Blenheim Palace Unveils Action Packed Autumn of Family Adventures, Dinosaurs and Haunted Thrills
By Danielle Walsh
At a glance
Blenheim Palace is offering a range of family-friendly activities this autumn, including a Haunted Half Term event, a Halloween after-dark trail, and a Dinosaurs Are Forever exhibition featuring Megalosaurus sculptures. The events aim to provide educational and entertaining experiences for visitors while supporting the preservation of the historic site. Admission fees and donations contribute to the maintenance and care of the palace and its grounds.
Families are invited to make unforgettable memories at Blenheim Palace this autumn, with an exciting line-up of new experiences, seasonal adventures, and family favourites. This autumn there’s something for every curious explorer to discover across the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Haunted Half Term
There’s a host of ghoulish goings on as Haunted Half Term returns to the Walled Garden from 24th October to 1st November. The popular ZooLab animal show is back, where little ones can come face to face with fanged but friendly snakes and tarantulas as well as giant snails and frogs. Animal enthusiasts will also have the chance to stroke and handle the creepy creatures.
For a magical experience, families can head to the circus workshop to learn fun tricks, enjoy witchy storytelling sessions, wizard walkabouts and more.
Halloween at Blenheim Palace
Halloween at Blenheim Palace returns from 22nd October to 1st November 2026 with a newly imagined 1.3 kilometre after-dark trail packed with immersive installations, larger-than-life characters and interactive photo opportunities.
New highlights include an enormous Spider Puppet emerging from a 20-metre-long-funnel-web-tunnel, a Monster Disco finale and neon coffin selfie installations within Dracula’s Lair, alongside returning favourites including the Headless Horseman, Pirate’s Wreck, Catacombs and Possessed Pumpkin Farm. With more than 50 gravestones, 40 skeletons, 50 pumpkin lanterns, 24 coffins, 100 spiders and 100 crows bringing the trail to life, visitors can choose from gentler daytime sessions for younger children or darker twilight and late-night experiences for those seeking more thrills. Timed entry tickets must be purchased in advance for entry.
Dinosaurs Are Forever exhibition
Until 1st November 2026, Blenheim Palace will be showcasing five full-scale Megalosaurus sculptures created by artist Jay Jay Burridge. The reimagined skeletons of the Dinosaurs Are Forever exhibition will be located in the Formal Gardens of the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site in Oxfordshire, the birthplace of dinosaurs. Families can immerse themselves in history by meeting the costumed Victorian explorer guide as part of the exhibition.
Adventure Play
Little explorers can unleash their imaginations in Adventure Play, with the brand-new Pip and Posy Treehouse Mystery trail inspired by an episode of the hugely popular pre-school series. As they explore, children can follow a fun trail to help find Pip’s missing toy, Piggy, completing playful actions and challenges throughout Adventure Play. The adventure ends at the new treehouse, where families can enjoy storytelling sessions, imaginative play and the exciting discovery of Piggy - along with a new friend she has met along the way. Adventure Play provides a world of excitement featuring zip lines, twisting tunnels and giant carrots.
Walled Garden
Families can also hop aboard Winston, the mini train, for their trip to the Walled Garden and on arrival can race against time to see if they can conquer the mighty Marlborough Maze; two miles of yew trees inspired by the history of the Palace. Visitors can walk past sunflowers, and discover the impressive Kitchen Garden used to grow mixed salad leaves, edible flowers, mixed heritage beetroots, fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, and more.
Curious minds can marvel at the fluttering wings within the Butterfly House, proudly home to a stunning collection of native British butterfly species, before heading to the Rowse Honey Hive for an interactive space to explore the crucial role of bees.
Families can make a delicious pit-stop at the pizzeria for freshly made woodfired pizzas cooked to order, mouth-watering lasagne, crisp salads, and irresistible warm dough balls.
With no two days out the same this autumn, discover more at Blenheim Palace with a valid Palace & Gardens Ticket or Palace and Play Pass, which grants access to both Blenheim Palace and Adventure Play for a full year, to enjoy all that Britain’s Greatest Palace has to offer, including a sensational line-up of events.
As a charity, each visit helps protect Blenheim Palace; honouring the past, enriching the present and shaping the future to inspire generations to come. All admission income and donations are reinvested into the vital work of caring for the Palace, its collections and its extraordinary landscape. Gift Aid helps your support go even further.
Editorial insight
Blenheim Palace is expanding its seasonal offer with a wide range of family-focused activities this autumn, aiming to attract local and visiting audiences during the school holiday period. The programme blends traditional attractions with new interactive experiences, reflecting the ongoing importance of major heritage sites in providing family leisure options outside of peak summer months.
These events are likely to appeal to families seeking varied, weather-resilient days out as the autumn half term approaches. For Blenheim, such initiatives provide an opportunity to boost visitor numbers during a key trading window, while also supporting its charitable mission to maintain the site and grounds. The introduction of advance ticketing and annual passes may also help drive repeat visits and support longer-term engagement.
Story ideas and journalist angles
Human interestCultural Significance of Blenheim Palace’s Halloween and Dinosaur Events
An investigation into how Blenheim Palace's events contribute to cultural heritage and community engagement, with a focus on their educational and entertainment value.
Target audience culture-arts Story potential 6/10 Economic impactThe Economic Impact of Blenheim Palace’s Autumn Events
An exploration of how the seasonal events at Blenheim Palace might affect the local economy, including visitor spending and job creation.
Target audience business-finance Story potential 7/10Issued by Campaign. Distributed by WebPR UK.
About Campaign
Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace is set in over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland and is the birthplace of one of Britain’s most famous leaders, Sir Winston Churchill. With over 300 years of history to share and one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, Blenheim Palace is not only an iconic part of history, but also a living, changing experience with a wealth of sporting and cultural events, themed exhibitions and tours all year around. A short miniature train ride away from the Palace is the Walled Garden, which boasts interactive areas entirely dedicated for families to explore including Adventure Play and the Rowse Honey Hive, The Marlborough Maze and Butterfly House. With curated events, an exciting programme of annual activities, entertainment and dedicated eateries for families, these areas guarantee a memorable family day out. Beyond the grounds and an array of Formal Gardens, the total Estate expands into a further 10,000 acres and focuses on care for the land through sustainable means, pursuing net zero, the growth of the local economy, the provision of affordable homes, apprenticeship training and supported community groups. Blenheim Palace is one of Britain’s Greatest Palaces.