Features

Our Best Family-Friendly Breaks for the October Half-Term Holidays

14 September 2026

What happened to the summer holidays? They seemed to flash by so quickly that if you’re anything like us, you’re feeling a tiny bit cheated!

Luckily, there’s some more holiday-time on the horizon. And here’s the good news: we’ve got a fabulous selection of family-friendly retreats all ready and waiting to help you make the most of it.

Each of these retreats has current availability of 3 or more nights for the October half-term holidays*. You’ll also find each one boasts such a wonderful sense of unusualness, that you’ll have no problem recalling every moment of that precious holiday time.

Our tip? Nab your favourite quickly, because it won’t be free for long!

*Please note, October half term dates differ between regions, but cover the last three weeks of the month in Oct 2026. Available at time of writing.

Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: Rowden Mill Station Saloon Coach, Herefordshire

Lydcott Glamping

Widegates, Cornwall, England

A unique, expertly handcrafted back-to-nature escape that showcases some of the best sea views in Cornwall.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: 6

From

£100 / night

The Treehouses at Lanrick

Doune, Perthshire, Scotland

Five sumptuous, eco-friendly tree-treats with idyllic riverside views and a woodland sauna, magically nestled on the borders of the Trossachs National Park.

Bedrooms: Open plan

Sleeps: 2 (+2) per treehouse

From

£240 / night

Merlin Farm Eco Cottages

Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, England

A sumptuous and award-winning trio of converted farm barns, powered by nature and beautifully situated in peaceful Cornish countryside close to Mawgan Porth Beach.

Bedrooms: 2 per cottage

Sleeps: 4

From

£895 / week

In the Stix

Greetham, Rutland, England

Six unique and ultra-modern geodesic domes, each with their own private kitchens, bathrooms and blissful wood-fired hot tubs in rural Rutland.

Bedrooms:

Sleeps: 4-6 per dome

From

£515 (4 nts)

Tom's Eco Lodge

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Isle Of Wight, England

Sustainable rural glamping on the Isle of Wight - where you'll find the perfect setting, from scenic romantic escapes to fresh, fun-filled family adventures.

Bedrooms: varies

Sleeps: varies

From

£90 /night

Rowden Mill Station Saloon Coach and GWR Brake Van

Bredenbury, Herefordshire, England

Vintage-styled retreats, secluded on a green platform at a restored 19th century railway station, amongst peaceful North Herefordshire countryside.

Bedrooms: 1-2

Sleeps: 2-4

From

£125/nt (Brake Van)

The Ark

Nr Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, England

A unique and luxurious houseboat for grand, dog-friendly group stays on Cornwall’s dreamy south coast, with ocean-view decking and a laid-back studio for movie nights, games and yoga.

Bedrooms: 8

Sleeps: 12

From

£1527 / week

Warksburn Old Church

Wark, Northumberland, England

A globally-unique and ultra-luxurious Net Zero conversion of a 19th century church, in beautiful rural Northumberland close to Hadrian’s Wall and Kielder Water.

Bedrooms: 3

Sleeps: 6

From

£250/night

Rowden Mill Station Building and Parcel Office

Bredenbury, Herefordshire, England

Nostalgic, first-class couples and family accommodation at a restored 19th century railway station, set amongst timeless North Herefordshire countryside.

Bedrooms: 1 or 2 per property

Sleeps: 2 or 4 per property

From

£110/nt Parcel

Sycamore Lodge

Halstead, Essex, England

A luxurious, dog-friendly A-frame retreat for couples and small families alike, with a private hot tub, plentiful onsite facilities including sauna, and beautiful woodland surroundings on the Essex and Suffolk border.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 4

From

£459 /2 nts

Fforest Farm

Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Simplicity, adventure, and beautiful outdoor living - that's what you'll find at fforest farm.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: Varies

From

£280 /2 nts

Little Seed Field

Ripon, Yorkshire, England

Wild luxury glamping at its most naturally breathtaking, in cosy wooden cabins nestled on a friendly, family-run farm in the Yorkshire Dales.

Bedrooms: Open plan

Sleeps: Up to 4 per cabin

From

£95 / night

East Thorne Family Roundhouses

Bude, Cornwall, England

An original glamping concept, lovingly created by a family who fell in love with glamping and the Great Outdoors...and set about creating a luxury en-suite glamping alternative for their guests.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2-4

From

£160 / night

Glamping Under the Stars

Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland

A private, magical haven with joyfully quirky retreats and idyllic wildflower meadows, peacefully secluded in Ireland’s ‘Ancient East’ close to bustling Dublin.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 6

From

£195 / night

The Big Hoot Caravan

Cullompton, Devon, England

A retro, TV-featured showman's living van, vibrantly restored with authentic 1970s style, and secluded on peaceful a Devon farm that's surrounded by wildflower meadows.

Bedrooms: 3

Sleeps: 4

From

£95 / night

The Signal House

Beer, Devon, England

A former Devon coastguard and signal house, transformed into a charming coastal retreat on Beer Head’s breathtakingly scenic clifftops, within strolling distance of the secluded Hooken Beach.

Bedrooms: 2

Sleeps: 6

From

£75 pp/pn