Guildford's October half term runs two weeks, 19 to 30 October 2026. Castle hauntings from £2.50, Spot at the Yvonne Arnaud, Watts clay club, and more.
October half term in Guildford is Monday 19 to Friday 30 October 2026, two weeks rather than the usual one. Surrey County Council has doubled the autumn break this year for community schools, and every Guildford secondary we checked has done the same (Surrey County Council, term dates). Pupils at George Abbot and Guildford County School also have an INSET day on Friday 16 October, so their break starts a day early. School dates by school are on our Guildford term dates page.
Two weeks is a lot to fill. Here is what is actually booked in and around Guildford across the fortnight, from each organiser’s own listing.
The quick answer
- Dates: Monday 19 to Friday 30 October 2026. Back to school Monday 2 November (RGS returns Tuesday 3 November).
- Best value: Guildford Castle’s Halloween “hauntings”, £2.50 a child, £12 a family, Wednesday to Saturday.
- Book ahead for Spot’s Birthday Party at the Yvonne Arnaud (29 to 31 October) and the Watts Gallery craft and clay sessions (28 to 30 October).
What is on, 19 to 30 October
| What | Where | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-term hauntings | Guildford Castle keep | Wed to Sat, 14 to 31 Oct, 12pm to 4.30pm | Adult £5, child £2.50, family £12, under 5s free |
| Spooktacular Trail | Guildford Museum | Wed to Sat, 14 to 31 Oct, 12pm to 4.30pm | Free |
| Spring bulb planting | Guildford Museum | Fri 23 Oct, 12pm to 2pm | £2.50 a child |
| Creative collages | Guildford House Gallery | Tue 27 Oct, 10am to 12pm | Free, donations welcome |
| Zero3 Textiles: Signature XIII | Guildford House Gallery | 10 to 31 Oct, opening hours | Free |
| Gertrude Jekyll in Surrey (last days) | Guildford Museum | Until Sat 24 Oct | Not stated |
| Monsters, magic and mischief | Watts Gallery, Compton | Tue to Sun, 21 Oct to 1 Nov, 10.30am to 4pm | Book on Watts site |
| Halloween craft club | Watts Gallery, Compton | 28 and 29 Oct, three sessions a day | £8 (members £7.20) |
| Clay club | Watts Gallery, Compton | 28 to 30 Oct, three sessions a day | Book on Watts site |
| Spot's Birthday Party | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre | Thu 29 to Sat 31 Oct | £16 to £22; access from £11 |
Guildford Castle and the museum
The borough’s heritage service runs the keep as a Halloween attraction for the last three weeks of October: the keep decorated for the season, a ghost hunt, “spooky story-telling sessions” and Halloween colouring. It is open 12pm to 4.30pm, last entry 4pm, Wednesday to Saturday only, so the Mondays and Tuesdays of half term are out. The council calls it “a great opportunity to visit the Castle before it closes fully for winter” (Guildford Heritage Services, events).
Down the hill, Guildford Museum keeps the same days and hours as the castle, Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm to 4.30pm (Guildford Museum). Its free Spooktacular Trail sends children aged 4 and up hunting for ghosts hidden around the galleries. On Friday 23 October the museum runs spring bulb planting, 12pm to 2pm, £2.50 a child, no booking, ages 5 and up. On Tuesday 27 October Guildford House Gallery on the High Street runs a free collage session, 10am to 12pm, inspired by its Zero3 textiles show, again no booking and for ages 5 and up. Adults must go with children to all of them.
Watts Gallery, Compton
The Watts Gallery’s half-term programme, “monsters, magic and mischief”, runs Tuesday to Sunday from 21 October to 1 November, 10.30am to 4pm: a woodland witches trail, a potion station, a monster-making “menagerie” and spooky crafts, with costumes encouraged (Watts Gallery). The programme does not run on Mondays.
Two ticketed sessions sit on top, each at 10am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm:
- Halloween craft club, 28 and 29 October, £8 a child (£7.20 for members), all materials included, adults must accompany (Watts Gallery).
- Clay club with the gallery’s potter, 28 to 30 October: terracotta pumpkins on Wednesday, air-dry clay monsters on Thursday, a coiled “ghostly” jar on Friday. Everyone making needs a ticket; adults only helping do not (Watts Gallery).
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Spot’s Birthday Party plays the Main House from Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October: an interactive show for ages 2 and up, with Makaton, songs and party games, based on Eric Hill’s Happy Birthday Spot. The 10.30am shows cost £22 for adults and £18 for children; the 2pm and 4.30pm shows £20 and £16; access tickets from £11 with a free essential companion (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre).
The last Saturday of the break, 31 October, is also the Ripley Bonfire: bonfire lit at 7.30pm and fireworks at 8pm on Ripley Green, on the association’s published programme. Details on our Guildford fireworks page.
Not on this half term
- RHS Wisley’s autumn food festival, Flavours of Autumn, runs 7 to 11 October, a week before the break. Its Glow light trail does not open until 20 November (RHS).
- Illuminate Guildford, the castle light trail, opens on 14 November: see our preview.
- G Live had no family show listed for 19 to 31 October when we checked.
Getting about
Town centre parking is covered on our parking page; Sunday is a charging day, 11am to 5pm. Works that affect the High Street and gyratory are on the roadworks page.
Still to confirm
The National Trust’s events page for Hatchlands Park at East Clandon blocked our checks on 25 September, and Guildford Lido and Spectrum are still to be checked. We will add anything they run, and any new G Live or Mill Studio family shows, by 12 October.
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