Whether you know it or not, the UK has an abundance of haunted sightings and locations that are perfect to visit this Halloween and are successful in getting you into the sinister spirit. Take a car and load up your roof box so that you can extend the trip and spend Halloween experiencing a spooky village or at an event that differs from the usual celebrations. All Hallows Eve is a celebration that centres around the dead and the paranormal, an excuse for us to dress up as our favourite scary characters and go on the hunt for sweets and treats alike. Originating in Ireland as the Celtic Pagan festival Samhain, on All Hallows Eve, in an effort to protect their crops villagers would offer food and drink to evil spirits. Overtime, this tradition has evolved into the Halloween we know today with fancy dress, trick or treating, haunted houses and spookily themed foods.

Londonderry, Ireland

The Banks of the Foyle Halloween carnival stems from a celtic celebration, once a small cultural event, now a five day festival that is attended by thousands from all over the world. Essentially, it is one big party taking place the week of Halloween. Costumes are planned months in advance and are all well designed, extravagant and bold. Known as one of the largest organised Halloween festivals, this Irish celebration has spread across the country and attracts a wide range of attention. This is a great way to spend the day and even make it a trip away as there is a range of market fairs, movies and events happening across Londonderry and leaking into close rural towns as the celebration undergoes. Ireland also hosts the famous Bram Stoker festival. This is a celebration of the famous writers work and legacy, complete with a parade, live music, theatrical performances and movie screenings. The city itself embraces its dark side at this time of year, making it the perfect place to celebrate Halloween. Enjoy with your friends, partner or family members as an alternative way to spend the spooky holiday, especially since the numerous haunted locations and cobbled city streets gives Ireland an eerie edge.

The London Dungeon

Another way to spend Halloween is to spend the night at The London Dungeon. This year’s event is named Screamfest and promises to be the scariest production yet. For those who are unfamiliar, The London Dungeon is a tourist attraction that uses past events and fictional characters as the influence of their shows. It features well known criminal characters and historical figures such as Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, The Torturer and The Plague Doctor. Recreating gory and spooky events from the past using dark comedy, this is an event that is definitely not for the faint hearted but a perfect way to celebrate Halloween. The popular attraction also appeals to adrenaline seekers with two underground rides, including a boat ride named The Tyrant and Drop Dead which is a free fall drop ride. If you are looking for a different way to spend your night but still want to keep the scary theme, then this is an ideal way to spend Halloween as it is perfect for delivering entertainment and thrill seeking rides. Definitely an alternative way to spend the spooky day and absolutely one that you will remember.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Many may not realise it, but Stratford-upon-Avon is a place that fully fits into the Halloween theme. Architecture from the past is littered throughout the town with William Shakespeare’s home standing amongst them, located on the famous Henley Street. Already well known for its place is British culture thanks to the famous playwright, Stratford-upon-Avon is a blast from the past and is enthused with a spooky atmosphere that comes alive at this time of the year. Thatched cottages and wood adorned buildings make up this historic town, giving a eerie historical atmosphere, especially when visited at night. Home to one of the most haunted buildings recorded, The Creaky Cauldron, this is a place for ghost hunters and tourists alike. The Creaky Cauldron in particular is popular with tourists, with the Tudor building hosting tours, events and exhibitions for all the family to enjoy. Halloween is definitely the right time to go and experience all the history and spooky atmosphere that is only enhanced by the scary celebration. Make it a weekend trip and combine history with the spiritual, enjoy the cultural aspects of the village during the day and then experience the eeriness of the streets at night.

Pluckley village, Kent

For any serious ghost hunters, Pluckley village in Kent is said to be the most haunted village in the UK, as it was so named in 1989 by Guinness World Records. To this day there are twelve known appiritations and many more claimed sightings of spiritual beings found in and around the village. As history knows All Hallows Eve to be the time when spirits walk amongst us, spending your Halloween here is sure to satisfy your craving for ghosts and frights. Dering Woods is another part of the village that is said to be haunted, bearing the nickname ‘Screaming Woods’, as it is said that screams of men and women can be heard throughout the woods. Adding another element to this already spooky village, this is the ideal way to spend the night and day for those of you who take the October celebration seriously. Visit the village this Halloween and wander through the streets to try and catch a sighting of any ghosts or paranormal activity. Have some fun at The Black Horse ghost hunt, taking place at the local public house that was built in the 1470s, which is a hotbed for spiritual sightings and is well known for glasses or customers belongings to go missing and turn up elsewhere. It is said that this is the work of a mischievous spirit who haunts the building. The rich history of this pub has prompted multiple claims of eerie sensations and unusual experiences that cannot be explained. So why not spend your time in this haunted village and do something different from the Halloween routine.

There you go, four spooky locations in the UK that you might not have heard or thought about before. These are great places to visit for Halloween in case you are considering branching out and doing something different from the norm. And if you’re really interested in the supernatural and the afterlife, then why not jump at the chance to visit some of the most notorious haunted places in the UK and risk spotting ghosts, ghouls and experience other spooky sensations. Alternatively, satisfy your thirst for adrenaline and visit somewhere like the London Dungeon for some Halloween themed rides and scary exhibitions. There really is so much you can do during this holiday other than the usual trick or treating, so branch out and make new Halloween memories.