This Halloween, Strawberry Hill House transforms into the stage of Horace Walpole’s darkest imaginings. In his “little Gothic castle,” the Gothic novel was born, and from 25 October to 2 November the house returns to that uncanny atmosphere: shutters drawn, candlelight flickering, and shadows stretching across fan-vaulted ceilings. Bewitching botanical displays by artists from the Flower Festival, including guest curator Gaia Eros, weave dried flowers and spectral figures through the rooms.

Families can enjoy a Halloween Garden Trail filled with rhymes, riddles and curious sights, complete with a sweet treat from the Garden Café.

For those seeking a deeper thrill, Strawberry Hill After Dark on 31 October offers a candlelit late with fizz or a seasonal “moonlit elixir” to steady the nerves.