Half Term: Halloween trails and curious tales!

There’s lots happening for families this October Half Term, so here is everything that’s going on at Canterbury Museums & Galleries

Fright at the Museum: Prisms & Potions

We love Halloween at The Beaney so be sure to join us for our popular Halloween Family Trail this Half Term!

Get your potioneer hats on and help us take on BLANCHE THE BLAND who is trying to drain all the colour and fun from the museum! 

Together you will solve puzzles, pick up clues and discover treasures from the museum collection. Complete the trail, receive a tasty treat and enter a competition for an even bigger prize! 

Prisms & Potions trails cost £5. Trails can be shared but the participation prize and competition entry is limited to one per trail. 

Accessibility: For an accessible way to take part in Fright at the Museum: Prisms & Potions, borrow a SEND Family Backpack when purchasing your trail and pickup the sensory Halloween resources and Fright at the Museum Symbol trail.

Saturday 5 October – Sunday 3 November 2024 (Closed Mondays except Monday 28 October)

Pre-book your trail(s) online to avoid disappointment or purchase on arrival at the museum, subject to availability.

Spooky Day!

This year we are kicking Half Term off with a special Spooky Day on Saturday 26 October. We’ll be turning down the lights and turning up the spooky! A great time to take part in the Fright at the Museum: Prisms & Potions trail. Come in fancy dress and get a sweet treat and Halloween sticker!

Please be aware: The galleries will be darker than usual and in some spaces there may be ambient music. If you would prefer a quieter time to visit, we suggest visiting during the first or last hour of a different day during Half Term.

Curious Stories: Exploring and Collecting at the Museum

With so much going on, Half Term can be exhausting! If you’re looking for a way for the kids to unwind then visit our latest Special Exhibition.

Families and younger visitors will find activity areas to play, explore and relax.

Roll the story dice and discover where in the world interesting museum items come from using the colourful atlas. Relax in the calm corner or in the reading area. Pickup a Sensory Backpack. Get creative at the drawing station or practice your curatorial skills by making a display of museum jars!

Saturday 7 September 2024 to Sunday 16 March 2025 (Closed Mondays except 28 October)

Free admission, £3 suggested donation. 

Special Exhibitions Room, First Floor, The Beaney

Dressing up

Looking for some Halloween costume inspiration? Maybe it’s a tudor ruff or a medieval hood that would really finish off your look this year. Visit the ‘Let’s Play Portraits’ activity in the People & Places gallery and try on some historical costumes.

Kids Go Free at Canterbury Roman Museum

Visit an underground museum this Halloween! Travel back in time and uncover all sorts of fascinating history.

If you’re looking for a creative activity then pick up a Mosaic Makers pack and create a tiny piece of Roman Canterbury!

Kids Go Free Saturday 26 October – Sunday 3 November 2024 (2 kids go free per paying adult).

Mosaic Makers Kit £6

SEND Family Backpacks

Both The Beaney and Canterbury Roman Museum offer visitors free backpacks to borrow. Each backpack contains ear defenders, sensory aids and things to help get the most out of your visit. They have been made with care to support people who need some sensory support or different ways of exploring the museums.

For an accessible way to take part in Fright at the Museum: Prisms & Potions, borrow a SEND Family Backpack when purchasing your trail at The Beaney and pickup the sensory Halloween resources and Fright at the Museum Symbol trail.

Backpacks can be collected from information desks at The Beaney and the Front Desk at Canterbury Roman Museum.

Plan your visit

See you this half term!

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge

Canterbury Roman Museum