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Halloween in Warwick lasts all through October half-term, which is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for Warwickshire schools. Warwick Castle becomes The Haunted Castle, the Lord Leycester runs candlelit ghost tours, St John’s House turns into a haunted house, and the town gives away 500 pumpkins in the Market Place. Here’s everything on in Warwick for Halloween 2026, with dates, times and prices from the organisers.
On this page
Halloween in Warwick 2026 at a glance
| Date | Event | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17–30 Oct, selected evenings | Spooky Tours by candlelight | The Lord Leycester | £15 adults, £10 children |
| Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | The Haunted Castle | Warwick Castle | Castle entry, book online |
| Mon 26 Oct, 3.30–5.30pm | Ghost Trail Around the Garden | Hill Close Gardens | £6 a child |
| Tue 27 Oct, 12–4pm | Pumpkin Giveaway | Market Place | Free |
| Wed 28 & Thu 29 Oct, 7pm | An Evening of Ghost Stories | St John’s House | £18 plus booking fee |
| Thu 29 – Sat 31 Oct, 10am–5pm | St John’s Haunted House | St John’s House | £12 children, £6 adults |
| Fri 30 Oct, 3–8pm | Trick or Treat Twilight Market | Market Place | Free |
| Last week of October | Pumpkin Carving Competition | The Lord Leycester | Free to enter |
The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle
Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, 10am to 5pm. Warwick Castle’s half-term Halloween event fills the grounds with live shows and mazes. New for 2026 are the Spirit Hotel, a walk-through where “the guests never leave”, and a Scarecrow Disco: a walk up the mound past character scarecrows to a family silent disco at the top.
Also on: the Witches of Warwick live show and The Grave Diggers on the Dead Centre stage, the Haunted Hollows maze, A Trouble in Time with the castle’s history team, spooky schools for young witches and wizards, and the Headless Horseman roaming the grounds. The Falconer’s Quest bird of prey show and The Legend of the Trebuchet run until 1 November too.
Good to know, from the castle’s own FAQ:
- The Halloween attractions aren’t suitable for babies or children under five.
- Some attractions have limited capacity and timed entry.
- The Castle Dungeon costs extra, isn’t recommended for under-10s, and under-18s must be with an adult.
- Halloween weekend is usually the busiest time, so a weekday is quieter.
- The Kingmaker and Royal Weekend Party attractions are closed while they host the mazes.
- Both castle car parks charge, and food outlets take cards only.
For something scarier, Castle After Dark is the castle’s separate evening event. The castle closes at 5pm to get ready and evening guests queue to re-enter; dates and tickets are on the castle’s website. Our Warwick Castle guide has tickets, opening times and parking.
Ghost tours and spooky evenings
Spooky Tours at the Lord Leycester
The Lord Leycester, the medieval almshouse by the West Gate, runs candlelit tours after dark, with nearly 900 years of ghost stories, darker history and reports from recent paranormal investigations. There are no scare actors or planned jump scares.
- When: 6.30pm to 7.15pm on Friday 16, Saturday 17, Friday 23, Saturday 24, Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October.
- Tickets: £15 adults, £10 children. Not suitable for under-10s, though parents can decide.
- Before the tour: the café stays open from 5pm with a spooky menu.
An Evening of Ghost Stories at St John’s House
On Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October at 7pm (doors 6.30pm), Toby Burchell of Behind the Door Productions performs two classic tales by candlelight: Charles Dickens’ The Signalman and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Lot No. 249. It lasts about 1 hour 40 minutes with a 20-minute interval, and the bar is open.
Tickets are £18 plus a booking fee, for ages 12 and over. The performance is on the first floor, with no disabled access.
Halloween for families in Warwick
St John’s Haunted House
From Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October, 10am to 5pm, St John’s House becomes a family haunted house built around the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Children follow clues, make potions and slime, explore a messy play area and the Witch’s Kitchen, and make Halloween crafts to take home. There’s a playdough zone for younger visitors. A visit takes 75 to 90 minutes, and costumes are encouraged.
Tickets are £12 for children, £6 for adults, and children two and under go free (book a child ticket if they want to do the slime and crafts). Book through Heritage and Culture Warwickshire’s box office. Disabled parking at St John’s House must be reserved in advance; otherwise use the paid St Nicholas Park car park.
Ghost Trail at Hill Close Gardens
On Monday 26 October, 3.30pm to 5.30pm, Hill Close Gardens has a family ghost trail: dress up, find the ghosts around the garden, join a spooky dance and ice a spooky biscuit. It’s for families and has no scares. Tickets are £6 a child, booked online.
Free pumpkin giveaway
Warwick Town Council fills the Market Place with 500 Halloween pumpkins on Tuesday 27 October, from 12pm to 4pm. It’s a good spot for a family photo, and you can take a pumpkin home. Come early if you want one.
Pumpkin carving competition at the Lord Leycester
Carve a pumpkin and drop it at the Lord Leycester during the last week of October to be displayed around the café and historic buildings. The Master and Brethren choose their favourite on Friday 30 October, and the winner gets a free family annual ticket.
Trick or Treat Twilight Market
The Market Place market has a Halloween twist on Friday 30 October, from 3pm to 8pm, with arts, crafts and local produce. It’s free to visit.
Every Halloween event in Warwick
This list updates itself from organisers’ own listings:
On now
- Tours Spooky Tours Sat 17 Oct – Fri 30 Oct Details: The Lord Leycester
Saturday 24 October
- Tours The Haunted Castle Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov Details: Warwick Castle
Monday 26 October
- Tours Ghost Trail Around the Garden Details: Hill Close Gardens
Tuesday 27 October
- Event Pumpkin Giveaway in Warwick Town Centre Details: Warwick District Council
Wednesday 28 October
- Tours An Evening of Ghost Stories - Behind the Door Productions Wed 28 Oct – Thu 29 Oct Details: Heritage and Culture Warwickshire
Thursday 29 October
- Tours St John's Haunted House Thu 29 Oct – Sat 31 Oct Details: Heritage and Culture Warwickshire
Friday 30 October
- Heritage Hallowe'en Pumpkin Carving Contest Details: The Lord Leycester
- Markets Trick or Treat Twilight Market Details: Warwick District Council
See the full Warwick events calendar · Updated 17 October from organisers' own listings.
Halloween days out near Warwick
- Hatton Adventure World (just north-west of Warwick): the Halloween Spooktacular, with four witches, a new haunted house and a free pumpkin for each child to pick and carve, runs on selected dates until 1 November. Tickets from £19.95 a person, including a child’s pumpkin.
- Kenilworth Castle (about 5 miles north): English Heritage’s Great Pumpkin Party runs from 24 October to 1 November, with storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and a daily fancy dress competition. It’s included in standard entry, and English Heritage members go free.
Pumpkin picking near Warwick
- Hilltop Farm, Hunningham (east of Leamington): £2 entry, then pay for the pumpkins you pick.
- Pumpkins R Us at Dallas Burston Polo Club, near Southam: a pumpkin patch through October.
- Hatton Adventure World: a free pumpkin for each child with a Spooktacular ticket.
Getting to Halloween events in Warwick
- The Runaway Mop closes part of the town centre first. The funfair is in the Market Place on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October. Market Place and the streets around it, and New Street car park, are closed from 4.45pm on Thursday 22 October to 11.59am on Sunday 25 October. Hampton Road car park is closed until 12pm on Sunday 25 October. See our Warwick Mop guide.
- Parking: our Warwick parking guide has every car park on a map, including two with 2 hours free.
- By train: Warwick station is a short walk from the town centre. See live Warwick train times.
Trick or treating in Warwick
Halloween is Saturday 31 October this year. A few simple rules keep it fun for everyone:
- Only knock where there’s a lit pumpkin or Halloween decorations, and skip houses with a “no trick or treat” sign.
- Children should go with an adult, stay in a group and carry a torch.
- Be polite, don’t go into anyone’s house, and finish early in the evening.
Print a free sign for your door, made by us:
Halloween in Warwick: questions
What’s on in Warwick for Halloween 2026?
The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle (24 October to 1 November), candlelit Spooky Tours at the Lord Leycester, St John’s Haunted House (29 to 31 October), a ghost trail at Hill Close Gardens (26 October), a free pumpkin giveaway in the Market Place (27 October) and the Trick or Treat Twilight Market (30 October).
When is October half-term 2026 in Warwick?
Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for Warwickshire state schools. Independent schools set their own dates.
Is Warwick Castle’s Haunted Castle suitable for toddlers?
The castle says its Halloween attractions aren’t suitable for babies or children under five. The grounds, shows and play areas are open as usual.
Are there free Halloween events in Warwick?
Yes: the pumpkin giveaway in the Market Place on Tuesday 27 October and the Trick or Treat Twilight Market on Friday 30 October are free, and so is entering the Lord Leycester’s pumpkin carving competition.
When is Bonfire Night in Warwick?
The Warwick Town Bonfire is at Warwick Racecourse on Saturday 7 November. See our Bonfire Night in Warwick guide.
