Your Guide to Halloween in the Cotswolds - 2026 🍂🎃

There’s something particularly magical about the Cotswolds in autumn. Golden leaves, ancient stone villages, misty country lanes and centuries-old castles create the perfect backdrop for Halloween.
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Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly day out, a pumpkin-picking adventure or something a little more spine-chilling, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween in the Cotswolds this October.
Here are some of the best things to do this Halloween in the Cotswolds in 2026.

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🎃 Pick Your Own Pumpkin at Cotswold Farm Park

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If Halloween isn't complete without finding the perfect pumpkin, head to Cotswold Farm Park near Guiting Power.
The popular Pumpkin Patch gives visitors the chance to pick and carve their own pumpkin, making it a fantastic autumn activity for the whole family. During half term, there are also plenty of Halloween-themed activities, including face painting, selfie stations and opportunities for some brilliant autumn photographs.
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It’s an ideal choice for families, particularly if you want to combine Halloween activities with a full day exploring the farm park and its animals.
Best for: Families, pumpkin lovers and younger children.

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👻 Get Spooky at Sudeley Castle
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For a Halloween experience with a historic twist, Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe is hard to beat.
During October half term, Sudeley Castle hosts its Halloween-themed event, Ghosts, Pumpkins & Tudor Tales.
Visitors can follow a pumpkin trail around the castle grounds and historic rooms, searching for hidden ghost statues and discovering some of Sudeley's spooky stories and legends along the way.
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There are also ghostly talks, owl experiences and Tudor-themed characters throughout the week. On Halloween itself, visitors can meet Tudor ghosts and the Wise Woman for an atmospheric All Hallows' Eve experience.
With the castle, gardens and surrounding countryside providing such a dramatic backdrop, this is one Halloween experience that's difficult to forget.
Best for: Families, history lovers and anyone who wants their Halloween with a little Tudor drama.

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🧙 Spend the Day at Over Farm's Spookyard
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Just outside Gloucester, Over Farm's Farm Park goes all-in for Halloween with its Spookyard Halloween Festival.
This is one for families who want plenty to do. The festival includes Halloween shows, fancy-dress competitions, a spooky woodland walk, tractor rides, a maize maze, animal trails, jumping pillows, mini golf, quad trains and pumpkin-themed activities.
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There are also pumpkins to pick, seasonal food and optional extras such as Halloween crafts and face painting.
The event takes place during October half term and is a great option if you're looking for somewhere that can keep the whole family entertained for several hours.
Best for: Energetic families and children who want a full day of Halloween fun rather than a traditional scary experience.

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🕯️ Explore the Cotswolds' Ghostly History
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Halloween is also a great excuse to discover the darker side of the Cotswolds.
The region's ancient towns and villages have centuries of history, making an evening ghost walk a particularly atmospheric way to spend a night.
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From old buildings and medieval streets to local legends and tales of mysterious happenings, there are plenty of stories hiding beneath the picturesque Cotswold scenery.
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For something a little more unusual, look for local ghost walks and paranormal tours taking place in and around Gloucestershire during October.
Best for: Couples, adults and anyone who prefers ghost stories to pumpkin crafts.

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🍂 Enjoy an Autumn Walk
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You don't necessarily need a ticketed Halloween attraction to enjoy the spooky season.
The Cotswolds' countryside is particularly beautiful in late October, when the leaves turn golden and the evenings become darker.
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Pack a warm coat and take an autumn walk through woodland, countryside and historic villages before finishing with a cosy pub meal.
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Places such as Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Broadway, Castle Combe and Winchcombe can all make atmospheric bases for an autumn day out.
For an extra Halloween feel, head out towards dusk and enjoy the changing colours and quieter countryside.
Just remember to stick to well-marked paths, take a torch if you're walking later in the day and check the weather before setting off.
Best for: Couples, walkers, photographers and anyone looking for a quieter Halloween.

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🦉 Meet Owls at Sudeley Castle

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For something slightly different, why not combine Halloween with a wildlife experience?
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Sudeley Castle's October half-term programme also includes owl experiences, giving visitors the opportunity to get close to these incredible birds and, depending on the experience, fly them.
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Taking place in the atmospheric surroundings of the castle, this is a lovely alternative if traditional Halloween scares aren't your thing.
It's also a great way to add something memorable to a family day out at Sudeley Castle.
Best for: Wildlife enthusiasts and families looking for something unusual.

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🎭 Explore More of the Cotswolds This Autumn
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If you're staying in the Cotswolds for several days, don't feel that every activity has to be Halloween-themed.
October is a brilliant time to explore the area's villages, gardens, independent shops, museums, country houses and food scene.
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You could spend the morning exploring a traditional Cotswold village, enjoy lunch in a cosy country pub, visit a Halloween attraction in the afternoon and finish the evening with a ghost walk or dinner.
The cooler weather and autumn colours make October a particularly beautiful time to explore the Cotswolds.

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🎃 Plan Your Cotswolds Halloween Break

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Whether you're bringing the children to hunt for pumpkins, exploring a Tudor castle or looking for a genuinely spooky evening, Halloween 2026 offers plenty of reasons to visit the Cotswolds.
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Some of the dates to put in your diary include:
🎃 Cotswold Farm Park Pumpkin Patch: Selected dates throughout October, including the October half-term period.
👻 Over Farm Spookyard: 24 October – 1 November 2026.
🏰 Sudeley Castle – Ghosts, Pumpkins & Tudor Tales: 26 October – 1 November 2026.
🦉 Sudeley Castle Owl Experiences: 26–30 October 2026.
🎃 Halloween: Saturday 31 October 2026.
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Event dates, times, availability and ticket arrangements can change, so always check with the attraction before travelling.

Halloween in the Cotswolds doesn't have to be all about being scared.
With pumpkin patches, historic castles, autumn walks, farm parks, owls and ghost stories, it's an opportunity to experience one of England's most beautiful regions at one of the most atmospheric times of year.
Whether you're planning a family day out, a romantic autumn weekend or a full Halloween getaway, there's something for everyone.
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So grab your favourite jumper, embrace the autumn colours and get ready for a spooktacular Cotswolds adventure this October. 🎃🍂👻

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For all the latest on what’s happening in the Cotswolds, check out What’sOn?XL in CotswoldXL Magazine.

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