Information checked: 13 October 2026, 22:18 BST
This Brighton half-term museum guide compares family activities from 24 to 30 October 2026. At Brighton & Hove Museums, “free” means different things at different venues: some sessions cost nothing, while others are included with paid admission. Here are the dates, booking rules and resident offers that help you choose.
Brighton half-term museum guide: quick planner
- 24 October: Playing With Your Eyes at Hove Museum — free, advance booking required.
- 26–27 October: Black History Month story sessions at Hove and Brighton museums.
- 28 October: Museum Makers at Brighton Museum — drop-in, free with museum admission.
- 29 October: Alice in FUNderland at Preston Manor — free with admission.
- 30 October: Museum Makers at Hove Museum and a young people’s ghost tour at Preston Manor.
24 October: Playing With Your Eyes at Hove Museum
The official event page lists three sessions at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm. The photography-trickery activity is free and suitable for all ages, but advance booking through Eventbrite is required. Hove Museum of Creativity is at 19 New Church Road, Hove, BN3 4AB.
28 October: Museum Makers at Brighton Museum
The Black History Month craft session runs from 10–11.30am and 2–3.30pm. It is a drop-in for ages 5–12 and is free with Brighton Museum admission. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Brighton Museum visitor page lists standard annual-pass admission at £10.50 for adults and £5 for children aged 5–18. Eligible Brighton & Hove residents in BN1, BN2, BN3 and BN41 pay £8, including up to four children. Students at the University of Brighton, University of Sussex and Greater Brighton Metropolitan College have the same £8 offer, with proof required. Standard adult, child and resident tickets bought through the museum website receive a 5% discount.
That resident offer changes the family calculation: the published £8 price covers an eligible adult and up to four children, rather than £8 plus a separate standard child ticket for each. Confirm eligibility when booking and bring the required proof. The annual pass also allows return visits for a year; the museum says ID matching the ticket name and signature is requested on revisits.
29 October: Alice in FUNderland at Preston Manor
This all-ages activity runs from 10am to 4pm and combines Victorian parlour games with Lewis Carroll-inspired science, puzzles and wordplay. The event is free with Preston Manor admission; the venue asks online buyers to select 29 October when purchasing entry.
The Preston Manor visitor page lists annual passes at £14 for adults and £8.50 for children aged 5–18. Its £10.50 resident offer covers an eligible BN1, BN2, BN3 or BN41 resident and up to four children. Budget for entry unless you hold a valid pass, and select 29 October for this activity. Check the final basket before paying; an event being included in admission does not make the entry ticket free.
Other dates worth checking
The museums programme also lists storytime at Hove Museum on 26 October, storytime at Brighton Museum on 27 October, a second Museum Makers session at Hove Museum on 30 October, and extra Booth Museum behind-the-scenes tours on 29–30 October. Some have capacity limits or separate tickets, so use the official What’s On page for the live status.
How to choose
- Choose Hove Museum on 24 October if you want a fully free activity and can book a timed place.
- Choose Brighton Museum on 28 October if you prefer a flexible drop-in and are comfortable paying admission.
- Choose Preston Manor on 29 October for a longer all-day window and science-themed play.
- Check accessibility, travel and pushchair information on each venue page before setting out.
For an outdoor alternative, see our Wakehurst Wallace & Gromit fungi trail guide.
Brighton Locals’ view
The programme has genuine value because it mixes timed free sessions with drop-ins, but families should not read “free with admission” as “no cost”. Booking rules and the annual-pass structure are the details most likely to prevent a wasted journey.
Bottom line
Book Hove Museum’s free 24 October session early; for Brighton Museum and Preston Manor, check admission costs and select the correct date before paying.
Before leaving home
Keep the timed-session booking and the museum admission ticket separate in your planning. A drop-in removes the need to choose an activity slot; it does not guarantee immediate space. Brighton Museum is normally open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm, and has no onsite parking. Its visitor page gives walking, bus and accessibility information. Families requiring step-free access should check the relevant venue rather than assuming arrangements are identical across all three buildings.
VisitBrighton’s Brighton Museum listing provides an additional venue reference. For a broader comparison, see our guide to which Brighton museums are free or charge admission. Event details and prices here were checked on 13 October; live booking availability can change.
Archive photograph: Hove Museum, 2 January 2017, by Hassocks5489 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0. It shows the venue, not the forthcoming workshops.
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