From pumpkin picking and potion-making to ghost walks and zombie hunts, there are plenty of spine-tingling thrills and chills coming up this Halloween in the Cotswolds. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun over October half term or something a bit scarier for teens or adults, I’ve chosen 21 of the best Cotswolds Halloween events and activities taking place in 2026.
In summary
What’s the best Cotswold Halloween event for…
Young children? Primrose Vale, Fairytale Farm and Cattle Country Farm Park are good picks for younger kids, with gentle trails, crafts and activities rather than anything too scary.
Older children? Spookyard at Over Farm, Chedworth Roman Villa’s ghost investigation or Blenheim Palace and the South Cerney Fireworks for an atmospheric after-dark option.
Teens and adults? Salvation Z and After Dark at Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein if you want a proper scare, Pumpkins After Dark at Over Farm or Cotswold Farm Park’s music nights for something more relaxed. There’s also an adults-only murder mystery at Sudeley Castle.
Dog owners? Dogs on short leads are welcome at the Cotswold Farm Park Pumpkin Patch, Over Farm Pumpkin Festival, Bibury Trout Farm, Painswick Rococo Garden and Woodchester Park.
Rainy days? The Wilson in Cheltenham, Corinium Museum, Berkeley Castle, Bath American Museum, Roman Baths and Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein have indoor Halloween activities.
On a budget? Entry to Cirencester Park Pumpkin Patch and Woodchester Park’s Stranger Folk trail are free and it’s under £10 for the trails at Primrose Vale and Bibury Trout Farm.
Visitors without a car? It’s easy to get to Cheltenham, Bath and Cirencester without a car. You can also reach Sudeley Castle (Stagecoach W bus from Cheltenham), Blenheim Palace (Stagecoach S3/S7 bus from Oxford), Bibury Trout Farm (Pulhams 855 bus from Cirencester/Bourton-on-the-Water) and Painswick Rococo Garden (Stagecoach 66 bus from Cheltenham/Stroud).
Pumpkin picking in the Cotswolds
Note that at most patches, you pay an extra fee for your chosen pumpkin, depending on size.
Cirencester Park Pumpkin Patch & Scarecrow Trail
Find your perfect pumpkin at The Old Kennels in Cirencester Park this October. As well as pick-your-own pumpkins starting from £1, you can take a tractor ride, follow the Scarecrow Trail or call in to Roots + Seeds Kitchen or Cattivo pizzeria for a meal. There are also extra events on 10 October, including arts and crafts, magic shows, balloon-modelling and marshmallow toasting.
- Dates: 10–31 October 2026
- Cost: Free entry
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Cotswold Farm Park Pumpkin Patch, Guiting Power
Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park is embracing all things autumnal this Halloween. Visit their Pumpkin Patch to choose a prize specimen, with a carving kit included so you can decorate it there or later at home. There’s free face painting for kids at weekends. Or visit after dark on selected evenings for live music from local performers and food trucks selling seasonal treats.
- Dates: 2–4, 9–11, 16–18 and 21–31 October 2026 (music nights 10, 17, 24 and 28 October)
- Cost: £14.95 adults/£14.50 children (or included with farm park entry)
- Dogs: Welcome at the Pumpkin Patch but not permitted in the Farm Park
- Find out more
Spookyard at Over Farm, Gloucester
There’s a host of Halloween events at Over Farm near Gloucester this year. Choose a pumpkin at the Pumpkin Festival and enjoy a frighteningly fun day out at Spookyard with a maize maze, tractor trailer and quad train rides, jumping pillows and mini golf. There’s also Pumpkins After Dark for older kids and adults on selected evenings, with fire-jugglers, live music and street food stalls.
- Dates: Pumpkin Festival 3–4, 10–11, 17–18 and 23–31 October; Spookyard 24 October–1 November; Pumpkins After Dark 9–10, 16–17 and 23–31 October 2026
- Cost: Varies by date (go early in the season or on weekdays for lowest prices)
- Dogs: Welcome on leads at the Pumpkin Festival/Pumpkins After Dark
- Find out more
Primrose Vale Halloween Farm Trail, Cheltenham
At Primrose Vale Farm Shop in Shurdington, you can pick your own pumpkin from their Pumpkin Patch, or follow the Halloween Farm Trail during October half-term. There are two trails for different age groups – one for pre-school kids and one for those who can read and write. The trails take you around the farm to complete challenges, tasks and puzzles to earn a treat.
- Dates: Pumpkin Patch 3–4, 10–11, 17–18 and 24–27 October; Trail 22–31 October 2026
- Cost: Pumpkin Patch £3.50 adults/children; Trail £3.18 adults/£6.35 children
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Family-friendly Halloween events in the Cotswolds
Halloween Trail, Bibury Trout Farm
New for Halloween 2026 is the Halloween Trail at the trout farm in the picturesque village of Bibury. Follow the spooky trail around the farm, toast marshmallows by the fire and take a selfie at the family photo spots – and if you complete the trail you get a prize. There’s also a playground and crazy golf, you can catch your own fish, visit the farm shop or have lunch in the café.
- Dates: 24 October–1 November 2026
- Cost: Included with admission (£9.50 adults/£8 children)
- Dogs: Welcome on leads
- Find out more
Ghosts, Pumpkins & Tudor Tales at Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe
With 1000 years of history, Sudeley Castle has plenty of ghostly tales to tell. This October half term you can follow the Sudeley Pumpkin Trail, with a sweet treat up for grabs if you can count all the Sudeley ghosts. There’s also the chance to hear stories from the Wise Woman, and get up close to owls with Indoor Owl Experiences inside the vaulted Castle Coach House.
- Dates: Trail 26 October–1 November; Owl Experiences 26–30 October 2026
- Cost: Included with admission (£24 adults/£10.50 children), Owl Experiences £15
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Fairytale Farm, Chipping Norton
Fairy stories and pumpkins come together this Halloween in the Cotswolds at Fairytale Farm near Chipping Norton. In their Scarily Ever After event, kids can follow Hansel and Gretel’s trail, fill their Spellbook Passport, carve pumpkins and take part in craft sessions. Or see the park lit up after dark for their Illuminated Evenings, with twinkling lights and dancing fountains.
- Dates: Scarily Ever After 24 October–1 November; Illuminated Evenings 23–31 October, 1, 6–8 and 13–15 November 2026
- Cost: Included with admission (£13.09 adults/children)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Halloween at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock
Halloween at Blenheim Palace promises thrills and chills in the grounds of one of Britain’s most impressive palaces. Discover giant webs in the spider’s lair, vampire hunters, a ghostly pirate shipwreck and chilling catacombs on a new trail, with light displays and immersive entertainment. There’s hot chocolate to warm up with or add on a Halloween-themed afternoon tea.
- Dates: 22 October–1 November 2026
- Cost: £19–£25 adults/£13.50–£19.50 children (plus £11 parking)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Halloween at Berkeley Castle
Have a magical Halloween at 12th-century fortress Berkeley Castle, just west of the Cotswolds. At the Halloween at Berkeley Castle event, kids can meet the Tudor Witch and her animals, hear tales of mystery and folklore at Spooky Storytelling, and visit the Old Wise Woman hidden away in the castle’s cellar. There’s plenty to see in the castle too as well as a woodland play area.
- Dates: 25–28 October 2026
- Cost: Included with admission (£17 adults/£9 children)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Enchanted Farm at Cattle Country Farm Park, Berkeley
Cattle Country Farm Park near Berkeley in Gloucestershire has a new Halloween experience this year, the Enchanted Farm. Step into the Witches’ Wood to help witch Gertrude Frogspawn solve a magical mystery, try spooky carnival games and choose a pumpkin. Entry is included with park tickets, so you can meet the animals and enjoy indoor and outdoor activities too.
- Dates: 3–4, 10–11, 17–18 and 24–31 October 2026
- Cost: Included with admission (£6.95 adults/£16.48 children)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
South Cerney Fireworks Spooktacular
Bonfire Night meets Halloween at the South Cerney Fireworks Spooktacular at South Cerney Airfield. Billed as the Cotswolds’ biggest fireworks display, it mixes a bonfire and fireworks choreographed to Halloween-themed music with a light and laser show. There are also fairground rides, music and entertainment, a fancy dress contest and plenty of food and drink.
- Dates: 31 October 2026
- Cost: £15 adults/£12.50 children
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
The Big Bat Trail, Painswick Rococo Garden
Admire the autumn colours and see if you can find the bats hidden around Painswick Rococo Garden. Follow the Big Bat Trail and learn some brilliant bat facts along the way, with a prize if you complete the trail. There’s lots more to see around the gardens beyond the trail, including the maze, woodland play area and hidden follies, and you can warm up in the Garden Café.
- Dates: 24 October–1 November 2026
- Cost: Included with admission (£12.80 adults/£6 children)
- Dogs: Welcome on leads
- Find out more
Ghosts of Roman Britain, Chedworth Roman Villa
Learn about ancient Roman beliefs about death and the afterlife at the Halloween Ghosts of Roman Britain event at Chedworth Roman Villa, south of Cheltenham. There’s a range of different activities to enjoy as well as a Roman Ghost Investigator challenge over half term where kids can follow clues and tackle challenges to help trapped souls cross over into the afterlife.
- Dates: Ghosts of Roman Britain 1 October–1 November; Roman Ghost Investigator 24 October–1 November 2026
- Cost: Included with admission (£15 adults/£7.50 children)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Stranger Folk at National Trust sites
There are also family events at two National Trust properties in the Cotswolds this Halloween. Follow the Stranger Folk trail at Snowshill Manor or Woodchester Park to discover old-world magic. Download the app for an interactive folklore adventure. Woodchester Park also has a Brilliant Bats event at half term with bat-themed games and the chance to build a bat box.
- Dates: Snowshill 10–31 October and 1, 7–8, 14–15, 21–22 and 28–29 November; Woodchester Stranger Folk 21 September–8 November, Brilliant Bats 24 October–1 November 2026
- Cost: Woodchester free; Snowshill included with admission (£18 adults/£9 children)
- Dogs: Welcome on leads (restricted areas at Snowshill)
- Find out more
Indoor Halloween events and activities
Corinium Museum, Cirencester
At Cirencester’s Corinium Museum, half term workshops let kids decorate Creepy Corinium Cupcakes ready to eat, explore the Parish church’s Gruesome Gargoyles then make their own clay versions, or create a Roman-style Curse Tablet. And Haunted Cirencester walking tours for visitors aged 16+ explore the town’s haunted stories, urban legends and ghostly happenings.
- Dates: Creepy Corinium Cupcakes 28 October; Gruesome Gargoyles 29 October; Curse Tablets 30 October; Haunted Cirencester Town Tours 8, 15 and 22 October 2026
- Cost: £9–£12.50
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Wilson Art Gallery & Museum, Cheltenham
Cheltenham’s recently revamped Wilson Art Gallery and Museum is hosting a special Halloween Party this October, with activities, crafts and games, including curious crafts, glitter tattoos and a trick or treat trail. There’s also a Halloween Trail through the museum’s galleries over half-term, with creepy creatures, mysterious objects and hidden surprises among the objects on display.
- Dates: Halloween Party 30 October; Halloween Trail 24 October–1 November 2026
- Cost: Halloween Party £10; Halloween Trail £5
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Halloween at Bath American Museum and Gardens
Bath’s American Museum and Gardens puts a US twist on Halloween in the Cotswolds. Explore the museum after dark at the new Enchanted Nights of Lights & Frights, with illuminations in the grounds and the Manor House by candlelight. And at American Halloween Half Term kids can follow an interactive trail, with seasonal crafts, story sessions and Halloween treats.
- Dates: Enchanted Nights 16 October–1 November; Halloween Half Term 24 October–1 November
- Cost: Enchanted Nights £12 adults/£8.50 children; Halloween Half Term included with admission (£17 adults/£10 children)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Revolting Roman Remedies at The Roman Baths, Bath
Find out how the Romans used plants, herbs and some surprisingly gruesome remedies to cure all sorts of ills nearly 2000 years ago in the Eew! Revolting Roman Remedies Trail around the Roman Baths in Bath. You can also get hands-on and try making your own herbal concoctions in Roman Remedy Making sessions, using ingredients the Romans would have used.
- Dates: Trail 16 October–1 November; Roman Remedy Making 24–30 October 2026
- Cost: Included with admission (adults £26.50–£29/children £19.50–£22)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Halloween events for teenagers & adults
After Dark at Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe
Sudeley Castle also hosts a grown-up Halloween event this year, After Dark at Sudeley Castle: A Victorian Murder Mystery. Step back in time and solve a murder mystery with clues spread across the castle rooms, chapel and gardens, with professional actors to bring the story to life. Then once the suspects are gathered and the killer revealed, enjoy a cocktail and three-course dinner.
- Dates: 31 October 2026
- Cost: £75 per person (over 18s only)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
Salvation Z at Gloucester Prison
Join in a zombie hunt in the creepy setting of former HMP Gloucester for the Salvation Z event. This interactive fright night – suitable for ages 14 and over – promises ‘more mazes, more jumps and more mayhem’ than ever. Prepare to scream as you’re chased across four acres of creepy abandoned prison buildings, with the last of the undead hiding around every corner.
- Dates: 16–17, 23–24 and 30–31 October 2026
- Cost: standard tickets £35 per person (recommended for over-14s)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
After Dark at Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, Bath
Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein in Bath is open late this Halloween for After Dark – The Watcher, an intense multi-sensory horror event that’s not for the faint-hearted (or anyone aged under 15). Explore five floors of this 300-year-old building, with sounds, sights and special effects designed to scare you as you try to solve the puzzles and find your way to safety.
- Dates: 23–24 and 29–31 October 2026
- Cost: standard tickets £15.50 per person (ages 15+, under-18s must be accompanied by an adult)
- Dogs: Not permitted
- Find out more
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