Autumn has well and truly arrived and with it, the start of spooky season.

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As a parent, Halloween can be a little hard to navigate, as you want your child to experience all the thrills and fun of the holiday without getting too scared.

Luckily, the UK has plenty of family-orientated Halloween events, from pumpkin patches and film screenings, to themed mazes and tours.

As a general rule, the best places for family Halloween events are the theme parks like LEGOLAND and Chessington, as they always know how to toe the line between scary and exciting. There's also historic sites like Warwick Castle and popular attractions like London Zoo, which put on a whole host of kid-friendly frights.

Below, you'll find a huge selection of Halloween events, suitable for kids of all ages. For a closer look at some of the events, here's how to get Warwick Castle Halloween tickets, and the best family escape rooms.

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Scared Shrekless at Shrek's Adventure

Scared Shrekless at Halloween
Merlin Entertainments

Southbank, London

Recommended for: 6+

Shrek's Adventure is getting spooky this autumn half-term, you can expect tricks, treats and more farts than ever at the immersive exhibition.

Scared Shrekless at Shrek's Adventure | from £19 at See Tickets

Howl'o'ween at Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington witches
Merlin Entertainments

Kingston upon Thames, Greater London

Recommended for: all ages

Howl'o'ween is back at Chessington! With scare mazes, shows and rides running until dusk, it's ideal for immersing your child in the magical world of witches and werewolves.

Howl'o'ween at Chessington | from £22 at Chessington

The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle

people in witch costumes outside Warwick Castle
Merlin Entertainments

Warwick Castle, Warwick

Recommended for: All ages (The Castle Dungeon 10+)

The Haunted Castle at Warwick is packed with spooky schools and educational, but fun talks for children, plus mazes and the interactive Haunted Dungeon.

The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle | from £22 at Warwick Castle

Boo at the Zoo

LONDON - OCTOBER 30: Meerkats play with a sculpted pumpkin on their first Halloween at London Zoo on October 30, 2006 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jeremy O'Donnell/Getty Images)
Jeremy O'Donnell/Getty Images

Regent's Park, London

Recommended for: 3+

Boo at the Zoo has highlights including the Extinct Species Graveyard, the Pumpkin Patch and the chance to make your own spooky animal masks.

Boo at the Zoo | from £27 at London Zoo

Halloween at Kew

England,London,Kew Gardens,Palm House and flowerbeds
John Lamb Getty

Richmond, Greater London

Recommended for: 4+

Wind your way through the haunted woods at Kew Gardens, teeming with cobwebs, ghouls, witches, and beastly bats. Then, once you get to the end you can reward yourself with a sweet hot chocolate, or a hot toddy for the adults!

Halloween at Kew | from £12 at See Tickets

Hocus Pocus in concert

Hocus Pocus
Disney

Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London

Film rating: PG-13

Family film Hocus Pocus is coming to Hammersmith's Eventim Apollo on 30th October. The beloved witchy classic will be shown on the big screen while an orchestra plays the soundtrack live.

Or, for a slightly quieter feel, you can see the film at an outdoor cinema.

Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND

LEGOLAND Halloween
Merlin Entertainments

Windsor, Berkshire

Recommended for: 3+

Brick or Treat! LEGOLAND's Halloween celebrations include rides and live shows, from the fangtastic Monster Street to the thrilling Monster Jam Show and the Haunted House Party.

Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND | from £29 at LEGOLAND

Scarefest at Alton Towers

Scarefest Halloween
Merlin Entertainments

Alton, Stoke-on-Trent

Recommended for all ages

Alton Towers Scarefest is a highlight of the Halloween calendar. For the youngest kids, you have the Monster Ball at CBeebies Land, plus you can hear stories from the spooky friends who roam around the park. Then there are rides at dusk, scare mazes, the new Dia de los Muertos celebrations, and the Compound scare maze.

Scarefest at Alton Towers | from £37 at Alton Towers

Discover the Dark Arts at Harry Potter Studios

Leavesden, United Kingdom – August 23, 2022: Leavesden, UK - August 23, 2022: Outside the main entrance to the Making of Harry Potter tour at Warner Bros studio.
Wirestock/Getty

Leavsden, Greater London

Recommended for: 4+

Harry Potter Studios is holding its Dark Arts exhibition this Halloween, highlighting the evilest parts of the franchise, from the Slytherin common room to Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Discover the Dark Arts at Harry Potter Studios | from £119 at Virgin Experience Days

Pumpkin Patch At Hobbledown Heath

Wide view of two mothers with their children picking pumpkins for Halloween at a pumpkin patch field in Newcastle, England on a nice day in October. The kids are dressed up in Halloween outfits.
Getty

Hounslow, London

Recommended for: 2+

You can't have Halloween without pumpkin picking. Well, if you're in London why not pop down to Hobbledown Heath and check out their huge selection of Jack O'Lanterns.

Pumpkin Patch At Hobbledown Heath | from £5.20 at Fever

Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle, Sussex, England, Great Britain
Getty

Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

Recommended for: 5+

Bodiam Castle is holding its annual Spell Quest, where your young witch or wizard can take a spellbinding tour from Midnight the mischievous bat and unlock their magical potential. You'll learn the secrets of the castle and maybe pick up a magical prize at the end.

Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle | from £6.10 at National Trust

Chelsea Physic Garden

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN, LONDON
Clive Nichols/Getty

Chelsea Physic Garden, London

Recommended for: 5+

Chelsea Physic Garden is running a series of family workshops including potion making, cookie decorating and a Halloween costume party.

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