Wandsworth's half term is 26 to 30 October, but some schools break on 19 October. Zoo Halloween, a BAC show for 4+, Ramses and free library clubs, with prices.

October half term in Wandsworth is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for council schools and most academies. Some local schools break a week earlier, on Monday 19 October. Below is what is actually on in the borough that week, taken from each venue’s own listing on 25 September.

The quick answer

Half term is 26 to 30 October, with pupils back on Monday 2 November at most schools. Chestnut Grove, Putney High and Emanuel break from 19 October. The borough’s best-dated family events that week are Battersea Park Children’s Zoo’s Halloween (24 October to 1 November) and The Dark at Battersea Arts Centre (27 to 31 October, ages 4+).

Which schools are off when

School Pupils off
Council calendar, Graveney, Burntwood, Ark Putney Monday 26 to Friday 30 October
Ernest Bevin 26 to 30 October, plus INSET on Monday 2 November
Chestnut Grove 19 to 30 October, plus INSET on Monday 2 November
Putney High School 19 to 30 October
Emanuel School Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November

The full year, with every INSET day, is on our Wandsworth school term dates page.

What’s on, half term week

Not So Spooky Halloween, Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November. Games, crafts and Halloween storytime, pitched at primary school children and younger. The zoo says some activities are included in the entrance ticket, and suggests booking the visit. Day tickets, from the zoo’s ticket page: adult (16 to 59) £17.50, child (2 to 15) £13.95, under-2s free, family of four £53.95. Details on the zoo’s Halloween page.

The Dark, Battersea Arts Centre

Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October, 11am and 2.30pm. Peut-Être Theatre’s dance-theatre version of Lemony Snicket’s picture book, which BAC describes as a family adventure about facing your fears. Ages 4+, 50 minutes, in the first-floor Council Chamber with lift access. Every performance is relaxed, and one performance a day has a touch tour an hour before. Pay what you can, with £15 recommended, plus a £2 fee per order, according to BAC’s listing.

Ramses and the Pharaoh’s Gold, Battersea Power Station

On until 1 January 2027. More than 180 Ancient Egyptian objects, including the cedar coffin of Ramses II, at NEON, 2 Circus Road East, SW11 8DQ. Allow 60 to 75 minutes. The power station recommends it for children aged five and above, according to its exhibition page. Prices are set through the booking link, not on that page.

Meet Charlie the Chimney, Battersea Power Station

The Chimney Lift’s mascot is out for photographs on Monday 26 October, Wednesday 28 October and Sunday 1 November at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm, according to the power station’s listing. Free to meet.

The land train, Battersea Power Station

Daily, 11.30am to 2.30pm, a short ride around the estate. £2.50 a person, under-8s free, children must be with an adult, and it can be cancelled in bad weather, according to the land train page.

Free library clubs

Wandsworth’s libraries run free weekly children’s sessions, and the council’s library activities page, updated on 25 September, lists these for the half term week:

Day Library Session
Monday Roehampton, 10.30am; Battersea, 4pm Children’s story time
Wednesday Battersea Park, 4pm Crafternoon
Wednesday Southfields, 3.30pm Arts and crafts
Thursday Putney, 3.30pm; Earlsfield and Balham, 4pm Children’s story time
Friday Battersea Park, 4.15pm Colouring
Saturday 31 October Battersea Park 10am to 2pm; Southfields 10.30am; Roehampton 11am; Tooting 2pm; Balham 2pm to 4pm; Battersea 4pm Craft clubs

The page does not say whether sessions pause in the school holidays, so check with the library before a special trip.

Kids’ theatre, Arches Lane Theatre

BB Broadway’s classes run every Saturday morning at Arches Lane Theatre, Battersea Power Station: ages 3 to 5 at 9am, 6 to 8 and 9 to 12 at 10am, with free trial places, according to the power station’s listing.

For older teenagers and adults

  • Room 13, Battersea Arts Centre, 16 October to 1 November: an immersive horror piece about what the BAC fire left behind more than ten years ago. Age 16+, about 35 minutes, from £16 recommended plus the £2 order fee, per BAC.
  • La Dame de Pique, Gothic Opera at BAC, 29 October to 1 November, per BAC’s listing.

What is not on

  • Battersea Park fireworks are the weekend after half term, on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, according to the organiser’s site. See our Battersea Park fireworks page.
  • Glide, the ice rink at Battersea Power Station, opens on Friday 6 November, the week after. See Battersea Power Station ice rink.
  • Putney Arts Theatre’s autumn show runs 20 to 24 October, the week before.

Getting about

Check Wandsworth roadworks and travel before driving, and parking in Wandsworth for the Battersea Park car park and pay and display rates.