We know the kids are barely back at school, but with labels sewn into uniforms it’s time to plan ahead and get October half term break sorted. Autumn is a brilliant moment to enjoy a holiday at Searles, with nature putting on a dazzling display, plenty of treats and days out to enjoy and, of course, some Halloween trickery to be had! Here’s our round-up of reasons to book a stay this season…

Norfolk’s prize pumpkin patches

From tiny tots to teenagers, Halloween is a whole lot of family fun and nothing beats pulling on a pair of wellies to find the perfect pumpkin for your own patch! Just a short broom ride away at Heacham, Church Farm Pumpkins is opening its gates for a second year to welcome families in search of a super squash. Parking is free, dogs are welcome and food and drink are available on site – be sure to grab an Insta-worthy shot under the farm’s pumpkin arch!

 Making its debut to the pumpkin patch club this year, Pensthorpe is unveiling its first field of pickable gourds. Open from 10am each day from 25 October to 3 November, full-paying children’s tickets include a free pumpkin, and there will be a week of ‘eerie-sistible’ adventures with scary scarecrows to spot on its woodland trails, along with arts and crafts activities. Let the kids go wild and discover the flora and fauna across the 700-acre site or, if the weather is less than spectacular, the Hootz House indoor play area is a great place for little ones to let off steam.

Halloween at Holkham is always a thrill, and this year the Walled Garden has been transformed into a spooky spot with ghosts floating across the lawns, a spellbinding show with Tess the Magical Cat, Halloween crafts and pumpkin carving, all taking place from 27-31 October. Tickets are £7 with free admission for under 3s, with a £6 parking charge. Deer and Wildlife Safari tractor tours also run throughout half term at Holkham, and as it’s rutting season it’s a great moment to see the parkland’s resident wildlife in their prime.

 Slightly further afield, but well worth combining with a visit to Thursford’s incredible Steam Engine Museum, The Pumpkin House is a brilliant Jack O’Lantern bazaar – simply pick your preferred pumpkin from the house’s shelves. There are spooky trails to explore, hay bale towers to climb, vintage machinery for little (and not so little!) mechanical minds to admire, face painting and fancy dress on certain dates, plus music, food and drink to enjoy after a welly-stomping search for the ‘best in field’.

Rainy day October half-term activities

We know the old saying, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing’, but there are those days when the elements are against us and it’s time to seek out some indoor entertainment.

Closest to home is Sealife Hunstanton, just along the promenade, which is set to be transformed from aquarium to ascarium, with sea witches and warlocks challenging visitors to solve ‘spook-splash-tic’ challenges this half term. Book in advance for the best ticket prices.

Along the coast at Wells Maltings, on 29 October, there’s a chance for little ones to get hands-on at a Spooks and Slime Workshop with Eleanor from Creative Planet – tickets are £5 for a two-hour session.

And don’t forget a new arrival in Hunstanton, Honeypots Studio at 95 Westgate, where all ages can get creative and paint a chosen piece of pottery in its studio. Book a two-hour session and the team will even mail your masterpiece to your home, once it’s dried and glazed and ready for collection.

Scary, scary nights…

For older children who enjoy a little more fright to their Halloween night, book a spot with The Original King’s Lynn Ghost Tour whose guides will lead you on an atmospheric walk as they share ghost stories and legends about the historic Hanseatic town. Tickets are priced £10 per person, with tours taking place on 24 and 31 October – the perfect way to spend All Hallows Eve!

And, if you really want to max the terror level, PrimEvil returns to the Roarr! dinosaur park at Lenwade, near Norwich, from 17 October to 2 November. Its five fearsome haunts are described as ‘your worst nightmare’ with live actors bringing the frights to life alongside some of Norfolk’s best street food trucks. Children aged 12 and above can attend, but must be accompanied by adults – the only question is who will be most scared by the show?

Trick or treat, whichever you choose, book your half term great escape at Searles now and enjoy a happy Halloween!