Bucks half term is 26 to 30 October 2026, but Borlase breaks up 16 October. Pumpkins at Odds Farm, a steam gala at Risborough and spooky Hellfire Caves.

October half term in Buckinghamshire is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, so with the weekends either side the break runs from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November. The clocks go back on the first Sunday, 25 October. Not every school keeps to the county dates, and below the list of dates is what is actually on locally that week, from each organiser’s own listing.

The quick answer

County half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 (Buckinghamshire Council). Sir William Borlase’s breaks up on Friday 16 October, back on 2 November, and Wycombe Abbey’s Long Leave starts the same day; RGS and John Hampden also close on Friday 23 October. The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October (GOV.UK).

Updated 20 October: Wycombe Arts Centre has added a two-day art club for 6 to 12 year olds on 26 and 27 October, and Princes Risborough Town Council two £1 film screenings on Sunday 1 November.

Updated 17 October: Hughenden has published its half term programme, with three trails and three bookable workshops, including a potion workshop every weekday of half term.

Updated 13 October: the Princes Risborough Halloween Trail is confirmed for 10am to 1pm on 31 October, and Chinnor has published its gala timetable.

Updated 4 October: Odds Farm’s Pumpkin Family Night on 24 October has sold out, and the Chinnor steam gala fares and guest engines are now published.

Which schools are off when

School Off from Back on
Buckinghamshire county calendar Mon 26 October Mon 2 November
Royal Grammar School Fri 23 October Tue 3 November
John Hampden Grammar Fri 23 October Mon 2 November
Great Marlow School Fri 23 October (INSET day) check with the school
Sir William Borlase’s Sat 17 October (last day Fri 16 October) Mon 2 November
Wycombe Abbey Fri 16 October (Long Leave) after Sun 1 November

Sources are each school’s own page: RGS, John Hampden, Great Marlow, Borlase, Wycombe Abbey. Borlase’s Monday 19 October is an INSET day inside its break. The full year’s dates, with Christmas and February, are on our school term dates page.

What’s on locally that week

1. Pumpkin festival at Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common. Daily from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November: a pick-your-own pumpkin patch with one free pumpkin for each paying child, carving in the Craft Barn, a daily “Monster Mash Bash” character show and bubble shows. The farm normally closes on term-time Tuesdays from October but stays open on the half term Tuesday. Open 10am to 5.30pm, last entry 4.30pm; prices vary by date and are cheapest booked online (Odds Farm Park, opening times).

2. Pumpkin Family Night at Odds Farm, Saturday 24 October: sold out. The pumpkin patch at sunset, with stilt walkers, fire, bubble and LED shows and the Monster Mash Bash show. Odds Farm lists both Family Nights, 10 and 24 October, as sold out (Odds Farm Park).

3. The Hellfire Caves, West Wycombe, dressed for Halloween. Open daily 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm) from 18 October to 1 November at normal prices, with the usual audio guide and Halloween decorations. The caves close 12 to 17 October while they decorate. They are not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs, and dogs are allowed only in the courtyard (Hellfire Caves Halloween, visiting).

4. A gentler family “spooky walk” at the Hellfire Caves, 24 and 28 to 31 October. Actors play the caves’ characters, including Suki the Ghost Bride and the Steward Paul Whitehead, with “no jump scares” (Hellfire Caves).

5. Hellfire Caves Fright Nights, for 16 and over only. Saturday 24 October, then Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 October, with live actors in the dark tunnels. Last entry 8.45pm, and 9.45pm on Halloween night. Tickets are from £20 and non-refundable (Hellfire Caves). All the Halloween dates are on our High Wycombe Halloween page.

6. Dog Man: The Musical at the Wycombe Swan, 26 to 28 October. Seven performances over the Monday to Wednesday of half term, from £27 (Wycombe Swan box office).

7. Autumn Steam Gala on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway, 30 October to 1 November. The heritage line’s gala weekend, with the visiting GWR Saint class 2999 Lady of Legend and BR Standard Class 9F 92134, and traction engines at Chinnor station. A 1-day rover is £27 for an adult and £12 for a child online, or £32 and £17 on the day; 2-day (£47 and £17) and 3-day (£57 and £22) rovers are sold online only. The timetable is the same on all three days: the first train leaves Princes Risborough at 8.50am and Chinnor at 9.25am, roughly hourly, with the last departures at 5.20pm from Princes Risborough and 6pm from Chinnor. There are brake van rides at Princes Risborough between trains (a £5 donation is suggested). Parking at Chinnor is limited, so the railway suggests coming by train to Princes Risborough (Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway).

8. Hughenden, the National Trust house above the town. The manor is open 11am to 5pm and the garden and café 10am to 5pm every day of half term; from Monday 2 November the house closes at 4pm. Entry is £18 for an adult and £9 for a child aged 5 to 17 without Gift Aid, free for members and under-fives, and parking is included (National Trust).

Hughenden’s events listing now has its half term programme (National Trust). Three trails need no booking and come with normal entry:

  • Creepy Chilterns, a self-guided trail through Chiltern folklore and the Hughenden Dragon, best for ages 8 to 12, until 2 November.
  • The Great Big Halloween Hunt, a garden trail for ages 2 to 5 based on the Nosy Crow picture book, until 1 November.
  • Stranger Folk, a folklore adventure played on one phone per family through the Stranger Folk app, until 1 November.

Three workshops must be booked in advance:

  • Plush pumpkins, Sunday 25 October: sewing fabric pumpkins, for families and beginners, run by Easely Does It (book, 07772 950158).
  • Potion workshop, 26 to 30 October: a Halloween family session, also run by Easely Does It (book, 07772 950158).
  • Pumpkin wooden lantern craft, 28 and 29 October: children decorate a wooden lantern kit (National Trust tickets, 0344 249 1895).

The listing gives no prices for the workshops; the booking pages carry them.

9. Princes Risborough Halloween Trail, Saturday 31 October, 10am to 1pm. Collect a trail form from the “Haunted House” in the library meeting room from 10am, find the letters hidden in High Street shop windows, and hand the finished form back before 1pm for treats. Costumes are encouraged; bring a pen. The council lists no charge (Princes Risborough Town Council).

10. The Marlow Half Marathon, Sunday 1 November. The last day of half term; all three races start at 9.30am from Marlow High Street, and there are road closures in the town. Our Marlow Half Marathon page has the courses and entry prices.

Also on Saturday 31 October: Eden’s Mini Weekender, 12pm to 3pm. The shopping centre’s leisure operators run games and competitions on the mall outside Black Sheep Coffee (Eden). Eden says OFFICE reopens there on 28 October and Smyths Toys opens on 29 October.

Also: Half Term Art Club, Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October, 9am to 3pm. Wycombe Arts Centre, Desborough Road, HP11 2PU, runs two days of painting, drawing and other art for children aged 6 to 12. Drop off at 9am, collect at 3pm from the café space, and send a packed lunch and a water bottle; booking is through the arts centre (Wycombe Arts Centre).

Also on Sunday 1 November: two £1 films in Princes Risborough. The town council’s Spooktacular Screenings in the Brushwood Suite at the Wades Centre, HP27 9AX, are Pixar’s Coco (doors 1pm, film 1.30pm) and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (doors 4pm, film 4.30pm). Tickets are £1 plus a booking fee in advance, £2 on the day if any are left (Princes Risborough Town Council).

The weekend after half term is Bonfire Night weekend. Our fireworks page tracks which local displays have confirmed dates.

Still to be confirmed

  • Workshop prices at Hughenden. The National Trust listing gives dates but not prices; check the booking pages.

Also on Wycombe Today: things to do in High Wycombe, parking in High Wycombe and roadworks and travel.