Halloween pumpkins. Copyright Gretta Schifano
My kids love Halloween at home and are very disappointed if we’re travelling and we miss it. Two years ago we were harvesting olives in Turkey during the October half-term holiday and my youngest felt very hard done by. They usually get together with friends and go trick-or-treating around the houses of other families we know in our small, rural village. It’s a good time for family days out because many places across the UK run special Halloween events for children. Here are some which look great.
National Trust
There are lots of things happening for Halloween at National Trust properties across the country. Events include creating spooky woodland art at Standen in East Sussex, a candlelit trail at Hatfield Forest in Essex and pumpkin parties at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire.
National Space Centre
The National Space Centre in Leicester has a special Halloween Planescarium show and Halloween crafts and magic to take part in.
Hever Castle
Kent’s Hever Castle has storytelling, craft workshops and a Halloween trail around its beautiful grounds.
Landguard Fort
Landguard Fort on the Suffolk Coast did a sterling job of defending England against a Dutch invasion in 1667. These days the Fort is open to visitors and this Halloween it will be transformed into the Little Fort of Horrors. Explore the tunnels if you dare!
Children at a Halloween event at Hughenden, Buckinghamshire. Image courtesy of National Trust
Carisbrooke Castle
King Charles I was imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight after his defeat in the English Civil War. This Halloween you can explore the castle with Victorian ghost hunters to hear grisly tales from the past.
London Eye
There’s a Witch Academy on board the London Eye where children can take part in a Halloween storytelling experience with Priscilla the High Witch.
Chessington
Chessington World of Adventures is hosting a family-friendly Howl’o’ween event where you can go on rides in the dark and experience haunted adventures.
Thorpe Park
For older, fearless children and brave adults Thorpe Park is running Fright Nights on selected evenings in late October and early November. I definitely won’t be going along as it looks far too scary for me.
What are your plans for Halloween? Do your children go trick-or-treating or do you prefer to ignore the whole thing? Are you going to any Halloween events?
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