Chester Castle: The Agricola Tower Haunting
Dates
October 20, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
Chester Castle
Tickets from
£26.00
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
A horror trail through a nearly 1,000-year-old Norman tower, plus a torchlit city walls walk and medieval-themed market. All ages, 4pm–midnight, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026.
- Format: A guide-led horror trail through a nearly 1,000-year-old Norman tower with investigation elements, plus a torchlit city-walls walk and medieval-themed market.
- Guide-led throughout; you take part as a group. Uneven, low-lit historic stonework.
- 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.
Built shortly after the Norman Conquest and later used as a courthouse and prison, Chester Castle’s surviving Agricola Tower has stood guard over the city for nearly 1,000 years. This Halloween, the tower’s original chapel and lower chambers open for a live-action horror trail exploring the castle’s long history of trials, executions, and reported hauntings — while the castle courtyard hosts an extended torchlit walk along a stretch of Chester’s famous city walls, plus a medieval-themed market with jousting-style entertainment.
Why you should book this
Few visitors ever see inside the Agricola Tower’s original chapel and lower chambers — this event is one of the only times it opens after dark. The extended torchlit city walls walk is included free, effectively giving you two attractions in one ticket.
What you’ll experience
- The Agricola Tower Haunting — the timed headline horror trail through the tower chapel and lower chambers
- Torchlit City Walls Walk — an extended, self-paced torchlit route along a section of Chester’s Roman and medieval walls, included free with your ticket
- Medieval Market — craft and food stalls in the castle courtyard styled after a medieval fair
- Jousting-Style Entertainment — a themed performance show in the courtyard combining medieval combat display with comic storytelling, held twice nightly
- Castle History Talk — a short talk on the real Norman and courthouse-era history of the castle, hourly in the courtyard
Evening schedule
| Time | What’s on |
|---|---|
| 4:00pm | Courtyard opens — medieval market and walls walk access begins |
| 4:00pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, Castle History Talk (hourly) 8pm | |
| 5:00pm–9:30pm | Agricola Tower trail departs every 20 minutes |
| 6:00pm, 8pm Jousting-Style Entertainment shows | |
| 9:30pm | Last entry to the tower |
| 10:30pm | Walls walk last entry |
| 11:00pm | Market last orders |
| 12:00am | Courtyard and walls walk close |
Before you visit
🚗 Getting there & parking
By car: Castle Drive car park is directly adjacent to Chester Castle — under a 2-minute walk to the entrance. By train: Chester Station is a 15-minute walk to the castle.
🕐 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: Spiral stone stairs, low doorways, one jump-scare in the lower chamber. Not suitable for those with mobility difficulties given the tower’s original, unmodified staircase. The courtyard market and walls walk are more manageable for those not attempting the tower. Good for: History lovers · First-time horror-house visitors · Groups exploring the city walls · Families wanting a full medieval-themed evening
Getting there
Where
Venue
Chester Castle
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
£26.00
Early Bird — 20% off