What’s happening across the UK for Halloween 2023? Take your pick from perfect pumpkin patches to nightmares before bedtime. Something wicked this way comes…
Haunted happenings, Halloween 2023, Alderford
Sign up for witchcraft and wizardry at Alderford Lake
Halloween 2023 at Alderford Lake in Shropshire definitely has a touch of the terrifying. There’s a bunch of frightful fun on offer for kids of all ages to get into the spooky spirit (in a nice way, of course).
For the under 10s Witchcraft Woods is a family favourite, giving kids the opportunity to live out their very own Harry Potter dreams at the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Children can choose a wand, craft magical items and create their very own ‘familiar’: a pet that will be by their side on your magical journey. With their pet in tow, they’ll embark on an adventure of enchanted fun and games, battling to become the best witch or wizard in their class.
Older kids can go wild for Spooky Island, where a terrifying maze sees them running in circles to find their way out. Be prepared for jump-scares as the pesky prisoners attempt to foil your escape!
When: 12 to 31 October 2023
Where: Alderford, Tilstock Rd, Whitchurch
Where to stay near Alderford Lake
Pick your own at Pumpkin Pete’s in Ledbury
Get down to Pumpkin Pete’s in Ledbury
In the heart of Herefordshire, Pumpkin Pete’s is throwing open the gates to the farm for Halloween 2023.
Pop down any day to pick your own pumpkins or gourds and make the most of the fabulously frightful events this October.
Crafty creatives can express their spooky side with art and activities from the DIY Tribe. Hungry horrors will like the Beefy Boys and their brilliant burgers. And all half term is filled with awesome animal experiences, from snakes to spiders and even meerkats.
If that isn’t enough excitement, the fabulous Maize Maze is back, spanning six acres and complete with a prizewinning Jurassic Jumble to solve!
When: from now until 31 October 2023
Where: Moor Court Farm, Stretton Grandison, Ledbury
Where to stay in Ledbury
PrimeEVIL Norfolk, Halloween 2023
Expect jump scares a-plenty at PrimeEvil in Norfolk
If scares are your favourite sort of Halloween treat, PrimeEvil in Norfolk is a top pick for this frightful season. Taking place at the dinosaur park in Norwich, the event promises shocks, screams and spectres galore across no less than five ‘haunts’, all of which are included in the ticket price.
Expect darkness, narrow spaces and live actors ready to give you a proper jump scare. The tag line of PrimeEvil is ‘screaming won’t help,’ but we expect you’ll do it anyway. The attraction is recommended for families with kids aged 12 to 17.
If you’re looking for more family friendly Halloween fun, the daytime attractions at ROARR promise less trick and more treat for younger kids. But if you’re up for a truly terrifying night out, there’s nowhere that does it quite like PrimeEvil.
When: from 13 October to 4 November 2023
Where: Roarr, Lenwade, Norfolk
Where to stay in Lenwade
Free Halloweenfest fun all over Herefordshire
Frightfully free fun at Halloweenfest in Herefordshire
Halloweenfest is coming to Herefordshire, with pop up events in the county’s five market towns from 30 October to 3 November.
Each town will have its very own pumpkin patch for the day, with families invited to grab a wheelbarrow and pick the perfect one for their creepy carvings.
There’s also a scarecrow trail to explore, as well as spooky face painting, circus skills, music, magic and much more. But, best news, all events are completely free, so this is one Halloween 2023 event where you can let your kids go wild.
When: 30 October to 3 November 2023
Where: Ross-on-Wye, Leominster, Ledbury, Bromyard and Kington
Where to stay in Herefordshire
Glorious glowing lanterns, BeWILDerwood, Cheshire
Glorious glowing lanterns at BeWILDerwood
The wonderful BeWILDerwood is bringing family-friendly spooktacular fun for all ages with its glorious glowing lantern parade in Cheshire this Halloween. Bring kids to explore the magical home of the Boggles and see their woods in a whole new light, it’s spellbinding fun.
Come at dusk, and make your very own glorious glowing lantern to guide you on this bewitching journey into the wild woods. It’s all very prettily spooky but not scary, so it’s a perfect potion for smaller ghouls. And there’s 50% Off ticket prices for October half term!
When: 19 to 31 October 2023
Where: BeWILDerwood, Cheshire
After dark firebreather, Warwick Castle
Spine-chilling days (and nights) at Warwick Castle
If Warwick Castle could be more Halloween-y this year we’d love to hear about it. First off, it’s launching a brand new Witches of Warwick live show. Then it has Mysterious Mazes, Junior Ghost Hunts and Spooky Schools. And that’s before we even mention its most epic adventure yet: The Curse of the Kingmaker. After dark spook-seekers can look forward to firebreathers, seances, hangmen and even a nocturnal tour of the castle dungeons. These late night frights are recommended for kids aged 10 and over. We’ll leave it up to you to decide if that’s too young or not!
To keep the fun going, head to Fright’s Village for an overnight stay in a medieval-themed lodge from just £80pp, including day entry to Warwick Castle, breakfast and chilling evening entertainment.
When: now until 5 November 2023
Where: Warwick Castle
Halloweden, Eden Project, Cornwall
Try a tree-mendous Halloween 2023 at the Eden Project
Expect complete captivation in Cornwall this Halloween, as the legendary Tree Giants arrive at the Eden Project to take kids on a journey they won’t forget.
Guided by the Giants, they’ll embark on a mysterious quest to save the world’s forests with the power of magic. As the bewitching adventure unfolds, the wisdom of these ancient guardians will be imparted in extraordinary ways, with kids ending up as official forest guardians themselves.
It’s all about enchanting performances, thrilling tales and even a chance to magic up wands in the spooktacular Tipis. Don’t forget to take a spin on the wickedly good fun ice rink while you’re here!
When: 18 to 29 October 2023
Where: Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall
Where to stay near the Eden Project
The Moon Witch’s Adventure, Tumblestone Hollow
Foil the Moon Witch in Tumblestone Hollow
The Moon Witch has flown into Tumblestone Hollow in Henley-on-Thames for Halloween 2023, and it’s kids’ job to find her before she steals the Moon Stone.
She’s left a trail of otherworldly objects around the woods, and some revolting riddles to solve too. Get them right, and you might even find the Moon Witch herself, hiding in the shadows.
If young seekers get tired of exploring the woods, there’s pumpkin carving and Halloween snacks to boost them. And if they need more excitement, the Tumblestone Hollow adventure playground and gardens are open for extra bewitching fun.
When: 21 October to 29 October 2023
Where: Tumblestone Hollow, Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames
Where to stay in Henley-on-Thames
Plotters’ Forest, Raby Castle, Darlington
Halloween 2023 is properly spooky at Raby Castle
Get kids into scary costumes and introduce them to a world of skeletons, spiders and wicked witches at Plotters’ Forest this Halloween.
Start at the pine tree plantation to see how many creepy critters they can spot and collect clues to solve a monster mystery. Tickets include full day Deer Park access, as well as the fun of Mischievous Mog’s Halloween trail, all in the grounds of stunning Raby Castle.
Kids can explore the castle for free too, and grown ups can get low-key festive over pumpkin spiced lattes at the Yurt Café.
When: from now until 5 November 2023
Where: Raby Castle, Staindrop, Darlington
Where to stay near Raby Castle
Wookey Hole Witches, Somerset
Time to wake up the witches of Wookey Hole
As the home of a real witch, there’s nowhere better to enjoy some Halloween 2023 hauntings than Wookey Hole Caves. During October half term, spooky themed tours of the caves reveal the legend of the Wookey Hole witch herself, down there in the dark with the bats and beasties.
Emerge from the caverns, and if you’re not too shook, head to the 4D cinema for a screening of Scooby Doo and Mystery Inc. Then round off the enchanting escapade with a visit to the Circus for more eerie excitement from a show you won’t see anywhere else this Halloween, we promise.
When: 21 to 29 October 2023
Where: Wookey Hole Caves, Wookey Hole, Somerset
Where to stay near Wookey Hole Caves
Feel the FEAR in Bristol © Giulia Spadafora | Soul Media
Feel authentic FEAR for Halloween 2023
FEAR in Avon Valley, Bristol, is an award-winning scream park for adults, but this year it’s putting on some child-friendly fun too.
FEARless is the younger sister to FEAR, created just for 11 to 15-year-olds, and though it promises a frightful night, it won’t give anyone nightmares.
The immersive experience includes no less than four different scares, but with plenty of treats as well as tricks. Fire shows and fairground rides have particular kid-appeal, along with spooky street performers, macabre mocktails and plenty of supernatural snacks too.
When: 21 to 28 October 2023
Where: Avon Valley Adventure Park, Bristol
Where to stay in Bristol
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