Top family-friendly Halloween events 2023

Drusillas Zoo is gearing up for a frightfully fun half-term this October. As well as devilish décor – from pumpkins and cobwebs to spiders and skeletons – there’ll be an array of activities to keep your mini monsters busy. Venture through creepy cobwebbed corridors in the park’s live-action haunted house experience, go hunting for an ancient mummy, meet the iconic Sugar Skull Witch and have exciting encounters with a range of creepy crawlies, like cockroaches, locusts and Asian forest scorpions. They can even have some freaky face painting done down at the Petrifying Parlour and take part in the park’s fancy-dress competition.

When? 21 to 29 October 2023

Wands and wits at the ready… The Dark Arts have returned to the Harry Potter studios. For two months, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Watford will be infiltrated by the symbol of Lord Voldemort, the Dark Mark. Projected throughout the tour, the Mark will lead you through all the Harry Potter film sets, from the Great Hall with its 100 floating pumpkins to the Forbidden Forest filled with giant spiders. If you’ve memorised your spells, you can even take part in a live duel with Death Eaters. Expelliarmus!

When? 15 September to 5 November 2023

The London Dungeon is the true home of Halloween, with year-round jumps, frights and chilling stories about the capital’s perilous past. But for October, the Dungeon gets an even more ghoulish addition to accompany its collection of haunting tales, rides and characters – an exclusive Halloween show. Please avoid trying one of Mrs Lovett’s pies!

If you’re based in the north, both Blackpool and York Dungeons have their own morbid makeovers, with plenty more nightmarish stories of happenings closer to home. 

When? Dates to be confirmed

Visit one of Britain’s most haunted castles for Halloween this year. The castle hosts an array of weird and wonderful activities, from the fire juggling to The Scary Maze. Little devils will love the Ghostly Grotto, with face painting, lantern making and drumming workshops, while aspiring witches and wizards may prefer learning about spells, potions and charms on the Witch Hunters trail. 

When? 21 to 29 October 2023

tapnell_farm_park_pumpkin_festival_pumpkin_picking.jpg

Celebrate everything orange and squashy (get it?) at Tapnell’s Farm this autumn. After picking your very own pumpkin straight from the stalk, you can carry it over to the Pimp my Pumpkin carving station, where you can turn your orange vegetable into a spooky masterpiece – and what’s more, all the leftover bits will go to feeding the farm animals. Once you’re finished picking your pumpkin, why not take part in some axe throwing for fun? There will also be pumpkin-themed treats, a licensed bar and live music on selected dates. 

When? 7 to 8 October, 14 to 15 October, and 21 to 31 October 2023

Brick or Treat.jpg

Returning for 2023, the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort is once again hosting BRICK OR TREAT - where the LEGO® Monsters are taking over and throwing a Monster Party to celebrate their favourite time of the year! Join in on the festivities with the return of the frightfully fun 4D movie, The Great Monster Chase!, get stuck in with awesome themed LEGO builds, watch the fangtastic Monster Jam show on the Harbour, PLUS ‘Monster Street’ returns for all those who dare to visit…

When? 28 September to 5 November 2023

Scary story fans big and small (from as little as 5 years old!) should get their hands on tickets to this London-based tour, which recounts the haunted history of some of the city’s most famous attractions, including The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, The Shard and the Tower of London. On board a lovingly restored 1960s Routemaster bus, you’ll be treated to one of the best comedy-horror theatre experiences on two wheels, with tales of royal executions and devious spirits. 

When? All year round

Suitable for even the smallest of monsters, this spooky, scare-free experience will get the whole family in the Halloween mood. Your journey will begin at Audley End Miniature Railway Station, where you’ll board the Halloween Express before delving into the tall, dark woodland. At your destination, the witches’ house, to watch monsters dance around cauldrons, meet Belinda the Fortune Telling Witch and help the King of the Woods, William the Wizard, perform his spells. Be sure to book an afternoon slot, too if you want to see the trees adorned with lights.

When? 21 to 31 October 2023

happy_halloween_2021_20_of_87.jpg

Paulton’s Park puts the ‘happy’ in ‘Happy Halloween’, at their frightful yet friendly fun Halloween event. Meet Peppa Pig as she rocks her spookiest costume, brave the rides after dark and attempt to count the 10,000 pumpkins dotted across the park! The highlight of the day though is The Legend of Paultons Manor stage show, which follows the Spirit Squad as they try to throw the best Halloween party ever. This singing and dancing extravaganza is not to be missed.

When? 12 to 30 October 2023

Join ghosts, ghouls, wizards and witches on the grounds of Warwick Castle this October half-term for some family-friendly frights. From secret spells to bubbling cauldrons, you’ll uncover eerie experiences around every corner. Navigate the Horrible Histories maze, attend spooky schools and discover quirky characters in spellbinding shows. If you’re brave enough, turn your visit into a spine-tingling sleepover at the Fright’s Village, complete with bedtime ghost stories.

When? 21 October to 5 November 2023

Budding witches and wizards ages 3 to 14 are invited to attend Kentwell’s School for Sorcery this half-term. With parents in tow, you can explore spooky zones around Kentwell’s buildings, gardens and grounds, with lots of fun challenges and activities like broomstick flying and spell casting to get stuck into. Don’t forget to dress up in your favourite cloaks – all activities are outdoors so it might get chilly. 

When? 22 to 29 October 2023

Visit the childhood home of doomed queen Anne Boleyn this Halloween for some sinister surprises. Explore Hever Castle's grounds on the Halloween Trail to discover different spooky zones, from spiders to witches, skeletons to bats, each hiding a letter that spells out a mystery word. Will you be able to guess it? Once you’ve solved it, you’ll also have the chance to plant some garlic bulbs to ward off any stray vampires. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for  the giant spider...

When? 21 to 29 October 2023 

The Isle of Wight’s most famous theme park transforms into a Halloween spectacular for two weeks in October. The family-friendly Frights & Sprites event will have lots to keep your little monsters busy, from puppet shows and spooky discos to fancy-dress competitions and arts and crafts. There’ll be a brand-new ghost story at the Rumpus Mansion Live, and lots of mini beasts to look out for in the Gremlin Quest. All the festivities are included in a standard park ticket, so you can enjoy the other attractions and experiences, too.

As for the bravest of grown-ups, there’s Terror Island (27, 28 and 29 October; 3 and 4 November 2023) – the Isle of Wight’s biggest scare event with three epic scare mazes, live DJ sets and plenty of food and drink. 

When? 23 to 27 October and 30 October to 3 November 2023

Bedsheet ghosts, toilet-paper mummies and aspiring witches are welcome to join in the fun at Reddish Vale Farm’s Halloween event. Taking place throughout October, this farmyard festival has many activities and attractions to keep your little devils entertained. Ride the Spooky Express tractor tide, try Vampire Archery, get lost in the straw maze and pet the farm’s smallest animals. Kids can also pick their own pumpkin before taking it to the Carving Cavern to create a haunting masterpiece.

When? 7 to 29 October 2023

See gruesome history come to life this October at one of the most haunted places in the UK. The little ones can brew up magical potions under the watchful eye of resident warlock Merlin down in the Castle’s Crypt in a family-friendly potion-making session, while courageous teens can join an evening tour to hear the haunting stories of Oxford Castle and Prison’s 1,000-year history. On your journey, you’ll explore the vaulted well chamber, visit the punishment cells and descend into the crypt, with some parts of the tour taking place in complete darkness. Who knows who or what you’ll discover!

When? 15, 21 to 31 October 2023

Got a pack of older teenagers to entertain this Halloween? Be sure to visit England’s most notorious Halloween event at Thorpe Park. For over two decades, the Fright Nights event has preyed on its visitors’ darkest fears with its creepy atmosphere, infamous mazes and spine-chilling scare zones. And this year, it returns for another fearful celebration. Visit the island on dates throughout October to experience thrilling rides in the dead of night (including the sick and twisted games of Jigsaw on SAW – The Ride), escape lunatic lumberjacks in brand-new scare mazes and witness an awe-inspiring fire and light display.

When? 6 to 31 October 2023

Add some grisly history to your Halloween fun this October with these year-round ghost tours in Liverpool. Immerse in fact-filled 90-minute tours of the city’s haunted heritage, packed with spirited storytelling, humorous history and sinister sites. Suitable for all ages, Shiverpool offers a variety of different tours, including a comedy-horror road trip on board a vintage Routemaster bus, and a walking tour. Learn about tales of slavery, plague and city slums, explore a former city morgue and walk down the most haunted street in northern England – if you dare.

When? All year round

adventure_play_halloween.jpg

A spook-tacular October half term experience awaits your family at Blenheim Palace, where everyone can take part in a range of exciting activities, from pumpkin carving to captivating storytelling. Join your little gremlins on the Haunted Hunt to find hidden characters, have a go at witch-hat tossing, run through a hay bale maze and even learn some circus skills! Don’t miss the stilt walkers and fire-eaters who pop up during the daily Wizard Walkabout.