5 spooky castles in the UK to visit this Halloween

The Tower of London

The Tower of London, one of the most famous fortresses on the planet, has served as a royal palace, a prison, an arsenal and even as a zoo. Nowadays this World Heritage Site houses the dazzling Crown Jewels. Learn about the Tower’s story on guided tours led by Yeoman Warders (the official name of the Beefeaters) who will tell you terrible tales of the past and ghastly ghost stories.

The iconic monument in London is hosting an event this Halloween that explores the tower’s dark side. Watched over by ravens, you’ll experience a mystical adventure exploring areas like the Bloody Tower and Traitor’s Gate. You may even run into the ghost of Anne Boleyn and other legendary Tower inmates. 

Thanks to National Lottery players, The Tower of London received a £4.1 million grant. The grant allowed them to recreate the Tudor mansion and gardens in a way that represented different eras of the hall's history, including medieval herbs, Victorian fruit trees, and WWI-era allotments.

Culzean Castle & Country Park

Culzean Castle was built on the west coast of Scotland for the Kennedy family, one of the oldest clans in the nation, whose ancestors can be traced back to Robert the Bruce. The castle was designed by Robert Adam in the XVIII century. Highlights include the grand entrance hall, featuring one of the world's largest collections of British military flintlock pistols, oil paintings, and magnificent rooms. As an insider tip, we recommend you check out the panoramic view that the Round Drawing Room has over the Firth of Clyde. 

During Halloween, they're hosting a Scary Fairy Trail event with no pre-booking required. A wicked witch has cast an evil spell on the area and some fairies have gotten lost. Pick up the trail and find the fairies around the park.

In last year's Open Week, National Trust Scotland provided free access to the castle in exchange for a National Lottery ticket.

Gwyrch Castle

Gwyrch Castle is a Grade I listed country house from the 19th century in the North Wales and is considered one of the first attempts to replicate medieval architecture in Europe. The castle has stunning views of a deer park and the Irish Sea.  Throughout its history, the castle has had various owners and purposes; during WWII it was used during rescue operations and later it was purchased by an American who wanted to renovate it into a luxury hotel. In 2018, the Gwyrch Castle Preservation Trust purchased the land on behalf of the nation thanks to a range of donations from organisations, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

This Halloween half-term, they are running Escape Alive, a fully immersive horror event. There will be a variety of things to do including rides and games at a fairground, scary performances and Halloween films. There will also be street food and a bar where you can enjoy the spooky atmosphere.

Castle Espie

Castle Espie Wildfowl Wetland Centre is a great place for families and nature lovers in Northern Ireland. It's home to the largest collection of native and exotic water birds in the region. Besides woodland walks and soft play areas in the wetlands, you can also enjoy workshops and events. 

In celebration of Halloween, Castle Espie is hosting an event called Wizards and witches school of drawing, where kids can draw their own mythical and magical wetland creatures.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded a Heritage Recovery Fund grant of £203,400 to Castle Espie to assist with recovery efforts following the COVID-19 pandemic

Tamworth Castle

Tamworth Castle is a Norman castle in Staffordshire, England, with over 900 years of history. During the tour of the castle, you will discover the maze of intact rooms, halls and chambers once inhabited by Saxon tribes, Norman dynasties, Tudor grandness, and great families. Visitors can enjoy all year-around activities and events that the castle hosts to entertain families.

Halloween is the perfect time to find out more about the myths and ghostly encounters that surround this historical building. The castle is hosting a ghost hunting event, where you can investigate the paranormal sightings and reports that have happened over many years throughout the area.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded the castle a grant of £1.6 million for improvements to the public areas, interactive displays, and costumes, as well as reopening after COVID-19.