DAYSOUT
Spine-tingling Halloween fun for the whole family is promised at Edenbridge’ s Hever Castle & Gardens( hevercastle. co. uk). Running throughout the half-term from 18- 26 October, little ghoul-hunters and their grown-ups are invited to explore the atmospheric castle grounds as they showcase their most striking autumnal shades on the castle’ s new Bones and Giggles Halloween Trail. After catching Bony and his friends getting up to a whole host of spooky mischief, children can look forward to an array of themed craft activities such as scary skeleton-making, with face painting also available on select dates.
All aboard Kent & East Sussex Railway’ s Fright Night Express( kesr. org. uk) for a journey you’ ll never forget … On 31 October, departing from Tenterden Town station, The Fright Night Express will embark on a thrilling adventure through the darkened Kentish countryside to Northiam station where families will disembark for a sparkling firework surprise. Entertainment will take place at Tenterden from 5pm including free themed activities and face painting, with delicious eats also available from the station tea room.
For smaller witches, wizards and magical mischief-makers, the railway will also be setting off on a bewitching steam-train adventure on board The Spellbound Express. Suitable for ages four- 12 years, and taking place on 21, 23, 28 and 30 October, children can look forward to trying their hand at all things potions and spells with Wendy the Wicked Witch and enchanting magic shows from Merlin the Magician.
Kent’ s array of marvellous National Trust( nationaltrust. org. uk) properties are also joining the spooky fun this autumn. Kicking off the celebrations from 11 October, Sevenoaks’ Ightham Mote presents their all-new We’ re Going on a Ghost Hunt™ Halloween adventure. Included with general admission and based on the bestselling children’ s books, the bunnies are setting out to find the ghosts hidden around the grounds, with heaps of exciting things to see and do along the way. From 18 October- 2 November, Chartwell in Westerham are inviting families to take part in their Playful Pumpkins event with cheeky challenges and outdoor games, and Scotney Castle in Tunbridge Wells is beckoning Kentish explorers to join the Goblin King and his mischievous friends on a quest through the dazzling labyrinth of the castle’ s gardens.
Over in Southfleet, Broadditch Farm( broadditch. co. uk) is bursting with pumpkins to pick and carve and plenty of spooky adventures through the freaky forest to embark on. On select dates, with bookable timeslots available, families can delight in the farm’ s thriving threeacre patch to pick out their perfect pumpkin. Between Thursday 23 and Sunday 26 October, the farm will also be holding Pumpkin Carving Workshops within their events barn where you can scoop, slice and sculpt your very own creative masterpiece. Tickets are £ 7 per person and a pumpkin is included in the price. From 18 October, Broadditch’ s Spooky Trailer Ride also returns with journeys through the mysterious freaky forest, where unusual sights and plenty of surprises can be expected along the way.
Family fun on the farm however doesn’ t stop there, as the locally loved Rare Breeds Centre( canterburyoasttrust. org. uk) in Woodchurch also prepares for another hair-raising Halloween from 18- 26 October as the children’ s favourite Effel Fartwaffer makes her return, bringing plenty of tricks and a few treats along with her mischievous friends! Be sure to catch this year’ s frightful show and enjoy the extra activities to be found around the farm.
Perfect for those after a fang-tastic adventure amongst the wonders of the great outdoors, head to Deal’ s Betteshanger Country Park( betteshanger-park. co. uk) this autumn as its Halloween trail transforms winding woodland paths into a world of spooky surprises. Gather the family, don your scariest finery and set out to solve riddles and uncover the many hidden mysteries. After all that exploring, hungry little ghouls and goblins will certainly enjoy the plentiful warming bites that Betteshanger’ s welcoming The Lamp Room Kitchen & Bar has to offer- from juicy burgers to generously loaded fries.
While the frightful festivities are a particular hit with the kiddies, whose to say the grown-ups can’ t have some Halloween fun of their own? Now in its 41st year of extreme scares and exhilarating entertainment, Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors( halloweenhorrors. co. uk) is back with a bang for Halloween 2025. With hauntingly real live actors, eerie dark passages and jump scares at every turn- do you dare?
BROADDITCH KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY
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