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
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!
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield, East Sussex
Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland
Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, South Yorkshire
Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
Dover Castle, Kent
Eltham Palace and Gardens, London
Framlingham Castle, Suffolk
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Warwickshire
Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
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.
Book a spooky Woodland Walk at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
Book a spooky Woodland Walk at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens
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…
Book for Ghost Tales at Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire
Book for Ghost Tales at Carlisle Castle, Cumbria
Book for Ghost Tales at Scarborough Castle, North Yorkshire
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 KenwoodIlluminated 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 AbbeyInspire me: places to visit this spooky season
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Creepy castles to visit
Are you brave enough to climb the highest, mightiest towers and delve into the deepest, darkest tunnels?
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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
Medieval Ghosts
Why did medieval monks write ghosts stories? What do a burning bale of hay, a scary horse and some silver spoons have in common?
This episode of History in a Nutshell looks at the origins of hauntings and ghost stories, which go much further back than the spooky Victorian tales we're all used to hearing.
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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?
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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.
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What are soul cakes and what's their link with Halloween?
Senior Properties Historian Dr Michael Carter explores the tradition of giving and receiving soul cakes and their link with Halloween and trick-or-treating.
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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.
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WITCHCRAFT: EIGHT MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS
From the Salem Witch Trials to the witches of 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.
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SPOOKY STORIES AND GRUESOME TALES
With 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 stories!
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!
