Get Ghostly This Halloween at Chatsworth

Halloween at Chatsworth

Choose Your Pumpkin

Spooktacular Chatsworth is full of scary surprises this half term as the haunting Halloween Hoot returns to the eerie Peak District.

With ghoulish fun lurking round every corner, the garden, farmyard and house will be transformed from October 25 to November 2 by a host of Halloween helpers. Families brave enough to enter can witness the tricks, treats and spooky stories on offer, with activities ranging from broomstick making to trips into the spooky spell weavers lair.

Dare to ride the Fright Flight that travels deep into Warlock Wood, but mind your head - you will be shooting the spooks and spotting the bats as you go! A scary scattering of spiders and snakes will also be joining the resident farmyard animals, as well as a craft marquee, for a real hands-on fright fest this Halloween.

Visitors can take a walk through Chatsworth’s Halloween trail, with the house exhibiting a selection of historical items sure to give you a shock, including a man trap, a 16th century book of spells, a death mask, an autopsy report from 1777 and more. Ceramic pumpkins will light the way and highlight items from the collection with extra spooky significance.

In the garden, seek out hidden pumpkins, venture into the abandoned tunnel and much more. Spooky stories fit for the whole family will be taking place under the canopy every 30 minutes from 11.30 am – 4.00pm and afterwards learn how to make a witch’s broomstick.  Included with admission to the house, garden and/or farmyard, check www.chatsworth.org for more information on dates, times and prices.

Join in the ghoulish fun this Halloween at Holkham

Ghoulish adventures and spooktacular happenings will set hearts racing at Holkham Hall when it hosts a spine-tingling array of Halloween events sure to terrify the bravest of souls.

Halloween fun at Holkham

Halloween Horrors will take place from October 26 to 31 with lots of scary activities, ghostly games and gory fun and frights for everyone to enjoy celebrating Halloween.

In the Bygones Museum visitors can discover the wonders inside the amazing ‘Curiovan’ and see the natural world in a magical way. Their sense of curiosity and wonder will be awakened by the specimen jars, dancing skeletons, singing mechanical birds, clockwork ladybirds and tiny skeletal fairies which are among the many exhibits to be discovered and explored. 

Ghostly fun!

A yarnsmith will enthral his listeners and bring to life his spell-binding, mystical tales and Victorian stories of ghosts, witches and devils.  Some hauntingly scary fun with silhouette bingo, a skull-duggery challenge, pumpkin carving and craft activities to make the scariest pop-up ghost will keep everyone occupied.

In the vast 18^th century walled gardens Halloween visitors will be able to pit their wits against the ghosts and play phantom football, or test their knowledge and try the mind-boggling code breaker trail.  Spooky body parts and frightful factoids are all to be found in the state rooms of Holkham Hall where children can make pencil ghosts and join in the fun. In the magnificent setting of the Old Kitchen, ‘Kiddycook’ will be on hand to help younger visitors decorate their own tasty Halloween cookie with some gruesome additions.

Everyone is encouraged to come dressed up for the occasion and can have their outfits enhanced by ghoulish face painting to add some gory grazes and weeping wounds providing a touch of the macabre.  A fancy dress parade will take place each day at 12 noon.

Holkham’s Halloween events run from October 26 to 31. The hall will be open on the Sunday, Monday and Thursday. All other areas will be open every day. For further information and admission prices go to http://www.holkham.co.uk/html/Halloween2014.html

Half Term Terrifying Tree Trail at Castle Howard

Children will enjoy exploring the grounds this half term with our new terrifying tree trail. Creep through the dark woodland and peer into the undergrowth. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for what's lurking just around the next corner.
Pick up one of our free trails and see if you can spot all of the spooky sights.
Visit on Thursday 31 October and meet owls in the grounds and Geoffrey the Lion will be prowling the gardens too.

Have a Haunted Halloween at Woburn Abbey this Half Term

Woburn Abbey and Gardens are putting on a series of Halloween activities for families this autumn half term. During the week from the 26th October to the 3rd November spend a day at the historic house and gardens with all of the extra children’s activities included in the regular admission price.

Whilst exploring the Abbey, visitors of all ages can take part in a Halloween treasure hunt. A series of cryptic clues will be hidden across three floors of the Abbey for them to find and decipher to solve a seasonal mystery.

The Russell Room in the South Court of Woburn Abbey will play host to some spooky storytelling suitable for children of all ages. Visitors can hear a storyteller recite a tale about ‘The Ghostly Goat of Woburn Abbey’ with performances taking place at 12noon and 2pm every day of the half term week. A variety of craft activities with a Halloween theme will be available throughout the day. These include a chance for younger visitors to make their own witches hat and conjure some magical spells, as well as an opportunity to take part in The Big Draw – a national event to promote drawing that takes place throughout October.

The treasure hunt, storytelling, craft and drawing activities will take place every day of the half term week from the 26th October to the 3rd November 2013 and are included in the regular admission price of Woburn Abbey and Gardens.

There are no tricks in The Duchess’ Tea Room, only treats, so stop by to enjoy a steaming hot drink or a delicious slice of something sweet. The Duchess’ Gift Shop will also be open every day for special and spooky souvenirs.

For visitor interest in learning some practical gardening advice during their visit, the Woburn Abbey Garden’s monthly Come and Grow session will coincide with the Halloween activities on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd November. The topic for this event is winter projects and visitors can take part in a free guided tour of the gardens starting at 12 noon.

Woburn Abbey Gardens and Deer Park is open from 10am to 5pm and the Abbey itself is open from 11am to 5pm each day.

Location
Woburn Abbey, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK 17 9WA
Just south east of Milton Keynes, Woburn Abbey is signposted from junctions 12 and 13 of the M1. It is also easily accessible from the A5.

Have A Hauntingly Good Half Term At Beaulieu - 26th October – 3rd November 2013

Halloween at Beaulieu

Look out for some strange happenings in the neighbourhood at Beaulieu this October Half Term – it will be quite a spectre-cle!

Beaulieu is reputed to be one of Britain’s most haunted places and ghosts have often been seen and heard in its 13th century Abbey and at Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538.  Hear Spooky Stories from the costumed guides in Palace House, and children can take a lucky dip in the Witches Cauldron and be given a Gruesome Face Painting.

All children who get into the ‘spirit’ of the holidays and come to Beaulieu in Halloween fancy dress will receive special half price admission.

In the National Motor Museum, you can follow the Halloween Trail and see some of the 250 vehicles on show, from early motor cars to Land Speed Record Breakers. Don’t miss one of the last chances to see BOND IN MOTION, displaying 50 of the best-loved and most iconic vehicles from the James Bond films. This fantastic, one-off exhibition will be closing on the 5th January 2014. See the quirky Crocodile Submarine used by Bond in Octopussy, the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, with its adaptive camouflage system from Die Another Day and the ever iconic Aston Martin DB5 used in Goldeneye, plus watch fantastic film clips and behind-the-scenes footage from some of the most thrilling vehicle stunt sequences in the film series.

Have a ride on ‘Wheels’, a pod ride through 100 years of motoring history and take a trip on the high-level Beaulieu Moan-o-rail which passes through the roof of the Motor Museum.

Become a part of the world’s greatest car show with Beaulieu’s ‘World of Top Gear’.  Enter the Top Gear Enormodrome to see actual cars from some of the presenter’s most ambitious challenges, hear the stories behind them and enjoy clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

Beaulieu is open daily from 10am – 5pm. For more information, please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

February Half Term At The Treasure Houses Of England

Promising a mesmerising mix of entertainment especially for children, The Treasure Houses of England are poised to deliver a fabulous feast of family fun this February Half Term.

Blenheim Palace

Beaulieu has orchestrated a James Bond themed Scalextric track and a special Secret Agent Trail (16-24 February) for younger visitors to go undercover in order to crack the hidden code; while Blenheim Palace (reopening 9 February) presents a filming exhibition “Lights, Camera, Action”, including family-friendly film showings over the half term week. Also its Pleasure Gardens – the perfect place for outdoor activities at the popular Adventure Playground, Butterfly House, the Marlborough Maze – the world’s second largest symbolic hedge maze - or taking a special trip on the miniature train.

Jump aboard the land-train for a joy ride down to the Lakeside Adventure Playground at Castle Howard, which is suitable for children (and adults!) of all ages. Similarly, Chatsworth’s Farmyard and Adventure Playground offers an enticing array of activities for all (16-24 February).

Harewood’s exhibition‘Objectivity: The Art of Useful Things’ (16-24 February) has inspired the half term family activities this February.   From extravagant jelly moulds in the Old Kitchen to tiny feeding spoons in the Bird Garden, learn about the extraordinary tools used to carry out ordinary tasks.  A fascinating collection of often quirky tools will be on display in the Servants’ Hall alongside a stack of activities that will entertain visitors of all ages. The Old Kitchen will serve up tantalising treats in form of jelly making displays, while there will be children’s crafts aplenty in the Still Room. The glorious Gardens will see demonstrations from the gardeners themselves and the keepers in the Bird Garden will unveil some fascinating facts.

Hatfield House’s Half Term Activity Week at Stable Yard (16-24 February) will see the Coach House Restaurant and Shops present a captivating collection of children’s activities ahead of Spring’s exciting park and garden reopening (30 March).

Leed’s Castle presents Creative Cookery at the Castle (18-22 February), which will give children the opportunity to develop their baking skills as they make a white swan out of icing and learn about butter-making for a brilliantly hands-on and suitably sticky-fingered experience.

The first Luminaria lights event at Woburn Abbey will illuminate the Abbey Gardens after dark and promises to be an evening of enchantment and adventure (5-9pm last entry, closes 10pm, Saturday 16th February).  Follow the trail winding through the gardens and set out on a family escapade or an alternative Valentine’s evening.   Experience the historic gardens aglow with warm lights, be entranced by ethereal sculptures, lose yourself in the labyrinth and watch award-winning ice sculptors create works of art.   Separate ticket price, pre-book online and save.

Opening in March:

Burghley House reopens its house and gardens to the public from 16 March, where an awe-inspiring world of stunning scenery and attractions await, and Holkham Hall follows in spectacular suit with its own anticipated reopening on 25 March and launch of a new Children’s Woodland Adventure Play Area with a tree house in the sky, high level walkways, rope ladders and zip-wire.

Woburn Abbey reopens its doors (22 March) for visitors to venture inside before delighting in the dazzling scenery of the Abbey Gardens and grounds and enchanting wildlife found in the Deer Park for an utterly fabulous and truly magical day out.

February Fun At Beaulieu! 16th – 24th February 2013

Beaulieu becomes a secret agent training ground once again for Bond-themed February Half Term.
 

Aston Martin DB5 and Rolls-Royce Phantom III

During February half-term week, from 16th – 24th February, come to Beaulieu, home of the world’s largest ever James Bond vehicle exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, and test out your spy skills to see if you have what it takes to be the next 007.

In the National Motor Museum, pit your driving ability against others on a Bond style, eight-lane Scalextric track. Race round in the fastest time possible for the opportunity to win a fantastic Scalextric prize.
Test your knowledge of the world’s most famous special agent, James Bond, with our special half term quiz trail as you enter BOND IN MOTION, which displays 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films. Follow the trail around the exhibition and exercise your code-cracking skills for an opportunity to win a Bond goody bag. See some of the best-loved and most iconic vehicles, including the Lotus Esprit S1, affectionately nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from The Spy Who Loved Me, the Crocodile Submarine from Octopussy and the Aston Martin Vanquish with adaptive camouflage seen in Die Another Day.

Crocodile Mini-Sub from Octopussy

Don’t miss the Secret Army Exhibition, which tells the story of Beaulieu’s history as a training ground for secret agents during WWII. The Special Operations Executive (SOE) trained agents at a number of large country houses scattered across the Beaulieu Estate before they left to work with Resistance groups in occupied Europe.

Learn about the instructors, secret agents and unsung heroes of the SOE, their training and secret missions. See some real-life spy gadgets on display which wouldn’t look out of place in Q’s laboratory, watch a film explaining how the ‘Finishing School’ operated in total secrecy for four years, and make and break your own secret codes using the cipher wheel.

See the National Motor Museum’s collection of over 250 vehicles, from the iconic World Land Speed Record Breaker, Bluebird CN7, to the quirky and instantly recognisable ‘orange on wheels’ Mini Outspan. There are historic racing cars, modern rally cars and the latest F1 machines as well as family cars from every motoring era on show.

Walk into the World of Top Gear, displaying actual vehicles created by presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May for some of their most ambitious challenges on the TV show over the years.The latest creation to join the display is Top Gear’s ‘Bond car on a budget’ Lotus Excel submarine car from the 50 Years of Bond Cars special.

Enter the‘Enormodrome’, which aims to recreate the feel of the Top Gear studio, to see regular features from the programme including the Cool Wall and Celebrity ‘Lap Time’ boards. Plus you can watch an exclusive video presentation from behind-the-scenes at the Top Gear HQ with Jeremy, Richard and James, and clips from the show featuring the cars on display.

Explore the grounds by taking a ride on the high-level Monorail, which runs straight through the roof of the museum, or by hopping on the open-topped replica London bus.

Budding drivers can get in the driving seat on Dipstick’s Driving Circuit in fun mini motorised vehicles or drive remote controlled cars in The Stig Driving Challenge. Younger visitors can get physical on the Mini Motor PlayTrail with its Veteran Bus climbing frame, swings and Little Tykes ride-on-cars.

Visit Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and stroll through the beautiful gardens and take a look inside Beaulieu Abbey, a 13th century Cistercian monastery.

Beaulieu is open from 10am – 5pm every day. For more information please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

October Half Term & Halloween Fun

Ghoulish Ghost Tours
 take place at Leeds Castle

For an endlessly happy Halloween and Half Term holiday, schedule in a spooky trip to the ever-spectacular Treasure Houses of England.

Blenheim Palace’s Halloween celebrations (27 October – 4 November) will see Witches and Wizards scattered throughout the Pleasure Gardens for a spellbinding Halloween Hunt over October Half Term. Storytelling in the stables includes Maggie Frampton’s puppet theatre on 27 -28 October, try to solve the mystery of the missing Pumpkins. On 3 & 4 November performance storyteller and author Cat Weatherill will bring spooky tales to the Palace.

Half Term Hauntings at Beaulieu

With Beaulieu presenting its Ghost and Ghouls Half Term Hauntings (27 October – 4 November), a crowd-pleasing programme of exciting action is in store for the whole family.  From a Halloween quiz trail starting in the Motor Museum and spooky stories in Palace House to tours with real ghost hunters in the haunted Abbey for a super-scary day of chilling entertainment.  Throw into the magnificent mix, frightening face painting, a ride on the Moan-a-rail, and a Halloween lucky dip – and it’s a formidably frightening formula for memorable and thrilling experience.

Wrap up warm (and you might need your wellies) to take part in Castle Howard’s spooky halloween trail.  Creep your way through Ray Wood, find all our friendly pumpkins along the way, they will keep the ghosts and ghouls away!  (27 Oct – 4 Nov, 10 – 4).

Alternatively, join the Burghley Pumpkin Trail (20 – 28 October) around the gorgeous Sculpture Garden and explore Burghley House’s spectacular surrounds to find the hidden pumpkins and receive a special treat.

Sink into the delights of the season and admire Harewood in all of its Autumn Glory (27 October-4 November) as a bevy of indoor and outdoor events celebrate the colourful season amongst beautifully inspiring scenery.  Whilst on the farm at Hatfield you can enjoy their farm themed craft week and follow the Halloween Trails.

Holkham Hall
Halloween Fun for the Family

Holkham Hall’s Halloween (27-31 October) invites visitors into their magical and mystical mayhem, where they’ll be greeted with spooky skeletons, wicked witches and sinister silhouettes in the courtyard and Bygones Museum. Create a potion or spell with their wizard – who will also lead a creepy lantern parade, and listen to the ghoulish storytelling or watch the amazing fire juggling.  And don’t miss Holkham’s spooky basement tours (27, 29, 31 October) as they present an exciting chance to hunt for all things ghoulish and unlock the hidden secrets in the underground labyrinth of the massive hall. Children will be enthralled and entertained to the max at Leeds Castle (27 October-2 November) with a fantastic array of activities such as mask making and spooky themed crafts. Their ghoulish Ghost Tours (29, 30 & 31 October) will definitely stir the senses, as will the Fairfax Restaurant’s tasty store of Halloween themed food.

Or why not dine in style at The Inn at Woburn Abbey for their Halloween themed ‘dish of the day’ (31 October) and enjoy a sumptuous and festively fun menu for a marvellous meal out amidst a truly spellbinding setting.

***********************************************************************************************
The Treasure Houses of England (THE) is a consortium of 10 of the country’s finest palaces, historic houses and castles. Unique in character, each property has its own magical blend of magnificent architecture, fabulous surroundings, world class collections and family attractions to enjoy.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

Autumn Glory: Half Term At Harewood - Halloween

Photography by David Oakes

Get Out and About, Get Dressed Up, Get Carving or Just Get Spooked
Saturday 27 October - Sunday 4 November 2012

10.00am - 5.00pm

Perfect for families and lovers of the outdoors, the October half term week at Harewood celebrates Autumn in all its glory.  Enjoy indoor and outdoor activities with a good dose of Halloween fun or marvel in the peaceful beauty of Harewood in its Autumn coat.  Free to Members and with most activities included in the entry fee, Harewood’s renowned Autumn Glory is great value for money for all the family and you can really make the most of Autumn at Harewood:  enjoy walks beneath the ever-changing canopy of gold and learn about our Autumn produce, join in with craft activities and ghostly walks, or just relax and enjoy the countryside, all within easy reach of Leeds and Harrogate.

Take time to enjoy our choice of peaceful walks, perfect for short strolls or longer trails of discovery.  Trees are one of the most beautiful features of the landscape here and Autumn showcases her very best at Harewood.  Join the Harewood gardeners for the Nature’s Harvest trail of discovery through the beautiful Lakeside Gardens to find out about the trees, plants and fungi.  See some of the best trees in Yorkshire, and even the country, such as our Grand Fir growing in the Lakeside Gardens – the tallest in Yorkshire - and a rare Japanese oak, planted by Her Majesty Queen Alexandra in 1908. We’ve also put together a Harewood Walks Booklet (£3) to ensure you don’t miss the very best views and explore all that Harewood has to offer.

Enjoy the fabulous flavours of Autumn with seasonal cookery demonstrations to try and taste, including soups and stews, apples from Harewood’s Walled Garden and more seasonal treats, all held in the Old Kitchen Below Stairs (open from 11am) for added atmosphere and cosiness. Harewood have also gathered together, with the help of the Northern Fruit Group, around 120 varieties of apple to create a stunning display Below Stairs, with cookery demonstrations using apples from Harewood’s own Walled Garden, (activities commence at 11am).  To fully immerse yourself in the world of seasonal fruit and vegetables and see where they grow, visit the Walled Garden to see and sample more of Harewood’s own produce (daily, 11am, 1pm and 3pm).

Perfect for little ones and adults, the Potting Workshops will take place (weekdays 11am and 3pm) outside the Book Shop where you can try your hand at growing your own trees, pot up and get good tips from Harewood’s award-winning gardeners on how to sow, grow and care for your trees.  And make time to pop inside the Book Shop for spontaneous book readings from some of the children’s favourites – a lovely place to chill out and get them interested in reading.

Bring us your carved pumpkins and you could be in the chance of winning a trip to return to Harewood this Christmas to meet Father Christmas (11am to 4pm every day). Or, try your hand at creating spooky Halloween masks and puppets in our Halloween craft days (11.30 to 3.30pm every day).  Children who arrive in Halloween costumes on 31st October will get half price entry... so get busy and dress up!

Get into the Halloween spirit with eerie goings-on and listen to magical and mysterious stories from the ever popular Twilight Tales team.  Make your own lantern to illuminate your journey around the grounds to really get into the spirit.  (Pre-book only, Tues 30 Oct and Thurs 1 Nov, 3 to 5pm, tickets are £7.50 in addition to the entry free, adults free if accompanying a child).  For older children (over 10 years) and adults, join a more grown-up spooky walk and talk (pre-book only 31 October, 6pm to 8pm £10) as the Trio Literati troop tell Harewood’s most chilling ghost stories on Halloween evening on a walk from All Saints’ Church and around the grounds.  Be part of this band of intrepid paranormal investigators....if you dare… If you just fancy a trail, then the self-guided Spooky Trail will take you around the grounds with added mystery and a good dose of humour. 
 
Visit the website to pre-book www.harewood.org/whats-on

*****************************************************************************************************
The Treasure Houses of England (THE) is a consortium of 10 of the country’s finest palaces, historic houses and castles. Unique in character, each property has its own magical blend of magnificent architecture, fabulous surroundings, world class collections and family attractions to enjoy.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk

This Halloween Search For Spectres At Beaulieu Abbey 31st October & 2nd November 2012

 

On the 31st October and 2nd November 2012 join the Hampshire Ghost Club as they embark on a paranormal investigation within the grounds of the Beaulieu attraction, in historic 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, the site

of many spooky spectre sightings.

Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204, when King John gave a gift of land to the Cistercian monks to found a monastery. The largest Cistercian Abbey in England, Beaulieu thrived for over 300 years until it was destroyed in the 1530s at the time of the dissolution of the Monasteries.
The strange stories and legends surrounding Beaulieu Abbey have captured the imaginations of people from all walks of life, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who had a great interest in psychic research and made many visits to Beaulieu in search of the unexplainable. To this day, both staff and visitors to Beaulieu report glimpsing ghosts of the Abbey’s former inhabitants, as well as sounds and smells from eras past.

Now the Hampshire Ghost Club are inviting members of the public to join them on two ghost hunts, investigating some of the most haunted areas of Beaulieu’s ancient Abbey.

 
The paranormal sessions will take place on two nights around Halloween, beginning at 9pm and continuing through to 1am. Activities will include vigils and investigations, using professional equipment, in the Abbey’s Domus building, which was formerly the Lay Brothers’ Dormitory. Investigations will also take place in the Abbey ruins and Cloisters. 

Ticket prices are £50 per person, including hot drink refreshments, and are available to people aged 18+. Pre-booking for these sessions is essential, and you can reserve your place by telephoning 01590 612888.

For more information, please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.