October Half Term 2026: Dates by Region and How to Sort Your Airport Parking
Your region-by-region guide to October half term 2026 dates for families flying from UK airports.
October Half Term 2026 Dates for England, Wales and Scotland
October half term 2026 starts on Monday 26 October for most families in England and Wales, and it's one of the busiest weeks of the year for UK airports. Flights are packed with families chasing the last of the autumn sun, and spaces near the terminal go fast.
Book your airport parking now and you'll know exactly where you're leaving the car, what it costs and how you're getting to check-in, weeks before the suitcases come down from the loft.
Book October Half Term Airport Parking
Book your half term airport parking with JustPark and you can:
Reserve your space before demand peaks, so you're not left choosing from whatever is left in the final week
Compare options side by side, from private driveways and local car parks to Park and Ride and Meet and Greet at selected airports
Filter by what matters to your family, including distance to the terminal, price, EV charging and disabled access
Manage your booking from your phone, with many spaces letting you extend your stay in the app if your return flight is delayed
When Is October Half Term 2026?
Dates are set by each local council, so the week your children are off depends on where they go to school. Here's the quick answer for each nation:
England: Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026 for most councils
Wales: Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026
Scotland: October holidays run between Monday 5 October and Friday 23 October 2026, with most councils off from Monday 12 October to Friday 16 October
Academies, free schools and independent schools can set their own dates, and every school chooses its own INSET days. Check your school's calendar before you book flights or parking.
England October Half Term 2026
The vast majority of English councils break up on Friday 23 October and return on Monday 2 November. A few areas follow a different pattern, so it's worth double-checking if you live in one of them:
Leicestershire schools take an earlier half term, from Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October 2026
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire schools have a two-week break, from Monday 19 October to Friday 30 October 2026
Bromley schools also take two weeks, from Monday 19 October to Friday 30 October 2026
If your family has a two-week break, the first week (19 to 23 October) is usually quieter at airports than the main half term week, so it can be a good window to fly.
Wales October Half Term 2026
Welsh schools are off from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026, in line with most of England. That puts Cardiff Airport and the airports just over the border in the same peak week.
Scotland October Holidays 2026
Scotland's October week comes earlier, and dates vary more between councils than anywhere else in the UK. Angus and Argyll and Bute were first off, from Monday 5 October, Edinburgh schools are off from Friday 9 October to Friday 16 October, and most other councils take Monday 12 October to Friday 16 October. Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire take two weeks, from Monday 12 October to Friday 23 October, and West Lothian is off from Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October.
For every council's dates, see our guide to the Scottish October holidays 2026.
October Half Term Airport Parking by Region
Find your airport below and book your space for the half term week. You can also browse every airport on our airport parking page.
London and the South East
Book Heathrow Airport parking and filter by Terminal 2, 3, 4 or 5 to find the closest spaces to your departure gate
Book Gatwick Airport parking with options for both the North and South Terminals
Book Stansted Airport parking before the half term rush from Essex and East Anglia
Book London Luton Airport parking on local driveways and car parks close to the terminal
Book London City Airport parking if you're flying from east London
Book London Southend Airport parking, with driveways a short walk from the terminal
Book Southampton Airport parking, with driveways and car parks around Eastleigh
The Midlands
Book Birmingham Airport parking for flights from the West Midlands
Book East Midlands Airport parking, handy for families in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire with an earlier or longer half term
The North of England
Book Manchester Airport parking near Terminal 2 or Terminal 3, the busiest UK airport outside London
Book Liverpool John Lennon Airport parking, with driveways a short walk from the terminal
Book Leeds Bradford Airport parking for half term flights from Yorkshire
Book Newcastle Airport parking for half term flights from the North East
The South West and Wales
Book Bournemouth Airport parking for half term flights from the south coast
Book Newquay Airport parking for flights from Cornwall
Book Cardiff Airport parking, with spaces in and around Rhoose
Book Bristol Airport parking, with driveways a short walk from the terminal
Book Exeter Airport parking for half term flights from Devon
Scotland
Book Edinburgh Airport parking at Scotland's busiest airport
Book Glasgow Airport parking with local driveways and off-site car parks in Paisley
Book Glasgow Prestwick Airport parking if you're flying from Ayrshire
Book Aberdeen Airport parking for the two-week break in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Book Inverness Airport parking for half term flights from the Highlands
For a wider look at how to compare airport parking across the country, read our complete guide to finding airport parking in the UK.
Airport Parking Options for October Half Term
What's available varies from airport to airport, so check the options listed for yours. Across UK airports, JustPark lists:
Park and Ride, where you leave the car at a car park outside the airport and take a shuttle to the terminal. It's a popular choice for families on a week-long trip.
Meet and Greet at airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, where you drive to the terminal and hand over your keys. It's ideal with buggies, car seats and heavy cases.
Private driveways and local car parks near the airport, often a short taxi, bus or shuttle ride away and among the best-value options for a full half term week.
Short stay parking close to the terminal, which suits quick trips and drop-offs.
Long stay parking, which is better for holidays of a week or more.
If you're not sure which type suits your trip, our explainer on off-airport parking walks through how it works, and the step-by-step guide to booking airport parking takes you from search to departures.
Why October Half Term Airport Parking Books Up Fast
October half term squeezes a lot of families into one week, and the busiest days are predictable: the Saturday and Sunday at the start of the break, and the weekend before schools go back. Arrive without a booking on those days and you're left with on-the-day rates at the terminal, or circling with a car full of luggage and tired children while the clock runs down to check-in.
Booking ahead protects you from all of that. You choose the space, you know the price before you leave home, and you have one less thing to think about on the morning you fly.
Tips for Flying With Family This October Half Term
A few small steps make the trip to the airport much smoother when you're travelling with children:
Check which terminal you're flying from before you book, especially at multi-terminal airports like Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester
Leave extra time for luggage and car seats, particularly if you're taking a shuttle from Park and Ride or an off-airport space
Read the space description for arrival instructions, access times and whether the host offers a lift to the terminal
Use the filters for accessibility if anyone in your group needs a Blue Badge or disabled space
Look for EV charging at your space if you drive an electric car, so it's ready for the drive home
Check drop-off charges in advance if someone is dropping you at the terminal instead, as most UK airports charge for kerbside drop-off
Staying in the UK? October Half Term Days Out and City Breaks
Not every family flies over half term. If you're planning a day out or a few nights away closer to home, town and city centres get just as busy, so it pays to book your parking before you set off:
Book parking in London for museums, shows and family days out, and skip the hunt for a space in the busiest streets
Find parking in York for a half term city break among the walls and the medieval streets of the old city
Reserve parking in Bath and spend the day exploring the city on foot
Book parking in Cardiff for a family weekend in the Welsh capital
Find parking in Edinburgh if your family is spending the October week in Scotland's capital
For more ideas, explore our city breaks parking page.
Live Near an Airport? Rent Out Your Driveway This Half Term
October half term is one of the busiest weeks of the year for airport parking, and travellers book for days at a time. If you live near an airport, your empty driveway could be earning money while you're at home. Space owners near the UK's busiest airports typically earn £50 to £90 a month, based on current JustPark listings.
Rent out your driveway with JustPark and you choose when it's available, what you charge and who you welcome.
October Half Term 2026 FAQs
When is October half term 2026?
For most schools in England and Wales, October half term 2026 runs from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October. Scotland's October holidays fall between 5 and 23 October depending on the council.
Is October half term the same across the UK?
No. Each council sets its own dates. Leicestershire breaks up a week early, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Bromley take two weeks, and Scotland's October week comes earlier than in England and Wales.
When is half term in October in Scotland?
Most Scottish councils are off from Monday 12 October to Friday 16 October 2026. Angus and Argyll and Bute started earlier, on 5 October, while Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire are off until 23 October.
When are the October school holidays for academies?
Academies and free schools can set their own term dates, so they don't always match the council calendar. Most follow the same week as their local council, but check your school's website before booking.
Book Your October Half Term Airport Parking Today
The half term getaway starts long before you reach the departure lounge. Choose your space now, before the busiest week of the autumn fills up, and arrive at the airport knowing your car is sorted and your holiday has already begun.
