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Fright nights in Kent for Halloween 2023, including Fort Amherst, Kent Scareground and Betteshanger Country Park

Some people like to spend their Halloween pumpkin carving and trick or treating, but if you’re after something more thrilling this spooky season then look no further.

From terrifying mazes to heart-pounding rides, we’ve got some of Kent’s scariest fright night events taking place this year.

Starting with one of the biggest and best-loved scare attractions in the county, Fort Amherst is back for another round of Halloween Horrors.

The historic fortress in Gillingham offers experiences for all ages, but its adult and teen tours are the ones that have thrill-seekers flocking back year after year.

For its 40th anniversary, the site will once again be transformed into a hair-raising maze of horror scenes, strobe lights, special effects and live actors whose job it is to scare anyone that dares to enter.

You will be expected to crawl through narrow spaces and find your way through patches of complete darkness.

The adult tours are strictly 18 and over, while the teen tours - which still use live actors but are slightly less intense - are suitable for ages 13 to 15 with a paying adult.

This year’s Halloween Horror event takes place on select dates from Friday, October 20 to Sunday, October 29. Tickets cost £30 per person.

Fort Amherst is one of the longest-running horror events in Europe. Picture: Megan Carr
Fort Amherst is one of the longest-running horror events in Europe. Picture: Megan Carr

If you’re looking for a touch of adventure along with your scare, the Kent Scareground returns to Orpington, near Bromley, with a spine-chilling attraction.

The Halloween park, located at Hewitts Farm, is an immersive experience that includes a thrill ride that will leave visitors ‘breathless’ between mazes.

The farm is keeping many of this year’s activities a secret, but event organisers have confirmed that there will be four unique live-action scare mazes, mini-games, photo opportunities and street actors.

The actors won’t be confined to the mazes and can be found haunting each and every corner of the grounds.

The Scareground is open from Wednesday, October 25 to Sunday, October 29 from 6pm to 11pm. Tickets start from £27 per person.

Are you brave enough to face your fears this Halloween? Picture: Tulleys
Are you brave enough to face your fears this Halloween? Picture: Tulleys

For those who want to dance away their fears, Marleybrook House near Canterbury is putting on a monster ball this Halloween.

The venue’s one-night-only Fright Night event returns with a terrifying woodland trail where hidden actors will jump out from behind the trees.

There will also be adult fairground rides, food stalls, DJ sets and, when you’ve had your fill of frights, there will live music from GrooveZoo until late.

It all takes place on Saturday, October 28 and tickets cost £28. It’s suitable for ages 14 and over.

Also opening this Halloween is the new Terror Trail at Betteshanger Country Park in Deal.

While it might not be the most fearsome fright night on our list, the trail is certainly a step up from the park’s family-friendly Pumpkin Town event.

The Terror Trail is aimed at thrill-seekers and is suitable for guests aged 12 and over.

There will be plenty of jump scares as visitors stumble through the nighttime trail, with spooky lights, sounds and characters following them all the way to the end.

The trail finishes off with a challenging assault course that visitors will have to tackle in the dark if they want to escape.

Betteshanger’s Terror Trail is open from Thursday, October 26 to Saturday, October 28. Tickets cost £10 per person.

For those who are hardcore horror lovers and willing to travel out of town to get a fright, Tulleys Shocktober Fest - one of the UK’s most renowned horror nights - returns to Crawley.

The heart-stopping event in Kent’s neighbouring county is bursting with a number of haunts and attractions with themes such as circus clowns, deserted islands, witches' covens and abandoned prisons.

Shocktober Fest is one of the UK’s largest and most popular scare attractions. Picture: Tulleys
Shocktober Fest is one of the UK’s largest and most popular scare attractions. Picture: Tulleys

There are also lots of unique activities, including the ‘electric’ chairs, zombie shooting, axe throwing, street theatre and entertainment, and a ride that will fire visitors 40 metres into the air.

Shocktober Fest is open on select dates from Friday, September 29 to Tuesday, October 31. Tickets start from £42 per person.

Finally, if you want somewhere that both teenagers and adults can enjoy, Thorpe Park - just over an hour in the car from Maidstone - will be hosting its annual Fright Nights.

The theme park will be open until late and will have pop-up horror mazes and immersive scare zones themed around mythical creatures, devilish beasts and toys that come to life.

The rides, including roller coasters based on the horror film franchise Saw and zombie TV series the Walking Dead and the newly reopened Ghost Train, will be open for visitors to ride in the dark.

Thorpe Park Fright Nights open from Friday, October 6 to Tuesday, October 31. Tickets start from £39 per person.

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