The best Halloween events in the UK to get spooky

Returning for its 27th year, Tulleys Shocktober Fest is back with its famous haunts and attractions. Across the evening, there’s a whole range of activities with different scare factors from a Circus of Horrors performance to immersive scenery and live actors that create one hell of an atmosphere. Alongside the attractions, you’ll also have access to three food courts, live music, street theatre, and two bars where over 18s can settle their nerves. 

September 30-October 31, 5pm-11.30pm. Tulleys Farm, West Sussex, RH10 4PE. From £42.

Party the night away at this 10,000 capacity venue in Manchester for an incredible club-based Halloween. Put all your efforts into nailing your Halloween costume, take some pics (read: hundreds) for Instagram, and experience the likes of Annie Mac, Skream, Denis Sulta, Chaos In The CBD and tonnes of other amazing DJs. It might not be the scariest of Halloween events but it’s certainly one to add to the to-do list if you want to get the best out of the party atmosphere. 

October 28, 7pm-4am. Mayfield Train Station, The Depot, Manchester M1 2QF. £39.50.   

Spend this Halloween at a 200-year-old decommissioned prison for the ultimate scare-fest that truly isn’t for the faint-hearted. Shrewsbury Prison is opening its doors and inviting guests into its isolated maze of cells and corridors, including the execution room. Full of paranormal activity and spooky happenings, this is the perfect place to celebrate the scariest time of the year. Plus, for anyone that dares, you can take on the Ouija board experience to communicate with the prisoners who met their deaths by hanging. 

October 13, 28 and 30, 9.30-3.30am. HMP Shrewsbury Prison, SY1 2HP. From £65. 

No Halloween is complete without a trip to a theme park fright-night and what better place is there than FEAR scream park which was voted the UK’s Best Scream Park in 2022 at the Scare Awards (yes, it’s a real thing). This multi-sensory spine-chilling event returns once again for 2023 and includes their infamous fire show, thrilling rides, street entertainment and a brand new immersive dining experience – ensuring that you’re surrounded by terror both inside and on the streets. 

October 13-31, Pixash Lane, BS31 1TP. From 5.30pm, £35. 

Tamworth’s friendlier and more personal answer to Alton Towers is pulling out all the stops to chill you to the bone this spooky season. Over Halloween, Drayton Manor will get a chilling transformation full of jumpscares, ghostly rides and chilling surprises. Step inside a Hogwarts-style school escape room, but with an evil twist where new pupils (aka you) will have to break free from wicked covens and ancient demons. Or, visit ‘Chaos Cove’ where chain-saw-wielding clowns await (there are safe routes if you can‘t handle it all). On top of all that you can hop on its rides after dark, marvel at spooky fireworks displays and treat your ears to live DJs. There are evening tickets or all-day tickets – if you can handle it. 

October 28-31, 10.30am to 8pm. Drayton Manor Resort, Drayton Manor Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B78 3TW. From £24 per person. 

One to truly test your sanity is Newsham Scream Park that is set in none other than an abandoned, derelict orphanage and asylum. Creepy little girls with dolls? No, thank you. However, if you are brave enough to enter the haunted Newsham Park Hospital, you’ll be able to explore the eerie halls and isolated rooms alongside three immersive attractions. You’ll find us in the courtyard enjoying some street food and live music, away from anything lurking in the shadows.

October 13-November 5, 6-9.30pm. 3A Orphan Drive, Liverpool, L6 7UL. £28. 

If you don’t fancy celebrating in sheer terror, this murder mystery event might just do the trick (or treat). City Cruises are inviting guests aboard for the Halloween edition of their interactive dining experience on the Thames. Across three hours and three delicious courses, you’ll have to solve the murder of Lord Thornley-Cruttock and the thieving of priceless family heirlooms from his Manor House. Decipher clues to unravel the mystery and work out whether it was the work of the mansion’s ghosts or one of your frightening fellow diners.

October 31, 7.30-10.45pm. Tower Millennium Pier, EC3N 4DT. £91. 

Halloween without pumpkins is like Christmas without trees. It’s a phrase that just shouldn’t even exist – and thankfully, it doesn’t have to. Tapnell Farm is welcoming visitors this October to their Pumpkin Festival which celebrates – yes, you guessed it – everything pumpkin-related. Start off by picking your own pumpkin from the bumper crop, before choosing your design and carving a spooky masterpiece. With the Jack-o’-lantern complete, you can try your hand at axe-throwing, pumpkin bowling or the pumpkin shy before delving into themed treats, drinks and enjoying the live music on offer. 

October 7-31, 10am-4.30pm. Tapnell Farm, PO41 0YJ. Free. 

If you’re looking for something more family-friendly (or just something that won’t give you nightmares for the foreseeable future), head to Hirsty’s pumpkin patch for a creepy carving session. Around the fun park, there will also be plenty of attractions including a mega corn maze, a barrel train, zip wire, and an autumnal hay bale mountain. What could be more perfect for the Instagram grid than a harvest-vibe to match the pumpkin-spiced latte season?

October 21-29, 10am-4pm. Hirsty's Family Fun Park, Hemsby, NR29 4NL. Adult £9, under 2s £7, 3-16 year olds £13.50. 

Trick or treat usually involves children and a bowlful of sweets but this version has taken on an adult twist for a more elegant Halloween vibe. One of the chefs from BBC’s Great British Menu, Nat Tallents will be creating a seven course trick or treat themed Lost Supper which will showcase homegrown produce and rare breed meats from the Heligan estate. It’s giving more fine dining vibes than your traditional dip dab or refresher but we’re definitely not complaining.

October 27, 6.30-9.30pm. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, PL26 6EN. £60.

For four nights only, Europe’s largest Halloween festival is taking over the City of Derry with all the terrifying festivities you could dream of. The city's streets are set to transform into a spooky wonderland with decorations and lit by jack-o'-lanterns. But the decor is just the start; there’s activities galore including ghost tours, haunting stories, music, aerial performances in the streets as well as fireworks. However, if that doesn’t tempt you, there’s also a world-renowned parade that brings Halloween to life through illuminations. 

October 28-31, parade on October 31 at 7pm. City of Derry, Londonderry. Free. 

Creep down to Alderford Lake for a Halloween escape room experience that is sure to leave you feeling spooked. Under the veil of darkness, scare-seekers are taken by boat to the island on the lake where troubled souls have been left to fester. You’ll need to solve some troubling mysteries in order to escape the island and free yourself from this hidden hell. However, if you’re not quite feeling brave enough to tackle Nightmare Island, the lake is also hosting Spooky Island; full of smaller frights and some unexpected twists and turns. 

October 27-29, 6-9pm. Alderford, SY13 3JQ. £25.

Fairy tales are usually comforting stories full of friendly characters and perfect moral messages but it wouldn’t be Halloween if there wasn’t some kind of nightmarish twist on our trusty heroines. On the outskirts of Durham, our familiar favourites have taken a sinister turn and nothing is as it seems. You’ll get to embark on an illuminated trail through Ushaw’s enchanted gardens and hear tales of all the hellish happenings in fantasy land. 

October 28-29, 5pm, 6:15pm and 7:30pm. Gardens & Grounds, Durham, DH7 7DW. Adults £10, children £7.