Frightfully good fun at Leeds Museums and Galleries this Halloween

Historic sites across Leeds will be hosting a spine-tingling programme of spooky activities this Halloween.

Leeds Museums and Galleries will be celebrating the scariest time of the year over the October half-term, with youngsters getting the chance to try trick or treating and creepy crafts and Halloween special effects.

Lotherton Hall will be hosting a spooky scarecrow trail from October 22-31, from 11am–4pm.

Visitors can follow clues around the estate and check out the terrifying scarecrows on display as well as visiting the Witches’ Cottage or trying some creepy crafts.

Over the Halloween weekend, October 29-30, the estate will also be giving out spot prizes for the best costumes along with face painting and the chance to meet some ghostly characters in the house.

Activities are free but usual estate admission applies.

From Saturday 22 to Saturday 29, some of Temple Newsam’s ghostly residents will be welcoming visitors onto their Gruesome Newsam tours at 11am each day (except Monday).

The tours include a journey underground into the cellars via some steep steps and are suitable for brave souls over the age of seven.

On Halloween evening itself, Temple Newsam House and Home Farm will once again be hosting the famous Halloween Spooktacular from 5–8pm.

Youngsters have the chance to dress up and go trick or treating through the darkened house and then have a go at crafts and listen to spooky stories in the farm.

Tickets and more details are available from the courtyard shop or by calling 0113 3367461 or at http://whatson.leeds.gov.uk/Pages/eventdetails.aspx?eventId=whatson-1265

Kirkstall’s Abbey House Museum will also be decorating their authentic Victorian streets for the half-term, with Halloween activities taking place from October 25–28 at 10am–12pm and 2–4pm.

Visitors can whip up some magic potions in Silly Science, or turn detective and solve a murder mystery.

Activities at Abbey House are free but usual admission applies.

Over the road, Kirkstall Abbey will also be decorated with a scarecrow trail, with scarecrows dotted all over the ruins for youngsters to find.

And Leeds Industrial Museum will be holding a Halloween family fun day on October 30 from 1–4pm.

The day will include crafts, face painting and story-telling. Taking part is free but usual admission applies.

Councillor Brian Selby, Leeds City Council’s lead member for museums and galleries said:

“Halloween is always a fun and exciting time at our museums and galleries sites, when can dress up in their best costumes and explore some of the city’s most historic locations in a whole new way.

“The teams working on site go to a huge amount of effort to transform these historic buildings each and every year and to make sure there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy and I’m sure this Halloween will be one to remember.”

ENDS

Opening times at Temple Newsam House:

Tuesday1 November 2016 – Friday 10 February 2017

The House: Pre-booked visits and tours

Saturday 11 February 2017 – Sunday 29 October 2017

The House: Tues to Sun 10:30 to 17:00