Alton Towers Scarefest review 2026: big frights and family fun after dark

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Our verdict

Alton Towers is Britain’s closest thing to Disneyland, only with more drizzle and actual ducks. Each autumn, Scarefest adds Halloween shows, family attractions and serious scares. For 2026, there’s a new maze called Final Exhibit.

I’d assumed Scarefest was mostly for teenagers. Then I went on opening weekend with my five- and six-year-old boys. We skipped the big scare mazes as a family, but the boys loved Amigos in the Afterlife, a colourful, interactive walkthrough, and Trick O’ Treat Town, where they knocked on doors and collected sweets. Alton Towers recommends both for ages six and over. My five-year-old was fine, and arguably the braver of the two, but I’d bear that guidance in mind for younger children.

The park's ginormous pumpkin that previously hung on the tower now resides within the park

I tried Final Exhibit while my husband took the boys to CBeebies Land. It turns the park’s past into a sinister exhibition, and I won’t spoil what happens inside. Suffice to say, the live actors, tight spaces, strange smells and near-darkness got several screams out of me. It’s brilliantly themed and properly scary. If you enjoy a maze that gets under your skin, it’s worth doing.

Theming and decorations are superb down Main Street and throughout the park

My colleague Becky visited Scarefest previously with her 10- and 13-year-olds. They tackled a dark maze of shrieks, ominous characters and jump scares that she found both hilarious and unsettling. Our families had very different Scarefest days, which is rather the point: choose the attractions that suit your children, check the age guidance and there’s room for both kinds of fun.

For our 2026 trip, the boys had their own sort of Scarefest, and I had mine. But that might be the point: this event has room for both, as long as you choose the attractions that suit your children and check the age guidance before buying maze tickets.

How we’ve tested Alton Towers’ Scarefest

Becky's children take a breather between scares in 2025

Becky's original review followed an overnight Scarefest visit in 2025 with her family of four, including children aged 10 and 13. For this 2026 update, I stayed in the Woodland Lodges with my five- and six-year-old boys during the opening weekend of Scarefest at the end of September. 

I tried the Final Exhibit at a press preview while they stayed in CBeebies Land with their dad in the morning, after which we spent the day exploring the family attractions together. 

The warehouse doesn't look like much from the outside... Be warned

Admittedly, I was lucky to be part of the first group to experience Final Exhibit, so my short wait doesn't reflect normal queues - though I don’t believe I saw any long waits throughout the day for any of the scaremazes, actually. 

What is the new Final Exhibit like?

Final Exhibit, new for 2026, begins as an exhibition of Alton Towers artefacts before The Curator's archive takes a nastier turn. That's all the story you need beforehand. The sets are meticulous and the maze wreaks havoc on your senses: tight spaces, a lack of light, unsettling smells and live actors who know exactly when to appear.

Not for the faint hearted, Final Exhibit is Alton Towers' newest maze for 2026

I went through with other journalists who, like me, had left their children in CBeebies Land. I also attached myself to a very kind family with children aged 11 and 13, who seemed just about confident enough. I can handle most scares, but live actors are my weak spot and I screamed more than once. 

Alton Towers recommends Final Exhibit for ages 12 and over. I'd keep younger children well away, and I'd think carefully about taking a nervous tween. 

What can younger children do at Scarefest?

Our boys, aged five and six, loved Amigos in the Afterlife. It's a colourful Day of the Dead inspired walkthrough where cheerful spirits give you things to do, rather than a parade of jump scares. 

Trick O' Treat Town went down just as well. They knocked on doors, met its oddball residents and collected sweets in the HARIBO and MAOAM sponsored attraction.

Amigos in the Afterlife was fun, colourful and very interactive

Alton Towers recommends both family walkthroughs for ages six and over. Our five-year-old enjoyed them on our visit, but I’d make sure your child is ready for it if you're booking for a much younger or more easily frightened child. 

What kid doesn't love getting a load of sweets?

The main thrill mazes (more on these below), including Final Exhibit, are recommended for ages 12 and over. Then there are of course, family rides and CBeebies Land to fill the rest of the day between the scares until 9pm. 

About the scare mazes at Alton Towers’ Scarefest

Final Exhibit is one of four ticketed thrill mazes at Scarefest 2026 aimed at older children. 

COMPOUND casts visitors as subjects in a sinister scientific experiment, The Edge of the Forest sends them into an eerie woodland story and Altonville Mine Tours: Tiny's Revenge takes them underground. 

If you're not quite as brave as others, walking the mazes during the day (around 5pm) is a good idea

There are also two outdoor scare zones. Dark Hollow extends the uneasy atmosphere of the Dark Forest, while Burial Ground is home to outcasts from the Wicker Man story. 

What else can families enjoy at Scarefest?

The two ticketed family walkthroughs are only part of the programme aimed at families during Scarefest. CBeebies Land Monster Ball brings familiar characters into a Halloween show for little ones, while the Freaky Friends have shows and meet-and-greets. The Alton Ancestors perform around the park, too. The good news is that these shows are included with theme park admission.

After dark, The Phantom Melody: Symphony of the Towers turns the Towers ruins into a light and music show. 

The Alton Ancestors return for 2026

The park also stays open until 9pm on Scarefest dates, with rides including Nemesis Reborn, Wicker Man and The Smiler available after dark. With our boys, the evening atmosphere was a treat in itself - though they loved riding their favourite Runaway Mine Train in the dark. 

Top tip: if it’s in your budget a Fastrack pass will save you hours; another handy trick is to hit the popular rides at lunchtime when queues dip. 

What can families eat at Scarefest?

You don't have to commit to a spooky banquet to feed the family. CARGO Global Eats has returned for Scarefest with a range of street-food vendors, while seasonal snacks appear around the park. 

Across the resort you’ll also find Pumpkin Spell Churros and Fang-tastic Chicken Burgers among its Halloween specials. They're fun things to look out for, though menus and availability can change, so I wouldn't promise a particular treat to a hungry child before you've spotted it.

Even the food is themed throughout the park for Scarefest

The new Dine with the Dead experience is something else entirely: an immersive three-course dinner with live performances, a drinks reception and an after-party for evening guests. It runs from 23 October to 1 November and is for ages 14 and over, with an adult required for under-18s. It's an interesting addition for older teens and adults, but not a dinner plan for families with young children like ours.

Can you dress up for Scarefest at Alton Towers?

Yes, if you enjoy it. My husband and I love dressing up for Halloween, and I was annoyed with myself for not thinking ahead this time. 

Plenty of Alton Towers fans make an occasion of Scarefest, costumes and all. Even with young children in tow, I'd happily spend a day dressed up, taking in the decorations and shows, and sticking to CBeebies Land rides if that's all the boys wanted. 

That said - be realistic with your costume. Family-friendly costumes are a good way to add to the spooky atmosphere, and face painting or makeup is allowed so long as it doesn’t cover your full face. Clothing must be practical - including your shoes - and imitation or replica weapons are banned entirely. Common sense really, this is still a theme park after all. The last thing you’d want is your Batman cape getting caught at high speed… 

The park's staple Scarefest hearse returns for 2026

Face painting was available during the day too, with UV glow-in-the-dark designs for nighttime fun. It's another way for children to get into the Scarefest spirit if a full costume isn't for them.

Is Scarefest worth visiting after dark?

The whole park was thoughtfully dressed for Halloween, not just the areas around the mazes. There was theming to enjoy as we moved between rides, which helped the boys feel part of Scarefest all day. After dark, the lighting brought it all to life without making the paths difficult to follow.

If you're visiting with young children, you don't need to chase the biggest scares to feel part of Scarefest. 

About the authors

Becky K has worked at Mumsnet for eight years and is passionate about comprehensive and trustworthy reviews for parents. A mum of two school-age children, Becky enjoys finding new and unusual days out that don’t cost the earth. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, reading, true-crime podcasts and ancient history.

Rebecca Roberts is a Leeds-based writer and editor at Mumsnet. She commissions, writes and edits the sort of no-nonsense content parents actually need. While typically focused on lifestyle and home, she’s a mum of two young children - making her well equipped to try out trips on behalf of Mumsnet. 

Plus, as a mum herself, she’s very familiar with the reality of travelling with small kids - including the logistics, the snacks, the “where’s the nearest loo?” and the question of whether something is worth the money. She looks at places through a practical parent lens: what makes the stay easier, what’s good for kids, what’s bearable for adults, and what you’ll wish you’d known before you booked. 

About Mumsnet reviews

Mumsnet reviews are based on first-hand visits. This review brings together Becky K's earlier Scarefest family visit and Rebecca Roberts' 2026 visit with younger children. We may be hosted on a complimentary basis and sometimes earn revenue through affiliate links, but that doesn't influence our verdict.

All prices are correct at the time of writing. 

Read next:

• Alton Towers hotel review

• CBeebies Land hotel review