Spooky fun & family deals this half term
This October, Brighton & Hove Museums is rolling out a half-term programme packed with creativity, history, and a touch of seasonal spookiness across its five diverse venues. Families and young explorers are invited to immerse themselves in events that promise inspiration and hands-on experiences. And the best part? Families can also enjoy 10% off family tickets during half-term at ALL our venues!
Preston Manor & Gardens, one of the UK’s most haunted houses, is at the heart of the half-term fun. The house is open Friday to Sunday, with a family trail inside that lets children explore its history while taking on fun servant tasks and dressing up in period costumes. From 23 October onwards, visitors can enjoy Pumpkin Picking in the gardens, wander seasonal trails, and take part in other family-friendly activities. On 28 October, young storytellers can write their own Twisted Tales with a special ghost story writing class and let their imaginations run wild in this famously eerie setting. Families can also stop by Café Rust on-site for seasonal treats and refreshments during their visit.
Art lovers can join the Art Club: Day of the Dead workshops at Brighton Museum on 29 October and Hove Museum on 30 October. Inspired by Mexico’s vibrant festival, these sessions allow children aged 5–13 to create colourful masterpieces drawing on the museums’ rich collections.
At Hove Museum of Creativity, families can explore early film and media with the Press Play event on 25 October, part of the new Play Back Forward exhibition, offering hands-on animation, storytelling, and creative workshops. And on 27 October, children of all ages are being invited to experience some Spooky Storytelling within the museum.
The Passion, Power & Protest exhibition opens on 25 October in Brighton Museum’s refreshed Central Gallery. The exhibition features child-friendly interactives that invite young visitors to explore stories of people and movements that shaped history in engaging ways.
Although the COLOUR exhibition has finished at the Royal Pavilion, the festive Austen takeover is already on the horizon and our Dragon Trail is back. For four weeks only, join George the Pavilion cat as he hunts for dragons around the official Palace of Dragons ahead of our blockbuster Dragons exhibition next summer! Can you find them all?
Over at the Booth Museum of Natural History, the doors open on 27 October for a special one-day Jaws n Claws event, giving families a rare chance to visit during its refurbishment. Visitors can get up close with fascinating specimens and discover the science behind nature’s sharpest tools.
The half-term closes with storytelling around the fire at Brighton Museum on 31 October, blending history, imagination, and a hint of Halloween thrill.
With spooky tales, interactive trails, hands-on creativity, exhibitions, and special seasonal treats, Brighton & Hove Museums promise a half-term full of unforgettable experiences for all ages.
