Want to be scared witless? Hardened horror fans and thrill seekers can choose from chilling nights to scare mazes and ghost hunts. Here's what's on offer across the county

FORT AMHERST, CHATHAM

The site’s Halloween Horrors are back for the 36th year running having undergone a facelift to become bigger and better than ever before.

The spiral of nightmares opens from Thursday, October 26, promising to make thrill seekers face their fears in the tunnel system after an infectious apocalyptic event in which they will be chased, attacked... But will they survive? Also on offer at the site will be a twisted funfair, offering a range of attractions and rides, Halloween themed food and the chance to get a souvenir photo. There are three degrees of tours from Thursday, October 26 to Tuesday, October 31 for children, teens and adults. Age restrictions apply.

Adult tours are strictly for ages 16 and over and ID may be required. Tickets are £15.50 in advance and £18 on the door, but may sell out.

Teen tours are for ages 12 to 16. Tickets are £15.50 in advance and £18 on the door. Under 12s must be accompanied by an over 18. Children’s tours are for four to 11s and run on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29. Tickets are £6.50 in advance and £9 on the door, though may sell out. To book visit fortamherst.com

HEVER CASTLE

Prepare to be spooked with a Halloween Dine and Stay at the castle which starts with an eerie private tour on Tuesday, October 31.

Guests will stay in the five star Bed & Breakfast adjoining the castle and be guided by Ciaran O’Keeffe, who has appeared on Living TV’s Most Haunted and Jane Goldman Investigates and spent the night at the castle with the Most Haunted team capturing paranormal activity.

He will be introducing paranormal zones in each room where there will be different experiences from séances to ouija boards and attempts to capture ghostly voices. Guests can get as involved as they want or relax in the Music Room. Tickets are £200 based on two people sharing a deluxe room. Dine and Stay will sell out and needs to be pre-booked. Call 01732 865224 or visit hevercastle.co.uk

Scare screenings for hardened horror fans

MAIDSTONE MUSEUM, ST FAITHS STREET

Museum Lates: Chiller at Maidstone Museums on Thursday, October 26 between 6pm and 9pm starts with a ShockTail to view some of the gruesome collections with the curators, followed by a tour of the building to uncover the urban legends and ghost stories linked to the museum. For over 18s only. Tickets £10. Details at visitmaidstone.com/whats-on/museum-lates-chiller

KENT LIFE, SANDLING, MAIDSTONE

Put your nerves and survival skills to the test in the adults-only event Kentanimated, which returns for a second year. It’s a race against time to flee the zombie-infested zone and reach safety. As darkness falls each evening between Friday, October 27 and Tuesday, October 31, the family attraction as it transforms into Kentaminated – a zombie-infested zone. The apocalypse sees the site’s buildings fall into disarray with Brundle’s Big Top turning into a medical tent to cope with rising numbers of casualties, and members of staff fighting to defend the historic houses from ruin. To book call 01622 763936, email enquiries@kentlife.org.uk or visit kentlife.org.uk.

Children's Halloween activities across Kent

QUEX PARK, BIRCHINGTON

Quex Park is teaming up with Nail in the Coffin productions for QuExtreme Terror for the second year running. Set in the eerie surroundings of Quex Park’s Forest Areas, Maize Field and Woodland Trails, the spine-chilling adventure will have three thrilling scares: Harvest 2 – The Reaping, Contagion 2 – Sanctuary & Brand New for 2017- The Forest of Fools, promising the ultimate scare park experience. To book visit quexevents.co.uk

SCREAMLAND, DREAMLAND, MARGATE

The horrorfest for adults, Screamland, will return to Dreamland for a third year this Halloween and promises to be the biggest and scariest yet.

There will be six scare mazes over six nights when the new-look Margate amusement park hosts the event on selected nights from Friday, October 20, to Tuesday, October 31.

A plethora of scares await with sideshows set to thrill and haunt only the toughest of visitors. The fear factor has been increased as the new mazes and disorientating experiences include vision-blocking hoods and area that visitors have to crawl through.

Visitors can even book a live and spooky seance, which will be held in the Victorian folly building. The experiences include the scariest, The Brotherhood, featuring the eerie order of monks who once resided on the Dreamland site, practising archaic rituals and rights passed down through the centuries.

The Legend of Crank Jack has a scare factor of 3/5 and features the urban myth of Crank Jack, whose eerie rhyme should never be said out loud when turning the handle of a Jack in the box – dare to say it and face the horrific consequences.

The Final Cut Presents: They Came From Outer Space – The Last Screening will have visitors as the starring role in a science fiction screamer while Dead and Breakfast: Under New Management, with Margate’s worst ever accommodation under new management – but something sinister still lies within.

Festino’s Festival features infamous showman Alonzo Festino, whose fun house has been overrun with killer clowns, and Punchinello’s Revenge, which sees Punch out for revenge – run, scream, try to escape. That’s the way to do it.

There will also be street performers, live music and DJs including Radio 1’s Rock Show presenter Daniel P. Carter. Tickets for Screamland include access to all six scare mazes at nighttime, unlimited use of rides and access to entertainment. To book visit bit.ly/Screamland17

BROADWITCH HAUNTFEST, SOUTHFLEET NEAR GRAVESEND

Three time National Scar Award winners Broadwitch Hauntfest have five haunts for this year’s Hauntfest at Southfleet including Biometix Sub Zero new this year. More than 200 years ago top scientists were recruited to the Biometix facility to research human gene technology to make soldiers the most ultimate fighting machines... but after live testing started, something went wrong. The facility was sealed and the human subjects cryogenically frozen but now the year is 2217 and chaos and anarchy have broken out and to restore law and order, the facility is reopened. Thirteen has undergone an overhaul to become Thirteen Freaks, a subterranean world inhabited by sideshow freaks who have formed their own weird and twisted community in a dark network of tunnels.
The remaining three haunts have been refreshed: MassAcre, an intense and disturbing corn maze, the popular Spooky Castle and The Edge, inhabited by forsaken fiends on a quest to quench their insatiable thirst for blood. There will also be daytime attractions for younger guests. For details and to book go to broadwitchhauntfest.co.uk

ESCAPE PLAN, CHATHAM

What started as an eight-week project to test the wits of Medway’s residents, is now still scaring them silly more than three years later. Escape Plan Live in the new venue of the Sun Pier House in Chatham has a new game to try for Halloween, The Witching Hour. It throws players into the scene of haunted woods where a weekend away turns out to be far from relaxing. Teams have an hour to solve the puzzles and escape. The team building exercise has some spooks along the way and the tense atmosphere may test your nerves! Details at EscapePlanLive.co.uk. Tickets start from £9.50.