the class. Prepare to be petrified by the seriously spooky jack-o’-lantern ceramics your little artist produces!

daylesford.com

Golden delicious

23&24 OCTOBER

Max out on your five a day with a wholesome family getaway to The Newt in Somerset’s Apple Day Weekend. This celebratory festival hosts a packed itinerary of events themed around the region’s humble fruit – think funfair games, educational displays, tractor tours, live music, cider tasting (one for the grownups) and you’re just scratching the surface. thenewtinsomerset.com

Vitamin sea

ONGOING

Seeking some half-term sun? New fivestar resort MarBella Elix – set upon an unspoilt Greek beach – o ers Worldwide Kids multilingual childcare for ages up to 12 years, as well an Explore the Outsideled Adventure Club for older kids. Getting the youngsters to swap screens for cycling and kayaking while you bask with a poolside cocktail sounds like a win-win to us! marbella.gr/marbella-elix

A winter’s trail

17 NOVEMBER – 9 JANUARY 2022

Few festive rituals hold as much seasonal wonder as Christmas at Kew, and this year’s event promises to live up to the annual hype, with awe-inspiring tunnels of light, dancing waterside reflections and trees lined with jewel-toned shimmer. Unmissable highlights include an audience with Santa, the Fire Garden’s mesmerising flames and of course, piping hot cocoa.

kew.org

Festive fiesta

19 NOVEMBER – 3 JANUARY 2022

It’s back! Returning to the capital after a pandemic pause, the now legendary Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is set to bring Londoners of all ages plenty of yuletide cheer. Book advance tickets to ensure your family can safely take advantage of the ice slides, Santa Land, giant wheel, fire pit music line-up, carousel, markets, skating rink and much, much more.

hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Weave it out

27 NOVEMBER

Budding York artists will enjoy flexing their creative talents at Rowntree Park’s Christmas Crafts for Kids workshop. Run in conjunction with educational brand Catkin & Co, children will make festive decorations such as mini-wreaths using natural resources including pine cones, log circles, dried oranges, willow and cinnamon sticks. rowntreepark.org.uk

Santa’s not-so little helper

16 – 20 NOVEMBER

If the Will Ferrell festive classic is an essential part of your family’s essential advent countdown, it’s worth checking out Starlight Theatre Productions’ Elf the Musical at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre and Opera House. Soak up the live audience experience and sing along as you once again become invested in Buddy’s quest to save Christmas.

tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

A kind of magic

13 NOVEMBER – 16 JANUARY 2022

Where better to beat the post-Halloween blues than with a pilgrimage to Warner Brother Studios in Watford for Hogwarts in the Snow? Your wannabe witches and wizards will be especially transfixed by the Forbidden Forest and Great Hall’s enchanting festive makeovers – just don’t forget to stop by Diagon Alley for some Chocolate Frogs for the journey home! wbstudiotour.co.uk

Back to nature

28 OCTOBER

Brown hares and marsh harriers and common lizards, oh my! While Holkham National Nature Reserve is famously home to a splendidfallow deer community, the coastal Norfolk estate is now welcoming children up to the age of 14 to get up close to its varied wildlife with a one-o guided Junior Safari On Foot event, followed by restorative tea and cake. Be sure to bring along sensible footwear and binoculars. holkham.co.uk