Brighton & Hove Museums has announced a packed programme of family events and exhibitions for the October half term so parents can keep the kids amused , with science experiments, creative arts, global storytelling and eerie ghost tours across its museums and historic venues.
One of the highlights of the week is Alice in FUNderland at Preston Manor on Thursday 29 October, presented in partnership with Brighton Science Festival. The event blends Victorian nostalgia with curious science, offering hands-on puzzles, wordplay, and interactive experiments inspired by Lewis Carroll.
Visitors can explore the science of shrinking and growing, discover the secret behind the Cheshire Cat’s disappearing smile, and tackle “Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast”, alongside encountering fascinating specimens on loan from the Booth Museum of Natural History.
Alongside the day of science, visitors to Preston Manor can discover the new Spirit Ledger, a record of ghostly encounters and supernatural sightings in one of Britain’s most haunted houses.
Older children can explore these eerie stories further during Haunted Happenings: A Ghost Tour for Young People on Friday 30 October (11am–12pm and 2–3pm; £10; ages 13–16), uncovering tales of the infamous White Lady and the disembodied hand.
Families can also get creative at Hove Museum of Creativity on Saturday 24 October with Playing With Your Eyes: A Day for Families (11am, 1pm and 2.30pm; free, booking required). Artist Alma Haser and the Photoworks team will lead hands-on workshops exploring photographic trickery as part of Photoworks Festival 2026. Haser’s accompanying family-friendly exhibition, Playing With Your Eyes, runs throughout half term, inviting visitors to explore paper folding, collage and optical illusions.
To celebrate Black History Month, families can enjoy global storytelling and creative activities inspired by world cultures collections at Hove Museum and Brighton Museum & Art Gallery:
- Story time at Hove Museum: Monday 26 October (10.30am, 12pm and 3pm; free drop-in)
- Story time at Brighton Museum: Tuesday 27 October (10.30am, 12pm and 3pm; free with admission, drop-in, Archaeology Gallery)
- Museum Makers at Brighton Museum: Wednesday 28 October (10–11.30am and 2–3.30pm; free with admission; ages 5–12)
- Museum Makers at Hove Museum: Friday 30 October (10–11.30am and 2–3.30pm; £7 per child or three for £15; ages 5–12)
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery welcomes two new exhibitions for families on Saturday 24 October. Making The Masked Singer goes behind the scenes of the hit TV show, revealing the spectacular costumes and creativity behind its larger-than-life characters. Meanwhile, Magic Place invites visitors into an immersive digital world created by artists Genetic Moo, where bold 1980s-inspired graphics meet objects from the museum’s collections.
And at the Royal Pavilion, there’s a final chance to come face to face with DRAGONS before the exhibition closes permanently on Sunday 1 November. On Friday 30 October, young adventurers can also join Dragon Hunters Wanted!, an interactive quest led by Senior Dracologist Professor P. Tinkleberry. Through storytelling, observation challenges and imaginative role-play, children will uncover the Pavilion’s dragon lore as they explore its grand rooms, with a theatrical surprise waiting at the end.
Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums said:
“October half term is full of exciting things to discover across Brighton & Hove Museums. From the curious science of Alice in FUNderland at Preston Manor to hands-on workshops and brand-new interactive exhibitions, we’re looking forward to welcoming families from across the city for a brilliant week of exploration and discovery.”
For full listings, booking links, and venue admission details, visit brightonmuseums.org.uk.
