The best spooktaculars in the UK…
Britain’s theme parks are pulling out all the stops this October, with scare mazes, late-night rides and pumpkin-lit parades. But not every park gives you equal chills for your cash. A new study has ranked the UK’s most popular parks by their Halloween offering, and it’s Alton Towers that comes out on top.
Researchers compared ticket prices, visitor ratings and everyday facilities with Halloween extras – from how many scare attractions are on offer to how long the spooky season lasts. They found that Alton Towers’ Scarefest edges ahead of the competition, scoring 62.3 out of 100.
At £37 entry, plus up to £55 for haunted add-ons, it’s not cheap – but visitors get 11 hours in the park, 39 attractions and six Halloween-specific experiences, including live-action scare mazes and after-dark rollercoasters. Crucially, the event runs for 25 days, not just weekends, making it the longest-running fright fest in the UK.
Thorpe Park comes second with a score of 60.8 for its Fright Nights. The Surrey resort is slightly cheaper at £33 entry and offers nine Halloween activities – but you’ll pay up to £41 extra for them. The event runs for 24 days and keeps rides open late into the evening.
Third place goes to Chessington World of Adventures, whose family-friendly Howl’o’ween has trick-or-treat trails, fancy dress contests and seven themed activities, some costing just £8 extra. The event runs for 20 days.
At the other end of the spectrum sits Gulliver’s World in Warrington, with just four Halloween attractions across 11 days and daily opening hours of only five and a half. Despite its bargain £19 ticket and a generous 53 rides, its limited spooky offering sees it rank last.
Some mid-table surprises emerge. Lightwater Valley in North Yorkshire offers the most Halloween-specific activities (10, including ghost trains and trick-or-treat doors), all included in the £15 ticket price – though shorter opening hours drag down its overall score. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, meanwhile, earns points for food (26 eateries) and its clown-themed “Journey to Hell”, but loses out because the event runs for just nine days.
The study, carried out by Turvallinen Kasino, suggests parents should weigh up more than just ticket prices. “You’re spending your hard-earned money and you want the best experience for the price,” says Markus Kanerva, the company’s CEO. “A longer day with more food options and themed activities often means better value.”
So, if you’re planning a half-term fright night, the verdict is clear: head to Alton Towers if you want the biggest, boldest Halloween, Thorpe Park if you fancy more scare mazes, and Chessington if the kids are coming too.
For those tempted by the cheapest tickets, beware – it might be less scream, more damp squib.
