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Autumn Half-Term in Cornwall: What to Do in Late October

Quick answer: Cornwall’s autumn half term runs Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, and Devon and most of England break the same week, so the county is busy from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November. The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, making evenings dark by about five. The Eden Project, Heligan, the National Maritime Museum, Bodmin Jail, Lappa Valley and the National Trust houses all run half-term programmes, most of them included with normal entry. Add seal pups, autumn woods and empty beaches, and it’s one of the best weeks of the year to be here. What’s on, what to do when it rains, and what costs nothing, below.

Late October in Cornwall is the last busy week before winter, and it’s a good one: the sea is still warmer than the air, the woods are turning, seal pups are on the beaches, and every attraction in the county has something on. It rains, of course, so this guide is organised around that. Dates below are as published in September 2026; check before you travel. For Halloween specifically, see our guide to Halloween in Cornwall.

Table of Contents

  1. The dates
  2. What’s on in half term 2026
  3. When it rains
  4. Days that cost nothing
  5. Practical notes for the week
  6. FAQ
  7. References and resources

The dates

WhereAutumn half term 2026
CornwallMon 26 – Fri 30 October
DevonMon 26 – Fri 30 October
Most of England (including many London boroughs)Mon 26 – Fri 30 October
Nottinghamshire and some other two-week areasMon 19 – Fri 30 October
Clocks go back2am, Sunday 25 October
Cornwall Council term dates. Academies can set their own, so check your child’s school.

In practice most families travel from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, which is the window nearly every Cornish attraction uses for its programme.

What’s on in half term 2026

The big days out

  • Eden Project, 24 Oct – 1 Nov: Halloweden, with a mushroom trail, a UV glow room and storytelling in the Mediterranean Biome. Included with admission, but pre-book. The ice rink costs extra.
  • Lost Gardens of Heligan, 24 Oct – 1 Nov: falconry displays and Brothers Grimm storytelling by day, included with entry; twilight tours and a folk horror film festival after dark, ticketed separately.
  • National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth, 24 Oct – 1 Nov: a portrait trail, Make & Take crafts each afternoon, and a theatre show, The Haunted Bookshop, three times a day from 26 to 30 October. All included with admission, and the ticket lasts a year.
  • Bodmin Jail: the Haunted Gallery runs through October with normal entry, and the Go Darker guided tour is open to all ages. Evening ghost walks are for ages 12 and over.
  • Lappa Valley, near Newquay: PAW Patrol’s Chase visits on 25 and 26 October, with fireworks on the evenings of 30 and 31 October. Pre-booking essential, and the indoor Engine Shed play area is included.
  • Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Spooks, Steam & Halloween, with decorated station and carriages on the daily steam service. The line closes on Fridays for maintenance.

National Trust houses

  • Lanhydrock: a Stranger Folk app quest through the season, and Jan Tregeagle storytelling from 25 to 31 October.
  • Trelissick: Dark Cornwall’s Kalan Gwav folklore experience, 17 October to 1 November, plus droll-teller storytelling each day of half term.
  • Cotehele: a “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” sensory trail and Hibernation at the Mill — the gentlest option for small children.
  • Trerice: “The reign of the wyrm and the witch”, 26 to 31 October, with an evening event on Halloween for ages 11 and up.

Animals and the sea

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek usually runs a half-term programme with trails, crafts and pup-rescue demonstrations, and autumn is its busiest season for real rescues. Newquay Zoo, Paradise Park at Hayle and the Blue Reef Aquarium are all open through the week, though none had published 2026 half-term programmes when we wrote this. For a day that mixes animals, beach and chips, see our Newquay day out.

When it rains

It will. October averages 111mm of rain across about 15 wet days, so plan at least two indoor days into the week. These are the reliable ones:

  • National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth — the biggest all-weather day out in the county.
  • Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay.
  • Bodmin Jail — indoors and atmospheric in bad weather.
  • Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen — the museum and the underground tour. Closed Saturdays.
  • Eden Project — the Biomes are warm and dry whatever the sky is doing.
  • Indoor play: Lappa Valley’s Engine Shed, Paradise Park’s JungleBarn, Camel Creek near Wadebridge, and Ferdi’s in Helston.
  • National Trust houses — Lanhydrock and Trerice are proper rainy-day buildings.

Days that cost nothing

  • Seal pups. Pupping season runs from September, and the clifftop above Mutton Cove at Godrevy is the classic viewpoint. Watch from the top, keep dogs on leads, stay at least 100 metres away, and never approach a pup on a beach — call the Seal Sanctuary on 01326 221361 instead. Our guide to seeing seals has the full code.
  • Rock pooling. Autumn spring tides are excellent, and the pools are still warm enough to enjoy. Check a tide table for your day, put every rock back as you found it, and see our rock pooling and crabbing guide.
  • Cardinham Woods, near Bodmin: waymarked trails, a family trail, a cycle route and a cafe. Parking is £8 for the day, card only.
  • Golitha Falls, near St Cleer: oak woodland along the Fowey, at its best after rain.
  • Tamar Trails, just over the border at Gulworthy: 25km of free traffic-free trails through woods and mining heritage.
  • Empty beaches. The summer crowds have gone and most of the dog restrictions have lifted for the winter — see our dog-friendly beaches guide.

Practical notes for the week

  • The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October, so it’s dark by about five all week. Plan outdoor things for the middle of the day.
  • Lifeguards are nearly finished. The RNLI usually keeps cover on a couple of dozen South West beaches through half term, then stops for the winter at the start of November. Check your beach on rnli.org, and if there’s no flag, treat the water with respect.
  • Opening hours shorten from 1 November. Tintagel Castle drops to Wednesday–Sunday from 2 November, and several attractions switch to winter hours, so the half-term week is the last of the full-season timetable.
  • Book the big ones. Eden, Heligan, Lappa Valley and the evening events all sell out in half term. Our October weather guide covers what to pack, and where to stay covers the areas.

FAQ

Q: When is half term in Cornwall in 2026?
A: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for Cornwall’s community and voluntary-controlled schools. Devon and most of England break the same week, so the busy period runs from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November. Academies can set their own dates.

Q: What is there to do in Cornwall in October half term?
A: The Eden Project’s Halloweden and Halloween at Heligan both run 24 October to 1 November, the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth has a daily half-term programme, Bodmin Jail runs tours, Lappa Valley has a character visit and fireworks, and the National Trust houses all have trails and storytelling.

Q: What can you do in Cornwall in the rain?
A: The National Maritime Museum at Falmouth, Blue Reef Aquarium at Newquay, Bodmin Jail, Geevor Tin Mine’s underground tour, the Eden Project’s Biomes, and indoor play at Lappa Valley, Paradise Park, Camel Creek and Ferdi’s in Helston.

Q: Do the clocks change during half term 2026?
A: Yes. The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026, the first weekend of the holiday, so evenings are dark by about five.

Q: Can you see seal pups in Cornwall in October?
A: Yes, pupping season runs from September through the winter. Watch from the clifftop above Mutton Cove at Godrevy, stay at least 100 metres away, keep dogs on leads, and never approach a pup.

Q: Are there lifeguards on Cornish beaches in October half term?
A: Usually on a limited number of beaches, ending at the start of November. Check your beach’s page on rnli.org before you go, and don’t assume cover.

References and resources