Enjoy Halloween with the National Trust and experience some spine-chilling thrills at some unforgettable places.
Yorkshire and North East
Penshaw Monument, County Durham – 01947 885900
Halloween night of terror, 29 October, 5pm to 8pm
The Penshaw monument is a 70 foot high folly and replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens and can be seen for miles around. Dare you climb the spooky hidden staircase to the roof of the monument at night? Gruesome guides will make sure this Halloween tour to the top is one to remember. Time slots will be allocated on booking.
Price: £5 (booking essential)
Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire – 01439 748283
Horrible happenings and the hex factor, 25 October to 2 November, 11am to 4pm
Come and discover the ghostly going-ons this Halloween where the house ghosts will happily tell you their horrible stories on the ghost tour. See the house dressed for ghoulish happenings and bring your little witches and wizards to enter the Hex Factor fancy dress competition at 2pm each day. It’s going to be a Halloween experience that you wouldn’t dare to miss.
Price: Normal admission fee applies
Nostell Priory and Parkland, West Yorkshire – 01924 866841
Make a big scary monster, 31 October, 11am to 3pm
Nostell was built on the site of a medieval priory and is the perfect eerie setting for making some spooky stuff before it gets dark this Halloween. Make a big scary monster and hang him by the front door to scare away unwelcome trick or treaters.
Price: Normal admission fee applies
Gibside, Tyne & Wear – 01207 541820
Gruesome Gibside: potion trail, 25 to 31 October, 10am to 3pm
Discover a taste of the country on the edge of the city this Halloween and visit Gibside. Set off on a trail through the woods, collecting grizzly ingredients for a yucky potion. On Sat 25th, Sun 26th, Thur 30th and Fri 31st: Dress up and bring your pumpkin lanterns for a family parade and eerie tales with Gibside’s resident witch. The parade starts at 3pm from the Stables.
Price: Normal admission fee applies
Wales
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys – 01938 551929
Halloween pumpkin trail, 31 October, 10am to 5pm
Find the carved pumpkins hidden around the garden and courtyard of this medieval castle and use the clues to crack the Halloween code word.
Price: Normal admission fee applies
Tudor Merchant’s House, Tenby – 01834 842279
Halloween fun, 25 October to 2 November, 11am to 4.30pm
The Tudors were a superstitious lot – they believed in witches and fairies and carried charms to ward off evil – especially important at this time of the year with All Hallows Eve, All Hallows Day and All Souls Day. Discover more with a fun family quiz when you visit during half term and the ‘Superstitions’ scrolls will intrigue the grown-ups too.
Price: Normal admission fee applies
Penrhyn Castle, Gwynedd – 01248 353084
Twilight tours, 28 & 30, 6pm to 7.30pm
As the darkness settles will you be brave enough to venture over the threshold on this spine chilling tour? Delivered by professional TV performers this is the perfect blend of history, humour and frights in the perfect Victorian backdrop. Will the servants share their dark secrets? Encounter the gruesome Victorian governess searching the Castle for disobedient children and beware the wrath of the cook below stairs! Will you be able to find your way out through the maze of rooms and corridors?
Accompanied children over 12 are very welcome.
Price: Adult £10, Child £5 (booking essential)
Northern Ireland
The Argory, County Armagh – 028 8778 4753
Pumpkins and potions, 25 to 26 October, 12pm to 5pm
Come dressed in your most frightening costume and enjoy a weekend of family fun at this Irish gentry house and wooded riverside estate. Enter the spook shed for some ghoulish tales and follow the troll, the goblin and the witch on the Halloween trail. Carve a pumpkin to take home and join in traditional Halloween activities for all the family.
Additional charge for Halloween trail.
Price: Adult £3.50, Child £1.50, Family £8.50 (normal admission fee applies)
Downhill Demesne and Hezlett House, County Londonderry – 028 7084 8728
Haunted Hezlett, 25 to 28 October, 6pm to 9pm
Back with all new ghoulish live action performances and other eerie delights, have a Halloween to remember in one of the oldest surviving buildings in Northern Ireland. Set in the especially themed grounds of Hezlett House, both inside and out, prepare to be spooked and immerse yourself in the action if you dare. Fancy dress is encouraged.
Price: Adult £6, Child £6 (not suitable for very young children)
Mount Stewart House, Garden and Temple of the Winds, County Down – 0844 249 1895
Halloween at the festival of light, 31 October, 6pm to 10pm
The opening night for Festival of Light is set to the theme of Halloween in ‘The Enchanted Garden’. For one night only hear the spooky sounds of the forest as you walk the eerie lit lake trail. Dress to impress in your finest Halloween costumes.
Price: Adult £10, Child £7.50, Family £30 (booking essential)