They are Doctor Who’s greatest enemy and have had generations of children hiding behind the sofa.

Now the Daleks are invading Bradford as part of a Doctor Who October half-term extravaganza.

Doctor Who Family Fun, at the National Media Museum, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the ever-popular BBC show, with daily activities for all ages. Visitors can make a light-up TARDIS, a moving Dalek, or create their own Doctor Who monster to take home.

Learning programme co-ordinator Elaine Richmond said: “We hope families will join us this half-term to help keep the museum from the clutches of the dreaded Daleks. We’re very excited about this event and promise a lot of Doctor Who-themed fun and activities in anticipation of the 50th anniversary episode next month.”

Doctor Who Family Fun also gives fans of the show the chance to find out more about their hero’s greatest foe as they come face-to-face with the intergalactic villains in the Science of Daleks event, and they’re invited to test their knowledge of all things Doctor Who in a family quiz.

Other activities include a behind-the-scenes film showing how a Doctor Who episode is made, and a screening of the episode Nightmare In Silver, written by Neil Gaiman and featuring the return of the Cybermen, with Matt Smith as Doctor Who.

If your idea of going to the theatre is bouncing huge balloons along the audience and ending up knee-deep in frothy ‘snow’, Slava’s Snow Show is for you.

Described as a “combination of hilarious clowning and stunning visual spectacle”, the show – coming to Bradford’s Alhambra theatre next week – is performed by a world-renowned company of clowns led by Slava Polunin, recently appointed artistic director of the St Petersburg Circus.

Influenced by artists such as Chaplin and Marcel Marceau, Slava and his company have taken clowning out of the world of circus and brought it to theatres worldwide.

The multi award-winning spectacle is full of joy for family audiences; creating a joyous dream-like world, unlike anything you have seen before. A world in which a cobweb envelops the audience and one tiny piece of paper begins a heartstopping blizzard of snow.

Since its UK premiere in 1994, the show has won accolades worldwide, including an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment. It has been performed in 30 countries and is recommended for everyone aged eight to 88!

Over in Whitby, there are spine-tingling treats for families during half-term. The Raithwaite Estate will be celebrating Halloween with a ‘gothic afternoon tea’ – a selection of bewitching treats for children and adults to sink their teeth into.

The children’s menu includes a Witches Cornet, Blood Orange Jelly adorned with a Chocolate Web, and Lemon Monster Cake, while the adults afternoon tea has autumnal treats such as Mini Toffee Apples, Jaffer Coffins, Pumpkin Tarts, and Parkin cake. Spooky Cocktail the Estate Cauldron, an alchemist-style drink, will also be on offer.

Guests are invited to take a moonlit stroll around the estate’s 100 acres of grounds and Victorian gardens, where they may just find more than just flower beds and fountains! Ask at reception for a spooky map to guide you through the misty mazes in search of the hanging masks...if you dare.

Over at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, young visitors can explore the myths and legends of vampires, handle snakes, spiders and lizards and watch falcons in flight.

Atkinson action horses will perform their spectacular stunt shows and firearms curator Jonathan Ferguson will give a talk for youngsters aged 13 and above on the mystery behind the museum’s ‘vampire slaying kit.’ The musuem’s family Halloween party, on Thursday, October 31, from 6pm to 9.30pm, gives youngsters chance to compete for a fancy dress competition prize.

East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley is also hosting a free Halloween party and fancy dress competition on Friday, November 1, from 6.30pm, while over at Lotherton Hall estate near Leeds, some scary scarecrows will be turning out for the spooky season. Visitors can follow the scarecrow trail and take part in a range of Halloween activities from ghost stories to craft workshops.

Families can explore their creative flair in SketchCrawl!, coinciding with The Big Draw which promotes drawing as a fun group event. Big Draw events will take place at Cartwright Hall, where families can put pencil to paper in a workshop with artist Tim Curtis from noon until 3pm on Tuesday, October 29.

Cleckheaton Market is hosting a Spooktacular event on Saturday, October 26, with Harry Potter and Hagrid magic shows, face-painting and ‘Trick or Treat Trails’.

There’s a chance to enjoy free day out at Bradford Museums and Galleries this half-term. Families can get the holiday off to a good start by visiting City Park today.

As part of the Science Festival Family Day, Bradford Industrial Museum’s green Jowett van will be on display between 10am-3pm.

At Cliffe Castle, families can learn all about birds with RSPB guided walks and crafts. The Falling Leaves drop-in event is on Saturday, 26 October, between 11am and 3pm. At Bradford Industrial Museum, visitors will be able to see working machines from the district’s past, including steam engines and printers at work, on Wednesday, October 30. Families can also visit back-to-back houses and see cars, vans and trams from a bygone age.

The week’s activities will be rounded off with free ghostly tours of Bolling Hall to mark Halloween. Dark Gatherings - Hauntings In The Hall gives families chance to discover what goes bump in the night at one of Bradford's oldest museums.

Tours run hourly on Thursday, October 31 between 6-10pm.

Factfile:

  • Slava’s Snow Show runs at the Alhambra from Wednesday to Sunday. For tickets, ring (01274) 432000.
  • Doctor Who Family Fun runs at the National Media Museum from October 26 to November 3. Most events are free, but there is a £1 charge for the Light-up Tardis and Motorised Dalek workshops. Visit nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/halftermH
  • Halloween activities at the Royal Armouries in Leeds run from October 26 to November 3. Call 08700 344344, or visit royalarmouries.org
  • Haunted Halloween events at Lotherton Hall run from October 27 to November 4. Call (0113) 2813259, or visit leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall
  • The Halloween Tea at the Raithwaite Estate, Whitby, runs from Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3. Call (01947) 661661, or visit raithwaiteestate.com.
  • To book for Bolling Hall’s Dark Gatherings – Hauntings In The Hall, call (01274) 431826.