North
York Maze Hallowe’en Festival
October 23–31
Haunted tractor and trailer rides, witch’s grotto, pumpkin carving and spooky makeovers.
Time: 10am–4.30pm. Cost: £8.95 (adults), £7.95 (children).
Elvington Lane, York YO19 5LT. For details, see www.yorkmazehallowscream.co.uk
Bede’s World
October 25–29
Hear scary stories from Anglo Saxon times and make a bat decoration.
Time: 11am–3pm. Cost: £5.50 (adults), £3.50 (children), £12.50 (family).
Church Bank, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear NE32 3DY. For details, see www.bedesworld.co.uk
Carlisle Castle
October 25–29
Spooky ghost stories about the castle.
Time: 11am, 12.45pm. 2.30pm. Cost: £7.30 (adults), £3.90 (children).
Cumbria, CA3 8UR. For details, see www.english-heritage.org.uk
Liverpool Hallowe’en Lantern Carnival
October 31
Create a paper lantern and join in with this spectacular parade through Liverpool, featuring giant illuminated puppets, fire sculpture and pyrotechnics. For details of lantern making workshops (October 16–27) see website (below).
Time: 5.30pm. Cost: Free.
Starting at Aigburth Vale car park. For details, see www.liverpoollanterncompany.co.uk
Midlands
Alton Towers Scarefest
October 16–31
Scary characters, trick or treat rooms and doors, and a haunted adventure tour.
Time: 10am–9pm. Cost: £30.40 (adults), £22.50 (children).
Stoke, ST10 4DB. For details, see www.altontowers.com
Midland Railway – Butterley
October 30
A spooky train ride through the haunted country park and a trick or treat trail.
Time: 5.30pm. Cost: £9 (adults), children are free.
Butterley Station,
Ripley,
Derbyshire
DE5 3QZ. For details, see www.midlandrailwaycentre.co.uk
West Midland Safaripark
October 22–31
Visit the Spooky Spectacular for animal encounters, a themed sea lion show and a walk into the Twilight Cave with its free-flying bats.
Time: 10am–5pm. Cost: £12.95 (adults), £11.50 (children). Children under three are free.
Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1LF. For details, www.wmsp.co.uk
East
BeWilderwood
October 25–31
Join in with Snagglefang’s Spooky Spectacular. Make masks and lanterns and join the lantern parade.
Time: 10am–5.30pm. Cost: £11.50 (adults), £7 (children).
Horning Road, Hoveton, Norfolk NR12 8JW. For details, see www.bewilderwood.co.uk
Holkham Hall
October 30, 31
Go on a ghost hunt through the spooky rooms of the Bygones Museum.
Time: 10am–5pm. Cost: £4 (adults), £2 (children).
Holkham Estate Office, Wells-next- the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1AB. For details, see NR23 1AB. For details, see www.holkham.co.uk
The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
October 31
Hallowe’en trail and garland making.
Time: 10.30am–4pm. Cost: £5 (adults), £3 (children).
Denny Abbey, Ely Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9PQ. For details, see www.dennyfarmlandmuseum.org.uk
London
Sealife London Aquarium
October 23–31
Discover spooky creatures from the depths and meet the freaky fish witch.
Time: 10am–6pm. Cost: £18 (adults), £12.50 (children).
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7PB. For details, see www.sealife.co.uk
Lyric Hammersmith: The Very Noisy Night
October 26–30
Find out what happens when a little mouse can’t sleep in this charming theatre show and take part in a special Hallowe’en messy play session on October 30, 31, with decoration making, apple bobbing and games.
Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL. For details, see www.lyric.co.uk
Inn The Park Hallowe’en Suppliers Market
October 31
Oliver Peyton’s restaurant in St James’s Park will be hosting a special suppliers market, featuring producers who normally sell to restaurants. Choose between the likes of New Forest Mushrooms and organic meats, and tuck into sausages and burgers, cakes and cupcakes. There will be hallowe’en carving demonstrations, fancy dress competitions, storytelling and scary walks.
Time: 12–3pm. Cost: Free.
St James’s Park, SW1A 2BJ. For details, see www.royalparks.org.uk
Lauderdale House
October 31
Dress up in a scary costume for a spooky walk through Lauderdale House.
Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill N6 5HG. For details, see www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk
South East
Kent Life
October 23–31
A ghost hunt, creepy crawly handling, fancy dress competitions, trick or treating, plus the chance to meet ghost-hunting dog Scooby Doo (October 30–31).
Time: 10am–5pm. Cost: £8.50 (adults), £6.50 (children).
Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone Kent ME14 3AU. For details, see www.kentlife.org.uk
The Bentnall Centre
October 25–29
Hallowe’en craft and magic workshop in the shopping centre.
Time: 10am–5pm. Cost: Free.
Wood Street, Kingston Upon Thames Surrey KT1 1TP. For details, see www.thebentallcentre-shopping.com
Compton Acres
October 26–30
Pumpkin hunt around the historic gardens.
Time: 9am–6pm. Cost: £1.50 (adults), £1 (children).
164 Canford Cliffs Road, Poole, Dorset BH13 7ES. For details, see www.comptonacres.co.uk
Blenheim Palace
October 23–31
A Hallowe’en trail, spooky train rides and ghost stories.
Time: 10.30am–5.30pm. Cost: £18 (adults), £10 (children).
Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PX. For details, see www.blenheimpalace.com
South West
Eden Project
October 23–31
Take part in Halloweden and skate on the ice rink, make potions, visit the wand tailor and meet the owls and bats. Dress spooky for the Little Monsters Ball on 30, 31.
Time: 10am–5.30pm. Cost: £5 per skate, £7 for the Little Monsters Ball.
Bodelve, St Austell, Cornwall, PL24 2SG. For details, see www.edenproject.com
Swindon and Cricklade Railway
October 29, 30
Take a ride on the ghost train and see how many ghouls you can spot.
Time: 6.30pm (Oct 29), 6pm (Oct 30). Cost: £7 (adults), £5 (children). Ages: All ages.
Swindon & Cricklade Railway: Halloween EveningTadpole Lane, Blunsdon, Swindon Wiltshire SN25 2DA. For details, see www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org
Haldon Forest Park
October 30
Wear a spooky costume and listen to scary stories in the forest. Booking essential.
Time: 6pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, 9.30pm. Cost: £5. Ages: 4+.
Haldon Forest Park, Bullers Hill, Kennford, Exeter, Devon EX6 7XR. For details, see www.visitdevon.co.uk
Northern Ireland
Ballygally Castle
October 22–31
Book in for a stay at this historic castle in County Antrim and explore the ghostly going on within the walls.
Prices start from £65 per person.
Coast Road, Ballygally, Co. Antrim BT40 2QZ. For details, see www.hastingshotels.com
Hezlett House
October 28–29
This cosy National Trust cottage will be transformed into a Hallowe’en frenzy, with creepy crafts, a family fun fair and ghost tour.
Time: 5–9pm. Cost: £4.
107 Sea Road, Castlerock, Londonderry BT51 4TW Northern Ireland. For details, see www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Banks of The Foyle Hallowe'en Carnival
October 28–31
Witches and warlocks, vampires and monsters will be descending on Londonderry for this carnival parade, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display.
Time: 6pm. Cost: Free.
Parade leaves from Council Offices, Londonderry.
For details, see www.derrycity.gov.uk/HALLOWEEN/CarnivalParade
Scotland
Holmwood House
October 23–31
Spookily decorated rooms to explore, stories, apple ducking and messy fun.
61-63 Netherlee Road, Glasgow, Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley G44 3YU. For details, see www.nts.org.uk
Scottish Storytelling Centre
October 18–21
Two storytelling theatre shows – Peach, Oscar And The Dragon’s Tears (Oct 18, 19) and The Frog Princess (Oct 20, 21).
Time: 3.30pm (Oct 18, 19), The Frog Princess (October 20, 21).
43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR. For details, see www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk
Scottish Seabird Centre
October 23, 24
Don a pirate costume for this Pirate Weekend, with lots of fun events.
Time: 10am–5.30pm. Cost: £7.95 (adults), £4.50 (children). For details, see www.seabird.org
Haddo House
October 30, 31
A Hallowe’en Tea Party with fancy dress and lantern making.
Time: 4.30–6pm, 6.30–8pm. Cost: £8.50 (children), one adult goes free with every child, additional adults £8.50 per person. Booking essential.
Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 7EQ. For details, see www.nts.org.uk
Wales
St Fagans Natural History Museum
October 23–31
Tuck into natural foods at this Autumn Feast.
Time: 11am–1pm, 2–4pm. Cost: Free.
Cardiff CF5 6XB. For details, see www.museumwales.ac.uk
Ruthin Gaol
October 31
Dressing up, storytelling and Hallowe’en crafts.
Time: 11am–4pm. Cost: £3.50 (adults), £2.50 (children).
Clwyd Street, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1HP. For details, see www.denbighshire.gov.uk
Plas Newydd
October 31
Hallowe’en crafts and mask making.
Time: 11am–4pm. Cost: Free.
Hill Street, Llangollen LL20 8AW. For details, see www.eventsnorthwales.co.uk
