Spooky season is well and truly upon us, and as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, there’s more room for all sorts of creatures that come out after dark – including a multitude of Halloween-themed events across the UK and Ireland where you can get your horror fix. From dark and winding ghost tours through medieval city streets to woodland walks after night, who knows what you’ll come across in the dark? These are the best spooky activities in the UK and Ireland this Halloween 2025.
Where Are The Spookiest Places to Visit in the UK and Ireland This Halloween?
For Harry Potter fans, this is a spooky season must. The Harry Potter Studios in Watford, just outside of London, transform into a Halloween lover’s paradise in the autumn months.
Running from September to November is the ‘Dark Arts’ theme. Pumpkins decorate the Great Hall (just like in the films), while there are extra dementors and Death Eaters around whom you might run into. Visitors can also follow the ‘Dark Mark’ around the studio, while the overall aesthetic of the place is transformed into a spooky wonderland, filled with suspense and mystery.
While aimed at older children and adults, a child-friendly visit is available where dementors can be avoided via an alternative route, making it a suitable place to visit for the whole family.
Found in Northumberland, Chillingham Castle dates back all the way to the 12th century, and has been kept in the same family bloodline since 1344.
As if that doesn’t already sound like something straight out of a horror movie, the castle also has a reputation for being the most haunted castle in the UK.
And when better to experience the hidden horrors of the castle than on Halloween after dark?
Reserved for those over 16, visitors will explore the castle grounds and darkest inner sections of the castle on the hunt for the ghosts of previous ‘guests’ who still haunt the very walls of the castle where they met their grisly ends.
A more family-friendly affair and a good way to introduce kids to Halloween, the Halloween in the City event in Manchester is an annual event which attracts thousands of visitors to the city.
Huge inflatable monsters – known as the ‘MCR Monsters’ adorn buildings throughout the city centre, creating a lighthearted spooky feel to the area.
There is also a monster procession on the weekend of 25th–26th October, as well as DJs spinning your favourite tunes to keep the party atmosphere going well into the early hours.
This is a great way to introduce little ones to Halloween without it being over-the-top scary, and a great family-friendly event. And the best part? It's completely free!
Proudly advertised as Europe’s largest scare park, Tully Shocktober Fest has been frightening visitors for the last 29 years, and this year promises to be just as good as before.
With plenty of fairground-style attractions, including street food stalls and rides (including ghost trains, of course), this is not the place to visit if you’re of a nervous disposition.
Expect jumpscares aplenty, actors in costumes ranging from scary clowns to possessed nuns, and all of your worst Halloween nightmares merged into one shock fest.
The event has been praised by numerous celebrities over the years, including musician Rag 'n' Bone Man, actor Will Mellor, and footballer Declan Rice. Ending with a huge firework display on the last night, this is truly an event where you will be scared out of your wits – and will definitely be sleeping with the light on afterwards.
For theme park enthusiasts, Halloween events don’t get much better than this.
Located just over 30km from central London, Thorpe Park is a thrilling theme park to visit any time of the year. However, from mid-October onwards, Fright Nights begin: a Halloween experience set against a backdrop of darkness.
Imagine the thrills of exhilarating rollercoasters, but in the dark. And it’s not just that – who will you find lurking around that dark corner, or that statue that you’re certain moved from when you last glanced at it?
If you’re not afraid to be scared and want to enjoy Halloween-themed rollercoasters in the dark, then this is the place for you.
It’s no surprise that Edinburgh – one of the UK’s cities most associated with ghosts – has made an early appearance on this list.
For those visiting The Edinburgh Dungeon in October, you simply have to visit The Death Cell.
Paying tribute to Calton Jail, where prisoners would spend their final night before their execution, visitors are invited into an experience of what it would have been like, specifically for Philip Murray, who was the last person to be executed in Edinburgh, when he was hanged at Calton Jail on 30th October 1923.
The dramatic storytelling, accompanied by flashing lights, smoke machines, talented actors and more, really draws you into the atmosphere – along with the occasional jumpscare, of course.
If you’re brave enough, head to the Beehive Inn for a drink afterwards, to see where the original Death Cell door from Calton Jail is preserved.
Cumbria’s biggest Halloween event takes place in Brockhole, on the shores of Lake Windermere.
While children can attend, the event is aimed at those aged at least 12, and with 15 different events included in the full-day ticket, it’s a day full of horror and scares, perfect for Halloween enthusiasts.
Events include storytelling around the Witch’s Cauldron, a Halloween magic performance, a Haunted House with real-life actors hidden in nooks and crannies inside waiting to jump out at unsuspecting guests. And then there's the famous Forest of Fear – do you dare to brave the forest filled with monsters after dark, with nothing between you and Lake Windermere for escape?
Because it runs in the October half-term, this is a great opportunity to do something spooky if you have teenagers and fancy a break to the Lake District at the same time.
A Halloween event in the dark depths of a Welsh coal mine? Sign us up... or not.
A specialist Terror Coaster is the highlight of the event here, so if you can brave both a rollercoaster in the dark and scary Halloween characters, then this is the place for you to visit.
Described as South Wales’ scariest Halloween event, there are also plenty of other activities for visitors to partake in, including a spooky zip line, grabbing a bite to eat from one of the street food stalls, and trying to avoid the actors dressed up as monsters who are lurking around every corner, trying to shock unsuspecting visitors.
The ultimate event for history and Halloween lovers, Mystery and Malice invites visitors into the depths of Stirling Castle after dark, guided only by lantern light for an extra spooky feel.
The tour will take guests throughout the castle, while tales of murder and mystery – including stories of those unfortunate few who met their ends in the very walls of the castle itself – are expertly narrated by a talented local guide.
Expect loud noises, sudden flashes of light and complete and utter darkness throughout the journey, with an additional warning that this tour is not for the faint of heart.
Being trapped in a prison with no possible way of escape while monsters lurk right outside your cell door sounds like Hell for some people – or the perfect Halloween event for others.
If you fall into the latter category, then The Jail of Horror in Belfast should be on your list. Held at the historic Crumlin Road Gaol, a historic prison in the Northern Irish capital, this event guides you through Belfast’s oldest prison, decked out in a Victorian horror setting for extra spooky vibes.
Part of the tour takes in the infamous D-Wing basement, where numerous reports of paranormal activity have been recorded, and it was also the last place that many prisoners spent their final few nights before their executions.
The entire event is in a low-light setting and is not suitable for pregnant people, those with a heart condition or those who are easily scared.
Another excellent event for history enthusiasts, the Origins of Samhain Tour in Rathcrogan, Ireland, focuses on the origins of Halloween and the ancient pagan festival of Samhain.
The tour has a primary focus on the Oweynagat Cave, known as Ireland’s ‘Gate to Hell’. This cave is believed to be a portal to the Otherworld, from where dead and mythical spirits emerged, and from where the tradition of Samhain came from.
Visitors are given access to the entrance of the cave, where the tales and history of the region will be told in the darkness, making it a spooky vibe for those who want to learn about the origins of the festival and the season.
Held at the grounds of Old Kirkleatham Hall, built in 1709, Scream Factory in Redcar is an annual award-winning Halloween event that visitors travel from all over the northeast for.
With features including the ‘Garden of Lost Souls’, the ‘Tunnel of Terror’, the ‘Toxic Cataclysm’ and lots more new areas for the 2025 event, it’s a surefire way to get your horror fix this Halloween.
There is also a special individual ticket for those brave – or stupid – enough to take on the course themselves, although it’s worth noting that you won’t be alone as you take it on. Expect weapon-wielding clowns, bloody butchers, and haunting ghostly figures ready to jump out at you at any moment.
This is truly an event reserved for those with nerves of steel.
If the paranormal is more your thing than blood and gore, then a trip to Craig Y Nos Castle for ghost hunting in Powys, Wales, is calling (or whispering) your name.
An adults-only event, this is reserved for those who are prepared to take part in a full paranormal investigation inside the 200-year-old walls of Craig Y Nos Castle, a Victorian-era castle with ghost stories buried deep in the foundations and walls of the castle.
Will you be lucky – or unlucky – enough to summon forth spirits of the past? Or will they be waiting for you when you least expect it? Whatever you find here, you’ve truly got to be ready to be spooked on one of these Halloween special ghost hunting trips.
Usually shut to the public, Spike Island in Cork Harbour opens every Halloween for those daring enough to visit.
Formerly the site of a prison, the now-abandoned jail sits eerily on top of the island, surrounded by the choppy, dark waters of the Harbour. The atmosphere as the sun goes down is spooky at any time of the year, let alone on Halloween.
The tour takes you through solitary confinement cells and the musty, dark corridors of the prison, while stories of those who went insane and died inside the walls of the prison are told as you navigate the place once known as ‘Ireland’s Hell’ under the cover of darkness.
York is a city known for its haunted hotspots, and every year, the Hallowscream event at York Maze attracts thousands of visitors seeking a scare.
Featuring over 100 actors and five live-action haunted houses, it’s little surprise that Hallowscream is not for the faint-hearted.
The story of Hallowscream is as follows: it's based on a farm where a tragic accident occurred in 1873, and the restless souls of those who perished on that fateful night have returned to haunt the visitors through the Halloween season.
If you like the idea of something that sounds like it’s been plucked right out of a Stephen King novel, and if you dare to brave the maze setting with who-knows-what lurking around the corner in the dark, then this is the event for you.
Can you outpace the monster chasing you? Hopefully you can if you plan on visiting Fonmon Castle this Halloween!
Set inside the grounds of the almost 900-year-old Welsh castle, the main attraction is the Scare Run, which features actors dressed as monsters dotted along the haunted walking trail, ready to jump out and chase any unsuspecting walkers along the route.
While this can be quite an intense event for some, the organisers also offer a daytime event without the scares for those visiting with smaller children, who can still appreciate the decor and aesthetic of the trail.
Abandoned hospitals after dark are easily one of the scariest things you could possibly think about visiting at any time of the year, but that fear is ramped up to the thousandth degree over the Halloween weekend at Newsham Scream Park in Liverpool.
Hosted in the grounds of Newsham Park Hospital – which was a former orphanage, insane asylum and nursing home – this award-winning Halloween event includes actors, live-action horror mazes, special effects and more to haunt your nightmares for the foreseeable.
If you really think that you’re able to keep your sanity during this event, then make sure to book your tickets in advance before they sell out. Aimed at adults, the minimum age to be able to attend is 14.
Going underground to a preserved 17th-century street is creepy at the best of times, but combine that with spooky tales and dark nights on Halloween. You’re in for a real treat.
With guides acting as individual characters who have some sort of history associated with The Real Mary King’s Close, you will be guided through the narrow street and into dimly-lit rooms where you’ll hear tales of mystery, murder and execution, right on the cobblestones where you are standing.
If you’re planning on visiting around Halloween, we recommend booking in advance and making sure to book on a tour after dark for that extra spooky factor.
Another one for roller coaster and theme park lovers, Alton Towers – one of the UK’s largest theme parks – hosts ‘Scarefest’ throughout the autumn, perfect for a Halloween night out.
While rides like The Smiler, Nemesis and Toxicator are scary enough in the light of day, as night falls, they’re a whole lot more terrifying.
In addition, you’ll see staff dressed up as monsters throughout the park, while the Mexican-inspired ‘Amigos in the Afterlife’, based on the Day of the Dead celebrations, is a more family-friendly Halloween activity.
Are you prepared to board a train filled with monsters on its way into the Dolgoch Woods under the cover of darkness?
If the answer to that question is yes, then a ride on the Halloween Steam and Scream Train is a must.
Aimed at everyone from young children to adults, this is a fun way to spend Halloween with the family. The monsters are not too over-the-top scary, and as such, there are tickets available for children under 5 years old. It’s a great way to experience some classic old-fashioned Halloween fun with some mild scares, without having to sleep with the light on for the foreseeable future.
Follow in the footsteps of one of the UK’s most notorious serial killers on a special Halloween walking tour in the heart of London’s East End.
On this tour, you’re transported back to 1888, where terror and shadows lurked around every corner, and there was a serial killer on the loose, hunting young women.
This tour tells you about the victims of Jack the Ripper, examines the victims in great detail, visits the exact murder sites, and even sees the streets as the killer would have seen them through specialist Ripper-vision goggles.
For history, true crime and Halloween lovers, this is one of the spookiest things to do this season.
Known as the ‘home of Halloween’, Derry Halloween is Europe’s largest Halloween festival.
Everything from ghosts and ghouls to banshees and traditional Celtic monsters adorn the city’s 400-year-old walls, while fireworks shoot off in the night sky to create the ultimate Halloween carnival atmosphere.
Ancient Samhain rituals are combined with modern Halloween fun to make this the ultimate Halloween lover’s experience, and for four nights in late October, the city is transformed into a Halloween paradise.
Expect street food vendors serving up autumnal and Halloween-themed grub, while performers and actors bring the city to life through acrobatics, stage performances and more.
One of the most famous dates in the calendar of anyone from northern England and beyond is Whitby Goth Weekend, which takes place across the Halloween weekend every year.
Thousands of goths flock to the seaside town, dressed to the nines in incredible Gothic outfits, from traditional attire to modern interpretations.
While the goths themselves are a sight to behold – and many are happy to pose for photos – the real reason so many are drawn to Whitby over Halloween is because it was the ruins of Whitby Abbey which inspired Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula.
Seeing the Abbey lit up after darkness falls over the town, it’s easy to see why this inspired one of the literary characters that we most associate with Halloween. For those who want to learn more about the Count and Bram Stoker’s love for Whitby, you can visit The Dracula Experience on the harbour – but beware, this is not for the faint-hearted.
This year’s theme sees a horde of demonic clowns return to scare the living daylights out of anyone brave enough to attend this event at Zip World, so if you can brave flying down a zip line in the dark with a clown flying down after you, then book your tickets ASAP.
You can also go on the Cursed Coaster, an Alpine-themed roller coaster where you can control the speed, as it darts 700m through a dark forest. You can reach speeds of up to 25mph, or you can slow it down if you dare…but we can promise that you won’t be alone in the forest, because who knows what lurks in the shadows after dark?
Running for an incredible 21 nights, Europe’s most awarded Halloween event is set to have its best year yet, with the release of The Curse of the Five.
This is no ordinary Halloween festival – on the contrary, it features five cinematic horror-themed mazes, which visitors have to find their way through in the dark while monsters lurk around every corner, and 150 actors who are dotted throughout the fully expanded Halloween Town.
Every nightmarish box is ticked as far as Halloween goes at The Nightmare Realm, featuring special sections on horror clowns, insane asylums, gallows, haunted houses, and more – so if you think you could never possibly be scared at a Halloween event, think again. This is truly one of the best Halloween events anywhere in Europe.
Chester is passionate about exploring new places through food, history and heritage. Whether he is uncovering hidden gems in North East England or travelling to exotic locations across the globe, his enthusiasm for food and history fuels his adventures. His love for writing, combined with his intrigue of different cultures and their histories has led him to pursue a career as a travel writer.
