As the nights grow darker and Halloween approaches, it’s time to embrace things that go bump in the night.

And along with some ghoulishly good days out, you’ll find new ways to bring light to the autumn evenings, with our pick of the season’s new attractions.

Blenheim Palace Halloween Trail, Oxfordshire

The grounds at the historic palace are being transformed in time for Halloween with a special trail taking place from October 22 to 31.

With neon cobwebs helping to light the illuminated woodland, you’ll also find flickering flames in the fire garden, fire artists performing and grinning pumpkins aglow.

Finishing in the Secret Garden, with one last surprise for those who’ve followed the trail to its end, you can also enjoy devilish hot chocolate and other treats along the way.

Tickets cost £15 for adults, £10 for children aged three to 16. blenheimpalace.com

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience, Cheshire

Add a touch of magic to your autumn, with the enchanting new Harry Potter-themed experience opening in Cheshire this October.

A Forbidden Forest Experience, at Arley Hall and Gardens, runs from October 19 to December 15, taking you on a journey into the wizarding world, meeting fantastic beasts — including Hippogriffs, Centaurs, Unicorns and Nifflers — as you venture into the woods.

Fans also get the chance to relive a few iconic moments, including casting their own Patronus.

Tickets cost £39 for adults, £29 for children. hpforbiddenforestexperience.com

Ignite trail at Polesden Lacey, Surrey

Brighten the darkness on a new light trail at National Trust site Polesden Lacey, taking place after dark in the Edwardian gardens in the Surrey property.

Ignite runs from October 22 to November 7, with visitors using hand-held lanterns to light their own way through the tree-lined avenues, before the main ‘fire and light’ trail.

From fire-breathing dragons and a river of flames to a tunnel of light that’s almost 50 metres long — adorned with over 100,000 lights — you can also see illuminated willow wildlife sculptures, along with the historic house itself.

Tickets cost from £15 for adults, £10 for children. nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey-ignite 

English Heritage Halloween trails

There’s fiendish family fun and grown-up ghost hunting at English Heritage properties around the country this month, including an adventure trail inspired by Cressida Cowell’s Wizards of Once series and spooky woodland walks.

Or adults can join evening tours to uncover some of the darkest secrets of English Heritage’s spooky sites — aimed at age 16+, there are tales of supernatural sightings as well as real-life horrors from history. Head to Goodrich Castle on the Welsh border and there’s a twilight tour this month too.

The events take place at locations around England. Prices vary. english-heritage.org.uk/Halloween

Follow Scotland’s ghost trail

With over a thousand ghostly manifestations apparently spotted in Scotland over the past few years, you won’t be short of a scarily good day out.

The Scotland ghost trail picks out 15 places around the country, from castles to battlefields and graveyards, whether you’re looking for somewhere frighteningly close or for a haunted holiday theme.

From a ghost train to a ghost dog, a white lady, two green ladies and a phantom piper, there’s enough to inspire an uncanny autumn and a weird winter. Click here to download

Discover haunted Hatfield House, Hertfordshire

There are spine-tingling interactive experiences promised at Hatfield House this October, for both kids and grown-ups —ideal if you’re looking for more from your day out than a basic pumpkin.

The children’s Halloween trail runs from October 28 to 31, with creepy characters singing spooky songs along the way, plus craft activities.

Meanwhile, adults can enjoy the carnival of the weird and wonderful with The Sneaky Sisters Sideshow Spectacular, or chilling immersive experience, The Veil of Despair, set in 1930 on the search for a missing child — strictly over-18s only.

Tickets for the Halloween half-term fun events cost £15 per child, and £10 for adult with morning and afternoon time slots. Adult tickets cost from £20.50 for Sideshow Spectacular only, or £55 including The Veil of Despair as well. Book at sneakyexperience.digitickets.co.uk/tickets

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