Pumpkins at the ready! The scariest day of the year is fast approaching, and we’ve got a few treats (or could they be tricks?) up our sleeves for 2024.
Want to mark Halloween with some fun – or should we say freaky – days out this October? There are plenty of Halloween events and activities taking place across the North and Scotland. From chilling attractions in the heart of Yorkshire to spooktacular events in some of Scotland’s biggest cities, here are our top picks of the best places to go for Halloween this year in the UK - whether you’re looking for spine-tingling activities with friends or spook days out for the family.
Where: Across Manchester City Centre
When: 25th October – 31st October 2024
The Halloween in the City festival takes place each year across Manchester, attracting people of all ages from far and wide. A highlight of the event has to be the monster invasion, which sees huge models of tentacled terrors and other creepy creatures dramatically draped over the city’s most well-known buildings. Why not take a walking tour of the city and see how many you can spot?
The festival programme is also set to include plenty of other family-friendly events, from fancy dress challenges to a Monster Rock Music Festival.
Where: Sefton Park, Liverpool, L17 1AP
When: Saturday 19th October 2024
A Halloween-themed family event organised by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation; the Sefton Park Spooky Welly Walk is a great day out for the family in Liverpool. Packed full of Halloween activities, games and entertainment, you can enjoy some spooky and seasonal fun - all while raising money for a fantastic cause.
Where: Across the city’s public gardens and green spaces (check their website for the full list)
When: 21st September – early November 2024
A partnership between York BID and local design agency Unconventional Design, this project sees spooky sculptures pop up across the city’s parks and green spaces. Featuring 3D sculptures made from wire mesh, depicting historical figures from York’s rich past, you’ll encounter ghostly monks, Victorian ladies and even highwaymen. Why not challenge your kids (or yourself) to find all the ghostly figures hidden around the city? It’s a fun way to learn about York’s history while enjoying that fresh autumnal air. For more spooky goings on in York, check out our blog in partnership with Haunted York.
Where: The Edinburgh Dungeon, 31 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DF
When: 12th October – 3rd November 2024
It’s Halloween every day of the year at the Edinburgh Dungeons: a ghastly underground pit of despair which once housed some of the city’s most treacherous criminals. The venue on East Market Street is always a toe-curling place to visit. However, you’ll need to summon up even more courage than normal to make it through this year’s special Halloween event.
Where: Camp and Furnace, 67 Greenland St, Liverpool, L1 0BY
When: 25th October – 26th October 2024
Not your average game of bingo, the team behind Bingo Lingo are known for their outrageously fun-filled nights of sing-offs, dance battles and strictly adults-only bingo. If this sounds like your cup of tea, their Halloween special, Carnival of Horrors, is not to be missed. Promising to be a night filled with jump scares, special effects and non-stop madness, what more could you want from a Halloween night out?
Where: Kirkleatham Museum, Kirkleatham Village, TS10 5NW
When: 11th October - 2nd November 2024
Looking for one of the best Halloween events in the UK? You’ve found it! If you’re a sucker for spine-chilling horror films, you’ll love the Scream Factory in Kirkleatham, Redcar. This one-of-a-kind, multi-award-winning event sees over 100 actors dressing up in scary costumes and frightening guests as they wander around several creepy-looking sites. The Scream Factory experience is set to run from 11th October until 2nd November, with different types of tours available. If you’re looking for a Halloween activity for kids, they also offer a ‘Children’s Twilight Tour’, suitable for ages three and over.
Where: The York Ghost Merchants, No 6 Shambles, York, YO1 7LZ
When: 26th October – 3rd November 2024
As well as booking yourself onto one of the many York ghost walks hosted across the city, consider putting the York Ghost Merchant’s on your Halloween bucket list. The venue will also be hosting a series of events as part of Ghost Week. From ghost walking tours that take you around York Minster’s gardens to ghost story readings at the Black Swan Inn, it’s a great way to get your spook on while seeing the sites of the city. You could even go on a ghost hunt at York Mansion House – the 18th-century residence of the city’s Lord Mayor – and work against the clock to identify the building’s sinister secrets.
Where: 28 Blair Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QR
When: 25th October - 2nd November 2024
It’s no secret that Scotland has a long association with Halloween. In fact, many of the holiday’s most popular traditions – from pumpkin carving to apple bobbing – actually stem from the country’s ancient Celtic festival, Samhain. With that in mind, Edinburgh’s medieval facades and centuries of history make it a prime candidate for a spooky weekend away with the kids. Why not book on one of Mercat Tours’ Halloween trails, including the Halloween Underground tour that takes you below the city’s streets into the eerie Blair Street Underground Vaults?
Where: Diecast, 51 Ducie St, Manchester, M1 2JQ
When: 4th October - 2nd November 2024
Two unique, immersive, bone-chilling experiences in the heart of Manchester city centre. Manchester Scarefactory promises to deliver the best new Halloween event this October. With two terrifying scare mazes ready to challenge your nerves, these nightmarish encounters are sure to give you the horror fix you’re after this spooky season. Just a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Station, alongside some serious jump scares, you’ll also find food halls, live performances and tarot readings to really get you in the Halloween spirit. Book a ticket if you dare!
Travelling to all the best Halloween events around the North and Scotland doesn’t need to be a nightmare. Remember to check before you travel and book your tickets in advance on our website or using the TPExpress app. For more travel inspiration, head over to our blog to read about some of our favourite places to see in the UK.
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