If you’re looking for some frightfully good fun this Halloween, then this is the list for you! From spooky surprises and haunted happenings, to tricks and treats galore, there’s plenty to keep your little monsters entertained. Check out some of the spookiest Halloween events in the UK…if you think you’re brave enough!

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We’ve rounded up a load of spooky, scary, ghoulish Halloween events in the UK – from walking tours to pumpkin patches, they’re all guaranteed to give you a scary good time!

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Halloween Events in UK: Terrifying Tours

Hampton Court Palace, Surrey

Dates: October 22nd to 30th 2022

Explore Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted palace, at the spookiest time of the year.

Lose yourself in atmospheric projections and creepy sound effects as the spirit world is brought closer than ever before. Head to the Gallery of the Damned and see eerie portraits come to life, or stop by the Council Chamber to take part in a spine-tingling séance. Whose voice will echo from beyond the grave?

As you tiptoe through the dark, winding corridors and courtyards you’ll feel the chilling presence of infamous ghosts hiding around every corner. Remember to watch out for James I as he roams the palace, terrified by its witchcraft and sorcery.

Designed to put you on edge, rather than push you over it, prepare yourself for a thrilling family-friendly adventure that you won’t forget.

Up for a bigger fright? Try the After Dark experience on October 28th and 29th.

London Bridge Experience and Tombs

Dates: Daily

The London Bridge Experience and Tombs claims to be the UK’s scariest all year round attraction. Inside you take a journey around the dark streets of London exploring the secrets and smells that lie beneath the world’s most famous and haunted bridge.

Beyond the bridge you visit the Tombs where humans and animatronics will help you laugh, scream and jump out of your skin as you come face to face with dark characters from London’s past. If you are visiting with little ones (or are a bit of a scaredy cat yourself), you can ask for a Guardian Angel tour to avoid the scariest encounters.

Over 16s can also book tickets for a seriously terrifying Halloween show (October 22nd to 31st 2022) that is definitely not for the faint-hearted!

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The Hinton Ampner, Hampshire

NOTE: Closed for indoor visits until end of November 2022

The Hinton Ampner in Hampshire, which is believed to have been so haunted that it had to be demolished, hosts Frankenstein Trails at Halloween.

Visitors discover the compassionate side of Frankenstein’s Monster when they go on a Frankenstein trail. Visitors will need to turn detective to find out how Frankenstein’s Monster may have survived outdoors at Hinton!

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Halloween Events in the UK: Awful Animals

Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable

Dates: October 22nd to 31st 2022

There are ghoulish goings on at Whipsnade Zoo!

Throughout the October half term, youngsters are encouraged to visit Whipsnade Zoo in their most devilish disguises. With plenty of spooky activities, you can look forward to interactive Halloween-themed story time sessions, party games, a costume contest at the Halloween disco (daily at 11am and 1pm), pumpkin decorating, conservation crafts (daily from 10.30am to 4pm), themed animal talks and poisonous fun facts, spooky magic show (daily at 11.40am and 1.40pm), and more!

Boo at the Zoo activities are included in entry tickets unless otherwise stated. Under 3s and ZSL members go free.

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Halloween Dog Walk & Show, Hampstead

Date: October 30th 2022

The All Dogs Matter charity host an annual Halloween Walk & Dog Show in Hampstead.

Costumed pups and owners of all kinds head off on the most adorably chilling walks the Heath has ever seen, with prizes for the most hair-raising hounds, ghoulish grown ups, and menacing little monsters (kids).

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The Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire

NOTE: 2022 details TBC

The Blue Planet Aquarium showcases a host of fascinating aquatic creatures, from ‘toxic toads’ to ‘electric rays’ for its Halloween event, as well as special talks and interactive science experiments, games and optical illusions.

The aquarium gets covered with cobwebs, packed with pumpkins and also filled with a number of scares and surprises lurking around every corner to help get everyone in the Halloween spirit.

Children who come in fancy dress are usually admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. The attraction is open daily from 10am.

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Halloween Events in the UK: Spooky Castles

Ghost Fest at Oxford Castle & Prison

Dates: Spooky Tours: October 15th and 21-31st 2022 / Potion Making: October 22nd, 24th, 26th and 28-30th 2022

Ghost Fest at Oxford Castle and Prison has day and evening activities for all ages.

Do you dare join one of the evening Spooky Tours and hear the stories that are too scary for the daytime? Hear the haunting stories of a 1,000-year past and let the gruesome history come to life! Who knows what (or who!) you’ll discover…

There’s also the return of resident warlock Merlin who awaits your presence in the Crypt for some spooky potion making. Children will love brewing up some magic with three exciting activities in this hour-long workshop.

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The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle

Dates: October 1st to 31st 2022

Warwick Castle’s Halloween starts earlier than ever this year, with over 1,000 years of spooktacular history to discover.

Join the ghosts, ghouls, wizards and witches of Warwick Castle and prepare for a Halloween brimming with spooky tales and family-friendly frights. Meet the famous Witches of Warwick and find out which secret spells they are concocting in their cauldron!

Uncover eerie experiences around every corner and explore the gruesome truths of history in the Horrible Histories maze. Search the spooky mansion, navigate the Haunted Hollows and discover even more quirky characters in their spellbinding shows and activities!

From October 22nd to 31st, The Haunted Castle returns for haunting half-term fun with Halloween frights and delights for the whole family. On selected evenings, brave the darker side of Halloween at Warwick Castle with Castle After Dark.

Halloween Week at Muncaster Castle, West Cumbria

Dates: October 22nd to 30th 2022

There will be oodles of fun and Halloween entertainment again this year to make this a “must do” time of year to visit Muncaster! From 10.30am to 6pm the Muncaster Halloween Festival will be family-friendly with activities for all ages. From 6pm it gets dark and things turn scary – no longer recommended for young children.

This year promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with lots to look forward to, including a scary maze, circus top, fire shows, trick or treat trail, zombie shoot-out, spooky silent disco, and so much more.

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Halloween Events in the UK: Wailing on the Water

Ghost ships, sea monsters, creatures from the deep; what could be scarier than being out on the water? If you’re a water baby you might like these ideas for a Halloween boat trip.

The Canal Museum, London

NOTE: 2022 details TBC

Back in London, the Canal Museum offer narrowboat trips through the dark, dank Islington Tunnel. The boat is specially decorated for trips running during Halloween. Places are limited on each trip, so early booking is advised.

Keep up to date on their Facebook page.

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Ghost Cruise on the Ouse, York

NOTE: 2022 details TBC

York Dungeon, in association with City Cruises York, have a river cruise like no other for Halloween. Take an after hours cruise to hear some of the scariest ghost stories from York. The cruise is perfect for families too with Mother Shipton and Tiberius Fabius Bibulus helping with the commentary!

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Halloween Events in the UK: A Fright Night Theme (Park)

Alton Towers Scarefest

Dates: October 7-9th and 14th-31st 2022

On October’s spookiest dates, tiptoe into Alton Towers Resort for all sorts of creepy scares and shocks as its award-winning Scarefest returns with live entertainment for all ages and a brand-new family attraction.

Open until 9pm each day, daring guests can face:

• Head-spinning, hair-raising rides and attractions in darkness, including Wicker Man and the Alton Towers Dungeon
• 4 multi-award winning, terrifying mazes
• Garden Lights Walk: Whispering Souls
• The Alton Towers Dungeon
• The Alton Ancestors are back from the dead and in their favourite haunts. Standing still is not an option so celebrate Halloween by learning their dance moves and joining in!
• CBeebies Monster Land Ball where guests can dress up in your favourite costume and join the CBeebies characters live as they dance, play games and learn all about spooky things!

Don’t miss Trick O’ Treat Town, a special town where every day is Halloween! And do you know what’s the townsfolk’s favourite past time? Yes, you got it – it’s to host Trick-or-Treating for the town visitors! So, muster up your courage and prepare to knock on doors from Spooky Avenue all the way up to the Witchy Woods, but be careful – as well as treats, there are tricks aplenty!

Fright Nights at Thorpe Park

Dates: September 30th to October 31st 2022

Brace yourself as Fright Nights returns for another terrifying season. Taking over this autumn, prepare to be scared senseless at the UK’s premier Halloween event as you ride Europe’s most thrilling coasters in the dead of night before taking on live action scare experiences.

Watch in amazement as you witness the new awe-inspiring fire and light display, Legacy, and get your heart racing as you venture through spine-chilling scare zones. For true fear-seekers, take on our infamously terrifying scare mazes.

Prepare to launch into darkness on Stealth – the UK’s fastest coaster; experience the twisted torment of Colossus – the world’s first ten looping coaster and take on the sick and twisted games of Jigsaw on SAW – The Ride.

Note: Fright Nights experiences are recommended for ages 13+.

Journey to Hell Freak Nights at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Dates: October 7th to 30th 2022

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Halloween Events in the UK: Dungeons and Towers

The London Dungeon

While the London Dungeon is scary all year round, the scares are ramped up for Halloween month where you can come face to face with Jack the Ripper, The Plague Doctor, Sweeney Todd and The Torturer. There are haunting tales and thrilling rides, including an underground water ride! Tickets sell out fast.

The Edinburgh Dungeon

Alternatively, take a trip to The Edinburgh Dungeon where you can experience the sights, sounds and…ahem…smells of Scotland’s grim history. The Edinburgh Dungeon played host to some of the saltiest characters in Scotland’s history, including prolific killers and their torturous wardens.

Their stories will be brought to life before your very eyes and trust us, they’re only for those with strong stomachs! There are usually loads of fun Halloween activities and pumpkins galore!

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York Dungeon

At York Dungeon a 75-minute horrifying and immersive experience awaits you and your family if you are feeling daring enough. Follow the story of York’s gruesome history and come face to face with the likes of Guy Fawkes the traitor, Vengeful Vikings or Highwayman Dick Turpin.

This theatrical storytelling experience unveils all the secrets of the past through 10 interactive live shows. From cackling witches to Plague doctors there are so many characters to meet along the way. The dungeon brings together an amazing cast of actors, special effects, stages and scenes. Laughs and screams are guaranteed along with tonnes of fun!

Halloween at the Tower of London

Dates: October 22nd to 31st 2022

Watched over by the ravens, at the Tower of London this Halloween you’ll follow in the footsteps of infamous prisoners as you wander the Tower grounds at the spookiest time of the year.

Immerse yourself in mystical projections and eerie sound effects. Listen very carefully and you’ll hear the whispers and mutterings of Walter Raleigh brewing deadly elixirs, or the menacing tales of George, Duke of Clarence and Everard Digby who spent their final days within these ancient walls.

As you explore notorious sites such as Traitors’ Gate, the Scaffold Site and the Bloody Tower, you’ll come face to face with the roaming ghosts of the Tower’s legendary inmates. You may even bump into the lost soul of Anne Boleyn, stuck in the moment that changed her life (and death) forever.

Designed to chill your bones rather than churn your stomach, prepare yourself for a thrilling interactive family-friendly adventure that you won’t forget.

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Halloween Events in the UK: Pumpkin Patches

This Halloween could be the most festive yet if you choose to really get in the holiday’s spirit by picking your own pumpkin. There are plenty of farms across the UK that allow visitors to come and select their favourite prized squash for carving, lanterns, spiced latte and pie purposes. Get ready to PYO (Pick Your Own) and have a fun family day out in the run-up to Halloween.

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Secretts Farm, Surrey

Dates: October 22nd to 29th 2022

Secretts Farm in Surrey is a sprawling farm growing an estimated 30,000 pumpkins in their fields, with an annual Pumpkin Festival. There are tractor and trailer rides to take you into the pumpkin fields ready for children to pick for Halloween.

As well as picking your own pumpkin during their pumpkin week, there are a range of activities on offer.

Pumpkin Festival at Piglets Adventure Farm, York

Dates: October 8-9th, 15-16th, and 22nd to 30th

Get ready for stacks of family fun at Piglets Adventure Farm – there is so much on offer for Halloween during their Pumpkin Festival.

What will you do first? Take a ride to the Pumpkin Patch where you can pick your own pumpkin with over 10,000 to choose from, find your way through the mystery maize, enjoy spooktacular fun at The Magic Hatter Show, see the animals, and so much more!

Better yet, each entry-paying child will receive a free pumpkin!

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Halloween Spooktacular at the National Forest Adventure Farm, Staffordshire

Dates: October 15, 16th and 22-30th 2022

The National Forest Adventure Farm is one of the most popular attractions in the local area for good reason, offering exciting indoor fun, outdoor adventure and farm animals, But for Halloween it gets even better as you can take the tractor and trailer ride up to the pumpkin patch and select your perfect pumpkin to take home for free!

There are lots of activities during their Halloween Spectacular, including:

• Magical maze quest
• Broomstick Training
• Scare School
• Tragic Magic Show
• Fancy Dress Competition
• Animal barn and paddocks
• Outdoor adventure play
• and so much more!

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Keep an eye out for pumpkin patches near you – there are many more around the country, including:

• Crockford Bridge Farm Shop, Surrey
• Foxes Pumpkin Patch and Maize Maze, Essex
• Kenyon Hall Farm, Yorkshire
• Undley Pumpkin Patch, Suffolk
• Hatton Adventure World, Warwickshire
• Down At the Farm, Durham
• Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze, Fife
• Craigies Farm, Edinburgh
• Hendrewennol Fruit Garden, Vale of Glamorgan
• Brooksgrove Farm, Pembrokeshire
• Streamvale Open Farm, Belfast

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Halloween Events in the UK: Freaky Festivals

Paisley Halloween Festival

Dates: October 27th to 29th 2022

Paisley Halloween Festival one of the biggest and best, free Halloween events in the UK, will be back for three nights of electrifying live performances and spine-chilling installations all inspired by eminent heroes, myths and legends.

Between 6pm and 9pm each night, the streets around Paisley Abbey will come alive with creeping spiders, other-worldly beings, a fire-breathing dragon and flying caped crusaders; all engaged in an exhilarating battle of good versus evil.

Part of Scotland’s Year of Stories, supported by EventScotland’s National Events Programme, this year’s spooktacular promises street performances, aerial acrobatics, stunning bespoke installations and frightfully good fun for all the family.

Halloween in the City, Manchester

Dates: October 25th to 30th 2022

At Halloween you can enjoy some Monster Halloween Fun in Manchester city centre. Look out for the Monster Invasion where monsters will be hiding where you least expect them!

Mark the arrival of Halloween with a weekend of terrifyingly good events in Manchester city centre featuring a giant rooftop monster invasion, city-wide trail, Halloween procession, and a whole host of fun.

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Halloween Events in the UK: Family Favourites

The Wizards of Once Halloween Quest

Dates: October 2022

Follow Dennis, Gnasher and friends to solve creepy clues on fun Beano family quests around the grounds of over 20 English Heritage sites around the country this half term.

Meet costumed performers to hear tall tales of the strange, the supernatural and the downright silly. With so much spooky stuff to see and do, it’s a great-value day out for families – and tickets are even cheaper if you book in advance.

Scare Skate, Manchester

Dates: October 21st to November 1st 2022

As monsters take over Manchester again this Halloween, Cathedral Gardens is preparing to play host to an invasion of ice-skating spooks on its biggest ever outdoor ice rink.

Scare Skate will see Halloween fans and fear-loving families take to the ice. The spooktacular rink will be complete with Halloween-themed music and lighting, whilst a band of ghoulish skating monsters will join skaters on the ice every hour! With fancy dress encouraged, the brand-new event will bring frightfully good fun to half term festivities.

This year’s venue will be nearly double the size of previous years which means more space for skating, more fun and even more memories made.

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