This Halloween, step inside Horace Walpole’s “little Gothic castle”, where The Castle of Otranto, the first Gothic novel, was born from a nightmare.
From Friday 23 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 we invite you to explore Strawberry Hill as it takes on a different guise. Uncover witches marks, runes and other mysterious symbols drawn from a Pagan past. Just as Horace Walpole blended the old and new in his Gothic writing, this Halloween we will transform his gothic villa into a dark labyrinth of ancient hauntings. We will also share stories of ghost sightings and unexplained supernatural events that have occurred at the house.
On Friday 30 October, tour the House after dark before taking your seat in the Gallery for an authentic Magic Lantern Show with Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker of the Magic Lantern Society.
On Saturday 31 October, join one of our daytime guided Halloween tours and explore the dreams, omens and apparitions that shaped the first Gothic novel. Then, as night falls, Strawberry Hill will glow with candlelight for our Halloween Late. Where better to spend Halloween than inside the castle where Gothic fiction began? Dressing up for the Late is warmly encouraged, with a free glass of fizz for every visitor who arrives in costume.
Families can also enjoy our Halloween Garden Trail throughout the October half term. Follow the clues, solve the riddles and discover what might be hiding in the grounds of Strawberry Hill!
Strawberry Hill After Dark – Halloween Candlelit Late | Saturday 31st October, arrival in slots from 6-8pm
Where better to spend Halloween than in the little Gothic castle where the Gothic novel was born? This year, we are inviting you to become part of the spectacle. Dress for the occasion, and receive a free glass of fizz when you arrive in costume.
Standard Ticket: £25 | Student: £17.50
Halloween Garden Trail – Friday 23 October – Sunday 1 November 2026 10am–4pm
Grab your little ghouls and goblins this October and explore the grounds of Walpole’s little Gothic castle with a spooky twist. The house will also be open seven days a week during half term.
£2 per trail map, including sweet treat if you solve the riddles!
No advanced booking required, you can get your trail maps in the shop.
A Halloween Guided Tour: Death, Dreams and the Supernatural | Saturday 31 October, 11am, 1pm & 2.30pm
Enter Horace Walpole’s little Gothic castle for a special guided tour exploring the dark imagination behind Strawberry Hill. Discover how Walpole drew upon medieval architecture, dreams and the supernatural to create The Castle of Otranto, the first Gothic novel.
Standard Ticket: £24 | Student: £20
Halloween Magic Lantern Show | Friday 30 October, arrival at 5pm or 7pm
Explore Strawberry Hill House after dark before taking your seat in the Gallery for a live performance by magic lanternists Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker. Experience the ghostly thrills of a Victorian Phantasmagoria, with goblins, ghouls and spectacular transforming images projected using an authentic magic lantern from the 1890s.
Standard Ticket: £25 | Child: £18
As a prelude to the Halloween season, join us on Wednesday 7th or Friday 9 October 2026 for a Bat Walk in the grounds of Strawberry Hill. With local conservation experts, you’ll step into Walpole’s wooded landscape at twilight, using bat detectors to tune in to the eerie calls of pipistrelles and other nocturnal hunters.
Ticket: £12 adult, £7 children (all proceeds will support both the Strawberry Hill Trust and Habitats & Heritage).
Warm up this Halloween with The Garden Cafe’s seasonal drinks menu by Roots and Berries.
Try their signature Pumpkin Spice Latte, made with Curious Roo espresso, Jersey milk and warming spices, or choose from a Spiced Apple Warmer, Gingerbread Hot Chocolate or Peppermint Candysmash Hot Chocolate. For a little extra seasonal magic, add a shot of Cuban rum.
The Garden Cafe is open from Wednesday-Friday, 9.30am–5pm & Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm.
