October half term
Halloween events at Britain's historic places
Find family Halloween trails, ghost tours, after-dark ruins and seasonal events at castles and historic houses, or search by town, city or postcode to find Halloween events near you.
Verified Halloween events for 2026
Land & Legacy curates Halloween events at historic places across Britain. Dates, booking details and admission facts are checked against official organiser listings, while our summaries and classifications are written independently.
Find Halloween events near me by UK town, city or postcode.
Halloween highlights
A selection from the published 2026 catalogue, spread across organisers and different types of experience.
Photo: Users Tysto, Nickarse2412 on en.wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Halloween in the House
Wimpole Estate Wimpole
1 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 12–3.30pm.
Wimpole Hall is decorated for Halloween with cobwebs, creatures, a seasonal feast, pumpkins, floating candles and bats.
Free event; normal admission applies.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Hever Castle by Nigel Lamb, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween Half Term at Hever Castle
Hever Castle Kent
17 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
A family Halloween programme across Hever Castle and Gardens with a themed trail, craft activities, live science shows and selected-date face painting.
Most Halloween activities are included with normal Castle and Gardens admission. Face painting costs extra on selected dates.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: DeFacto / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Halloween half-term at Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke Castle Newport and Carisbrooke
17 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 10am–4pm.
A family Great Pumpkin Party at Carisbrooke Castle with storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and fancy dress.
Included with general admission. Advance booking saves 15%; English Heritage members go free.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo source: John Barnett, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ghost Tour at Chepstow Castle
Chepstow Castle Monmouthshire
22 October 2026
7–8.30pm.
An adult evening tour with ghost stories, historic folklore, local legends and accounts of paranormal activity at Chepstow Castle.
£15. Advance booking essential; ticket includes a hot drink.
Listed by Cadw
Photo: Gweduni / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Halloween Creepy Critters at Newhailes
Newhailes House, Musselburgh East Lothian
31 October 2026
An indoor Halloween workshop for ages 5–12 with ZooLab, featuring live animals such as snakes, giant snails and tarantulas.
Adults and children need tickets. The event is not included in National Trust for Scotland membership; parking charges apply to non-members.
Listed by National Trust for Scotland
Photo source: Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween Hijinks at Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle Stirling
31 October 2026
Saturday 31 October 2026, 11am–4pm.
A Halloween day at Stirling Castle with traditional activities, historical characters and stories from Scotland’s past.
Included in normal site admission.
Listed by Historic Environment Scotland
More Halloween events
Browse events from around Britain. County information is shown on listings where available, and the near-me finder can sort the current catalogue by distance from a town, city or postcode.
Photo: Tilman2007 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
October Half Term Halloween Trail: We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt
Chartwell Kent
3 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily. 10am–4pm to 25 October, then 10am–3pm.
A family ghost-hunt trail through Chartwell’s garden and woodland, with eight activity stops and a sticker reward.
Free event; normal admission applies.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Antony McCallum / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Halloween crafts at Bodiam Castle
Bodiam Castle East Sussex
17, 26, 30 and 31 October and 1 November, 1–4pm.
Drop-in Halloween craft sessions at Bodiam Castle, with a choice of seasonal decorations to make and take home.
Normal admission applies; craft items cost roughly £2.50–£5.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Stefan Kühn / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Halloween Half-Term at Stonehenge
Stonehenge Wiltshire
17 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 10am–4pm.
A family Halloween programme at Stonehenge with storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and a seasonal photo spot.
Included with general admission. Advance booking saves 15%; English Heritage members go free.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: Leeds Castle by Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Horrible Histories Halloween – Silly Ghosts and Ghastly History
Leeds Castle Kent
17 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
A Horrible Histories family Halloween trail through Leeds Castle grounds, with royal ghosts, witch-trial stories, superstition and live performers.
Included with a Leeds Castle admission ticket.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Stonor Park by Shaun Ferguson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Hollow Tales and Trails
Stonor Park Oxfordshire
17 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
A family Halloween experience at Tumblestone Hollow at Stonor Park, combining a spooky trail, riddles, live storytelling and seasonal crafts.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Helmingham Hall by Chris Holifield, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Night Guild at Guildenacre
Helmingham Hall Suffolk
17 October 2026 – 31 October 2026
A family Halloween programme in the woodland at Helmingham Estate, with a treasure hunt, themed installations, crafts and play areas.
Advance tickets only. Adult £8; children aged 5+ £16.50; ages 3–4 £8.50; under-2s free.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Chawton House by Ray Moseley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween Kids’ Trail: The Poison Puzzle
Chawton House Hampshire
21 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
A Halloween children’s trail at Chawton House built around a poison-themed puzzle during the October half-term period.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Oyoyoy / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Halloween Family Fun at Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle Aberdeenshire
23 October 2026 – 25 October 2026
Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, from 10am with last entry at 3pm.
A family trail through the grounds and woodland at Crathes Castle, with spooky clues and a prize for children who complete the route.
Children require an event ticket; accompanying adults do not. Parking charges apply to non-members.
Listed by National Trust for Scotland
Photo: aude / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Illuminated Whitby Abbey
Whitby Abbey North Yorkshire
23 October 2026 – 31 October 2026
Evenings, 5.30–9pm.
Whitby Abbey after dark, with dramatic illumination, Gothic performances and stories inspired by local folklore, maritime history and Victorian horror.
Ticketed event. Advance booking is cheaper but tickets can also be bought on the door, subject to availability.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: Castle Howard by Pwojdacz (talk). Original uploader was Pwojdacz at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Late Night Tours at Castle Howard
Castle Howard North Yorkshire
23 October 2026 – 24 October 2026
Evening tours on 23 and 24 October 2026.
An atmospheric after-dark guided tour of Castle Howard, recreating the house before electric light with artificial candlelight and curator-led interpretation.
£48. Booking required. Ticket includes admission to the House and Gardens earlier in the day.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Ethan Doyle White / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Family Halloween trail: Origins and Legends of Halloween
Osterley Park London Borough of Hounslow
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 10am–4pm.
An outdoor family trail around Osterley’s gardens exploring the origins, legends and traditions associated with Halloween.
Free event; normal admission applies.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Bob Collowan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Ghost Tours at the Tower of London
Tower of London London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Daily 24 October to 1 November 2026, 7–8pm.
An after-hours guided ghost tour of the Tower of London exploring stories associated with its reputed hauntings and darker history.
Separate event ticket; advance booking required.
Listed by Historic Royal Palaces
Photo: Chatsworth House by Rprof, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Half-Term Halloween Fun at Chatsworth
Chatsworth House Derbyshire
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
A family Halloween programme in the Chatsworth farmyard, with seasonal activities including pumpkin picking and creepy crafts.
Part of the Chatsworth farmyard half-term programme; check the official booking page for current admission arrangements.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo source: Waters, Thomas, 19th cent Allen, H., fl. 1850, engraver., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween at Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle Caerphilly
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 11am–3pm.
A nine-day family Halloween programme with a children’s quest, gruesome medieval medicine, crafts, bubbles and face painting on selected days.
No separate event booking required; normal Cadw admission applies.
Listed by Cadw
Photo: Ricardalovesmonuments / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
A family Halloween experience inside Hampton Court Palace with atmospheric projections, sound effects, storytelling and ghostly characters.
Included in palace admission; members go free and no pre-booking is required for the Halloween experience.
Listed by Historic Royal Palaces
Photo: Aubrey Dale / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Halloween at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
Hillsborough Castle Small Park
24 October to 1 November 2026, during gardens opening hours.
A family Halloween programme across Hillsborough Castle and Gardens with a garden trail, storytelling, games and optional workshops and pumpkin picking.
Halloween garden trail included in admission; members go free and no pre-booking is required. Some workshops and pumpkin activities need separate add-on tickets.
Listed by Historic Royal Palaces
Photo: Bob Collowan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Halloween at the Tower of London
Tower of London London Borough of Tower Hamlets
24 October to 1 November 2026, 10.30am–4pm daily.
A family Halloween route through the Tower of London with ghostly stories and themed encounters inspired by the fortress’s history.
Included in palace admission; members go free and no pre-booking is required for the Halloween experience.
Listed by Historic Royal Palaces
Photo: Antony McCallum / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Halloween half-term at Battle Abbey
Battle Abbey East Sussex
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 10am–4pm.
A Halloween half-term programme at Battle Abbey with storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and fancy dress.
Included with general admission. Advance booking saves 15%; English Heritage members go free.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: Stephen G Taylor / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Halloween half-term at Bolsover Castle
Bolsover Castle Derbyshire
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 10am–4pm.
A family Great Pumpkin Party at Bolsover Castle with storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and fancy dress.
Included with general admission. Advance booking saves 15%; English Heritage members go free.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: Chensiyuan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Halloween half-term at Dover Castle
Dover Castle Kent
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 10am–4pm.
A Great Pumpkin Party at Dover Castle with interactive storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and a daily fancy-dress competition.
Included with general admission. Advance booking saves 15%; English Heritage members go free.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo: DeFacto / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Halloween half-term at Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth Castle Warwickshire
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 10am–4pm.
A family Halloween programme at Kenilworth Castle with storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and fancy dress.
Included with general admission. Advance booking saves 15%; English Heritage members go free.
Listed by English Heritage
Photo source: Darren Shilson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween half-term at Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle Cornwall
24 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
Daily, 10am–4pm.
A family Halloween programme at Pendennis Castle with storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and fancy dress.
Included with general admission. Advance booking saves 15%; English Heritage members go free.
Listed by English Heritage
Halloween Trail at Burton Agnes Hall
Burton Agnes Hall East Riding of Yorkshire
24 October to 1 November 2026, 11am to 5pm.
A family Halloween trail through Burton Agnes woodland, with handcrafted spooky scenes and access to the wider gardens and adventure playground.
No extra charge for the Halloween trail; included in normal Gardens admission. Online booking is available, with tickets also available on arrival.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Blenheim Palace by Jvhertum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Haunted Half Term at Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace Oxfordshire
24 October to 1 November 2026, 10am to 4.30pm.
A family half-term programme in the Walled Garden with live animal encounters, storytelling, circus activities and seasonal entertainment.
Halloween activities are included with an Annual Pass or day ticket. The separate evening Halloween Trail is not included.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Sudeley Castle by Wdejager, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ghosts, Pumpkins & Tudor Tales
Sudeley Castle Gloucestershire
26 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
A family Halloween trail through Sudeley Castle grounds and historic rooms, combining pumpkin hunting with ghost stories and Tudor-themed encounters.
Included with general admission. Additional owl experiences are separately ticketed.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Simon Armstrong / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Halloween Evenings
Ormesby Hall Redcar and Cleveland
28 October 2026 – 29 October 2026
Timed entry from 5pm to 7.30pm.
An after-dark family Halloween experience inside Ormesby Hall with themed rooms, characters and surprises.
Adult £7; child £3.50. National Trust members and under-5s free. Pre-booking essential.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Rockingham Castle by Brian Coleman, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween Fun at Rockingham Castle
Rockingham Castle Northamptonshire
28 October 2026 – 31 October 2026
28 to 31 October 2026, 11am to 4pm.
A family Halloween programme through the castle and grounds, with a pumpkin trail, seasonal games and decorated historic interiors.
Castle and Gardens admission includes the event. Adult £19.25, senior/student £17.70, child age 4–15 £13, family £49.90. Pre-booking advised.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Simon Armstrong / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Halloween pre-booking days at Ormesby Hall
Ormesby Hall Redcar and Cleveland
28 October 2026 – 31 October 2026
A decorated-house Halloween experience with an outdoor monster trail, crafts and performances of The Skeleton Bride.
Pre-booking essential; admission ticket required.
Listed by National Trust
Photo: Hever Castle by Nigel Lamb, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
After Hours: Haunted Hever Castle Tours
Hever Castle Kent
29 October 2026 – 31 October 2026
29, 30 and 31 October 2026. Tours depart hourly from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
An after-dark theatrical tour through Hever Castle, using live actors, historic rooms and ghostly stories inspired by the castle’s history and folklore.
£42.50 per person plus booking fee. Advance booking essential. Recommended age 14+.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Levens Hall by Dave Green, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ghostly House Tour
Levens Hall Cumbria
29 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
A special Halloween-themed house tour at Levens Hall during its extended autumn opening.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo source: Waters, Thomas, 19th cent Allen, H., fl. 1850, engraver., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Caerphilly’s Halloween Evenings
Caerphilly Castle Caerphilly
30 October 2026 – 1 November 2026
30 October at 6.30pm and 8.30pm; 1 November at 8pm.
Adult-only evening ghost and history tours around Caerphilly Castle and its moat.
£20. Online booking required.
Listed by Cadw
Photo source: Floodmfx, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Abbey after Dark: Lanterns and Legends
Melrose Abbey
30 October 2026
An after-dark guided visit around Melrose Abbey and its churchyard, focusing on legends and atmospheric stories.
Listed by Historic Environment Scotland
Photo: Sudeley Castle by Wdejager, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
After Dark at Sudeley Castle: A Victorian Murder Mystery
Sudeley Castle Gloucestershire
31 October 2026
31 October 2026 from 6pm.
A Halloween-night murder-mystery experience across Sudeley Castle, its gardens, historic rooms and chapel, followed by the dramatic reveal.
£75. The official event page showed this event as sold out on 17 October 2026.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Lullingstone Castle by Jim Osley, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween Magic - Last Day of Season
Lullingstone Castle Kent
31 October 2026
Saturday 31 October 2026, 11am–6pm.
A Halloween finale to the visitor season at Lullingstone Castle and the World Garden, with extended opening hours.
Listed by Historic Houses
Photo: Photograph by Stuart Yeates, from en:Flickr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Halloween Shenanigans at Craig-thriller Castle
Craigmillar Castle City of Edinburgh
31 October 2026
A Halloween day at Craigmillar Castle with creepy creatures and family-friendly activities among the medieval ruins.
Listed by Historic Environment Scotland
Photo source: Sarah Stierch, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Halloween Shenanigans at Edin-boo! Castle
Edinburgh Castle City of Edinburgh
31 October 2026
A family Halloween event in Edinburgh Castle’s Great Hall with costumed characters and stories from the castle’s past.
Listed by Historic Environment Scotland
Photo: LornaMCampbell / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Halloween Shenanigans at Urrrr-quhart Castle
Urquhart Castle Highland
31 October 2026
A Halloween event at Urquhart Castle bringing creepy seasonal activities to the ruins beside Loch Ness.
Listed by Historic Environment Scotland
Photo: Gweduni / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Newhailes After Dark - Halloween Special
Newhailes House, Musselburgh East Lothian
31 October 2026
Halloween evening, Saturday 31 October 2026; timed tickets.
An after-dark Halloween experience through Newhailes House and into the woods, with jump scares and a deliberately frightening atmosphere for ages 12 and over.
Ticketed event with limited availability; recommended for ages 12+ and under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Listed by National Trust for Scotland
Photo: Gweduni / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Newhailes Halloween Trail
Newhailes House, Musselburgh East Lothian
31 October and 1 November 2026, 10am–3pm; last entry 2pm.
A family Halloween trail around the Newhailes estate with clues, games, ponies and a play bag for children who complete the route.
Adults attend free when accompanying a child. A parking charge applies to non-members.
Listed by National Trust for Scotland
Photo: Llywelyn2000 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Spooky Halloween at Beaumaris Castle
Beaumaris Castle Anglesey
31 October 2026
10am–5pm.
A Halloween trail through Beaumaris Castle with creepy characters, crafts and a seasonal prize.
No separate booking required; normal Cadw admission applies.
Listed by Cadw
Photo: Lieven Smits / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Trick or Treat at Walmer Castle
Walmer Castle Walmer
31 October 2026
31 October 2026, 10.30am to 11.30am.
A one-hour trick-or-treat experience through Walmer Castle gardens with Halloween costumes, activity wristbands and treat stations.
£2 per participant, in addition to a valid membership or visit ticket. Tickets can be bought in advance or on the day.
Listed by English Heritage