A Truly Historical Halloween at York Castle Museum

Spend October Half-Term exploring the spookier side of history at York Castle Museum, with activities taking visitors from the Georgian era through to Victorian York.

New for 2026 is an interactive challenge inside the museum’s Georgian Prison Cells. Follow clues, investigate the cells and uncover stories based on former prisoners and their attempts to escape. Separate versions make the experience suitable for both younger families and older participants.

Elsewhere, head to the museum’s recreated Victorian street, Kirkgate, to find out how people marked Halloween more than a century ago, including the tradition of guising, where people performed songs, poems and jokes in exchange for treats.

There’ll also be live family storytelling from History Riot, bringing old Yorkshire Halloween customs to life.