Free half-term making sessions bring lanterns and spooky cards to the Royal Docks

Half-term plans do not have to start with an expensive ticket. Families heading to the Royal Docks have three free opportunities to make something together over the coming week, from a machine-building session at the University of East London to autumn lanterns and Halloween cards at Art in the Docks. The activities run on separate days, giving parents a choice of outings rather than another packed timetable to juggle.

There is one practical distinction to make before leaving home: the university session needs advance registration, while the two Art in the Docks workshops are advertised as drop-ins with no booking required. Check the individual event pages before travelling, and use the address for your chosen activity rather than simply searching for the Royal Docks as a destination.

Saturday 24 October: build a machine together

Young Makers in the Docks runs from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday 24 October at the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability on UEL's Docklands campus. The Institute of Imagination session invites children and their accompanying adults to design a machine using junk modelling and paper circuits. It also includes a guided look around the university makerspace, where families can see 3D printers and other fabrication tools.

The session is designed for children in school Years 4 to 6, with siblings welcome. Every child must attend with a grown-up. Registration is required even though the activity is free, so do not assume you can arrive without arranging a place. The listed address is 4–6 University Way, London E16 2RD, and the event page identifies Cyprus DLR station at the entrance to the campus as the nearest transport stop.

Monday 26 October: make an autumn lantern

Art in the Docks hosts its autumn lantern workshop from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Monday 26 October. Children and adults can experiment with paper, tissue, leaves and seasonal colours, with artists available to demonstrate techniques and help with the construction. The aim is a decorative lantern that families can take home after the session.

This is a free drop-in at 25 Shackleton Way, E16 2XJ. No previous craft experience is needed, and the organisers say the activity can be adapted for different ages and abilities. Families may arrive during the two-hour session. For a relaxed outing, it makes sense to leave time for making and finishing rather than treating the advertised closing time as a target arrival time.

Friday 30 October: create a haunted house card

The same venue has a second free session from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Friday 30 October, this time making fold-out haunted house cards. Expect a Halloween theme built around paper, card and collage: crooked rooftops, bats and ghosts can all become part of the design. Artists will be there to offer ideas and show techniques, so an elaborate finished card is not a prerequisite for joining in.

The haunted-house workshop is also a drop-in with no booking required. Its listing welcomes younger children alongside a parent or carer and says designs can be adjusted for a range of ages and abilities. This is a separate visit from Monday's lantern session, not a second activity automatically included on the same afternoon. Choose whichever theme will most appeal to the children coming with you.

A little planning keeps a free outing affordable

Start by choosing the activity that suits your family, then plan the journey around that venue. The university campus and Art in the Docks have different addresses, so save the correct one on your phone before setting out. If travelling with a buggy or someone who needs step-free access, check your transport route and ask the venue about any access arrangements you need rather than relying on a general description of the area.

Remember that free entry does not cover the cost of getting there or any food bought along the way. Bring a suitable bag for carrying home a paper creation, particularly if the weather looks wet. If a child has specific support needs, contacting the organiser in advance can help you work out whether the session is the right fit. The individual listings below are the best starting point for checking details and any last-minute changes.

Sources and event updates: Young Makers event and registration details · Autumn lantern drop-in · Haunted house cards drop-in · Art in the Docks organiser information.