Kingston's October half term is 26 to 30 October, but Tiffin and Kingston Grammar break from 19 October. Room on the Broom, Howl'o'ween and more that week.
October half term in Kingston is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for community schools, on the borough calendar published by Achieving for Children. Children go back on Monday 2 November. Some of the borough’s biggest secondaries break a week earlier, which is where the confusion comes from.
The quick answer
- Borough dates: half term is 26 to 30 October; schools return Monday 2 November.
- Two-week break at Tiffin School, Tiffin Girls’ and Kingston Grammar: 19 to 30 October.
- Biggest things on: Room on the Broom at the Rose (27 October to 1 November) and Howl’o’ween at Chessington (daily from 17 October to 1 November).
Which week is your child off?
| School | Off school | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Community schools (borough calendar) | Mon 26 to Fri 30 Oct | Mon 2 Nov |
| Tiffin School | Mon 19 to Fri 30 Oct | Tue 3 Nov (2 Nov is a staff day) |
| Tiffin Girls' School | Mon 19 to Fri 30 Oct | Mon 2 Nov |
| Kingston Grammar School | Mon 19 to Fri 30 Oct | Mon 2 Nov |
| Coombe Girls' School | Mon 26 Oct to Tue 3 Nov, then INSET Wed 4 Nov | Thu 5 Nov |
| Richard Challoner School | Fri 23 Oct to Mon 2 Nov | Tue 3 Nov |
Sources: Tiffin School, Tiffin Girls’, Kingston Grammar School, Coombe Girls’, Richard Challoner. Full-year dates for every term are on our Kingston school term dates page.
What’s on in half term
Everything below is taken from the organiser’s own listing, checked on 25 September.
Room on the Broom, Rose Theatre, Kingston. Tall Stories’ production runs Tuesday 27 October to Sunday 1 November, at 10.30am and 1.30pm most days (the first show, on the 27th, is 1.30pm only). It lasts about 55 minutes and is best for ages 3 and up. There is a relaxed performance on Thursday 29 October at 1.30pm. Children aged 2 and over need their own ticket; babies under 18 months can sit on an adult’s lap. (Rose Theatre)
Howl’o’ween, Chessington World of Adventures. The Halloween season runs on 3 and 4, 10 and 11, and then every day from 17 October to 1 November, so it covers both half term weeks. Day tickets are from £34 online (the walk-up price is £66), under 90cm go free, and pre-booking is advised. Rides run into the dusk, there are new Halloween shows, and Enchanted Hollow: Trick or Treat is an optional extra from £9. (Chessington) Our Kingston Halloween page has the extras, the palace and the nearest pumpkin picking.
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace. Just over Kingston Bridge, the palace runs its Halloween programme from 24 October to 1 November: projections and sound effects in the palace, an autumn trail with pumpkins and scarecrows in the Wilderness, and a daily ghost storytelling session in the King’s Guard Chamber. It is included in palace admission, with no pre-booking needed for members. (Historic Royal Palaces)
Jane Eyre, Rose Theatre. For older children on the two-week break, the Rose’s Jane Eyre runs from 13 October with evening and matinee performances up to Saturday 24 October. (Rose Theatre)
Inky Pathways Saturday art workshops, Rose Theatre. Saturday art workshops for ages 6 to 12 run at the Rose from 26 September to 5 December, starting at 10.30am, so both half term Saturdays are covered. (Rose Theatre)
Kingston Jobs Fair, Tuesday 27 October. Not one for the children, but it falls in half term week: the council’s events calendar lists it from 10.30am. (Royal Borough of Kingston)
Just after half term
- Fireworks: the borough’s display is at Corinthian-Casuals, King George’s Field, Tolworth, on Sunday 1 November, the last day of the half term weekend, gates 4.30pm, adults £10 (Corinthian-Casuals). Bonfire night itself is Thursday 5 November; our Kingston fireworks page has the rest.
- Remembrance Sunday is 8 November. See Remembrance Sunday in Kingston for the four local services and road closures.
- Kingston Christmas Market opens on Thursday 12 November. Details on our Christmas market page.
What we are still waiting for
Kingston Museum’s what’s on page had not listed any half term sessions when we checked on 25 September, and the council’s events calendar had nothing aimed at children that week. We will check again in mid October and add anything that appears.
Related: things to do in Kingston, parking in Kingston and Kingston roadworks and travel.
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