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The final day of October is looming and ghosts and ghouls are gearing up for some hair-raising horror to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve 2024.
While traditional trick-or-treating trips might basket a questionably flavoured Chupa Chups lolly or two, braving the beasts of scream parks, cracking the case of a murder mystery, and devilish family-friendly fun at haunted castles are the ultimate spooky attractions to sink your fangs into.
Disorganised fright-seekers need not worry; eleventh-hour DIY-style costumes are all the rage for those not keen to dress up as Beetlejuice, Moo Deng or a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Plus, a splash of fake blood is bound to blend in with the circus of possessed nuns and gory zombies that await.
From the frightening forests of North Wales to London’s bone-chilling dungeons and Derry’s sinister street parade, here are 19 of the UK’s top haunts for this halloweekend and beyond.
Read more: The best destinations for an affordable October half term holiday
Shocktoberfest at Tulleys Farm
Location: Crawley
Tulleys Farm’s world-famous Shocktoberfest is back for another year of screams, haunts and hellish attractions in Crawley. Picture creepy clown towns, running from penitentiary prisoners and a circus of horrors with spooky street theatre surprises and shocking electric chairs. By day, rather than tricks, the Tulleys Pumpkin Patch Festival is full of sweet autumnal treats for the whole family to pick on select dates until 31 October.
Xscream Pass from £44.95, 4 October-2 November.
Fright Night at Thorpe Park
Location: Chertsey
The ultimate fear fest, Thorpe Park’s adrenaline-fuelled thrills transform into the playground from hell once the sun goes down and designated scare zones come to life. Weave through Lucifer’s Lair, Mawkin Meadow and experience murder on the dancefloor at DeadBeat before riding the iconic rollercoasters – including the UK’s tallest, fastest coaster Hyperia – under the cover of darkness.
Pre-booked tickets from £39pp, 4 October-3 November.
Ffear Fforest at Zip World
Location: Betws-y-Coed
Brace yourself for North Wales’ eerie Ffear Fforest of jump scares with night passes that include cursed alpine coasters and bounce nets swarmed with killer clowns. If that wasn’t enough, a 100ft trapdoor drop, Europe’s largest five-seater swing and a paintball range with an emphasis on survival skills guarantee you’ll be hoarse from screaming.
From £28pp, 11 October-3 November.
Read more: How a Welsh eco-campsite became a haven for frazzled Londoners
Séance at the London Dungeon
Location: Waterloo, London
Head deep into the London Dungeon this October to call on sinister spirits, such as notorious 19th-century murderer Mary Ann Cotton, around a Ouija board with psychic Agnes Guppy. With mysterious levitations, escape rooms and a Bloody Mary blackout event also new for 2024, it’ll be a harrowing Halloween for those brave enough to venture into the dungeon.
Online entry tickets from £30 per adult, 18 October-3 November.
A Jack the Ripper Tour of Whitechapel
Location: Whitechapel, London
This walking tour investigating one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers offers an atmospheric route around the darker recesses of Whitechapel and Spitalfields, treading the Victorian East End for a unique perspective on the case after nightfall.
Tickets £15pp, weeknights at 7pm from Aldgate Station.
Poisoned Chalice Cocktail Experience at The Mind Palace
Location: Shepherd’s Bush, London
If an unforgettable cocktail mystery experience in a secret Sherlock speakeasy is more your thing, take on The Case of the Poisoned Chalice in West London’s The Mind Palace bar to crack the case and quench your thirst. The riddled refreshment evening includes a welcome drink, a set of four cases to solve, and the chance to concoct your own cocktail creation.
Tickets for £35 per adult, Wednesday to Saturday.
FEAR Scream Park in Avon Valley
Location: Bristol
Avon Valley’s FEAR Scream Park promises fearless visitors a “bloody good night” with five scare mazes, fire shows and funfair rides welcoming all over 16. For an additional fee, there’s even an immersive The Exorcism show for guests to battle to save the soul of the demonic Evelyn Grace. Family-friendly FEARless nights offer a tamed-down experience with just a few frights and far less sinister street performers.
FEAR Pass from £35pp, 11 October-2 November.
Scare Kingdom Scream Park
Location: Blackburn
Pushing the boundaries of the daunting Halloween maze, Scare Kingdom Scream Park in Blackburn is in its 16th year of twisted tricks with menacing mazes, haunted houses and mind-bending live performances at Mrs Dowsons Farm Park. Think hellish hospitals, murderous undertakers and unholy chapel-themed lineups as you play the victim in your very own horror movie.
Tickets £27.79 for over 13s only, 4 October-9 November.
Derry Halloween Festival 2023
Location: Derry
Host of Europe’s largest Halloween festival, Derry welcomes the spirit of Samhain for four nights of chilling street celebrations every year, showcasing a fearsome display of folklore, history and heritage. Visitors to the carnival in Northern Ireland’s Walled City can expect fireworks, Jack-o’-lantern competitions and a harvest market for foodies amid the magic and mayhem.
The Walled City Trail, parade and fireworks free, 28-31 October.
Halloween: Horror Upload, Hijingo
Location: Shoreditch, London
This Halloween, London’s bingo hotspot Hijingo is hosting dystopian AI horror nights, Horror Upload, that feature immersive bingo rounds, horror-themed cocktails and the chance to win cash prizes or a European holiday if you’ve dressed to impress in the spirit of spooky season. Join the “spine-tingling” show this October for chances to win big.
From £14pp, 25 October-3 November.
True Crime Tours at the Real Mary King’s Close
Location: Edinburgh
The closes of Old Town Edinburgh, shrouded in shocking tales of crime and punishment, are investigated on this one-hour True Crime Tour of the forgotten streets’ fascinatingly dark and very real past. Undaunted true crime fans will confront the witch trials and the case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as they walk the winding passageways of Mary King’s Close.
Adult tickets for £30, 14-31 October.
Halloween at the Natural History Museum
Location: Kensington, London
For an adult’s only fright night of entertainment and spooky science, explore the dark side of the Natural History Museum under the glow of its weird and wonderful exhibits. The ‘Method to the Monsters’ themed evening of scares, complete with a silent disco and crowd-free tank room tours of preserved specimens, takes place on Thursday 31 October.
Adult tickets from £40, 31 October.
Read more: The best shopping spots in London: Where to spend and stay
Dark Arts at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Location: Hertfordshire
This Halloween, there’s Dementors, Death Eaters and Dark Arts lessons at the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. In the Great Hall visiting muggles will find floating pumpkins and a festive Halloween feast before wand duelling in the Forbidden Forest and watching Voldemort’s followers stalk the magical set.
From £56pp, 13 September-10 November.
Brick or Treat, Legoland
Location: Windsor
Legoland’s ‘Brick or Treat’ extravaganza is back this October for “ghoulishly good fun” at Lord Vampyre’s Disco, on Monster Street, and on the Haunted House Monster Party Ride. With Knights Kingdom transformed into the Creepy Cobweb Castle and lego pumpkin heads scattered throughout the park, half-term just got haunted.
From £29pp, 27 September-3 November.
PrimEvil at ROARR!
Location: Norfolk
This scream season PrimEvil at ROARR! returns to terrify with five scare attractions, live street actors and fully immersive experiences. For 2024, thrill seekers over 12 will face a toxic warehouse, ‘Mayhem Manor’ and a black death crypt with adrenalin-pumping high ropes, zombie archery and axe throwing weaved in between.
From £28pp, 17 October-2 November.
Drayton Manor’s Spooktacular Halloween Fest
Location: Mile Oak
In the Midlands this half term, Drayton Manor has a carnival of spooks, tricks and treats from hay bale trails to spooky shows. There are even zombie burgers, ‘eye-scream’ waffles and ‘frankenshakes’ to feast on alongside haunted short breaks at the onsite Drayton Manor Resort hotel to extend the fun after dark.
From £27.50, 4 October-3 November.
Read more: Best kids’ Halloween costumes that look spooktacular
Night surfing, The Wave
Location: Bristol
With the right wetsuit, surfing doesn’t have to be seasonal. New lake lighting at The Wave welcomes Rip Curl’s professional team riders later this month for a night of thrilling surfing to the backdrop of music from The Alive band. Other spooktacular half-term activities include pumpkin carving, a free kids activity trail and cosy sauna sessions.
Free to watch, 23 October.
Ghosts & Ghouls Family Tour, Globe Theatre
Location: London
This family-friendly tour of the Globe Theatre promises to bring to life the ghosts and spirits of Shakespeare’s most chilling plays. Think spells by the Three Witches, Hamlet’s father’s ghost and the Thames River Monster, amid supernatural folklore during the one-hour guided tour of the Globe.
Adult tickets £25pp, 15 October-12 April 2025.
Doddington Pumpkin Patch
Location: Lincoln
At the Doddington Pumpkin Patch, there are more than 30 varieties of pumpkins primed to pick for carving. With wellies and Halloween fancy dress encouraged, don your devil ears and look out for golden-bottomed pumpkins for a chance to win a family ticket to Christmas in the Hall.
Free entry, 1 October-31 October.
Read more: It’s October, it’s autumn and that only means one thing: It’s Gilmore Girls season
