Half-term, sorted
The family things genuinely worth leaving the house for this October half-term — from an anarchic beanstalk to a night asleep beside the sharks.
27 September 2026
Six days, one job: keep everyone entertained without remortgaging. October half-term (24 Oct–1 Nov) is quietly stuffed with good things across Devon — theatre built for wriggling audiences, storytimes with the authors themselves, and at least one night spent asleep next to sharks. Here's the shortlist. The full half-term planner has the lot, sortable by day and by your patch.
On a stage
Exeter Corn Exchange stages Shrek — Stage by Stage: the big-hall, everyone-can-follow option for a rainy afternoon.
For something wilder, Kid Carpet brings Jack & the Beanstalk (Sort Of) to Exeter Phoenix — anarchic, loud, and secretly clever.
Stories and the outdoors
The library pulls its weight: Nick Sharratt — the man who illustrated half your children's bookshelf — does a storytime at Exeter Library.
Or take it into the trees. Gruffalo Granny reads in the woods at Haldon Forest, which is exactly as good as it sounds.
Canonteign Falls runs alpaca walks — a waterfall, a wood, and an alpaca on a lead. Wear boots.
The one they'll remember
Plymouth's National Marine Aquarium lets families bed down for the night beside the tanks. They will talk about Sleeping with the Sharks until Christmas.
That's the pick of it. The half-term planner lists everything family-friendly across the week — filter it to your corner of Devon and pick your days. One free email a week keeps the good stuff coming.