There’s everything from pumpkin carving to ghost tours, apple bobbing to terrifying tales to bewitch the children this half term. Here’s our guide to the pick of the crop.

Chatham Historic Dockyard

Megan the Witch tells her stories for Halloween, with yarns of mythical creatures from the deep blue oceans which will enchant, rather than scare. Children will learn about ghost ships, superstitions linked to the sea plus the monsters and mermaids that either frightened or tempted the sailors. Youngsters can also try their hand at pumpkin carving, word searches, mask making, as well as taking a Guy Fawkes trail.

Open: 10am to 6pm on Saturday, October 27 and 10am to 4pm from Sunday, October 27 to Sunday, November 4.

Cost: Adults £16.50, concessions £14, children £11, families £45.

Address: The Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4TE

Contact: 01634 823807 or www.thedockyard.co.uk

Chiddingstone Castle, near Tonbridge

It’s the final chance this year to explore the 35 acre grounds, whose mansion dates back to the 16th century. Apple bobbing and pumpkin carving add another dastardly dimension to the exhibits at the castle. They include ancient armour worn by Japanese soldiers with helmets complete with their own facial hair, while the Stuart and Jacobite collection includes the heart, hair, blood and garter ribbon of James II. There’s also an Egyptian collection including a mummified cat from 150BC. Face painting and a ghostly walk around the grounds is also on offer.

Open: Sunday, October 28 to Wednesday, October 31.

Cost: Adults £8, children £4, under fives free, families £21.50. Car parking £2.

Address: Chiddingstone Castle, Hill Hoath Road, Chiddingstone, TN8 7AD

Contact: 01892 870347 or www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Dickens World, Chatham

A daily Halloween fancy dress competition runs throughout half term and children in costume aged five to 10 get free admission. There is a pumpkin picture trail to follow plus arts and crafts to enjoy.

Open: 10am to 4.30pm from Monday, October 29 to Sunday, November 4.

Cost: Adults £13, concessions £11, children £8, under fives free.

Address: Dickens World, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL

Contact: 01634 890421 or www.dickensworld.co.uk

Dover Castle

A cast of tortured souls will lurk around every corner for half term, where fearless families can face the phantoms in a tunnel of terror. There are nine resident ghosts at the 12th century fort, which is the largest castle in England. Daytime tours will be packed with nasty surprises, with ghostly Victorian characters in the shadowy nooks and crannies. Inside the tunnel of terror, a phantom butler provides a spine-tingling ‘welcome,’ before spooky sound effects, eerie lighting, witches and grizzly ghouls add to the frights along the way. A creepy craft marquee is where children can make witches and wizards hats. Children in fancy dress can win a prize in the costume competition every afternoon.

Open: Saturday, October 27 to Sunday, November 4.

Cost: Adults £16.50, concessions £14.90, children £9.90, families £42.90.

Address: Dover Castle, Castle Hill, Dover CT16 1HU

Contact: 0870 333 1181 or www.english-heritage.org.uk

Down House, near Orpington

See how electricity works in a experiments honouring the man whose inventions paved the way for the creation of the National Grid. Michael Faraday’s revolutionary ideas saw him eventually create the first electric dynamo – the ancestor of modern power generators. Children can meet an actor dressed as the scientist, who was so influential that Albert Einstein is said to have kept a picture of him on his study wall, and see his theories in action at workshops using pipes, batteries, lights and magnets. They can power a digital clock using only potatoes and play with colourful, glowing plasma balls. Down is the former home of Charles Darwin, the scientist who laid the foundations of the theory of evolution and transformed the way we think about the natural world.

Open: 11am to 5pm from Wednesday, October 31 to Sunday, November 4.

Cost: Adults £9.90, concessions £8.90, children £5.90, families £25.70 plus £1 per child participating in events.

Address: Down House, Luxted Road Downe BR6 7JT

Contact: 01689 859119 or www.english-heritage.org.uk

Godinton House, Ashford

Pumpkin day celebrates all things about the giant orange squash, from carving traditional lanterns to a treasure hunt around the grounds. Pumpkins will be on sale and the Kent Guild of Spinners, Dyers and Weavers will be demonstrating their crafts. Head gardener at Godinton, Viv Hunt, said: “Pumpkin Day is a lovely way for families to celebrate the autumn season with us and our gardeners will be creating a tricky new treasure hunt.”

Open: 11am to 4pm on Sunday, October 28.

Cost: Adults £5, children £2.

Address: Godinton House, Godinton Lane, Ashford TN23 3BP

Contact: 01233 643854 or www.godinton-house-gardens.co.uk

Hempstead Valley, Gillingham

There are no tricks, just treats for the children at the centre’s free Halloween entertainment. Little ones can decorate cookies and cakes at workshops where they can write a scary message in icing. Pre-schoolers can enjoy play dough sessions with workers from Lordswood Children’s Centres just outside Boots.

Open: Cake decorating from 11am to 4pm from Monday, October 29 to Wednesday, October 31. Children’s Centre sessions Thursday and Friday, November 1 and 2.

Cost: Free.

Address: Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, Gillingham ME7 3PD

Contact: 01634 387076 or www.hempsteadvalley.com

Hever Castle

Prepare for a night of sweet gathering by making your own trick or treat to take home before following the pumpkin trail through the grounds. The Lady of the Woodlands will grip children’s attention as she tells scary stories from beyond the grave. Children can then let off steam in the adventure playground and explore the Yew maze.

Open: 10.30am to 6pm from Monday, October 29 to Sunday, November 4.

Cost: Adults £14.50, seniors £12.50, children £8.30, families £37.30.

Address: Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever, near Edenbridge TN8 7NG

Contact: 01732 865224 or www.hevercastle.co.uk

Hop Farm Family Park, near Paddock Wood

Budding witches and wizards can learn magic and take potion lessons with Professor Bumbleweed, before seeing a traditional magic show in the Big Red Barn. Apple bobbing and broomstick games are standard fare, plus families can run around the mirrored mazes in the Magic Factory.

Open: 10am to 5pm from Saturday, October 27 to Friday, November 2.

Cost: Adults £14.95, seniors £8.95, children £12.95, families £44.95.

Address: The Hop Farm Family Park, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge TN12 6PY

Contact: 01622 872068 or www.thehopfarm.co.uk

Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks

Follow the pumpkin trail to discover some terrifying answers in the scary-themed Ranger Log Book competition. Visitors who finish the course will be in with a chance of winning a Junior Ranger Day and they can try pumpkin carving to go home with a goody bag. The animals will also be getting into the spirit of Halloween with themed enrichments such as pumpkins filled with tricks and treats and lollies that vampires would love to sink their teeth into.

Open: Port Lympne Daily 9.30am to 6.30pm. Howletts 9.30pm to 6pm. From Monday, October 31 at both from 9.30am to 5pm.

Cost: Adults £19.95, children £17.95, under threes free.

Address: Howletts Wild Animal Park, Bekesbourne, Canterbury CT4 5EL or Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4PD

Contact: 0844 842 4647 or www.aspinallfoundation.org

Kent and East Sussex Railway

Learn how to carve a pumpkin at Tenterden station as part of several make-and-take activities. When the clock strikes 6.30pm on selected nights, the Fright Night Train pulls in for a journey of ghostly goings on with a firework display at the end. Every child gets a snack box and a gift. Be sure to wear fancy dress.

Open: Halloween Fun Week runs from Monday, October 29 to Friday, November 2, with the Fright Night trains operating on Wednesday, October 31 and Friday, November 2.

Cost: Trains during regular fun week are £15 for adults, seniors £14, children £10, families £42. Fright Night trains £14.50.

Address: Tenterden Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden TN30 6HE

Contact: 01580 765155 or www.kesr.org.uk

Kent Life, Maidstone

Creepy face-painting and pumpkin-carving workshops will keep children entertained, before a hunt around the farm for ghosts and ghouls. Get to grips with snakes and scorpions in the creepy cuddle corner and then chill out by meeting a friendly farmyard character. Plenty of Kent Life’s regular attractions will also be available - all with a Halloween twist such as slimy zorbing. Families should come in fancy dress and there’s a prize for the best costumes.

Open: 10am to 5pm from Saturday, October 27 to Wednesday, October 31.

Cost: Adults £8.95, children £8.50, under threes free.

Address: Kent Life, Lock Lane Sandling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3AU

Contact: 01622 763936 or www.kentlife.org.uk

Penshurst Place, Tonbridge

Follow the pumpkin trail around the autumn colours in the gardens, with crafts for children. There is also some tame Halloween storytelling on Wednesday, October 31, followed by a fancy dress competition, with prizes for all.

Open: 10.30am to 6pm from Saturday, October 27 to Sunday, November 4.

Cost: Adults £9.80, children £6.20, families £26.

Address: Penshurst Place, Tonbridge TN11 8DG

Contact: 01892 870307 or www.penshurstplace.com

Rare Breeds Centre, Woodchurch

It’s Fear and Fun Week, where children can come in fancy dress to see the animals and enjoy the Devil’s Pig Race. Families can gather round to watch Little Red Riding Hood performed and try the Spooky Trail in the Boo Tunnel.

Open: 10.30am to 4.30pm from Saturday, October 27 to Friday, November 2.

Cost: Adults £9.95, seniors £8.50, children £8, families £28.

Address: Rare Breeds Centre, Highlands Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford TN26 3RJ

Contact: 01233 861493 or www.rarebreeds.org.uk

Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

Get spooked in the Room of Darkness and hear tales of ghosts and ghouls in the Cavern of Witchy Woo. Take the Halloween quiz in the Model Railway exhibition at New Romney Station and eat themed party food like jelly served with tasty ‘eye balls’ and red hot chocolate. Every child in fancy dress gets a goody bag. Then keep your eyes peeled for sinister characters hiding in the tunnel from New Romney to Hythe.

Open: Halloween event from Tuesday and Wednesday, October 30 and 31.

Cost: Adults £21, children £14.

Address: Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, New Romney Station, New Romney TN28 8PL

Contact: 01797 362353 or www.rhdr.org.uk

This Art of Mine, Maidstone

Make, paint and design ghostly art projects all week at the gallery, from gargoyles to clay zombies, bracelets to Frankenstein mugs. There is a ghosts and ghouls lantern workshop and adults can make a ceramic Halloween owl in the evening on Tuesday, October 30.

Open: 10am to 4pm from Monday, October 29 to Friday, November 2.

Cost: £35 per day or whole week for £150. Adult workshop £18.

Address: This Art of Mine, Little Budds Farm, Coldblow Lane, Thurnham, Maidstone ME14 3LR

Contact: 01622 735312 or www.thisartofmine.co.uk

Make masks and other spooky-themed crafts throughout half term at , where Halloween-themed food will be served in the Fairfax restaurant. Half term fun runs from Saturday, October 27 to Friday, November 2. Admission £19.75, seniors and visitors with disabilities £17.50, children £12.50. Call 01622 765400 orLeeds Castlewww.leeds-castle.com