Fun Halloween Activities for all Ages

Pumpkins at the ready! The scariest day of the year is fast approaching, and we’ve got a few treats (or could they be tricks?) up our sleeves. 

Want to mark Halloween with some fun – or should we say freaky – days out this October? There are plenty of activities and excursion options taking place across the North and Scotland. From chilling attractions in the heart of Yorkshire to spooktacular events in some of Scotland’s biggest cities, here are our top picks.

If you’re a sucker for spine-chilling horror films, you’ll love the Scream Factory in Kirkleatham, Redcar. This one-of-a-kind, multi-award-winning event sees over 100 actors dressing up in scary costumes and frightening guests as they wander around several creepy-looking sites.

From gory special effects to thrilling set designs, you’ll really feel like you’ve stepped into a living nightmare at this interactive experience. The site is made up of a series of supposedly ‘haunted’ buildings complete with some rather terrifying residents, so get ready for a few jumps and plenty of screams. 

The Scream Factory experience is set to run from 7th October until Halloween on the 31st, with four different types of tour available. The main group, small group/solo and VIP after dark tours are a little bit too scary for smaller kids. However, Scream Factory will also be running tamer Twilight Tours of the venue – complete with tasty treats and live shows – which are suitable for ages 3+.

The Halloween in the City festival takes place every year across Manchester, attracting people of all ages from far and wide. A highlight of the event has to be the monster invasion which sees huge models of tentacled terrors and other creepy creatures dramatically draped over the city’s most well-known buildings. Why not take a walking tour of the city and see how many you can spot?

The festival programme is also set to include plenty of other family-friendly events, from fancy dress challenges to a Monster Rock Music Festival.

York’s long and often turbulent past means its streets are absolutely dripping in horrible histories.  Are you a fan of ghoulish ghost stories? As well as booking yourself onto one of the many York ghost walks hosted across the city, consider putting the York Ghost Merchant’s on your Halloween bucket list.

The building is set at the heart of one of the UK’s most haunted cities and it gives you the chance to not only learn more about its past citizens, but also buy your very own ‘ghost’! These spooky sculptural keepsakes are all completely unique and can be purchased from both the York Ghost Merchant’s shop on the Shambles or their online store.

The venue will also be hosting a series of events as part of Ghost Week from 23rd – 30th October. From ghost walking tours that take you around York Minster’s gardens to ghost story readings at the Black Swan Inn, there are plenty of things suitable for kids. You could even go on a ghost hunt at York Mansion House – the 18th century residence of the city’s Lord Mayor – and work against the clock to identify the building’s sinister secrets. 

Strange Britain hosts their Strange Sheffield ghost walks in the city on a regular basis, and for Halloween this year there’s a family-friendly Halloween-themed walk on 29th October between 4.00 and 5.30pm. The circular walk starts and ends in Tudor Square in the city centre, taking in some of Sheffield’s most haunted locations. 

Expect plenty of spooky stories, ghastly tales and ghostly encounters as well as some interesting local history too. Advance tickets for adults are £10 and £12 on the day, and kids are free. 

It’s no secret that Scotland has a long association with Halloween. In fact, many of the holiday’s most popular traditions – from pumpkin carving to apple bobbing – actually stem from the country’s ancient Celtic festival, Samhain.

With that in mind, expect to be spoilt for choice when it comes to fun Scotland Halloween events and activities. Edinburgh’s medieval facades and centuries of history make it a prime candidate for a spooky weekend away with the kids. Why not book on one of Mercat Tours’ Halloween trails, including the Halloween Underground tour that takes you below the city’s streets into the eerie Blair Street Underground Vaults?

The Samhain Fire Festival on 31st October is also truly unmissable. It’s run by the Beltane Fire Society and sees hundreds of people in vibrant costumes descend on Calton Hill for a night of folk tales, dancing, fire performances and music. Live closer to Glasgow? The city’s Victorian Necropolis is an atmospheric location for a Halloween-themed walk, while the annual GlasGLOW festival at Glasgow Botanic Gardens is perfect for keeping little ones entertained.

Travelling to all the best Halloween events around the North and Scotland doesn’t need to be a nightmare. Remember to check before you travel and book your tickets in advance on our website or using the TPExpress app.