William Brown Street has been a school holiday choice for generations and this October half-term is no exception. The popular exhibition, Return of the Gods, continues at World Museum, accompanied by special events for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the myths and legends of ancient Greece and Rome. Up the hill at the Walker Art Gallery visitors will enjoy choosing their favourite painting from the 70 selected for the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize 2023. They may even be inspired to create their own masterpiece in Big Art, the gallery’s dedicated space for families.

The Liverpool waterfront offers the perfect backdrop for an exciting day trip this half-term. The Museum of Liverpool’s new exhibition, Happiness! will tickle funny bones young and old, exploring the career, and of course telling the jokes of Liverpool icon, Sir Ken Dodd. Across the dock the Maritime Museum’s Titanic and Liverpool: the untold story exhibition reveals the background of the most famous ship of all and its links to Liverpool. At the International Slavery Museum’s visitors are in for a real treat with drumming workshops and traditional storytelling.

Autumn is a wonderful time to get out of the city and see the changing colours of the season, followed by a cosy trip to a gallery. A jaunt to Lady Lever Art Gallery provides the last chance to see the enchanting Flower Fairies (closes 5 November) and to take part in themed crafts inspired by the natural beauty of Cecily Barker’s delicate paintings. While out in leafy Mossley Hill things are about to get very spooky with Sudley House getting into the spirit of Halloween, with creepy crafts, ghoulish ghost stories and a puzzling pumpkin trail!

October is also Black History Month and NML has a busy month of talks, workshops and music sessions, as well as fascinating online resources available all year round. Find out more here.