Spooktacular Halloween & Half Term Events in the UK

Half term is almost upon us, and like many parents and grandparents up and down the country, you're likely busy looking for fun activities to do with the kids. Good news! With Halloween on Sunday 31st October, there are lots of spooktacular events taking place all over the UK to keep the whole family entertained!

The Haunted Castle - Warwick Castle

Ghosts, ghouls, wizards and witches are taking over the grounds of Warwick Castle. What better place for family-friendly frights and eerie experiences? Brave the Horrible Histories Maze, tour the Spooky Mansion and sit back and enjoy the spellbinding shows.

Pre-book tickets for The Haunted Castle online to gain entry to the castle and access all daily shows, tours and attractions.

Fancy turning your castle visit into a mini break? Book a hotel in Warwick through PlansChange!

Dark Arts - Warner Bros Studio Tour, London

Half term is a great time to visit The Making of Harry Potter for their popular Dark Arts event, running until 7th November. The Dark Arts feature focuses on Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters as the Dark Mark is projected throughout the Studio Tour for you to follow.

Witness the fantastic display of 100 hand-carved pumpkins in the Great Hall, learn the moves behind a wand combat scene, just like the Battle of Hogwarts and take part in a live duel with the Death Eaters.

Tickets must be pre-booked from the Warner Bros Studio Tour website.

Make the most of your half term trip to the Harry Potter studios with an overnight stay in London. Browse our great deals on Watford hotels. Simply select your dates in our search engine and choose your London hotel.

Pumpkin Picking - UK-wide

Get into the seasonal spirit with a family outing to a local pumpkin farm. You only need to look at Instagram to see the soaring popularity of PYO pumpkin patches over the last few years. Some of the best UK pumpkin patches include Piglets Adventure Farm in Kent, Garsons Farm in Surrey, Arnprior Farm in Scotland and Mr Pumpkin in Derby.

It's worth doing a quick Google search of 'pumpkin patches near me' to see what other half term activities are available. Many also offer pumpkin carving, Halloween trails, and pumpkin patch photo shoots in addition to their pick-your-own events.

Spooky Woodland Walks - English Heritage

Visit your nearest English Heritage site for a haunting Halloween walk. Join their ghost-hunting storytellers on a family-friendly stroll through the shadows of Audley End House & Gardens, Brodsworth Hall, Walmer Castle, Witley Court, Wrest Park and Belsay Hall. 

Many English Heritage sites will also be holding a brand new adventure quest for kids, inspired by Cressida Cowell's 'The Wizards of Once.' Task your children with finding the right ingredients for the witch-banishing spell and discover the location of the Cup of Chances. Go along in fancy dress and take a snap to enter English Heritage's latest social media competition.

Scarefest at Alton Towers

Alton Towers' award-winning Scarefest event is returning for 2021, with live entertainment for all ages and a new family attraction. During Scarefest, the park is open until 9pm each day, so the more daring of guests can enjoy the spine-tingling and hair-raising rides in the dark.

What's great about Scarefest is it has something to offer everyone! Younger families can enjoy live Halloween shows, including the CBeebies Monster Ball. Older families can experience the brand new Trick o' Treat Town - an interactive walkthrough attraction with tricks and treats aplenty.

Book tickets online, and don't forget to check out our listings to find cheap Staffordshire hotels near Alton Towers.

Book a last-minute October half term holiday

Fancy a break from normal life? It's not too late to book a short trip over the half term holiday! Visit our Great Deals page to see what's on offer from our branded hotel partners and PlansChange sellers. No tricks, just treats!

And if you've booked a non-refundable hotel for the half term that you can no longer use, don't fret! Simply list it at a discounted price on PlansChange and sell it to another traveller looking for a cheap half term break.

We hope everyone has a fantastic half term holiday and a happy Halloween!