Hammersmith and Fulham's half term is 26 to 30 October. Four library author sessions now join the pumpkin patch, Lyric shows and palace plays, all dated.

October half term in Hammersmith and Fulham is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 on the council’s dates, but families at Latymer Upper, Godolphin and Latymer and St Paul’s Girls’ School get two weeks, from Monday 19 October. The busiest thing on locally is the London Pumpkin Patch on Parsons Green, open every day from 24 October to 1 November. Around it there are two puppet shows at the Lyric, a morning of dressing up at Fulham Palace and two Halloween plays in the palace garden marquee, and the borough’s libraries have four Black History Month author sessions for children. Every listing below comes from the organiser’s own page, checked on 12 October 2026.

The quick answer

State schools follow the council’s half term of Monday 26 to Friday 30 October; the three big Hammersmith independents break from Monday 19 October. The London Pumpkin Patch is on Parsons Green from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, 10am to 7pm, and the Lyric’s Halloween show Franky runs 27 to 31 October at 11am and 1pm.

Updated 12 October: the council’s libraries have published four half term story and craft sessions, 27 to 31 October; pumpkin patch, Lyric and palace listings rechecked and unchanged.

Which week is half term at your school

The council’s guide term dates put half term on 26 to 30 October, and Lady Margaret School follows them exactly. The London Oratory School adds a staff day on Friday 23 October, so its pupils finish on Thursday 22 October. Latymer Upper, Godolphin and Latymer and St Paul’s Girls’ School all publish a two-week break from 19 to 30 October. Everyone is back on Monday 2 November. The full school-by-school detail, including INSET days, is on our term dates page.

What is on, day by day

Dated half term events in Hammersmith and Fulham, October 2026, from each organiser's own listing
WhenWhat and whereAgesPrice
Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov, 10am to 7pm dailyLondon Pumpkin Patch, Parsons Green SW6All; Trick-or-Treat Lane 3+Timed tickets, booked ahead
Sat 24 Oct, 11am and 1pmPenguin, Long Nose Puppets, Lyric Hammersmith Studio2 to 8From £12
Sat 24 and Sat 31 Oct, 9amFulham Palace parkrun and Wormwood Scrubs parkrun, 5kAllFree
Mon 26 Oct, 12 noon to 1pmSEN session of the pumpkin patch's Trick-or-Treat Lane3+Booked ahead
Tue 27 to Sat 31 Oct, 11am and 1pmFranky, a Halloween musical, Lyric Hammersmith Studio3+From £12
Tue 27 Oct, 11amStory and craft session with author Kamapala Chukwuka, Fulham Library4 to 10Not stated
Wed 28 Oct, 10.30am to 12.30pmCrafts and costumes family morning, Fulham Palace great hallAllFree, donations welcome
Wed 28 Oct, 11amStory and craft session with author Kamapala Chukwuka, Hammersmith Library4 to 10Not stated
Thu 29 Oct, 11amHansel and Gretel, Fulham Palace chaplain's garden marquee4 to 7£12; family of four £45
Thu 29 Oct, 2pmThe Canterville Ghost, Fulham Palace chaplain's garden marquee7+£12; family of four £45
Sat 31 Oct, 11am to 12 noonStories with Dad, with author Maurice Matthew, Askew Road Library3 to 6Not stated
Sun 1 NovPumpkin smash day at the pumpkin patch, Parsons GreenAllIncluded with entry

The London Pumpkin Patch, Parsons Green

The council’s event listing and the organiser’s own site both give 24 October to 1 November, 10am to 7pm daily, on Parsons Green, SW6 4UL. There are two parts. The pumpkin patch itself has photo spots, roaming characters and pick-your-own pumpkins, which are paid for separately. Trick-or-Treat Lane is an add-on for children aged 3 and over, with a story, doors to knock on and a bag of sweets; one adult can go round with the children on each booking.

Entry is by timed ticket and the QR code in your booking email, so this is not one to turn up to on the off chance. Under-2s and carers go free. The organiser’s home page now says “from £7.50”. On 12 October the booking page listed patch entry at £6.23, £7.01 or £7.79 depending on the slot, and the Trick-or-Treat Lane add-on at £10.38 a child, in 15-minute slots. Check the total at checkout.

The council listing notes a SEN session of Trick-or-Treat Lane on Monday 26 October from 12 noon to 1pm. New this year is a play zone with pumpkin bowling and hook-a-duck, and on Sunday 1 November a “smash day” with a splat wall, after which the pumpkins go for biofuel. The organiser’s visitor information says dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs, and that there are toilets on site. Parsons Green station on the District line is on the edge of the green; the 22 bus stops on New King’s Road.

Lyric Hammersmith: two shows in the Studio

The Lyric’s Little Lyric season fills both Saturdays and the middle of the week:

  • Penguin, Saturday 24 October at 11am and 1pm. A Long Nose Puppets show based on Polly Dunbar’s picture book, for ages 2 to 8.
  • Franky, Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October at 11am and 1pm. A Halloween musical about Professor Frankenstein’s creation, with songs, a hook-a-duck game and “the Franky Walk”. Ages 3 and over.

Both are from £12, and the Lyric adds a £2 restoration levy to each basket. Children under 18 months do not need a ticket. The box office is on 020 8741 6850.

Fulham Palace

The palace and its walled garden are free to visit every day. For half term the palace has three ticketed or bookable events:

  • Crafts and costumes family morning, Wednesday 28 October, 10.30am to 12.30pm, in the great hall. Dress up as a Tudor apothecary or a Victorian gardener, parade through the hall and try the handling collection. Free, with donations welcome.
  • Hansel and Gretel, Thursday 29 October at 11am, for ages 4 to 7. Puppetry and songs from Cat and Hutch, about 50 minutes, doors from 10.30am.
  • The Canterville Ghost, Thursday 29 October at 2pm, for ages 7 and over. An interactive version of Oscar Wilde’s story, doors from 1.30pm.

Both plays are in the chaplain’s garden marquee and cost £12 for a child or an adult, or £45 for two adults and two children. Tickets can also be bought on the door if any are left. Costumes are optional.

Library sessions

Hammersmith and Fulham’s libraries run their Black History Month programme into half term, with three sessions for young children:

  • Tuesday 27 October, 11am, Fulham Library: a story and craft session with children’s author Kamapala Chukwuka, for ages 4 to 10.
  • Wednesday 28 October, 11am, Hammersmith Library: the same session again.
  • Saturday 31 October, 11am to 12 noon, Askew Road Library: Stories with Dad, with author Maurice Matthew, for children aged 3 to 6 with their dads, grandads or the men who care for them, with stories about Black historical role models and a singalong.

On Thursday 29 October at 11am Shepherds Bush Library has a 90-minute journalling and painting workshop for young Black girls and women, led by Skye Alexandra House. The council’s page does not give prices or say whether to book, so ask at the library. The regular term-time clubs, such as Chatterbooks and the children’s craft clubs, are listed on the library events page as term time only.

Parkrun on both Saturdays

The free 5k parkruns at Fulham Palace and Wormwood Scrubs both start at 9am every Saturday, including 24 and 31 October. You can walk, jog, run or volunteer.

If your break starts on 19 October

Families at the independent schools have an extra week with less laid on. The Lyric’s Little Lyric show on Saturday 17 October is The Misadventures of Thor, from £12. There are no Fulham home games during half term itself, so Saturday 17 October against Hull City at 3pm is the last one at Craven Cottage before the break; our things to do in Fulham page has the full fixture list.

Still to be confirmed

On 12 October the council’s events calendar still listed nothing else for children between 24 October and 1 November beyond the pumpkin patch and the parkruns, and no leisure centre holiday sessions had been published. We will add them if they appear.

Sources: H&F Council events calendar and London Pumpkin Patch listing; londonpumpkinpatch.com; Lyric Hammersmith; Fulham Palace events; H&F libraries Black History Month events; H&F school term and holiday dates. Checked 12 October 2026.