14 of the best UK and European holidays for October half-term

Advice

Missed your chance of a family holiday this summer? Whether booked-up Britain, the pingdemic or post-lockdown jitters scuppered your plans, you still have one last chance to rescue your holiday year – the autumn half-term break.

It’s not the easiest time of year to plan a holiday. The weather in some parts of the Mediterranean is long past its best and the tight window of opportunity – most schools break up on Oct 22 and return on Nov 1 – means that some flights to popular destinations are in short supply.

But if you choose carefully – heading well south in the Med or to the Canaries if you want a beach holiday, or plan a different type of trip where hot sunny weather isn’t so crucial – then there are still lots of excellent options. And if your children are lucky enough to have two weeks off, or break up the previous week, then you really are in clover.

From sunny escapes to cultural breaks, here a 14 last-minute holidays to book for October half-term.

Fun and games

Disney delights

While Mickey Mouse and friends may not be hugging visitors, they are back in action. Allow a couple of days to explore Disneyland Paris and nearby Walt Disney Studios Park. Magic Breaks (magicbreaks.co.uk) offers a three-night stay at Campanile Val D’France from £478 B&B for up to five passengers and a car, including Eurotunnel crossing, with free shuttle to Disney. Park and ticket information at disneylandparis.com.



theme park LEGOLAND Windsor Resort best uk holidays travel abroad october half term 2021


Theme and holiday parks including LEGOLAND Windsor are always a winner


Credit: fabpix.co.uk

Parc life

High demand means it’s tricky to find availability at Center Parcs (centerparcs.co.uk) in the main week of half term, but families who can travel earlier can track down stays around the UK, with large subtropical waterparks and activities on tap. A self-catering, three-bedroom Executive Lodge, at Sherwood Forest Center Parc in Nottinghamshire, sleeping up to six people, costs from £1,299 for a three-night, weekend stay. 



Center Parcs best uk holidays travel october half term 2021


Families who can travel earlier than high-demand half-term can track down stays at Center Parcs


Credit: Center Parcs

Towering times

Get the adrenaline flowing with a stay at Alton Towers (altontowersholidays.com) near Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. This year, families can make a bid to grab the crown jewels on the newly launched Gangsta Granny ride. Most on-site accommodation is sold out, but there are still a few rooms available at the Alton Towers Hotel. From £809 B&B for a family of four for two nights. Theme park passes £156 one-day, £196 two-day and Waterpark £58.  



Alton Towers best uk europe holidays travel october half term 2021


This year, families can make a bid to grab the crown jewels on the newly launched Gangsta Granny ride


Credit: Alton Towers

Up and active

Bravo for the Brava 

Families who prefer to go at their own pace can opt for a more leisurely, self-guided itinerary with Headwater (headwater.com). Its “Catalonia Activities” tour is based at three-star Hotel Garbi near the resort of Calella de Palafrugell on the Costa Brava. Optional activities include a visit to the botanical gardens at Cap Roig or cycling to the medieval town of Pals and there’s plenty of opportunity for beach picnics. From £979, throughout October.



best uk europe holidays travel abroad october half term 2021


Families who prefer to go at their own pace can opt for a more leisurely, self-guided itinerary with Headwater


Credit: Alvaro German Vilela/Alamy

Go for Gozo

Flopping on the beach isn’t everyone’s idea of an ideal half term. An “Active Gozo” itinerary with Families Worldwide (familiesworldwide.co.uk) is aimed at energetic families with children aged eight and over. Based in a beachfront resort in the small fishing village of Xlendi, this small group tour includes climbing, abseiling, kayaking, mountain biking and an optional catamaran excursion. From £799 including two lunches. Excludes flights.

Winding through the willows

Potter along the leafy banks of the Thames on a six-night, self-guided “Trails of the Riverbank” walking tour with Inntravel (inntravel.co.uk) with overnight stays in Oxford, Goring and Henley-on-Thames. There are barely any hills to worry about and optional extensions include the Pangbourne loop, which takes in Mapledurham House, thought to be the inspiration for Toad Hall in Wind in the Willows. From £895, including three dinners. 

Wildlife in the wilds

Families with children aged from six to 12 can join a four-night “Great Outdoor Adventure in the Lake District” break offered by the Field Studies Council (field-studies-council.org) at its Cumbrian residential centre, FSC Blencathra near Keswick. Activities include ghyll scrambling at Honister waterfall, a nature night walk with a bat detector, orienteering and bushcraft in the company of an expert wildlife guide. From £274, including all meals.



Family hiking in Keswick best uk europe holidays travel october half term 2021


Keswick is a top spot for families with children


Credit: Job Kuipers/Getty

Creative and cultural

Roman holidays 

Enrol the kids into gladiator school on a four-night break in Rome – it’s one of the activities offered by the five-star Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel on the outskirts of the city. The hotel’s Kids IT Club for children aged over seven also has pizza-making classes and a city tour, and baby-sitting is available. From £622 for travel on selected dates between Oct 16-24, room only, through British Airways Holidays (ba.com).



best uk europe holidays travel abroad october half term 2021 Rome Italy


Rome Cavalieri’s kids’ club offers a gladiator school, pizza-making classes and a city tour


Credit: ANTONIO SABA

Capital treat

Costs on family break in London soon rack up, especially once you’ve paid for entry fees and a West End show. But you can save by booking a self-catering apartment in Citadines (discoverasr.com), which offers good value family accommodation near Trafalgar Square, within walking distance of the National Gallery, Covent Garden and London Eye. From £223 a night for a one-bedroom apartment sleeping four people during the half term weeks. 

Going Dutch

Canal trips, Van Gogh sunflowers, the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum – there’s plenty to entertain children on a cultural break in Amsterdam. Eurostar (eurostar.com) can arrange a two-night, room-only stay in the five-star Pestana Amsterdam from £183, based on four sharing a studio room. By the Amstel river, close to the café district of De Pijp and a six-minute tram ride to Museumplein, the hotel has a big swimming pool, a rarity in Amsterdam, and a spa.



Amsterdam best uk europe holidays travel abroad october half term 2021


There’s plenty to entertain children on a cultural break in Amsterdam


Credit: Lucy Lambriex/Digital Vision

Cast-iron fun 

Immerse the family in the fascinating museums of Ironbridge Gorge, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and world heritage site, near Telford in Shropshire. Highlights include a recreation of a Victorian town including shops and fairground at Blists Hill and Enginuity, a hands-on science and engineering centre. Two nights at Ironbridge Best Western Valley Hotel (thevalleyhotel.co.uk) from £342, room only, based on two standard double rooms; site and ticket information at ironbridge.org.uk.

Sun and sand

Teenage treat

The small beach resort of Nerja, 50 miles east of Málaga, is a good pick for families with older, independent teenagers who want to head out to small bars and restaurants locally. First Choice (firstchoice.co.uk) offers a half-board stay in a one-bedroom apartment with a balcony at four-star Marinas De Nerja on Playazo beach, which has two outdoor pools, spacious gardens, kids’ club and spa. From £882 for the week of Oct 16-23 or £1,161 from Oct 23-30.



best uk europe holidays travel abroad october half term 2021


The small beach resort of Nerja is a good pick for families with older, independent teenagers


Credit: Calum Davidson/Alamy

Sea and Sicily

Long hours of daylight and pleasant heat makes Sicily a good choice for a dose of autumn sunshine. Head for the seaside medieval town of Cefalu on the island’s north coast, a resort with a Norman cathedral and ideally placed for forays to Palermo and nearby beaches. Citalia (citalia.com) can arrange B&B at the Cefalu Sea Palace from £1,233, based on four people sharing a junior suite.



Sicily best uk europe holidays travel abroad october half term 2021


Head to the seaside medieval town of Cefalu for some Autumn sun


Credit: Stefano Senise/Alamy

Lanzarote lounging

A reasonable flight time (just over four hours) and balmy autumn weather mean the Canaries are a popular half term option. Lanzarote’s southern resort of Playa Blanca has some of the island’s best beaches and a busy marina. THB Tropical Island, a resort hotel, provides plenty of diversions, with heated outdoor swimming pools, football pitch, beach volleyball and water park. From £1,242, self-catering, based on a family of four sharing a one-bedroom apartment; Tui (tui.co.uk). 



Lanzarote best uk europe holidays travel abroad october half term 2021


Lanzarote’s southern resort of Playa Blanca has some of the island’s best beaches


Credit: Lohfink


The details

“Fun and games” prices are for a family of four, unless stated otherwise; “Sun and Sand” prices are per person for seven nights, including flights and transfers, unless stated otherwise; “Creative and cultural” prices are pp and include breakfast, but not transfers, unless stated otherwise; “Up and Active” prices are pp for seven nights, including breakfast, flights and transfers, unless stated otherwise. All quoted prices were correct as we went to press, but may well rise if demand picks up significantly. Read more: Telegraph Travel’s complete guide to the best hotels in Europe.

Reader Service: Planning to travel with your loved ones? Purchasing family travel insurance can help you get great cover for your trip. 


Are you planning a holiday for October half-term? Let us know in the comments section below

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