Regional Guide
Halloween in the North East
Few corners of England do Halloween better. The North East pairs pick-your-own pumpkin fields and family spooktaculars with genuinely haunted castles, after-dark ghost walks and a coastline full of eerie folklore. Here is our pick of where to go, from gentle family days out to the properly spine-tingling. Dates change every year, so treat this as your evergreen guide and always check each venue for the current programme and to pre-book.
Pick your own pumpkins
The region is spoilt for pumpkin patches, from big open fields to farm-attraction days out.
The main pick-your-own patches near Newcastle are Whitehouse Farm near Morpeth, Brocksbushes near Stocksfield, East Grange near Durham, Down at the Farm at Houghton-le-Spring, and the Broxfield patch near Alnwick. The best sell out, so book ahead. We have rounded them all up, with what each offers and how far they are, in our dedicated guide: Pumpkin Picking Near Newcastle.
Family Halloween days out
Spooktaculars, half-term trails and after-dark museum nights.
Whitehouse Farm: Frighthouse Farm
Morpeth, Northumberland
Family Spooktacular + pumpkins
The region's biggest family Halloween. Whitehouse Farm Centre turns into 'Frighthouse Farm' across late October, with an indoor and outdoor pick-your-own pumpkin patch, a spell school, fancy-dress competitions and free crafts, plus an optional scarier Walkway of Terror for braver visitors. Because the pumpkin patch has an indoor side, it runs whatever the weather.
Read our Halloween in Morpeth guide→Alnwick Castle
Alnwick, Northumberland
Family, half-term
Over October half-term the castle runs family-friendly Halloween activities such as dragon quests, broomstick training and spooky storytelling, tying into its own vampire and Grey Lady legends (more on those below). A great pairing with the neighbouring Alnwick Garden.
Plan a day in Alnwick→The Alnwick Garden: Spookydorei
Alnwick, Northumberland
Family, choose your fright level
The Lilidorei play village becomes 'Spookydorei' for Halloween, cleverly split into a spooky side and a not-so-spooky side so younger children can pick their comfort level, with a riddle-solving quest and trick-or-treat trail. The Garden also themes activity around its famous Poison Garden.
Beamish Museum: Halloween Evenings
Beamish, County Durham
Atmospheric, after dark
On selected late-October evenings the open-air living museum opens after dark, its Edwardian and 1950s streets lit up with family games, a Halloween cinema screening, fairground rides and treats from the period shops. It is atmospheric rather than gory, and tickets sell out, so book ahead.
WWT Washington Wetland Centre: Super Natural
Washington, Tyne & Wear
Family, nature-themed
A gentler, nature-led half-term option, with spooky crafts, lantern and wand making, potion-making, owl-pellet dissection and storytelling among the wetlands. Ideal for younger children who prefer wildlife to frights.
Life Science Centre
Newcastle city centre
Family, indoor
The city-centre science centre runs a family Halloween programme over half-term with themed workshops, a live theatre show and its immersive 360-degree dome show, plus a late-opening event on Halloween itself. A reliable indoor day out if the weather turns.
Ghost walks & after-dark tours
For older children and adults who like a scare with their history.
Newcastle Ghost Walks
Newcastle city centre
Ghost walk
Guided haunted-history walks through the old city, spanning nearly a thousand years of Newcastle's darker past. Both family and adult-only walks are offered, and tickets are pre-booked only.
Alnwick Ghost Tour
Alnwick, Northumberland
Ghost walk
An evening guided walk through Alnwick's historic streets, blending documented history with Northumbrian folklore and unsolved local mysteries. A good companion to a daytime castle visit.
Scary Tales at Tynemouth Priory
Tynemouth, the coast
After-dark tour
In past years the ancient headland priory has hosted after-dark theatrical ghost tours around Halloween, with actors and storytelling among the darkened ruins above the mouth of the Tyne. Check whether it is running this year and the age guidance before booking.
The North East's haunted history
Centuries of border warfare left the region with more than its share of ghost stories. These are legends, not verified fact, but they are wonderfully atmospheric.
Chillingham Castle
near Alnwick, Northumberland
Legend
Widely billed as one of Britain's most haunted castles. Its best-known spectre is the 'Blue Boy' of the Pink Room, alongside Lady Mary Berkeley, said to haunt the Great Hall. The castle runs its own ghost tours for those who want to test their nerve.
The Alnwick Vampire
Alnwick, Northumberland
Legend
One of England's earliest 'undead' legends: a 12th-century chronicle by William of Newburgh records a former lord of Alnwick rising from his grave to prowl the town by night, spreading pestilence until his corpse was exhumed and burned. A Grey Lady is also reported in the tunnels beneath the castle.
Bamburgh's Pink Lady
Bamburgh, Northumberland coast
Legend
Bamburgh Castle's oldest ghost story tells of a princess in a pink gown who is said to walk toward the beach once every seven years. It is folklore rather than fact, but a fittingly eerie tale for one of England's most dramatic coastal castles.
Plan & book your visit
- Book Halloween & attraction tickets→— castles, tours & family days out across the region
- Find places to stay for half-term→
More autumn ideas
Make a weekend of it with our guides to pumpkin picking near Newcastle, the region's historic castles and best days out, or see what is on across the region this weekend.