Halloween 2024 things to do in Leeds – the best, the cheap and the scary

Dave Himelfield

30 September 2024 at 10:15 am·5-min read

There's lots of fun things happening in Leeds this Halloween — -Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)

Leeds has Halloween covered. Of course it does. There was never a doubt.

But what to choose from a such an array? Do you want something family orientated? There’s plenty of both on our list below.

Or do you something a little less tame? Nothing entertains like a good scare, otherwise horror films and heavy metal wouldn’t exist. We’ve got those too.

We haven’t forgotten pumpkin picking either. Don’t get a piddly, runty one from the supermarket. Go to a proper pumpkin patch and get one so big it breaks the rear axle of your car.

Halloween without a proper jack o’ lantern would be like Christmas without a proper tree. Or Easter without the chocolate eggs. Or Whitsun without the Whit Walks. (OK, OK. That’s enough examples – ed).

Whether you’re after a gentle lantern walk, a bowel-loosening fright or something in between you’ll probably find something on our list below. And since the world is far too expensive these days we’ve included a few budget-conscious choices.

Halloween Adventure at Stockeld Park

Explore the Enchanted Forest, meet the Woodland Witches and find your way out of the magical maze at this park, near Wetherby. Watch the Monster Masquerade Ball, pick a pumpkin and blast zombies with a laser.

Stockeld Park, Wetherby Road, Wetherby, LS22 4AN

Every October weekend and October 26 to November 3

Tickets: from £12.50

Halloween Hauntings at Temple Newsam

Dare you enter this Elizabethan mansion which will be over half-term, decorated in spooky style? Make wicked crafts, listen to stories of the hall’s creepy past and tour the cellar.

Temple Newsam, Temple Newsam Road, Leeds, LS15 0AE

October 26 to November 3

Tickets: £9.50 adults, £4.20 children, £22 family of two adults and up to three children

Leeds Scare Trails: Frightmare Trail

Brave the interactive Halloween House of Horrors with live and ‘undead’ actors, special effects and plenty of stuff to make you shake involuntarily. The trail is recommended for adults and children above 13. Under-13s must be accompanied by an adult.

Golden Acre Park, Otley Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 8BQ

October 26

Tickets: £12 adults, £9 children

Leeds Scare Trails: Pumpkin Trail

Unlike the Frightmare Trail (see above) this trail through Golden Acre Park is fright-free. Follow a trail of 200 pumpkins, playing games and winning prizes along the way. It’s free although donations towards local charities are welcomed.

Golden Acre Park, Otley Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 8BQ

October 26/27

Free

Once Upon a Nightmare at Lotherton Hall

Lotherton Hall’s stately garden will be twisted into a fairy tale-inspired nightmare where happy ever afters don’t happen. Watch out for Snow White’s nemesis the Evil Queen and a Little Red Riding Hood gone bad.

The event is designed for kids aged eight to 15.

Collier Lane, Aberford, LS25 3EB

October 25 to 31

Tickets: £12.50

Psycho at Cottage Road Cinema

“We all go a little mad sometimes.”

Watch the classic Hitchcock horror in glorious 35mm film at this old school independent cinema. Not suitable for anyone under 15 years.

Cottage Road Cinema, Cottage Road, Headingley, LS6 4DD

October 30

Tickets: from £7

Pumpkin Picking

For a wide selection of pumpkins to create the ultimate jack o’ lantern try:

Kemps Farm, West End Lane, Horsforth LS18 5ES. Entry: £2.50

Swithens Farm, Swithen's Lane, Rothwell, LS26 0BT

Entry: from £7

Queer Families Leeds Pride of Place and Halloween Crafts

Make Halloween crafts and meet other queer families in Leeds city centre’s first dedicated LGBTQ+ community and cultural space.

Pride Place, Ground Floor, 12 Heaton's Court, LS1 4LJ

October 26

Free but donations welcome

A bit further but worth it

Farmer Copleys Pumpkin Festival

There is a small festival village with entertainment, rides and street food -Credit:Dave Himelfield

The daddy of pumpkin picking festivals takes place at this farm, near Pontefract. Grab a wheelbarrow and choose from 250,000 pumpkins of 40 varieties in all sizes.

And it’s not just pumpkin picking on offer. There’s live entertainment, tractor rides, vintage rides, fancy dress competitions, dog parades, street food, farm produce, bars and much more.

Ravensknowle Farm, Pontefract Road, Pontefract, WF7 5AF

September 28 until October 31

Tickets from £5. Pumpkins charged according to size.

Hallowscream at York Maze

Live actors and spectacular special effects promise to make this one of the most thrilling and downright scary Halloween experiences. This year’s attractions include Rednecks Revenge, which sounds Deliverance-inspired, killer clown fright fest Corny’s Cornevil and human butcher-themed The Flesh Pot, which sounds...ahem...delightful.

There’s also roaming characters, live entertainment, street food and more. It’s over-16s only although there is a lighter version for teenagers (aged 10 to 15) called Hallowtween.

York Maze, Elvington Lane, York, YO19 5LT

Selected dates between October 11 and November 2

Tickets (must be booked in advance): from £17.95

Yorkshire Scare Grounds

For those seeking cold sweat-inducing Halloween thrills there is probably no attraction better than the Yorkshire Scare Grounds, near Wakefield. This year scare yourself stupid with attractions including Whitechapel Undead, Krampus Rewrapped and the Carnival of Carnage.

There are other spine-tingling attractions plus street food and a beer garden with posh loos which you may need to use more than once during your visit.

Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Hell Lane (yes, really), Wakefield, WF1 5SH

October 11 to November 3

Tickets: £26/£28. Booking in advance recommended.

You can find more great Yorkshire Halloween things to do here.

To find out the latest event news in our city you can visit our Best in Leeds homepage. There you will also find a guide to great things to do in Leeds. Stuck at home and wishing you were there? Download your favourite artists from Amazon and Apple music.

Yorkshire Live has launched Explore Yorkshire, which will look at Yorkshire's unique identity and destinations and celebrate God's Own County for what it is - the best place in the world. Whether you are looking for a day out, a weekend away or to try somewhere new, Explore Yorkshire is here to help. Our brilliant new newsletter will bring all of this content together for you in one place - sign up here to get it direct to your inbox.

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