Halloween
Image: little girl dressed as a witch at Bolsover Castle

Halloween

Find ghoulishly great-value days out at our Halloween events taking place across the country.

Gather your little monsters to solve creepy clues at our half-term quests.

Join storytellers for family-friendly spooky woodland walks through the shadowy grounds of our historic places.

And explore our sites in the dark this Halloween with ghost tales exclusively for adults!

Event highlights

Image of two children dressed in Halloween costume and appearing to ride broomsticks in front of a castle, with the words 'No tricks just treats' below them

Halloween half term

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at an English Heritage site this half-term. Solve creepy clues to complete our Halloween quest and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

This event is included within the standard entry price. Book early to save 15% off your tickets!

Photo of two people dressed in Victorian costume looking at the camera and standing in an avenue of trees

Spooky Woodland Walks

Join our ghost-hunting storytellers on a family-friendly walk through the shadows of Belsay Castle. With tales full of strange and spooky goings-on, these Halloween walks are sure to get you into the spirit of the season.

This is an outdoor, early evening tour that’s suitable for children aged 5-10.

Photo of someone holding up a lantern in the dark and looking into the camera

Ghost tales (adults only)

Do you dare to explore our historic sites in the dark this Halloween?

Join our storytellers as they guide you on a journey through the past, with tales of ghosts, supernatural sightings and horrors from history.

This event is for over-16s only. Don’t forget to bring a torch – things are going to get dark…

Promotional image for Halloween at Kenwood, featuring a ghostly figure, silhouettes of trees and Kenwood House in the background

Halloween at Kenwood

As twilight falls, journey into the heart of Kenwood’s haunted estate, where every path is filled with eerie surprises, shimmering lights, and mystical installations.

Perfect for families, friends, and couples in search of a spooky event!

Find out more about Halloween at Kenwood
Photo of Whitby Abbey illuminated in red lights on a dark night

Illuminated Whitby Abbey

Head to Whitby Abbey this Halloween to see the Gothic ruins bathed in dramatic illuminations, and enjoy outdoor theatre that brings the evening to life with a twist on Dracula in Time Will Tell's play The Dead Shall Walk the Earth.

Have your camera at the ready as you explore the abbey and enjoy spook-tacular food and drink from our local vendors!

Find out more about Illuminated Whitby Abbey

Craft workshops at Gainsborough Old Hall

Join us on Saturday 25, Sunday 26 and Thursday 30 October 2025 for free Halloween craft workshops during October half-term, including making bats,  mini pumpkin painting and more. Please check the link below for more details.

Or, book a ticket for a clay pumpkin workshop on Monday 27 October to learn how to make your own perfect Halloween and autumn home decoration.

Inspire me: places to visit this spooky season

  • Creepy castles to visit

    Are you brave enough to climb the highest, mightiest towers and delve into the deepest, darkest tunnels?

  • Unusual Autumn Gardens

    From flowers that only blossom in the evening to plants once cultivated for their healing properties, take a look at some strange and unusual garden finds.

Halloween history

  • A BRIEF HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

    Many people herald carved pumpkins, trick-or-treating and fancy dress as an Americanised festival. But did you realise that most of these activities are rooted in European folklore?

  • A brief history of Halloween, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

    Dr Michael Carter takes us through the history, traditions and celebrations of these holy days, and offers his tips on how to host your own authentic Halloween celebrations this year.

  • What are soul cakes and what's their link with Halloween?

    Senior Properties Historian Dr Michael Carter explores the tradition of giving and receiving biscuit-like soul cakes and their link with Halloween and trick-or-treating.

  • Medieval ghosts

    Why did medieval monks write ghost stories? Explore the origins of ghosts and hauntings, which are far older than the spooky Victorian tales we're used to hearing.

  • The creepiest objects in our collection

    At English Heritage, we care for more than a million historic objects. With Halloween around the corner, we've scoured our catalogues to pick out five of the most sinister objects from English history.

  • WITCHCRAFT: EIGHT MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

    From the Salem Witch Trials to Macbeth, the figure of the witch is embedded in our culture – but most of what we think we know is wrong. Professor Diane Purkiss debunks the most common myths about witchcraft.

  • A journey into witchcraft beliefs

    The history of witchcraft is long and complex. Professor Diane Purkiss takes us inside the minds of ordinary people and intellectuals in medieval and early modern England to reveal how the figure of the witch was born.

  • SPOOKY STORIES AND GRUESOME TALES

    Bloody battles, gruesome executions, spooky coffins and strange paranormal phenomena... Our historic sites are home to lots of horrible history. Be warned: you'll need a strong stomach for some of these tales! 

Halloween things to make and do

Get ready for Halloween with our selection of treats – no tricks, we promise! Do you know why we carve Halloween pumpkins? Read our history of pumpkins to find out, then have a go at carving your own!  Plus, get creative and make a scary mythical beast mask, cook up some spooky recipes and light up the dark nights with a crafty castle lantern!

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