As schools return, parents may be looking ahead to the next break – the October half-term.

While dates vary depending on location, much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland shools have half term from 26-30 October, some land on 19-23 October, while schools in Scotland typically take a break from 12-16 October.

It’s not too late to organise an autumn trip as a family. With plenty of availability, and price points to suit different budgets, here’s our pick of some child-friendly stays.

Self-catering in the Lake District

Edenhall Estate in Cumbria, a privately owned estate has 11 self-catering properties set along the River Eden and River Eamont. With its own woodland, deer park and hands-on ranger led activities, kids can embrace the outdoors and put the screens down.

High Barn is a family favourite, with three bedrooms sleeping up to six, two log burners for cosy autumn nights, a cooking fire pit and a wood-fired hot tub. But there’s also Cuckoo Cottage, which sleeps 4, East Lodge which sleeps eight, or Udford House for 12.

Surrounded in countryside, there are 360-degree views over the Lake District and Pennine Fells, a woodland sauna for parents and a range of activities on offer – from archery and paddleboarding to deer-spotting and fishing – for the family to bond over.

Prices for High Barn start at £249 per night during October. Visit: edenhallestate.com.

Butlin’s offers a four-night October Half term break from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October, in a two-bedroom Comfort Room in Minehead from £388 in total (£97 per person, based on four sharing). It includes tickets for all live shows like The Masked Singer Live (the last week the show will be on at Butlin’s) Maximum Pro Wrestling, Mythical Beasts and Brainiac Live, plus activities.

There’s a fairground, playgrounds, soft play and a great indoor pool with slides and flumes. Families can add all-inclusive drinks packages (from £25.95 per adult, per day, £10.50 per child) or breakfast and dinner buffets from £25.95 per adult per day, and £15.50 per child age six-14, and £7.25 per child age two to five).

For families who stay over Halloween weekend itself – all three resorts (Bognor Regis, Skegness and Minehead) will get a spooky makeover, including the fairground, which will became the ‘Scareground’, and Halloween-themed discos, pool parties and fireworks displays.

Meanwhile, the week of 19 October (for the same package) starts at £113 (£29pp) in Minehead. While four nights from 12 October starts from £49 (£13pp).

Visit butlins.com.

A city break in Krakow

The hotel Vienna House by Wyndham Andel’s Cracow earns high ratings from families, who love its central location, steps from Market Square, Krakow, Poland’s second largest city. It offers well-preserved medieval architecture, royal history and a Old Town that’s compact enough to cover on foot with children. With plenty of green spaces, it’s perfect for kids to let off steam, and with great-value food, parents won’t need to stretch their budgets.

With a flight under three hours, the city offers a good-value break, even in school holidays, and it’s full of quirky attractions for families; try Wawel Royal Castle (where you can learn about the Wawel Dragon legend) the Rynek Underground Museum and the interactive WOMAI Centre of Science and Senses museum. There’s even the Living Museum of the Bagel, where you can learn to make your own obwarzanek (traditional ring-shaped bread from Krakow).

Price of suite rooms (sleeping four) at Vienna House by Wyndham Andel’s Cracow start from around £887.50 for four nights, 26-30 October. For alternative dates, 12 -15 October is £1,158, and 19- 22 October is £966, approximately.

A Scandinavian amusement park trip

Stay at the family-friendly, four-star Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel in Sweden’s second city Gothenburg for easy access to Scandinavia’s largest amusement park – Liseberg. Its location is right on the entrance, so little legs don’t have to walk much further after a long, fun-filled day at the park – think lush gardens, fairgrounds and world-class rollercoasters, all set on a big hill.

But the hotel itself is designed very much with children in mind. There are family rooms with bunk beds, playrooms, a dedicated kids’ cinema and even a giant spiral slide from the lobby to reception, so getting them out the room and out for the day might be made a little easier.

Make sure to take the local ferries on Gothenburg’s archipelago of 7,600 islands – from only £3 for adults and £2.25 for children for single trips – for a more tranquil end to the trip.

Price for 26-30 October at the Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel, is approx £910, for four nights, four people. For alternative half terms, 12-19 October is around £621 (four nights, four people) and 19-23 October is £779 (four nights, four people).

A countryside adventure in Belgium

Landal Mooi Zutendaal is tucked away in the Belgium countryside in Limburg, a green province in Flanders, near the country’s oldest national park Hoge Kempen. With extensive pine forests, flowering heathland and great views, it’s a convenient base for families to explore nature together via foot or mountain bike or even horseback.

Landal is known for cabins, cottages and apartments in nature-filled locations, and its Belgium offering has a new outdoor play area, as well as a new mini golf centre.

A four-night stay at Landal Mooi Zutendall from 26-30 October for a family of up to four, costs €385 (£330) in total.