Halloween is a fantastic time to visit the UK. From modern horror festivals and haunted experiences in historic landmarks to ancient Celtic and pagan traditions, there are plenty of fantastic places to get seriously spooked.
As pumpkins get carved and horror movies play on repeat, a truly eerie atmosphere sweeps across the country, with people seeking out scary and spine-tingling experiences for a proper fright. From haunted inns to ancient Celtic celebrations, here are 10 of the best places in the UK to celebrate Halloween. We’ve handpicked 10 of the UK’s ultimate spooky destinations for a Halloween celebration you won’t forget.
1 Edinburgh
Edinburgh is an incredible city break year-round, but with more than its fair share of eerie, haunted spots, Halloween really is the prime time to visit! Dive into the horror with one of Edinburgh’s famous ghost tours, brave the jumps and scares in Edinburgh’s vaults, head to Edinburgh Castle to hear tales of murder and torture or venture into the city’s ancient crypts for a glimpse of the dark past. One of the best reasons to visit Edinburgh at Halloween though is the Samhuinn Fire Festival, a community-rooted event that marks the old Celtic tradition of the transition from summer to winter. Simply head up Calton Hill on Halloween and you can’t miss the costumes, fire dancers, and live music!
2 Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire
Kenilworth Castle is a partially ruined fortress dating back to the Norman conquest of England. This former defensive stronghold packs a rich history of medieval battles, royal scandals, and intrigue straight out of Game of Thrones. At Halloween, the turrets and grounds come alive with ghost tours, witch-hunter stories, and supernatural events.
3 Shrewsbury Prison, Shropshire
England’s entry among the world’s best dark tourism attractions, Shrewsbury Prison offers far more than just a fascinating look at a real working jail. This site is essential for exploring the UK’s darker history and provides unique insights into prison life in the late 18th century. You can explore the Victorian cell wings, still in use until 2013, descend into the Georgian cells, and listen to former guards recount the dark history of those sentenced to death here. It’s not all bleak, though: the prison also features axe-throwing rooms, escape rooms, and you can even join unique ghost hunts—or, if you’ve ever fancied trying an escape for real, there’s no better place!
4 Fonmon Castle, Wales
Fancy leading your own paranormal investigation? Fonmon Castle in Wales hosts special guided tours with a professional team of paranormal researchers. You’ll venture into areas of the castle normally closed to the public, learn about its fascinating history, get to grips with professional equipment, and be part of ongoing supernatural studies.
5 The Ten Bells, London
Grabbing a drink at The Ten Bells in London is especially chilling at Halloween once you know its dark history. Let’s be honest, it’s tough to find a London pub without a grim backstory, but the Ten Bells is directly linked to the infamous Jack the Ripper himself—this was the last place his final victim was seen before she was murdered. But she’s not the only spirit to haunt the pub: legend has it a Victorian landlord slain by an axe still roams the upper floors seeking revenge, and the cries of countless lost children have been heard upstairs.
6 London Dungeon
Known as the Halloween destination, the London Dungeon dives into the dark, horrific history of one of the Western world’s oldest cities. With actors ready to terrify you through spooky tales and a host of eerie rides, the Dungeons are now a Halloween tradition in the UK. For a similar experience north of the border, there’s the Edinburgh Dungeon.
7 Alton Towers, Staffordshire
Alton Towers is the UK’s leading theme park. Built on the former country estate of the Earl of Shrewsbury in Staffordshire, it still bears much of its historic grandeur. The park is home to icons like Nemesis, Air, and Oblivion, and even the UK’s first major wooden coaster in decades—the legendary Wicker Man. At Halloween, the park transforms for Scarefest Festival, with Alton Towers Dungeon rivaling those in London and Edinburgh, haunted mazes, live actors in costume, and more, making this the scariest theme park in the country!
8 Scare City, Manchester
Just outside Manchester in Chorley, Scare City is the UK’s largest outdoor horror attraction, with a terrifying 2 km horror trail! Step through themed zones like The Forest of Fears and the Medieval Murder zone, all filled with live, costumed actors for a fully interactive and terrifying experience.
9 The Mermaid Inn, Sussex
The Mermaid Inn in East Sussex is one of the UK’s oldest—and most haunted—pubs. Built in the 12th century, guests can stay here (if they dare) over Halloween and perhaps meet the lady in white rumored to sit by the fire in room 1, or encounter the unknown figure said to watch guests from the foot of their bed, or see objects thrown across the room with no warning. The inn has featured on Most Haunted TV series and welcomed many famous guests over the years.
10 Newcastle Castle and the Black Gate
One of the UK’s most haunted cities, Newcastle boasts a huge selection of ghost walks—some general, some focused on witches’ houses, old smuggler’s tunnels, and more. But it’s the namesake castle and the infamous Black Gate that give the city its spooky reputation. The castle itself is one of the UK’s finest Norman fortresses with countless ghost sightings, poltergeist activity, strange mists, and even invisible hands. The saddest legend involves the faint scent of flowers before the ghost of a young girl appears—the “Poppy Girl,” once a flower seller imprisoned for debts, who was assaulted and killed in the cells.
Whether you’re a true believer in the supernatural or just looking for some spooky fun, the UK is packed with unforgettable Halloween experiences for every visitor!
