With the October half-term in Camber right around the corner, Camber Holiday Cottages’ has scouted out the best activities and events in the area. And this year you’re in for a treat as both Halloween and Bonfire Night fall within it. So, from dazzling fireworks displays to spooky ghost tours, via an astronaut workshop, a spell quest and stargazing, it’s time to get booking.
Looking for more inspiration for a half-term in Camber? Read about the best National Trust & English Heritage properties in Kent & East Sussex or discover the best family-friendly days out in the area.
The Observatory Science Centre & MAGIC EXPRESS
For budding astronomers and astronauts, The Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux is running both star search courses in the Observatory Domes (aimed at adults and older children) and an astronaut academy, where you’ll learn everything from how science has helped people get into space to the effects of microgravity.
Take the science and then visit Kent & East Sussex Railway in Tenterden is offering a spellbinding 60-minute journey called the Magic Express. Aimed at five – 11 years it’s packed with fun activities from learning wand control to watching magic tricks. Plus, there’s a chance to enter the best dressed wizard or witch competition for a super-fun half-term in Camber.
HASTINGS STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
Running from 19th October to 1st November, Hastings Storytelling Festival is guaranteed to spark the imaginations of adults and children alike. Check the roster for a brilliant selection of literary events taking place across the town.
Then, ‘My Best Beloved’ visit National Trust’s Bateman’s in Burwash from 5th October – 3rd November, you can follow in the footsteps of Rudyard Kipling as he follows a trail to see what mischief his Scottie dog Malarkey has been up to this half-term in Camber.
BEACHES AND FOSSILS
October half term is the perfect time to get your wellies on and head for Pett Level beach, as the whole stretch of coastline from there to Hastings, is packed with fossils to be discovered. While you might commonly find fish or plant fossils, if you do uncover a dinosaur bone or footprint, you should notify Discovering Fossils or the Natural History Museum in London. How exciting.
Try dune jumping in the Camber Sands, watching for seals, toasting marshmallows and finishing the day supping hot chocolate at the original Knoops chocolatiere.
PORT LYMPNE SAFARI PARK
Port Lympne Safari Park is a world-renowned wildlife reserve set across 600 acres of stunning countryside. Home to over 900 animals, including rare and endangered species, the park offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. You can explore the expansive grounds on foot or take a safari truck to see free-roaming animals like giraffes, zebras, and rhinos.
BATTLE ABBEY & Bodiam castle
For those over 16s Battle Abbey is hosting spooky ghost tales, where you’ll be taken on a mystical journey of the past as storytellers weave tales of supernatural sightings from the battleground’s rich history. Don’t forget your torch.
Another one for little witches and wizards is the Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle, for a brilliant half-term in Camber, where Midnight the mischievous bat will help you unlock spells.
sussex fireworks
The Sussex Bonfire Nights, are a spectacular series of firework-filled celebrations, are a long-standing tradition in Sussex, with roots stretching back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. These events, take place throughout Oct/Nov, are a blend of community pride, historical commemoration, and revelry. Towns and villages, come alive with torch-lit processions, elaborate bonfires, and vibrant fireworks shows. The processions are marked by participants dressed in striking costumes, many of which have historical or political significance, and they often carry effigies representing figures from the past. The bonfires themselves symbolize the burning of Guy Fawkes and the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot, but they have also come to embody local cultural heritage and the spirit of unity.
Checkout dates for the Bonfire Night celebrations in Rye, Hastings and local villages.