Best October half-term holiday destinations in the UK for 2023

Keeping the kids entertained at home over the October half-term holiday can be challenging, with often rainy, overcast days causing a potential headache for parents.

But you don’t have to go far to have fun. A half-term staycation can provide an opportunity to see the best of a new town, city or county in the UK, with plenty of destinations packed with family-friendly attractions and activities, whether you’re looking to bundle little ones out on an autumn yomp or stay busy indoors in museums and galleries.

The range of wet-weather activities in cities such as Liverpool gets even more extensive in the colder months, while London’s plethora of tourist sights is no less impressive when the summer sun retreats.

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Bath and Edinburgh grow even more picturesque and atmospheric as the leaves change colour and the nights draw in, while adventurers won’t let a little rain put them off the fantastic hikes and magnificent views of the Lake District and the Cornish coast.

Get inspired with our selection of the best places for a family staycation during half-term.

The Lake District

For a quintessentially English break head to the Lake District. Accommodation options range from classic hotels to private log cabins and self-catered stays, where hot tubs and wood-burning stoves keep the family cosy as they gaze over the mountains. By half-term, the green landscape will have changed to a heady mix of gold, orange and brown, while hiking trails are far less crowded.

Depending on the age of the kids, the family can take on a variety of walks, from relaxed strolls to valiant attempts to conquer the tallest peak in England, Scafell Pike (978m). Some water sports and activity centres close earlier in the month, though there are several places to rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, and you can take the Windermere Lake Cruise up until 29 October. 

Towns including Keswick, Bowness-on-Windermere and Ambleside are other good places to explore, with atmospheric market squares and plenty of shops, restaurants or pubs to spend a relaxing evening in.

Edinburgh

The Scottish capital is one of the UK’s most picturesque cities, centred around its historic Old Town, a…