If you and the kids are looking for something a bit different to do this half term and Halloween, check out some of these eerie events near you
London and South East
Take a spooky flight on the London Eye
Daily flights at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm from Saturday 27 October - 31 October
Scare yourselves with a Halloween commentary while enjoying the sights of London from up high. Children dressed in devilish costumes will receive a Halloween goody bag full of scary surprises.
Alternatively, for a real trick or treat, families can enjoy the Children's Halloween Party Capsule, perfect for a bone-jangling surprise. Dressed in their scariest costumes, kids can enjoy yummy treats while adults can sip Laurent Perrier Champagne.
www.londoneye.com
Halloween Hocus Pocus
20 - 31 October 2007
Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey
Halloween Hocus Pocus takes over Chessington World of Adventures in October, with mischievous characters and a special 'The Witches are Coming' theme. A coven of witches will take over the park, setting up camp and creating all sorts of chaos to prevent visitors from putting their spells into the park's massive cauldron! There'll be pumpkins, bats and vampires, rides in the dark and plenty of creepy crawlies. Plus, the Chessington Challenge will be back with a brand new selection of scary Challenges such as 'Don't Spill a Drop of Blood' on the Vampire ride.
www.chessington.co.uk
Halloween Witch Fest at The London Dungeon
Wednesday 31 October 2007
The London Dungeon, the world's first fully-interactive horror museum, presents its annual Halloween Witch Fest. Visitors embark on a quest to try and discover the truth about witches. The dungeons are decorated with pumpkins, scarecrows, giant spiders and other surprises, and characters in costume provide spooky stories and knee-trembling tales.
Please check the website for more details of this year's programme.
www.thedungeons.com
The Haunted Castle, Dover Castle, Dover, Kent
Saturday 27 October - Friday 2 November 2007
Scare yourself silly this Halloween at Britain's most haunted castle, perched on the dramatic White Cliffs. If you're sure you don't believe in ghosts, Dover Castle's programme of spooky events may just change your mind...
Besides a line-up of freaky fun for kids, adults can join a ghost walk through the castle and grounds to discover more about the bloodcurdling myths and legends surrounding this ancient site.
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Pumpkin Carving at the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable
Saturday 20 October - Sunday 28 October 2007
Come along to the pumpkin carving centre and sculpt the scariest face possible in the pumpkin carving extravaganza. Sculpt these Halloween vegetables into a shape which befits this spooky time of year and then scare your friends and family with it when you take it home.
www.zsl.org
Halloween Festival at Bristol Gardens Zoo
20 October - 31 October 2007
Visitors can follow a special spooky trail, take part in a pumpkin carving competition and meet the Zoo's very own witch and her cat for fancy dress frolics.
www.bristolzoo.org.uk
Hallowe'en Horrors at Cotehele, Cornwall
Wednesday 31 October 2007
Spooky fun for the children in the education room from 7pm. Prizes for the best dressed. This is educational and fun for the kids.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Spooky Tours at Powderham Castle
Sunday 21 - Sunday 28 October 2007
Meet the fascinating residents from the past and enjoy a tour of the Castle in a different light. During half-term there will be fun Spooky Tours daily (except Saturday). Kids will love to dress up for the occasion in their spookiest outfits to see if they can scare the ghosts! It is recommended to arrive early to avoid disappointment. Suitable for 5 to 12 year olds and brave mums and dads!
www.powderham.co.uk
The Midlands
Conkers, Derbyshire
Halloween party in the Waterside Centre
31 October
Conkers Annual Halloween party includes the ugly bugs disco, craft activities and a fancy dress competition. Plus the Ghoulish ghost train which you can enter if you dare. Join in the fun at the ugly bugs disco or why not get your face painted as something spooky?
www.visitconkers.com
Become a Ghost Buster at Warwick Castle
20th - 28th October
With haunted towers and turrets inhabited by a host of ghouls and un-earthly creatures, the scene is set for a horrible half-term at Warwick Castle as guests turn ghost busters in the midst of some seriously supernatural goings on.
Warwick Castle's infamous Ghost Tower is once more transformed into a chilling live-action spook experience. Using a mix of live actors, sound, visual and lighting effects it literally brings the true story of Warwick's most famous ghost to life as the tale of Sir Fulke Greville's murder is recreated.
www.warwick-castle.co.uk
Halloween at the Black County Living Museum, Dudley
Saturday 20 October - Sunday 28 October 2007
Britain's friendliest Museum becomes Britain''s 'Most Haunted' as Halloween gets underway. The young and the young at heart can enjoy hair-raising thrills and spine-tingling chills when they listen to ghostly tales of yesteryear. Play, as Black Country children once did, traditional games which return to delight a new generation.
www.bclm.co.uk
Halloween at Ickworth, Suffolk: Spirits of the Past
Wednesday 31 October 2007
Described as half-term fun for families, these spooky candle-lit Halloween tours take place in the extensive gardens of eccentric Ickworth House. Rooms will be decorated with a spooky feel, and ghost tours and stories will be conducted throughout the evening. Halloween foods are provided. This is fun for the whole family.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Bickling Hall, Norfolk
Saturday 27 October 2007
This is a family Halloween event with spooky story telling and ghoulish happenings in the Hall and Garden. There is a children's fancy dress competition and seasonal food in the restaurant for all attending.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Children's Halloween tours at Lancaster Castle
Wednesday 31 October 2007
Historic Lancaster Castle invites children of all ages to dress up in their spookiest costumes for a special Halloween tour of the grounds. The organisers of the event emphasise the true origin of Halloween as a festival of light and fire, with pumpkins designed to ward off evil spirits. A guided tour informs visitors of Halloween's true history and allows kids to get dressed up in their most ghastly outfits. Prizes are awarded for the scariest costume.
www.lancastercastle.com
Wallington, Northumberland
Thursday 25 October 2007
Enjoy the spooky children's trail and hear scary stories told by the resident witch! Make scary things with glitter and glue with Krafty Kids.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Halloween for Creepy Kids at JORVIK Viking Centre, York
Saturday 27 October 2007
The JORVIK Viking Centre is hosting its very own Halloween for Creepy Kids late night party, with characters returning from the Viking underworld and escorting youngsters on a horrible history tour around JORVIK. The evening will include a Halloween trail and a storytelling saga from a mysterious Norse creature. Plus: look out for a scary geneticist and Viking witchcraft! Pre-book only.
www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk
Eerie October at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
Monday 1 - Wednesday 31 October 2007
Be scared senseless this October as Pleasure Beach is transformed into a spooktacular Halloween-themed realm with pumpkins and characters in creepy costumes. Experience the thrills of Valhalla, the ghoulish groans of the Ghost Train, and scream at 235ft on Europe's tallest, fastest roller coaster - the Pepsi Max Big One.
If the rides creep you out, take a spine-chilling walk through Pasaje Del Terror or sip a creepy cocktail in the Horror Bar.
www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com
For more information on visiting to the countryside, see www.enjoyengland.com/ruralescapes and for a comprehensive and searchable events listing, visit www.enjoyengland.com/events