Scare Yourself Silly: Best UK Halloween Experiences

By Richard Jones

With Halloween now just a couple of weeks away, towns and cities across the land are full of pumpkin patches, enchanted trails, haunted castles and after-dark experiences to give everyone a little fright.

If you have some spare time before the end of October and beyond, here are a few ways to get into the Halloween spirit and scare yourself silly.

Beamish, The ‘Un-Living’ Museum of the North, County Durham
28, 29 and 31 October
Experience a spooktacular evening of tricks and treats as Beamish is transformed into The Un-living Museum of the North with plenty of spooky surprises for visitors who dare to explore after dark. Ghoulish new inhabitants including hooded figures, witches and spectres will be taking over the on-site attractions at Pockerley Old Hall, the Pit Village and schoolhouse and lurking in wait to ‘greet’ visitors. Also, among the evening attractions will be mood-setting tunes at a family-friendly fifties disco at the Welfare Hall and rides in the Fairground.
beamish.org.uk

Psycho Path presents Fear Ground, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Until 31 October
Billed as the North East’s biggest scare attraction, this Scream Park (top image) made its debut at Lintz Hall Farm in Burnopfield in 2018 and quickly had everyone talking as it transported its visitors to a terrifying land of terror in surroundings that could have come straight from a big budget Hollywood horror movie. The inhabitants of the maze include menacing clowns who are intent on stopping you from finding your way out and at some stages you may be separated from your group.
psycho-path.co.uk

Illuminated Abbey, Whitby, North Yorkshire
Until 31 October
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the publication of Bram Stoker’s classic horror story Dracula, so where better to celebrate Halloween than at its inspirational gothic backdrop? This month, Whitby Abbey is once again be bathed in dramatic illuminations showing off all its gothic splendour. There will be actors roaming around in costume that you can interact with, too. But remember, they stay in character the entire time.
english-heritage.org.uk

Séance at York Dungeon
Until 6 November
Travel back in time to 1872 and join York Dungeon’s Victorian Medium, Madame Card, for a sinister Séance experience. Part of the Dungeon Admission, there’s also the chance to join Dungeon LATES, a darker and scarier experience and includes a new exclusive show, Bodysnatchers. For daytime haunted happenings, try the family-friendly Little Peasants Walking Tour around the city during school half term visiting some of York’s infamous landmarks with the York Dungeon’s Jester and his sidekick.
thedungeons.com

‘Scare City Experience’, Chorley
Until 31 October
Based in the crumbling walls of the old Camelot Theme Park, Scare City Experience is the world’s longest walkthrough outdoor horror attraction with 12 spine-chilling zones. The 2km long fully immersive walk-through will feature live actors lurking in the likes of Knightmare Alley, the Forest of Fears and the Medieval Murder Zone. Complete with live actors to scare you witless, this two-hour immersive experience is for those seeking the ultimate fair of scares.
parknpartymcr.co.uk

The Secret Garden and Cemetery Liverpool Walking Tour
26 October
Enjoy spine-tingling ghost stories and discover the city’s secret corners on this after-dark walking tour of Liverpool. Over 90 minutes, the tour brings to life the history and heritage of sites including the haunted Philharmonic Hall, the depths of the Necropolis and St James’ Cemetery Gardens, the final resting place for nearly 58,000 souls. Learn more about Liverpool’s rich history and heritage, whilst you listen to magical creatures and spine-tingling dark stories.
visitbritainshop.com

Halloween fun at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
Until October 30
Take your little monsters to the historic estate’s farmyard and as well as fun daily activities, such as animal feeding and milking demonstrations, they can also join in with creepy crafts including facepainting. You can visit the pumpkin patch and choose your own vegetable to carve and take home. For those feeling brave, dare to ride the mysterious Halloween trailer into Warlock Wood to help battle the ghastly ghouls.
chatsworth.org

Castle After Dark at Warwick Castle
Until 31 October
With over 1,000 years of history, you never know what haunting spirits may be lurking in the shadows at Warwick Castle. Scare-seekers are taken on a host of supernatural surprises and in the castle’s scare mazes, are eerily entertained by on the Haunted Hollows, and descend into the depths of the dungeon. The Castle’s biggest scare maze yet, The Crest, leads visitors through 17 spine-chilling rooms, as they discover the Countess of Warwick’s creepy connections to the occult.
warwick-castle.com

Halloweden at the Eden Project, Cornwall
Until 30 October
Discover the superstitions and traditions of Halloween at the Eden Project this half term with a mysterious Magpie Trail, story time in the Pumpkin Patch and Weave a Web workshops. Plus, the attraction will be open after dark until 8pm for the chance to enjoy the Eden Project by twilight and take on a new bewitching torchlit trail through the Rainforest Biome.
edenproject.com

SAW: The Experience, London
From 27 October until March 2023
No action is without consequence. So, do you think you have what it takes to escape Jigsaw’s latest test, a new multi-room immersive escape room experience? In teams of six, visitors can choose from two paths to redemption in a series of heart-stopping tasks which will test your mind, your mettle, and your moral choices. The routes include flashing lights, strobe, smoke, special effects, scenes of torture, and require players to crawl on their hands and knees through tight and enclosed spaces.
sawtheexperience.com

For more unmissable Halloween attractions in England, and other themed events throughout the year, head to visitengland.com