Howl’o’ween at Chessington World of Adventures

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Halloween half term plans are starting to take shape, and if your kids would rather be screaming on a rollercoaster than carving a pumpkin, this one could be right up their street. Chessington World of Adventures Resort is bringing Howl’o’ween back this October, a Halloween event for the whole family with new spooky shows, a scare zone, an underground trick or treat experience and theme park rides at dusk. It is a trip from Northamptonshire, but a Chessington Halloween could make a brilliant day out or a night away over half term, so here is what you need to know.

When is Howl’o’ween at Chessington?

Howl’o’ween runs on selected dates this autumn. You can visit on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October, and then from Saturday 17th October through to Sunday 1st November, which takes in October half term.

Opening times for the Halloween dates are not listed on the event page, so check the Chessington opening hours page before you set off.

What is on at Chessington Halloween?

Stone Watchers: Vampire’s Lair

This scare zone returns for another year. The Stone Watchers guard the Vampire’s Lair, and if you step over the line, the statues come to life. The aim is to sneak through without making a sound, or you might wake the gargoyles. One for the braver members of your gang.

Enchanted Hollow: Trick or Treat

Enchanted Hollow is an optional extra, priced from £9 per person. It is set in an underground village full of friendly animal residents, where you explore cosy burrows and winding tunnels, knock on doors and pick up sweet treats along the way, although a few of the residents like to play cheeky tricks too. You will need a separate theme park ticket to take part.

Chessington says tickets for Enchanted Hollow will be available soon, so keep an eye on its social media channels for updates.

What is included in your Howl’o’ween ticket?

Alongside the rides, zoo and SEA LIFE, your ticket covers a good line-up of Halloween entertainment:

• Dr Frankenfun’s Haunted House Party: a show hosted by the daring Dr Frankenfun and his funky monster friends.
• Rising Flame: Shadows of the Tomb: a ceremonial spectacle with mummified monsters, roaring fires and dance.
• Barnyard Boogie: a musical pop-up show from a quirky straw-made duo.
• Rides at dusk: including Mandrill Mayhem in the Jumanji jungle, Room on the Broom – A Magical Journey, and Vampire.
• Wicked photo ops: spooky photo spots across the resort.
• Chessington Zoo and SEA LIFE: over 1,000 animals to see, from meerkats to colourful fish.

Rides and attractions can vary on the day, so it is worth checking the ride availability page before you go.

Chessington Halloween ticket prices

A Howl’o’ween day ticket starts from £34 per person when you book online, compared with £66 if you buy on the day, so booking ahead can save you up to £32 per person. The ticket includes entry to the theme park, zoo, SEA LIFE and the Howl’o’ween activities, with Enchanted Hollow as an extra. Chessington recommends pre-booking to guarantee entry, and children under 90cm visit free.

If you think you will be back, annual passes are available online from £64.

Turn it into a Halloween short break

If a day trip feels like a lot with the drive, there are Halloween short breaks from £74 per person. That price is based on two adults and two children under 15 sharing a standard bedroom at the Safari Resort Hotel, and it includes one day of theme park and zoo entry plus breakfast.

Staying at one of the on-site hotels also unlocks a few extras:

• Early Ride Time on selected rides when you stay at the Safari or Azteca Resort Hotels with theme park tickets included
• Access to the Savannah Splash Pool, depending on your room type
• Early theme park access on Fridays and Saturdays during term time, and every day during school holidays
• Free parking and hotel entertainment

Chessington has a directions page to help you plan the journey.

You can see the full line-up and book on the Chessington World of Adventures website. If you would rather stay closer to home this half term, you will find more spooky ideas in my Halloween section, including Halloween Half-Term at Wicksteed Park, and my guide to things to do in Northamptonshire for families is full of other ideas. And if you want the best local events sent straight to your inbox, sign up to my weekly what’s on newsletter.

The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.