The whole month of October is an opportunity to celebrate all things autumnal, spooky and occult in anticipation of Halloween. We’ve rounded up the 15 best events and activities for fangtastic Halloween-themed days out! From pumpkin picking and hay bale rides to thrill-charged scare maze and Halloween events, you’ll have a frightfully good time.
The Deathly Dark Ghost Tour of York (Daily)
3 hours 55 minutes drive
Book in for a tour of the most haunted city in Europe: York. Your terrifying tour guide on the Deathly Dark Ghost Tour of York will illuminate York’s dark history, from Vikings and Romans to chilling tales of the Shambles, York Minster and more.
Dark Arts at the Warner Brothers Studio Tours (September 13 – November 10)
40 minutes drive
Explore the world of Harry Potter with an even spookier twist at the Warner Brothers Studio Tours! The studio is transformed to Hogwarts at Halloween with hundreds of floating pumpkins in the great hall, processions of Death Eaters, and frightening effects throughout the sets on display. Keep an eye out for the dark mark and practise your duelling skills in a Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Book ahead as tickets are hoppin’ faster than chocolate frogs!
Brick or Treat at Legoland (September 27 – November 3)
45 minutes drive
Where imagination takes a spooky turn, take the kids to Legoland for the special Halloween decorations this Brick or Treat season. Participate in a Monster Party, visit Monster Street, and BOOgie on down to the Monster Jam Show. There are even special photo opportunities for your ghouls in training. Be sure to dress in your Halloween best!
Illuminated Pumpkin Forest at Auckland Palace Gardens (October weekends & daily October 28 – 31)
4 hours 40 minutes drive
Explore the Auckland Palace gardens by pumpkin-light—600 hand carved pumpkins to be exact! Keep warm on your festive walk with a mulled cider, hot chocolate, or some of the baked goods on offer.
Fright Nights at Thorpe Park (Select dates October 4 – November 3)
30 minutes drive
Mazes, scare zones, and immersive shows, oh my! Not for the faint of heart, Thorpe Park transforms into a funhouse of fear for their Fright Nights. Not only can you take on their rollercoasters in the dark, but you can also walk through the scare mazes like Deadbeat and Survival Games. Brave your way through the different scare zones of Lucifer’s Lair and Creature Campus!
Newsham Scream Park (October 4 – November 2)
3 hours 25 minutes drive
The Newsham Scream Park is resurrected for another Halloween season. Previously a Victorian orphanage and hospital, the grade II listed building is a popular ghost hunting location. This hauntingly good time features four scare mazes: the Priesthood, Humanimal, the Mortuary, and Under the Bed. Reward your bravery at the food court and bar, enjoy the live entertainment, and take a few selfies at the horror selfie museum.
Stockeld Park Pumpkin Patch (October weekends & daily October 26 – November 3)
3 hours 45 minutes
This pumpkin patch at Stockeld Park is perfect for even the smallest monsters. Enjoy the forest trail and encounter woodland witch performers who will lead your little witches and wizards in wand-waving, potion-mixing and spell-casting. Take on the magical maze, snap photos in your Halloween costumes, and of course, bring a pumpkin home from the pumpkin patch. We know that almost four hours in the car can be a lot for the little ones, so check out our tips on entertaining your kids on road trips.
Shocktober Fest at Tulley’s Farm (Select dates from October 9)
1 hour 20 minutes drive
Tulley’s Farm has perfected their scaring tactics over the past 28 years. Face Europe’s largest scream park and explore the 11 haunts (mazes), like the Electrick Cirucs, DoomTown, and Wastelands Penitentiary. Stop by the beer taverns and street food vendors for freakishly good grub. Enjoy the live shows, thrilling rides, and street entertainment for an evening you’ll never forget…
Halloween Ghost Tour at Shrewsbury Prison (Select dates from October 9)
2 hours 50 minutes drive
Strap on your proton pack and get to ghostbustin’ on the night time tour of Shrewsbury Prison. Learn about the prison’s dark history in the dark and keep your eyes peeled for supernatural sights. First built in 1793, meet some of the inmates that never left… If you want to dive into more ghost hunting this Halloween season, check out our blog post on the UK’s most haunted roads!
Xtreme Scream Park at Melton Mowbray (Select dates from October 11)
2 hours 30 minutes drive
Are you brave (or foolish) enough for the fully immersive haunted houses and scare mazes at the Xtreme Scream Park? Special effects, eerie sets, and scary actors bring the jumps to life in attractions like Circus vs Circursed, the Witches of Hard Luck Wood, and Blutlust.
Scarefest at Alton Towers (October 11 – November 3)
2 hours 50 minutes drive
Alton Towers provides new scares every year with their halloween attractions, scare mazes, rides, and live entertainment. Fright Nights are for the thrill seekers, with new attractions like Nemesis Reborn and the Smiler with rollercoasters in the dark, and more. Spooky Days are appropriate for the little ones, filled with more treats than tricks. Your little monsters will love the trick or treat walkthroughs, rides at dusk, and photo opportunities.
Fear Forest at Zip World (October 11 – November 3)
4 hours 10 minutes drive
You don’t have to be afraid of heights to find Zip World frightful this Halloween season! The park is transformed into a circus with a horde of evil clowns on the loose. Try out the cursed coaster, run away from clowns on the bouncy net adventures, and take on the Tree Horrors – the obstacle course with six zip lines in the dark.
Warwick Castle After Dark (October 26, 27, 29 – 31)
1 hour 25 minutes drive
Explore the dark side of Warwick Castle’s history with the festival of frights, scare mazes, live entertainment, and the castle dungeons. Day-time visits are great for the little trick or treaters while evenings at Warwick Castle are great for a scare or two!
The Great British Autumn at Longleat (October 26 – November 3)
2 hours 10 minutes drive
Spend a wholesome day out at Longleat House and zoo with the half-term Great British Autumn event. There are indoor and outdoor activities, live performances, hay bale slides, pumpkins, scarecrow trails, owl encounters, and autumnal crafts like scarecrow bookmarks and willow weaving for an a-MAZE-ing day out.
Whitby Goth Weekend & Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival (November 1 – 3)
4 hours 50 minutes drive
Home to Whitby Abbey and inspiration of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Whitby has earned a reputation for the spooky and occult. The town leans into the dark ambience with a fangtastic goth weekend event of musical performances, food, and hundreds of alternative vendors.
May Your Halloween Days Out Be Full of Treats!
Whether you want a quick trip out of the city or venture further afield for a Halloween event you won’t forget, we know your Halloween-y days out will be a scream! From wholesome wand waving and pumpkin picking to summoning your courage in the face of jump scares, be sure to send us your spooky selfies on X (Twitter), Facebook or Instagram.
Gearing up for Halloween adventures, finding a reliable car hire shouldn’t be frightful. We make the rental process a treat with our fleet of regularly serviced vehicles and friendly staff. Check out our hire vehicles and start planning your wicked trip today!