Woking's October half term runs two weeks, 19 to 30 October 2026, at most schools. The dates by school and what is actually on locally across both weeks.

October half term in Woking is two weeks this year, from Monday 19 to Friday 30 October 2026, for schools that follow the Surrey calendar. That is new: Surrey has moved its community and voluntary controlled schools to a double break and taken five days off next summer instead (Surrey County Council term dates). Some Woking secondaries have kept a shorter break, so check the school first, then use the list below for what is on.

The quick answer

  • Surrey half term: Monday 19 to Friday 30 October 2026. Back on Monday 2 November.
  • Not every school: St John the Baptist is off 23 October to 2 November; Winston Churchill 23 to 30 October; Woking College 17 October to 1 November.
  • Best free or cheap days out: the Lightbox’s Halloween Family Day on Wednesday 28 October is entry by donation; under-18s get into the Lightbox free on any open day.

Which schools are off when

School October break
Surrey community and voluntary controlled schools Mon 19 to Fri 30 October
Woking High, Hoe Valley, Bishop David Brown, Hoe Bridge Mon 19 to Fri 30 October
St John the Baptist Fri 23 October to Mon 2 November
Winston Churchill Fri 23 to Fri 30 October
Woking College Sat 17 October to Sun 1 November, INSET Mon 2 November

Academies and voluntary aided schools set their own dates. The school-by-school sources, INSET days and Christmas break are on our Woking school term dates page.

The long break is a one-off for now. Surrey’s published calendar says community and voluntary controlled schools go back to a one-week October half term in 2027, 25 to 29 October.

What’s on in Woking over half term

Everything below is taken from the organiser’s own listing as of 24 September 2026. Times and prices can change, so follow the link before you set off.

The Lightbox, Chobham Road

The Lightbox runs a half-term programme from Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November. The galleries are open Wednesday to Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. Under-18s go free; an adult day pass is £14.50 (visit us).

  • Halloween Family Day, Wednesday 28 October. Drop-in Halloween crafts in the first-floor studio, 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4pm. Entry is by donation all day (details).
  • Pay What You Wish Wednesdays. On Wednesdays 21 and 28 October, entry to every gallery is by donation from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
  • Haunted Mansion Workshop, Thursday 29 October, 1.30pm to 3pm, for 7 to 12 year olds. £16 per child; if your child is 10 or under an adult must stay (book).
  • The Art Escape Halloween Crafts, Saturday 24 October, for ages 3 and up, sessions at 2pm and 3.15pm, £8 a ticket, booked through the organiser on Eventbrite (details).
  • Studio Sundays drop-in drawing on Sundays 18 and 25 October, plus a free Halloween Art Cart on the ground floor through the fortnight.
  • Last chance: Philip Colbert’s The Lost Gardens of Lobsteropolis closes on Sunday 1 November.

Woking Theatre

  • Six, the Tudor queens musical, runs Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 October. ATG lists tickets from £38.48 (Six at Woking Theatre).
  • Natural History Museum presents Dinosaurs Live is on Saturday 31 October, the last day of the Surrey break, from £16.50 (Dinosaurs Live).
  • Backstage tours of the theatre start on Wednesday 21 October (backstage tours).

Football at the Laithwaite Community Stadium

Woking play Boreham Wood at home on Tuesday 27 October, kick-off 7.45pm, in the National League. The two half-term Saturdays are away games, at Scunthorpe on the 24th and Tamworth on the 31st (Woking FC fixtures).

RHS Garden Wisley

Wisley, just over the borough boundary past Pyrford, is open every day except Christmas Day. Adult tickets are from £15.20 booked online or £20.50 on the day, children aged 5 to 16 are £6 and under-5s are free. Visitors on Universal Credit, Pension Credit or ESA, and up to five people in their party, can visit for £1 with proof of the benefit (plan your visit). The tropical half of the Glasshouse is shut for maintenance until Friday 13 November.

Swimming at Pool in the Park

Pool in the Park in Woking Park has a leisure lagoon with waves and flumes, as well as a 25-metre pool and a teaching pool. Lagoon sessions are booked through Everyone Active’s timetable, which also sets out the school-holiday sessions (Pool in the Park).

Free and outdoors

Horsell Common’s sandpit, Woking Park and the Basingstoke Canal towpath cost nothing. Our things to do in Woking page has the parking and access detail for each.

Straight after half term

  • Bonfire Night: the Rotary fireworks in Woking Park are on Saturday 7 November, a week after schools go back. Times and ticket prices are on our Woking fireworks page.
  • Mizens Railway Winter Lights in Knaphill runs on 21 and 22 November, pre-booked only (Mizens Railway).

Still to be confirmed

  • Library and leisure centre holiday activities had not been published for October at the time of writing. We will add them when they appear, by mid-October.

Driving to any of these? Check our roadworks and parking in Woking pages first.