Thrills and chills at Lightwater Valley Theme Park
Lightwater Valley Theme Park, North Stainley; 26-31 Oct
Lightwater Valley becomes ‘Frightwater Valley’ at the end of October, with events ranging from family-friendly scares to truly terrifying encounters. Younger visitors can enjoy magic shows and getting their picture taken with ghastly ghouls, while older guests may start to feel jumpy as daylight turns to dusk and actors in zombie outfits start leaping out at them. And that’s before they’ve entered the Live Scare Maze, where fiends convene and monsters roam. Suitable for all ages. (lightwatervalley.co.uk)
Dracula-themed light show at Whitby Abbey
Illuminated Abbey, Whitby; 25-31 Oct
The story of Count Dracula is brought vividly to life in the ruins that inspired Bram Stoker’s classic horror story. For six nights the gothic splendour of Whitby Abbey will be bathed in brilliant illuminations – including gory red – in a spine-chilling homage to the bloodsucking aristo. After the light show, listen to tales of the Count’s nastiest nips, meet a coven of witches roaming the ruins, and learn how to snare a sorceress from a wily witch-hunter. Suitable for all ages. (english-heritage.org.uk)
Murder-mystery dinner at Cober Hill Hotel
Malfundo’s Ghost, Cober Hill Hotel, Scarborough; 2 Nov
The perfect setting for murder most foul, Cober Hill Hotel is a sprawling 1920s mansion with a distinct Agatha Christie feel. As a result, it hosts regular murder-mystery dinners in which guests interact with a cast of players to solve a fictitious killing. In this instance, the Halloween-themed dinner follows the fortunes of a professor who’s putting the finishing touches to a pair of x-ray specs that will radically change the course of the world. Our hero’s progress is hampered, however, by howls of ghostly laughter ringing around his laboratory, culminating in a grisly slaying on All Hallows Eve. (coberhill.co.uk)
Ghost train ride in Kirklees
Kirklees Light Railway, nr Huddersfield; 31 Oct to 2 Nov
Get your little horrors screaming this half-term as Kirklees Light Railway is transformed into a train of terror for Halloween. Staff working on the classic steam locomotive are keeping the thrills a secret but those brave enough to ride the rails should be prepared for ‘something scary happening in the woods’. Children must be over three to go on the ghost train. (kirkleeslightrailway.com)
Phantom tour of York
The Original Ghost Walk of York; every evening
Ghosts are not just for Halloween, especially in the city of York, which is famous for its phantoms. Learn more about the spirits that haunt the metropolis on a 90-minute walking tour led by a guide whose expert storytelling skills will get your spine tingling nicely. The trawl around town features six particularly spooky stop-offs, while the commentary combines humour, history and, of course, horror. Suitable for all ages. (theoriginalghostwalkofyork.co.uk)
