Armley Mills: Ghosts of the Loom
Dates
October 20, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
Leeds Industrial Museum
Tickets from
£26.50
Inside the venue
Gallery
Instant e-ticket
In your inbox the moment you pay
Secure checkout
Encrypted card payment
Guide-supervised
Every vigil led by experienced staff
Date changes
Move night up to 48 hours before*
About this
Event Description
Race through a genuine 19th-century mill floor in the dark, then enjoy live folk music and a canal-side food market. All ages, 4pm–midnight, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026.
- Format: A race through a genuine 19th-century mill floor in the dark with live-action scares, then live folk music and a canal-side food market.
- A physically demanding timed maze, not a paranormal investigation — dark, uneven industrial flooring.
- No contact: Performers will not make physical contact with guests; please don’t touch performers, fixtures or historic fabric.
- Supervision & age: All ages welcome; under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, given uneven ground and low lighting.
- Optional: Your ticket covers the whole evening — only the timed headline experience needs a booked slot, so you can enjoy the festival, market and food areas without it.
Once the largest woollen mill in the world, Armley Mills’ vast machine halls and weaving floors have stood since the 1800s. This Halloween, small teams race through the original mill machinery in the dark, navigating narrow gangways between looms and spinning frames while avoiding roaming “mill ghosts” inspired by real recorded industrial accidents — then step back outside to the canal-side, where a proper evening market and live folk band await to send you off.
Why you should book this
Armley Mills’ original 19th-century machinery is a setting you won’t find anywhere else — most maze events use temporary sets, this one uses the real thing. With a live leaderboard and canal-side market included, it’s a strong pick for competitive groups wanting bragging rights as well as a scare.
What you’ll experience
- Ghosts of the Loom maze run — the timed headline challenge through the original mill floor
- Side Food Market — food trucks and a licensed bar set up along the museum’s canal frontage all evening
- Mill History Talks — genuinely fascinating short talks on Armley Mills’ real working history and recorded accidents, held every hour
- Live Folk Band — a local folk act performing canal-side from 6pm
- The Leaderboard — live-updating maze times displayed at the market, with the fastest team of the night announced at 11pm
Evening schedule
| Time | What’s on |
|---|---|
| 4:00pm | Canal-side market opens, museum check-in opens |
| 4:00pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm Mill History Talks (hourly) | |
| 5:00pm–9:30pm | Maze Run departs every 10 minutes |
| 6:00pm, 8pm Live Folk Band sets | |
| 9:30pm | Last entry to the maze |
| 11:00pm | Nightly fastest-team announcement |
| 11:30pm | Market last orders |
| 12:00am | Canal-side event closes |
Before you visit
🚗 Getting there & parking
By car: Free on-site museum car park — about a 2-minute walk from the car park to the museum entrance. By train: Leeds Station is a 15-minute drive or bus ride away; this venue is not realistically walkable from the station, so car, taxi, or bus is recommended over walking.
🕐 Entry & times
Daily 4:00pm–12:00am, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026. A valid ticket for your chosen date admits you to the whole evening; the timed headline experience needs its booked slot. Arrive a little before your slot — late arrivals are accommodated in a later slot subject to availability.
⚠ Code of conduct
Prohibited at all events: real or imitation weapons, full-face masks that prevent ID checks, and glass containers. Costumes are welcome within those limits. Security searches may be carried out on entry. Abusive or threatening behaviour, or failure to follow venue instructions, means removal without a refund.
Content note: Uneven factory floors, moving-machinery-adjacent areas (roped off, supervised), not suitable for those unsteady on their feet. Hard hats compulsory. Not wheelchair accessible on the maze route itself; the canal-side market is fully accessible. Good for: Groups who want an unusual industrial setting · Competitive teams · Families with accompanied children
Getting there
Where
Venue
Leeds Industrial Museum
Please allow extra travel time — several of our venues are rural, with limited public transport. Parking details are on your ticket.
Event dates
October 20, 2026
Before you book
Good to know
Age policy varies by tier — check the ticket option you pick. Photo ID may be requested for age-restricted tiers.
Genuine historic buildings. Expect uneven floors and, at some venues, steep stairs and limited step-free access.
Bring a torch, warm layers and flat, sensible shoes. Venues are cold and dark.
No physical contact takes place. All vigils are guide-supervised and every activity is optional.
Still deciding
Questions
Is anything staged?
No. Nothing is staged and no outcome is ever promised. Genuine historic buildings, investigated with structured vigils and traditional techniques.
What happens after I pay?
Your e-ticket is emailed straight away, with a unique QR code per guest. Save it as PDF, add to Apple or Google Wallet, or resend from My Account.
Which ticket should I choose?
Twilight for families, Standard for the full after-dark tour, Premium for a small-group vigil with equipment, VIP for the extended late session on 31 October.
Can I change my date?
Yes, up to 48 hours before, subject to availability on the night you move to.
Do I need experience?
None at all. Guides run every session and stay with your group the whole time.
Book your experience
- Instant e-ticket by email, QR per guest
- Secure card checkout — total confirmed at checkout
- Every activity on the night is optional
£26.50
Early Bird — 20% off