🎃 South West England & South Coast – Free Half-Term & Halloween Events 2025

Free and family-friendly ideas for October half-term across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire, Portsmouth and Southampton. Always check each link for final timings or any free-ticket requirements.

Cornwall

• Spooky Newquay Zombie Crawl — Newquay Town Centre
  Sat 25 Oct 2025 (workshops from 11:00; crawl in the afternoon)
  One of Cornwall’s biggest **free** family Halloween events: face-painting, workshops and the famous town-centre zombie parade.
  Cost: FREE
  Event details · More info
• Bodmin Jail – Halloween Trick-or-Treat Activity Trail — Bodmin
  From Fri 17 Oct 2025 (daily)
  Family trail with an activity sheet and reward. (Venue admission applies; trail included once inside.)
  Cost: Mixed (included with entry)
  Event page
• Liskeard & SE Cornwall Half-Term Round-Up — various
  Half-term week
  Local council & community-led free/low-cost listings across South East Cornwall.
  Cost: Mixed (many FREE)
  What’s on

Devon

• FREE Halloween Trail at Becky Falls — Dartmoor (Manaton)
  Across half-term (check dates/times)
  Family Halloween trail with prize draw; free trail element. (General admission may apply; check page.)
  Cost: Mixed (free trail element)
  Event page

Dorset

• Weymouth Halloween Parade — Weymouth Town Centre
  Thu 30 Oct 2025, 16:30–20:00
  Big community parade with zombies, witches and ghouls through the town centre.
  Cost: FREE
  Parade info
• Weymouth Halloween Treasure Trail — around town
  Sat 25 Oct – Sun 2 Nov 2025
  Self-guided family trail running all week over half-term.
  Cost: FREE
  Community listing
• Ascarium & Free Trails (round-up) — Dorset coast & towns
  18–31 Oct 2025 (various)
  Area hub page with October half-term listings; includes **free trails** among paid options.
  Cost: Mixed (many FREE)
  Visit Dorset hub

Bristol

• Calm Morning at the Museum (Sensory Family Session) — Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
  Half-term morning (ticketed window)
  Quiet, sensory hour for families during half-term. **Free but ticketed**.
  Cost: FREE (ticketed)
  Event page
• Story Box at M Shed (drop-in sessions) — M Shed
  Tue 28 Oct 2025, sessions 11:00/12:00/14:00
  Interactive storytime for ages 4–7 with props & puppets. **Free, donations welcome**.
  Cost: FREE (donations welcome)
  Event page
• Spooky Week at Red Lodge Museum — Red Lodge Museum
  Sat 25 Oct – Sun 2 Nov 2025
  Terrifying trails & fun crafts; Bristol Museums family programme.
  Cost: FREE
  Family fun listings

Bath

• American Halloween Half-Term (Pay-What-You-Can Day) — American Museum & Gardens
  Sat 25 Oct – Sun 2 Nov 2025 (with PWYC day Wed 29 Oct)
  Pumpkin trail & crafts; **Pay-What-You-Can** day replaces standard admission on Wed 29 Oct (trail sheet £3.50).
  Cost: Mixed (PWYC day; trail extra)
  Event page
• Halloween in Bath – City Round-Up — various
  From Fri 24 Oct 2025
  Seasonal hub with family trails, pumpkins & spooky events across the city.
  Cost: Mixed (some FREE)
  Visit Bath hub

Wiltshire

• Halloween Hunt (Old Town Gardens) — Swindon
  Sat 1 Nov 2025, 14:00–16:00
  Family hunt around the park with a treat for every child. Charity-run, family-friendly.
  Cost: FREE / donation
  Event page
• Top Halloween Activities (county round-up) — various
  Oct–Nov (see listings)
  County blog hub including **free trails** like “Bat’s Autumn Adventure” (free activity; general admission may apply where venue-based).
  Cost: Mixed (many FREE)
  Visit Wiltshire

Portsmouth / Hampshire

• Free Halloween Fun at Fort Nelson — Royal Armouries Fort Nelson (Fareham/Portsmouth)
  Sat 25 Oct – Sun 2 Nov 2025
  Willow the Witch’s free riddle trail and family activities during half-term.
  Cost: FREE
  Listing (Visit Hampshire)
• Spooky Winch Word Hunt (nearby) — Winchester City Centre
  Sat 18 Oct – Sun 2 Nov 2025
  Free city-wide Halloween word hunt with prize draw, organised by Winchester BID.
  Cost: FREE
  Event page

Southampton

• Free Halloween at The Marlands — City Centre
  Mon 27 – Fri 31 Oct 2025
  Free family activities all week in-centre, including a **Trick-or-Treat Trail** across the city centre.
  Cost: FREE
  Visit Southampton – Halloween
• IKEA Southampton Family Halloween Activities — West Quay Retail Park
  Tue 28 Oct – Sun 2 Nov 2025 (see schedule)
  Free in-store trail, crafts and a Halloween party for IKEA Family members.
  Cost: FREE (IKEA Family)
  Visit Southampton – details

Note: Some events use free timed tickets for capacity control — if a booking link is offered, reserve early. All listings above are free to attend, free-ticketed, or note when general admission applies.