Halloween
Find ghoulishly great-value days out at our Halloween events taking place across the country.
Enjoy our family Halloween events over the half-term. Follow trails of clues on a Halloween quest and join storytellers for spooky woodland walks through the shadowy grounds of historic places.
Plus, join storytellers for spooky tales of the supernatural with our Ghost Tales events exclusively for adults.
Medieval Ghosts
Why did medieval monks write ghosts stories? What do a burning bale of hay, a scary horse and some silver spoons have in common?
The latest episode of History in a Nutshell looks at the origins of hauntings and ghost stories, which go much further back than the spooky Victorian tales we're all used to hearing.
The Creepiest Objects in Our Collection
At English Heritage, we care for more than a million historic objects across England — including more than 27,000 books, 1,400 paintings and 15,000 animal remains.
With Halloween around the corner, we've scoured our catalogues to pick out five of the most sinister objects from English history.
Read MoreThe Origins of Halloween
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN
Many people herald carved pumpkins, trick-or-treating and fancy dress as an Americanised festival. But did you realise that most of these activities are rooted in European folklore and tradition?
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What are soul cakes and what's their link with Halloween?
Senior Properties Historian Dr Michael Carter explores the tradition of soul cakes and their link with Halloween and trick-or-treating.
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WHY WE CARVE PUMPKINS
Halloween wouldn't be complete without a pumpkin carved with a frightening face. But what’s the origin of this terrifying tradition? Prepare yourself for shocks and surprises!
Spooky Stories from History
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WITCHCRAFT: EIGHT MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS
From the Salem Witch Trials to the witches of Macbeth, the figure of the witch is embedded in our culture. The problem is that most of what we think we know is wrong. Professor Diane Purkiss debunks eight of the most common myths about witchcraft.
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SPOOKY STORIES AND GRUESOME TALES
With bloody battles, gruesome executions, spooky coffins and strange paranormal phenomena, our historic sites are home to lots of horrible history. Be warned - you'll need a strong stomach for some of these stories!
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WHERE MARK HADDON FOUND HIS ‘GHOSTS’ AT THE YORK COLD WAR BUNKER
We challenged seven leading contemporary authors to visit our historic places for inspiration to craft an original ghost story for our new book ‘Eight Ghosts‘. Discover the inspiration behind Mark Haddon's story, inspired by the York Cold War Bunker.
How To Carve A Halloween Turnip
Why not carve a turnip this Halloween instead of a pumpkin? Find out where this old tradition came from and discover how to carve your own turnip to terrify the trick-or-treaters this Halloween.
Watch on YouTubeGet ready to step into the past this Halloween with these cool dress-up ideas!
Have a happy historical Halloween!
Get ready for Halloween with our selection of treats – no tricks, we promise! Do you know why we carve Halloween pumpkins? Read our history of pumpkins to find out, then have a go at carving your own! Plus, get creative and make a scary mythical beast mask, cook up some spooky recipes and light up the dark nights with a crafty castle lantern!
