Accessible half-term things to do in Nottingham (October half-term 2026)
Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council both list a two-week October half-term this year, from Monday 19 to Friday 30 October 2026, for maintained schools. Academies and some other schools set their own dates, so check with your child's school. This guide covers Nottingham and the wider county, with sensory sessions at Nottingham Contemporary, a relaxed film screening in Mansfield, an autism family support hub, the city's free HAF holiday clubs and Halloween days out at places with Changing Places toilets. Details can change, so please check with the organiser before you travel.
Top picks
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October Half Term Sensory Session at Nottingham Contemporary
1pm to 3pm · The Space, Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross, Lace Market · Free, donations welcome
- Quiet session
- Low-noise or quieter display
- Ear defenders available
- Changing Places toilet
A lower-stimulation family session for children with SEND, including neurodivergent children, with or without a diagnosis. There are fewer visitors, lower sound, subdued lighting, extra rest spaces and noise-reducing headphones on request. Book one ticket per person, including adults. Call 0115 948 9750 or email info@nottinghamcontemporary.org for other access needs.
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Relaxed Family Screening: Monsters Inc
1.30pm, doors open 20 minutes earlier · Mansfield Central Library, Mansfield · £1
- Relaxed session
- Quiet session
- Lift
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accessible toilet
Talking, singing and moving about are welcome, with low lighting and volume and a 20-minute interval. A quiet room is just outside the auditorium. The auditorium is on the second floor with lift access, six wheelchair spaces and an accessible toilet by the door. Book on Eventbrite or at the library, or call 01623 677 200.
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Nottingham City Autism Family Support Hub
4.30pm to 6.30pm · Burton Road Community Centre, 125 Burton Road, Carlton · £1 for refreshments · Children aged 11 and under, including siblings
- Autism-friendly
A drop-in for families with autistic children, with or without a diagnosis. Children can do crafts, sensory activities and play while parents and carers relax or talk to staff for advice. No booking needed. The page says sessions usually run at these times, so check before you go.
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Nottingham City HAF holiday clubs
Monday 19 to Wednesday 28 October · Times vary by club · Clubs across Nottingham City · Free for children on targeted free school meals. Some clubs offer paid places. · Ages 5 to 16, or 4 if in full-time reception
Free activity and food sessions for Nottingham City children. Book on Eequ and choose sessions marked Funded by Nottingham City Council. Tell the provider about your child's needs when you book so they can make adjustments. Nottinghamshire County runs its own HAF scheme, including a small number of SEND-specific clubs.
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Halloween Paint-a-Pot at Rufford Abbey
Every day from Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November · 11am to 3pm, in one-hour sessions. Open until 6pm on Friday 30 October. · The Makers Loft, Rufford Abbey Country Park, Ollerton · £2 deposit per painter, taken off the ceramic price (£10, £12 or £15). Non-painting adults free. Parking charges apply.
- Lift
- Changing Places toilet
- Accessible toilet
- Disabled parking
Paint a Halloween ceramic in a room above the gift shop, reached by stairs or a lift. The park has a Changing Places toilet in the Stables Courtyard (bring your own sling) and 19 disabled bays in the main car park, though Blue Badge holders still pay the daily charge. Pre-booking is recommended. Call 01623 677688 with questions.
On all week
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Halloween Trail: The Sherwood Monster Mash-up
Every day from Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November · 10am to 3pm · Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, Edwinstowe · £4.50
- Changing Places toilet
- Accessible toilet
- Lift
A Halloween trail starting on the Major Oak trail, with an easy route and a challenge route and a prize at the Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre has a Changing Places toilet (bring your own sling, key from the catering team), accessible toilets with a lift, and free wheelchair loan. Mobility scooters cost £3 an hour and must be booked ahead on 01623 677321.
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Nottingham Industrial Museum Halloween Trail
Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays until Sunday 1 November · 11am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm · Nottingham Industrial Museum, Wollaton Hall and Deer Park · Free for children. See the venue's website for adult prices.
- Changing Places toilet
- Accessible toilet
- Disabled parking
- Assistance dogs welcome
A free Halloween trail for all ages in the museum courtyard at Wollaton. Wollaton Hall has a Changing Places toilet (register at the Potting Shed shop and bring your own sling), free Blue Badge parking for up to four hours, and welcomes assistance dogs. The trail listing itself has no access details, so ask the museum if you need more.
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Halloween Trail at Green's Windmill
Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October, and Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November · Hourly timed slots from 10am, last slot 2pm to 3pm · Green's Windmill and Science Centre, Sneinton, Nottingham · £4 per child. Entry to the windmill is free. · Ages 3 and over
A timed Halloween trail at the windmill. Book a slot online and arrive any time within it, or walk in if there is space. The booking page does not give access details, and the mill is having heritage repairs, so call 0115 915 6878 before you go.
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October Half Term Family Activities at Nottingham Contemporary
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 20 to 29 October · 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm · The Space, Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross, Lace Market · Free, donations welcome
- Changing Places toilet
- Ear defenders available
Drop-in creative play inspired by the current exhibitions. There is a smaller sensory area within the workshops and noise-reducing headphones for adults and children on request. Booking is recommended, one ticket per person, or call 0115 948 9750 for help.
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Kids' Ghost Hunter Tours at the National Justice Museum
Thursday 22, Friday 23, Saturday 24, and Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 October · 4.30pm or 5pm, about one hour · National Justice Museum, High Pavement, Lace Market · £8.95 per child, £7.95 per adult · Recommended for ages 5 to 11
A spooky family ghost hunting tour of the museum, including the old prison. Some slots are sold out. It can be cold in the prison, so wrap up warm. The page gives no access details, so email hospitality@nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk before booking.
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Half-term events in Nottinghamshire libraries
Various dates from Saturday 17 to Saturday 31 October · Times vary by library · Inspire libraries across Nottinghamshire, including West Bridgford, Beeston, Keyworth and Worksop · Free unless stated
Short Halloween crafts, storytimes, Bee-Bot coding and Pokemon swaps at county libraries. Most are free with no booking, which can suit children who like to come and go. Check the page for your nearest library and times.
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Spooky Stories with Mother Grundy
Monday 26 to Friday 30 October · 12.30pm and 2.30pm, about one hour · Creswell Crags Museum and Heritage Site, near Worksop · £6 per child, £4 per adult · Ages 5 to 10 with their families
Spooky storytelling sessions for families. Booking is recommended. The listing has no access details, so call 01909 720378 to ask.
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Day by day
Tuesday 20 October
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Nottingham City Autism Family Support Hub
4.30pm to 6.30pm · Burton Road Community Centre, 125 Burton Road, Carlton · £1 for refreshments · Children aged 11 and under, including siblings
- Autism-friendly
A drop-in for families with autistic children, with or without a diagnosis. Children can do crafts, sensory activities and play while parents and carers relax or talk to staff for advice. No booking needed. The page says sessions usually run at these times, so check before you go.
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Wednesday 21 October
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October Half Term Sensory Session at Nottingham Contemporary
1pm to 3pm · The Space, Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross, Lace Market · Free, donations welcome
- Quiet session
- Low-noise or quieter display
- Ear defenders available
- Changing Places toilet
A lower-stimulation family session for children with SEND, including neurodivergent children, with or without a diagnosis. There are fewer visitors, lower sound, subdued lighting, extra rest spaces and noise-reducing headphones on request. Book one ticket per person, including adults. Call 0115 948 9750 or email info@nottinghamcontemporary.org for other access needs.
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Relaxed Family Screening: Monsters Inc
1.30pm, doors open 20 minutes earlier · Mansfield Central Library, Mansfield · £1
- Relaxed session
- Quiet session
- Lift
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accessible toilet
Talking, singing and moving about are welcome, with low lighting and volume and a 20-minute interval. A quiet room is just outside the auditorium. The auditorium is on the second floor with lift access, six wheelchair spaces and an accessible toilet by the door. Book on Eventbrite or at the library, or call 01623 677 200.
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Saturday 24 October
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Mischief and Magic Shows at Rufford Abbey
10.30am on Saturday 24 October, 4pm on Friday 30 October · Coach House Courtyard, Rufford Abbey Country Park, Ollerton · Free, no booking needed. Parking charges apply.
- Changing Places toilet
- Disabled parking
Short outdoor fairy tale and witch shows in front of the abbey ruins. The courtyard is cobbled and bumpy for wheelchairs. A Changing Places toilet is in the Stables Courtyard nearby.
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Wednesday 28 October
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October Half Term Sensory Session at Nottingham Contemporary
1pm to 3pm · The Space, Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross, Lace Market · Free, donations welcome
- Quiet session
- Low-noise or quieter display
- Ear defenders available
- Changing Places toilet
The second lower-stimulation session of half-term, for children with SEND and their families. Fewer visitors, lower sound, subdued lighting and extra rest spaces. Snacks and drinks are allowed in The Space. Book one ticket per person and cancel if you cannot go.
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Thursday 29 October
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Halloween Biscuit Baking at Green's Windmill
Timed sessions from 10.15am to 2.30pm · Green's Windmill and Science Centre, Sneinton, Nottingham · £4 per child · Ages 3 and over
A short baking session for children with an adult. A second date runs on Saturday 31 October. Arrive 10 minutes early, as sessions start on time, and mention dietary needs when you book. No access details are given, so call 0115 915 6878.
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Earth Calling Bear-stronaut
11am to 12pm, including a green screen workshop · Mansfield Museum, Leeming Street, Mansfield · £2.50 per person, under 1s free · Recommended for ages 3 to 8
A short family theatre show followed by a green screen workshop. Book through the Mansfield Palace Theatre box office. The page does not say if it is relaxed, so contact the museum to ask about access.
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Sunday 1 November
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Mother Deer at Lakeside Arts
12.30pm and 3pm, 45 minutes with no interval · Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts, University Park, Nottingham · £10.50 to £12 · Ages 3 and over
A short family show that uses sensory theatre, on the last day of the holiday. The listing gives no access details, so call the box office on 0115 846 7777 to ask about seating and access.
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Tips for an easier half-term in Nottingham
- Use the Local Offer. Nottingham City's Local Offer is on askLION, and the county's is on Notts Help Yourself. Both list SEND clubs, short breaks and support groups for ages 0 to 25.
- Know your Changing Places. Nottingham City Council lists 19 Changing Places toilets, including Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham Castle, Wollaton Park, the Theatre Royal and Victoria Centre. Many ask you to bring your own sling.
- Pace the two weeks. This half-term is twice the usual length. Mixing one busy day out with quiet days at home or a short library visit can help children who find change hard.
- Ask about relaxed screenings. Broadway cinema runs Supportive Environment Screenings with lights on low and reduced volume, usually fortnightly on Thursdays. No October dates were listed when we checked, so call 0115 952 6611.
- Check before you skate. The National Ice Centre's relaxed skating sessions are paused while the timetable is reviewed. Regular half-term skating runs to 1 November.
- Book HAF early and share needs. City and county HAF clubs ask you to give full details of your child's needs when booking, so the provider can plan support.
Running an accessible event?
If you run a relaxed, sensory-friendly or SEND event, list it on Buzzbo for free and it appears in this guide automatically. Gold members are featured at the top.
Frequently asked questions
When is October half-term 2026 in Nottingham?
Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council list half-term from Monday 19 to Friday 30 October 2026 for maintained schools. Academies may differ, so check with your school.
Are there SEND or sensory sessions in Nottingham this half-term?
Yes. Nottingham Contemporary runs free lower-stimulation sensory sessions for children with SEND on Wednesday 21 and Wednesday 28 October, 1pm to 3pm. Booking is advised.
Are there relaxed or autism-friendly film screenings near Nottingham?
Inspire runs a £1 relaxed family screening of Monsters Inc at Mansfield Central Library on 21 October at 1.30pm, with a quiet room and low lighting. Broadway in Nottingham also runs Supportive Environment Screenings, so check their website for dates.
Is there free holiday club provision for children with SEND in Nottingham?
Nottingham City's HAF programme runs from 19 to 28 October for children on targeted free school meals, booked through Eequ. Nottinghamshire County's HAF scheme includes a small number of SEND-specific clubs. Tell providers about your child's needs when you book.
Where are Changing Places toilets in Nottingham?
The city council's Changing Places page lists venues such as Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham Castle, Wollaton Park, Victoria Centre and Broad Marsh Bus Station. In the county, Rufford Abbey and the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre also have them.