Happy Halloween

Halloween costume events to scare your socks off

Halloween fun with the National Trust There's plenty going on around the UK for grown-ups and children alike this Halloween. Grab a costume and take your pick from our round-up of the most ghoulish and gruesome events:

Horrible happenings
Theme park terror
Strictly for kids
Grown-up gore
Devilish disco
Frights further afield

Horrible happenings

If you truly have nerves of steel then why not dress in your scariest Halloween costume and brave the Ghost Walks at Chatham's Historic Dockyard, in Kent. If that doesn't quite float your boat, why not head to Cambridge for a more unusual event in the shape of Halloween Punting and Walking Ghost Tours, which run until 31 October.

Dress your sea-legs in fishnets and embark on a riveting costume event – the Rocky Horror Cruise, with Mersey Ferries, on 31 October.

For another unusual Halloween event, hit the Thames with the terrifying Tale of Two Witches Thames cruise in London, or Trick or Treat flights on the London Eye, from 24 October to 1 November.

Measure your mettle with a trip to The Haunted Castle Halloween event at Warwick. Brave the Castle Dungeon and face plague victims, ghoulish grave diggers and the hermit of the crypt.

If you really dig dungeons, head to The London Dungeon for some real Halloween horror. Experience the Scare Witch Trials there until 31 October.

AA members enjoy 2-for-1 entry to all the UK Dungeons.

A carved pumpkin Face your fears with Phobophobia, from 30 to 31 October at The London Bridge Experience. Come face to face with sinister spirits and creepy clowns in the catacombs beneath London Bridge.

Scare yourself silly in 750m of tunnels at Fort Armherst, in Kent, at the spookiest time of year. The Halloween Horrors tour promises to be a fiendishly fun event but isn't suitable for the under-16s or those of a nervous disposition.

Sample a spine-tingling stargazing event with Halloween Skies at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, on 31 October and 1 November.

Tackle the Twilight Tours this Halloween at the Tower of London, from 4 November. Wear a costume if you dare.

Halloween fun with the National Trust Spooky seasonal events are due to take place at many National Trust properties this Halloween. Highlights include: Halloween Hootings at Erddig, Wrexham on 25 October; Halloween Weekend at Brownsea Island, from 31 October to 1 November; and spooky Halloween Storytelling for children at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden.
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Celebrate a family-friendly Halloween at the Black Country Living Museum, on 31 October, and enjoy trick-or-treating, psychics, a fairground, traditional halloween games and more. Pre-booking is essential and costumes are encouraged.

Halloween events are also due to take place at various Forestry Commission locations.

Theme park terror

A ghoul in front of Stealth As if 'SAW – The Ride' wasn't scary enough, Thorpe Park makes the experience even more terrifying on its Fright Nights, from 12 October until 1 November. Visit the Circus of Horrors, if you dare, or get lost in three new horror mazes. See if you can find a Halloween costume scary enough to frighten the park's very own ghouls.

Scarefest takes over Alton Towers from 17 October until 1 November. Wear a Halloween costume and brave the indoor and outdoor scare attractions, including Boiler House and the Field of 1,000 Screams maze. Supplementary fees apply.

Ride Colossus at Thorpe Park in the dark For something slightly less frightening, try Halloween Hocus Pocus at Chessington World of Adventures, from 23 October to 1 November. Tackle your favourite attractions, such as the Vampire Ride, in the dark, look out for witches and ghouls in fantastic costumes, and brave the 'Black Forest Haunt'.

AA members enjoy 2-for-1 entry to Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, and Chessington World of Adventures.

Strictly for kids

Alnwick Castle Costumes are a must for the children's Halloween celebration in Bournemouth, on 31 October. The Lower Gardens are set to be transformed with face-painting, arts and crafts, pumpkin-carving, fire jugglers, creepy crawlies, events, competitions and more.

Have some half-term Halloween fun at Marwell Zoo, from 24 October to 1 November. Wear a costume to the event, if you dare, bring a pumpkin to carve, encounter some creepy critters, hear spooky ghost stories and get your face painted.

There are Halloween treats in store this half term at Alnwick Castle, which appeared as Hogwarts in two Harry Potter films. Halloween events include arts and crafts, dragon's quest, a pumpkin quiz, ghostly tales, spooky potions, and a costume parade.

Kent and East Sussex Railway Winifred the Witch's Halloween Hunt at Bristol Zoo Gardens, from 24 October to 1 November. Find a fanastic costume as there's also a fancy dress parade and a pumpkin-carving competition on 30 October.

Get to Kent and East Sussex Railway for a Halloween Half Term Fun event, from 26 to 31 October. Catch seasonal activities and magic shows, plus Fright Night Trains on 30 and 31 October, with fireworks included. Wear a costume if you dare.

Children of all ages are invited to don terrifying costumes and embark on a Halloween Tour of Lancaster Castle, on 31 October. Learn about the origins of Halloween at this fun event, before a prize is awarded for scariest costume. Adult-only tours take place at the end of the night.

Grown-up gore

Take part in a Halloween event in the Midlands and tour the spookiest parts of Warwick Castle at night, from 25 to 31 October. The Haunted Castle After Dark experience takes you through the Castle Dungeon and the Haunted Hollows and includes a bowl of tomato and basil broth.

For an even scarier experience, brave the Dungeons After Dark Dinner event on 23 October. Tour the Haunted Hollows and Castle Dungeon before enjoying a three-course banquet in the Undercroft, with unlimited drinks and live entertainment.

Devilish disco

Head out for some creepy clubbing that's strictly for grown-ups.

The Propaganda Halloween Party kicks off proceedings in Bournemouth, on 30 October, before the Slinky Halloween Ball the following night. Dress to impress with a Halloween costume.

Twilo Halloween Special at Pacha London, Victoria, on 30 October: DJs include Juan Marcello, Shuey Aurora, Erol Arda and Simao. Scary costumes welcome.

Costumes are essential at Halloween club nights Halloween Scream V at the Notting Hill Arts Club on 31 October: get dressed up for terrifying tunes, live music and chilling entertainment, in aid of Cancer Research UK. Make an effort with your Halloween costumes for this bash.

Beach Party Massacre at Beach Blanket Babylon Shoreditch, on 31 October: dress up for vile tunes, entertainment from burlesque daredevil Santa Gasolina and live drawings by Kink Ink.

Club Noir Halloween Party, Glasgow, on 31 October: dress to thrill for "the most gory, gruesome and glamorous Halloween event in Scotland" complete with burlesque shows, vampires, voodoo dancers, striptease and more. Not for the faint-hearted. Wear a costume if you dare.

Halloween Horror Ball at The Faversham, Leeds, 31 October: catch Hammer Horror flicks as you get down and dirty to DJs in the Gimp Room, the White Lounge or the Chamber of Torture. Entertainment at this event comes in the form of blood-soaked tiller girls, fire-breathers, apple bobbing and more, and revellers are invited to don costumes.

Sevensins Halloween Party at The Honeyclub, Brighton, on 31 October: dress up in a glam but gory costume and take your pick from five frightful rooms of music, with DJs including David Godding, Kieran Brindley and Luis Florez.

Frights farther afield

Discover the gothic history of Bruges or survey the spooky streets of Prague, with special seasonal offers from AA Getaways.

Prague Cathedral Groene Lei bridges and boats on the canal in Bruges

Both cities are steeped in history and gothic architecture, and bursting with gory ghost stories. The historic centres of both have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Bruges breaks include return rail travel, accommodation with breakfast, and lots of extras. Prague packages include return flights, plus accommodation with breakfast.