The Tower of London
Creepy Capital Venturing towards the cackling capital will not leave budding ghostbusters disappointed. The Tower of London is a good place to start, where you may meet the headless spirit of Anne Boleyn, or the notorious Arabella Stuart in the Queen’s House. Plus you’ll get more than a Thames view when you get in the lift at The Savoy, London, which is manned by the spirit of a little girl. Visit the Tower of London £23 and £21.30 (on the gate/online purchase)A night in the Savoy costs between £381-£671
Enter the Witch’s Lair if you Dare!
Looking for some free fun and entertainment to keep your little ones occupied this October half term? Then head down to The Galleria in Hatfield, from 22nd – 30th October for some spooky fun for all of the family! Bring your kids along to the frightful fancy dress area, where they can discover their favourite costumes and props from our box of tricks. Once they are all dressed up, they can show off their scariest poses for a picture in our ‘spooky selfie’ Halloween frame. There are even prizes for the most fang-tastic fancy dress. For more information about what to do, buy and see at The Galleria this October half term, visit www.thegalleria.co.uk
Halloween Haunts in the Ghoulish Garden of England
Halloween at Hever Castle
A series of chilling tales, Canterbury Historic River Tours 28th October – 5th November
Not your usual Halloween experience! Canterbury Historic River Tours presents their brand new series of Chilling Tales. Told from the atmospheric setting of Canterbury’s River Stour by night, these frightening ferrymen will share spine tingling storytelling from folklore and Canterbury’s darker past. Not for children, these are stories to chill even the toughest of travellers. Dare you board the ferryman’s boat and cross the river? http://www.canterburyrivertours.co.uk/
Quextreme Terror, Quex Park Estate 28th – 30th October
Quex Park presents a thrilling new scare attraction for Halloween 2016. Within the eerie surroundings of Quex Park’s Forest Areas, Maize Field and Woodland Trails, Quex invites you to join on a spine-chilling adventure like no other. Find your way through three terrifying scares: The Harvest, Contagion & The Lost, marvel at terrifying tales and cower away from first rate actors in this ultimate Scare Park experience. If you are looking for an action packed night, filled with fun & fear this Halloween… look no further!
Halloween Spooktacular, Kent Life 22nd – 31st October
Who will brave the snakes and spiders in creepy cuddle corner? Will it be a trick or treat for you in the frightening farmhouses? Find out who’s the ghoulish of them all in daily fancy dress competitions, and test your artistic skills out with daily pumpkin carving and craft activities. With so many ghostly goings on you and your little ‘monsters’ will have a terrific time at Kent Life whatever the weather this October Half Term. http://www.kentlife.org.uk/
Halloween Fun & Fear, the Rare Breeds Centre 22nd – 30th October
Pop down to family favourite the Rare Breeds Centre near Ashford for plenty of fun and fear this half term. Kids can search for creepy characters around the farm, meet Vunderbar the Wizard to hear a spooky story or two, and get some fearsome face painting to scare away the monsters! Don’t forget to stop and say hello to the Rare Breed’s farmyard friends whilst you’re visiting.
http://www.rarebreeds.org.uk/
Screamland, Dreamland Margate 14th – 29th October
Bigger and more terrifying than ever, Screamland returns to immerse guests into incredibly detailed, real world environments designed to scare even the most hardened of scare enthusiasts. Check into The Paradise Foundation, where BLISS will transform you, both mentally and physically, into an entirely new you. Or why not visit the Dead and Breakfast, or take in a terrifying movie at The Final Cut… you’ll never be the same again! https://www.dreamland.co.uk/screamland/
Contagious, the Canterbury Tales 27th – 31st October
Plague has swept across Medieval England and terrified citizens are evacuating London. The road to Canterbury is dangerous; contagious citizens are everywhere. A cure is out there… but will you find it? Do you dare make the journey to step back in time and experience the sights, smells, sounds – and screams – of medieval times at the home of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales this half term?
https://www.canterburytales.org.uk/
Halloween Fun, Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 27th – 30th October
All aboard to enjoy some good old fashioned spooky fun for the whole family! Join the fantastic Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway for a spine-chillingly eerie ride across the Romney Marsh, a blood curdling Halloween tea and some ghoulish games and activities. http://www.rhdr.org.uk/fares.html
Ghastly Goblins and Ghouls – Halloween Half Term Fun, Hever Castle 22nd – 30th October
Kids should come dressed in their scariest costume this half term for Ghastly Goblins & Ghouls at Hever Castle. Meet the resident goblin in his shack telling Tudor Tales and Medieval Myths, enter the castle to take the Medieval Mysteries quiz and learn about some of the mystifying myths around Halloween, and enjoy following the Halloween trail through the gardens for hidden clues to earn a terrible treat! http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/
Haunted Castle, Dover Castle 22nd – 30th October
Are you feeling fearless this Halloween? Why not take on Kent’s most haunted castle on a day trip to Dover? Prepare for a fearlessly fun day out with the family as you climb through the Tunnel of Terror, get arty with creepy craft activities, and get lost wandering around this fascinating site! http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/
For more information and inspiration, please visit www.visitkent.co.uk
Halloween Haunts in Herts!
Willows Activity Farm
Old Town Halloween Party, Hemel Hempstead 30th October
Start planning your fancy dress outfit – Hemel Hempstead’s ever popular Halloween festival is back! The beautifully restored Old Town creates the perfect backdrop for this spooky street party, as the high street is transformed with a ghost train and other fairground rides, food stalls, street entertainment and fun activities for all the family. http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/leisure-culture/arts-entertainment-and-events/halloween-party
Howl-o-ween, Paradise Wildlife Park 22nd October – 1st November
Make the kids scream with excitement this half-term at Paradise Wildlife Park. Join the zoo for its brand new howl-o-ween extravaganza, with brilliant Halloween themed activities throughout the week, all in the company of over 400 spectacular species. https://www.pwpark.com/
Family Halloween Event, Mill Green Museum 31st October
Dress up your little spooks and take them along to the quiet hamlet of Mill Green to enjoy a family fun packed Halloween event at the ‘softly scary’ Mill and Museum. Listen to spooky stories in the historic mill, have a go at creating potent potions, bob for apples, and take part in their terrific trail. A fantastic way for little ones to get involved in the Halloween festivities. www.welhat.gov.uk/millgreenmuseum
Pumpkin Festival, Willows Activity Farm 22nd – 30th October
Pop down to the pumpkin patch at family favourite Willows Activity Farm this half term. Kids can pick out their free pumpkin from Willows Pumpkin Patch on arrival, before joining in a packed programme of pumpkin carving, arts and crafts, Pumpkin Olympics and a Pumpkin Show. Don’t forget to stop and say hello to some of Willow’s farmyard friends whilst you’re visiting. http://www.willowsactivityfarm.com/
The High Ropes Night of Horrors & Feeding Dracula, Vertigo Adventures 22nd – 31st October
Join Vertigo Adventures in Stanborough Park throughout week with two new challenges to really put your skills to the test! During the day try your hand at their fantastic ‘Feeding Dracula’ challenge, or if you’re feeling brave why not tackle the High Ropes of Horrors when the sun goes down? http://www.vertigoadventures.co.uk/
Frightful Fun Day & Spooky Rafting, Lee Valley White Water Centre 28th – 30th October
Cling on tightly and enjoy an eerie evening as you ride the rapids of Lee Valley’s Olympic standard White Water Rafting course from 28th – 30th October at their Spooky Rafting event. With a host of other hair-raising Halloween themed activities for the family at their Frightful Fun Day on 28th, there’s plenty for you to sink your fangs into! https://www.gowhitewater.co.uk/
Haunted Hertford Ghost Walk, Hertford 27th – 31st October
Get well and truly into the spirit of Halloween with a Haunted Hertford Ghost Walk. Wrap up warm, and head outside to listen to spooky stories and terrifying tales of Hertford’s past! http://www.hertford.gov.uk/tic-events/
Halloween Ghosts & Ghouls Guided Walk, St Albans 26th – 31st October
Prepare yourself to explore a haunted side to St Albans, as you pass many places that have been famously noted for some of history’s most strange and eerie of events. Listen closely as your guide regales tales of the town’s well-known phantoms. Are you alone? Who knows! For more information about Hertfordshire, please visit www.visitherts.co.uk or tweet @visithertsuk.
Family fear factor this Halloween with these spooky days out
The research has shown that the South East and London are the spookiest places in Britain thanks to the ghoulish ghost tales which haunt local residents and tourists alike. Below the money saving website Voucherbox summarises the most haunting of tales and gives those who dare a chance to visit the locations where these legends originated.
Spine-Chilling South East
Amongst the tranquil South East scenery lurks a number of terrifying tales. The Screaming Lady of Hampton Court Palace, more familiarly known as Catherine Howard, really brings history to life with her piercing screams regaled in the gallery. While no less than four female ghosts will keep you on your toes in Pluckley village in Kent, leaving no place to hide for those who scare easily. To visit: Visit Hampton Court Palace, Richmond, Surrey £21/£19.80 (on the gate/online purchase)
Creepy Capital
Venturing towards the cackling capital will not leave budding ghostbusters disappointed. The Tower of London is a good place to start, where you may meet the headless spirit of Anne Boleyn, or the notorious Arabella Stuart in the Queen’s House. Plus you’ll get more than a Thames view when you get in the lift at The Savoy, London, which is manned by the spirit of a little girl. Visit the Tower of London £23 and £21.30 (on the gate/online purchase)A night in the Savoy costs between £381-£671
Nightmarish North West
The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool seems to have the most mischievous resident spirits. One ghoul may be caught ruthlessly rooting through your belongings in the early hours, while another may spell-bindingly stroke your hair. To visit: A night in The Adelphi Hotel costs between £41 and £82
Night Terror North East
Many of these legends will bring a tear to your eye, with several of these spirits meeting their end after being mistreated by loved ones. One of the saddest tales is that of Constance de Beverly, a nun at Whitby Abbey who, after falling in love, subsequently broke the sacred vows she made to her religious order. Bricked up alive in a dungeon as punishment, her ghost has been spotted in the stairwell cowering and begging for freedom. To Visit: Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire, for £7.90
Spooky South-West
If you’re visiting Devon this summer, Berry Pomeroy Castle is certainly not for the faint hearted. The castle is inhabited by at least two tormented souls. The more notorious is that of Margaret Pomeroy, known since her death as the White Lady, whose sister imprisoned and starved her to death over jealousy of her beauty. The second is the Blue Lady, believed to be the daughter of one of the Norman castle lords. She was raped and impregnated by her father, and when she gave birth, strangled the baby. Her spirit lures visitors into different parts of the castle in order to get them lost from their group.
Shane Forster, Voucherbox UK Country Manager stated: “As Halloween approaches, we thought we would have some fun at Voucherbox.co.uk and give people the chance to get the fear factor this spooky season. Before heading to these attractions and hotels, it’s worth having a hunt online for travel, accommodation and entry deals as there are some great offers available.”
