We’ve rounded up what’s happening from 23 October onwards, including the attractions to look out for, advertised ticket prices and what you need to know before booking.
Recently queues have been loooong and there’s no easy way around it but TPD's approach has been:
1) Visit Chessington! It was loads of fun, fun free scare maze and queues were ⅓ of Thorpe.
2) Try a Galactic night-ride, we loved it and it gets overlooked by many, meaning a shortish queue. Put off by Wicker Man night-ride Queue? Just suck it up because it’s worth the wait, especially back row.
3) Thorpe Park: TPD will be there Monday 26th October. We’re arriving before opening, coasters early then soaking up atmosphere and mazes in the evening when lines get silly.
ALTON TOWERS - SCAREFEST
Running on selected dates until Sunday 1 November 2026
Scarefest is one of the UK’s biggest Halloween events, combining major rollercoasters after dark with dedicated scare attractions and entertainment for younger visitors.
This year’s line-up includes six scare experiences, featuring COMPOUND, Dark Hollow and the new-for-2026 Final Exhibit. With multiple attractions to choose from, check the official Scarefest website for the latest maze selection and session availability.
Families looking for something a little less terrifying can head to Trick O’ Treat Town, featuring HARIBO and MAOAM, or enjoy the Amigos in the Afterlife experience. These offer a different kind of Halloween adventure for visitors who would rather avoid the more intense scare mazes.
What does it cost?
Park admission: A separate park ticket is required.
Scare mazes: Additional tickets or a maze package are required; they are not automatically included with standard admission.
Maze packages: Prices vary by package and date, so check the official booking page for current prices.
Short breaks: Overnight packages are available for those wanting to make more of their visit.
There’s also plenty for coaster fans once darkness falls. Selected major rides, including Nemesis Reborn, Wicker Man and The Smiler, operate in the dark until 9pm on applicable Scarefest nights.
THORPE PARK - FRIGHT NIGHT
Running on selected dates until Sunday 1 November 2026
Thorpe Park’s Fright Nights is celebrating 25 Years of Fear, bringing together scare mazes, roaming characters, live entertainment and major rollercoasters after dark.
The big new attraction for 2026 is Tenement, a pitch-black maze where visitors must navigate a disorientating environment using a shared handheld light that gradually fails. Returning mazes include DeadBeat, Stitches, Trailers and Survival Games.
The scares extend beyond the mazes, too. Look out for The Crows, the roaming scare characters who have moved from Mawkin Meadow to spread their unsettling presence around the park. Other entertainment includes the Purgatory Town scare zone, Lucifer’s Lair, the Creature Campus: Reunion Reckoning show and the Rebel Ball.
What does it cost?
Park admission: Online tickets start from £39 per person.
Fearsome Four: From £32 per person for access to DeadBeat, Stitches, Trailers and Survival Games. Park admission is not included.
Individual maze tickets: From £8 per person.
Tenement: Requires a separate maze ticket or an appropriate package that includes it.
Phantom Five VIP package: From £110 per person for priority access to all five mazes. Park admission is not included unless purchased through a suitable offer.
An online park ticket combined with the Fearsome Four maze package starts from £71 per person.
Fright Nights is recommended for visitors aged 13 and over, although individual attractions have their own guidance and restrictions.
Useful links
CHESSINGTON – HOWL’O’WEEN
Running on selected dates until Sunday 1 November 2026
Chessington’s Howl’o’ween is a family-focused Halloween event, mixing spooky entertainment with rides, characters and attractions aimed at younger visitors.
One of the main attractions is Enchanted Hollow: Trick or Treat, where families explore a magical underground village, meet its unusual residents and collect sweet surprises along the way. However, this experience costs extra on top of standard park admission.
For those looking for something spookier, Stone Watchers: Vampire’s Lair brings mythical stone guardians to life in a Halloween scare zone. The good news is that this experience is included with park admission.
Other seasonal highlights include Dr Frankenfun’s Haunted House Party, Rising Flame: Shadows of the Tomb and Barnyard Boogie. Families can also look out for favourite characters dressed in their Halloween costumes.
What does it cost?
Park admission: Online day tickets start from £34 per person.
Enchanted Hollow: Trick or Treat: From £9 per person, in addition to park admission.
Stone Watchers: Vampire’s Lair: Included with standard park admission.
Other Halloween entertainment: The advertised shows and activities are included in the ticket price.
Howl’o’ween is a great option for families who want Halloween atmosphere and spooky fun without making the entire day about intense horror mazes.
DRAYTON MANOR - BLAZING HALLOWEEN
Running until Sunday 1 November 2026
Drayton Manor’s Blazing Halloween combines family-friendly activities with rides, shows and a spectacular end-of-season finale.
Younger visitors can follow the Trick or Treat Trail, collecting sweet treats from themed locations around the park. There are also Halloween-themed shows in Thomas Land, Rory’s Day of the Dead Disco and the Boo Bash. For those who fancy something a little more frightening, Revenge of the Haunted Express takes guests on a spooky journey through the park’s eerie corners.
The entertainment continues with the Thor vs Loki Fire Show, while the end-of-day lake show combines water jets, lights, animation and fire effects.
The big dates: 31 October and 1 November
Drayton Manor’s end-of-season celebrations feature fireworks on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November. If fireworks are the main reason for your visit, these are the dates to consider.
What does it cost?
Park admission: Tickets are sold separately, with online prices varying by date.
Revenge of the Haunted Express: £5 per person. Every guest wishing to ride needs a ticket, and the attraction is recommended for ages four and over.
Trick or Treat Trail: Sweet treats are part of the experience, but a trick-or-treat bag may need to be purchased separately.
Fireworks and lake show: Check the official event details and ticket terms for your chosen date.
Drayton Manor has also advertised a free Rainy Day Guarantee for Halloween tickets booked for visits between 23 October and 1 November, subject to its terms and conditions.
Useful links:
BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH - JOURNEY TO HELL
Running on selected dates until Saturday 31 October 2026
Blackpool Pleasure Beach takes a different approach to Halloween, with family fun during the day and a much darker atmosphere after the sun goes down.
The park is scheduled to open from 10am to 9pm on Journey to Hell event days. The South Park area closes at 6pm, when scare zones and scare mazes become the main attraction in the North Park area.
There’s a free family Halloween maze called Witch Way Out, making it a good option for visitors who want a little spooky fun without paying for a full horror experience.
For those looking for something more intense, paid scare mazes offer a deeper dive into the event. Selected rides also operate into the evening, with night-time thrills available on Aviktas, Launch Pad, Ghost Train, Flying Machines, Avalanche, ICON and Infusion, subject to the operating schedule.
What does it cost?
Published starting prices for scare maze tickets are:
One scare maze: £15.
Two scare mazes: £25.
Three scare mazes: £30.
All-day ticket and all mazes: From £58.
Witch Way Out family maze: No separate maze charge.
Check the official website for the ticket type you need, as the scare mazes are an upgrade rather than an automatic part of standard park admission.
Useful links:
PAULTONS PARK - HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
Running until Monday 2 November 2026
Paultons Park’s Halloween Spooktacular is one of the more family-friendly choices, with spooky shows, themed entertainment and attractions designed to keep younger children entertained.
The event includes The Great Halloween Mystery, Spirit Squad Ghoul School and the Little Monsters Ball. Visitors can also experience Ghostly Manor, the park’s interactive dark ride, and look out for Halloween-themed appearances in Peppa Pig World.
On selected dates, the Valgard Realm of Vikings experience adds Viking chants, storytelling, roaming characters and theatrical entertainment.
Late-night openings
Paultons has advertised late openings until 7.30pm on selected dates. The remaining scheduled late-opening dates after 23 October are 24, 27, 28 and 29 October.
What does it cost?
Park admission: A standard park ticket is required.
Halloween shows and attractions: Included in the admission price, with no separate Halloween event charge.
Late-night opening: No extra charge for the advertised late-opening dates.
Paultons Park is a strong option for families who want a Halloween day out without paying extra for a collection of scare mazes.
FLAMINGO LAND - STALK IN THE PARK
Running on selected dates until Saturday 31 October 2026
Flamingo Land’s Stalk in the Park combines scare mazes, rides in the dark and Halloween entertainment. Visitors can brave two scare mazes, take a ride on the Halloween Express and enjoy selected attractions after sunset, including MUMBO JUMBO, Cliff Hanger and Voodoo.
What does it cost?
Stalk in the Park: £20 per person, with entry from 3pm.
Repeat maze visits: An additional £5 per person, per maze.
Trick or Treat trail: £5 per person, available during the daytime.
The scare event is recommended for ages 13 and over, and visitors aged 13–17 must be accompanied by an adult. Stalk in the Park requires a separate ticket, so standard daytime admission alone does not include the evening event.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
All prices quoted are advertised starting prices and can change depending on the date, availability and ticket type. Check the official website for precise opening dates, operating hours, age guidance and whether park admission is included in any maze package.
SCARE MAZES AWAY FROM THEME PARKS
Looking for something scarier beyond the theme parks? These standalone scream parks and horror trails offer live actors, immersive mazes and plenty of jump scares.
1. Tulleys Shocktober Fest
Celebrating 30 years of scares in 2026, this major West Sussex scream park features horror attractions, immersive sets, live entertainment and food outlets. Selected dates run until 1 November.
2. Scream Time – Margam Park
Based at Margam Country Park in South Wales, Scream Time offers two very different experiences: a family-friendly Halloween trail before 7pm and an intense horror trail for older visitors afterwards. Runs until 1 November.
Age guidance: The scary experience is aimed at ages 15 and over; check the official rules for younger visitors.
3. Salvation-Z – Gloucester Prison
Prepare for horror inside a historic prison, with a revamped selection of mazes, monsters and jump scares. Remaining dates are 23–24 and 30–31 October.
4. Scare Asylum – Cornwall
This live-action horror attraction features two terrifying mazes, live scare actors and the new Black Zone for 2026. Runs 26–31 October.
5. Terror Scream Park – Scotland
Based at Conifox near Edinburgh, Terror features four immersive scare mazes, including a new attraction for 2026, alongside live music, fire performances and fireworks. Remaining dates are 23–24 and 30–31 October.
Age restriction: Strictly 16 and over.
6. Trinity Scares – Ipswich
Trinity Park hosts three intense horror mazes, packed with surprises, scare actors and near-total darkness. The 2026 event runs until 31 October.
Before you book: Check each official website for remaining tickets, session times, age restrictions and any safety warnings. Halloween events can sell out.





✍️ COMMENT ON THIS FEATURE