Halloween
Image: little girl dressed as a witch at Bolsover Castle

Halloween

Find ghoulishly great-value days out at our Halloween events taking place across the country.

Gather your little monsters for frightening fun at our Halloween half-term events.

And join us at Whitby Abbey to see the breathtaking gothic ruins bathed in dramatic, glowing illuminations.

You can also read about the history of Halloween and find spooky places to visit near you.

Don't forget, if you book your tickets to our daytime events in advance, you can save 15% on your entry price.

An adult laughs with a child who's wearing a witch's hat

Halloween half-term

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at our sites this half-term.

Join the Great Pumpkin Party as we celebrate the season with interactive storytelling, spooky games and devilish disco fun, as well as themed trails and seasonal selfie spots around the site.

And it wouldn't be Halloween without costumes, so don't forget to come dressed for the occasion!

Photo of Whitby Abbey illuminated in red lights on a dark night

Illuminated Whitby Abbey

See Whitby Abbey in a spectacular new light this Halloween.

Join us to see the breathtaking gothic ruins bathed in dramatic, glowing illuminations. It’s the ultimate seasonal experience for the whole family.

Have your camera at the ready as you explore the ruins after dark and enjoy spook-tacular food and drink from our brilliant local vendors.

Find out more about Illuminated Whitby Abbey

Inspire me: places to visit this spooky season

Halloween history

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • What are soul cakes and what's their link with Halloween?

    Senior Properties Historian Dr Michael Carter explores the tradition of giving and receiving biscuit-like soul cakes and their link with Halloween and trick-or-treating.

  • Medieval ghosts

    Why did medieval monks write ghost stories? Explore the origins of ghosts and hauntings, which are far older than the spooky Victorian tales we're used to hearing.

  • 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.

  • WITCHCRAFT: EIGHT MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

    From the Salem Witch Trials to 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.

  • A journey into witchcraft beliefs

    The history of witchcraft is long and complex. Professor Diane Purkiss takes us inside the minds of ordinary people and intellectuals in medieval and early modern England to reveal how the figure of the witch was born.

  • Spooky stories and gruesome tales

    Bloody battles, executions and strange paranormal phenomena... You might want to leave the lights on while you read these tales.

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!