Sunday, 20 October 2024 20:00

Alton Towers Scarefest 2024 - review & photos

Scarefest 2024 at Alton Towers Resort sees the addition of two brand new attractions and the return of many favourites. We went to experience everything that this year's event has to offer.

In 2024, the park is open 10am until 8pm or 9pm every day throughout the event, giving you plenty of time to experience everything that the park has to offer. After sunset it's a valuable opportunity to experience the best rides at Alton Towers in the dark, including all of the big roller coasters.

The theme park has something for the whole family, with a mixture of family friendly spooky activities suitable for younger guests, to their newest and most intense scare mazes for only the bravest. When added to the impressive line-up of brilliant rides and attractions, it makes Alton Towers Scarefest the perfect destination for your Halloween fix.

Towers Street looks splendid again this year and it's always great to see the Alton Ancestors performing their dance routines. The lighting of the Towers has also been improved for 2024.


This year, there are five scare attractions, two family-friendly walkthrough experiences, and plenty of live entertainment:

COMPOUND (New for 2024)

Ready to experience Alton Towers’ brand new attraction? Our latest scare maze, COMPOUND, involves a sinister DNA experiment, where participants become the subjects! The aim of the game is to navigate the terrifying science facility without becoming a target - see if you can complete one of the scariest Halloween attractions out there.

The entrance to the attraction resembles a military compound, with some nicely themed elements. Once inside, guests are separated by Phalanx operatives and held in cells while investigations are conducted, but then things get interesting... as participants are forced to navigate the multi-route maze alone, separated from their group.

Due to the design of the attraction, which sections you experience will vary each time, and how long your experience lasts will differ too. This did result in one of our group exiting the attraction much sooner and neither of us got to see all the different 'rooms' within the new attraction.

Daz Games: Panic Reloaded (Updated for 2024)

Daz Games: Panic Reloaded is back this year by popular demand! This smash hit from 2023 returns as a second collaboration with the iconic Youtuber Daz Black for a unique immersive experience you’ll never forget. This Alton Towers scare maze takes gaming to a whole new level, where players must complete an intense escape room by finding secret clues to exit in under seven minutes. Will you make it out of Daz Games: Panic Reloaded alive? Grab your tickets to one of the most terrifying Halloween events!

This popular returning attraction brings together elements of a scare maze with escape room type challenges. It was tremendously exciting from start to finish, frantically searching for our designated symbols amongst all of the chaos. Several scare actors physically tried to prevent us from being able to complete our mission, pulling us back or blocking our way out.

We escaped in just over 5 minutes, and what a WILD few minutes it was! If anything, we would have liked the experience to go on for longer as it was just so much fun.

Burial Grounds

The Unchosen, a cult obsessive of modern-day fanatics obsessed with the lore of the Beornen invite you to their sacred sanctum of ancient burial grounds. Keep your pace amongst the desecrated realm of unearthed bodies, flaming shrines and monstrous deities. Stay too long and they will choose you too - are you ready? Burial Grounds is a free-flowing outdoor scare zone shadowed by the mighty Wicker Man where you'll encounter the rejectors of modern-day society fulfilling their terrifying primal instincts.

A proper immersive scare zone had been sorely missed from Scarefest in recent years, so it was fantastic to see Alton Towers had created a brand new one for 2023. It gives all guests an opportunity to sample the kind of scares offered in the four paid-for scare mazes but it's included in admission.

Making a welcome return in 2024, the experience has seen various improvements, and the length of the scare zone, quality and quantity of theming is great, and there were plenty of scare actors throughout.

The Attic: Terror of the Towers

Around here, people talk of the Governess – how she’s haunted by the death of her young charges, how she wants revenge, and how she’ll take it by seizing the spirits of the living in retribution. They say her ghost haunts The Attic. That’s where you’re headed. Dare you risk your immortal soul?

The haunting stories and legends of the Towers themselves return this year, with this scare maze taking place inside the park's iconic landmark.

Guests are greeted during a pre-show where the legend of 'The Governess' is explained, then climb a number of flights of stairs towards the attic. Once there, you'll encounter a number of 'children' delighted to meet you, but all may not be as it seems and the further you venture into the attic the more you will discover before coming face to face with 'The Governess'. You then find yourself climbing into a fireplace and will encounter the dark and terrifying secret beyond.

This is the sixth year that The Attic: Terror of the Towers has been part of the Scarefest line-up, and it continues to be an effective scare maze.

Altonville Mine Tours: Tiny’s Revenge

Rumours are afoot that the old Altonville Mines are alive with activity once again. Following a breakthrough from local law enforcers, the notorious Skin Snatchers have been detained...but for how long? The ironically named Tiny, however, has evaded capture and is believed to still reside within the Mines. Explore at your peril and risk the adventure, if you dare.

Also located within the Towers, this scare maze returns for another year. The use of lighting, smells, props and effective scares, all make iit a reliable scare attraction. However, now in its ninth year at the event, it is definitely time to make way for something new.

Amigos in the Afterlife (New for 2024)

Step foot into a vibrant world this Scarefest, where the gap between this life and the next is at its thinnest! Be captivated by Dia de los Muertos celebrations, with its bright colours and festive spirits - but be careful, you've accidentally crossed through a portal into the afterlife... Guided by friendly spirits, you must find your way back to the world of the living. Journey through this magical realm of spooktacular effects for the ultimate family fright night fest activity. You’ll encounter mischievous characters along the way, who will challenge you and your family with tasks to earn your passage back to the living realm!

This new family attraction is a fun interactive walk-though experience with lots of singing and dancing along the way. The theming is brilliant, the scripting is funny and we had a great time meeting the various characters. Imagine the film Coco as a theatrical experience.

Trick O Treat Town with HARIBO

This Scarefest get ready to explore a special town where every day is Halloween! And do you know what’s the townsfolk’s favourite past time? Yes, you got it! It’s to host Trick-or-Treating for the town visitors! So, muster up your courage and prepare to knock on doors from Spooky Avenue all the way up to the Witchy Woods but be careful! As well as treats there are tricks aplenty!

Returning for a fourth year, once again in association with HARIBO, this brilliant interactive walkthrough attraction is perfect for families, or anyone that fancies a bit of Halloween fun and plenty of sweets!

The premise is simple, explore the colourful town meeting friendly residents along the way and do a bit of Trick-or-Treating.

From the beautifully themed sets and wonderful costumes, to the enthusiastic cast and the yummy treats, it really was absolute perfection. We had so much fun exploring the town and interacting with the characters, and the sweets kept on coming.


Alton Towers Scarefest 
continues until 3rd November 2024.

For a first time visitor, both the scale and quality of the event are sure to impress and all of the returning scare mazes are once again some of the best in the UK. COMPOUND and Amigos in the Afterlife are excellent additions to the line-up this year, offering something new for repeat visitors.

The event still offers by far the widest range of Halloween activities at a UK theme park, with something for everyone.

The new 'Frights Combi' ticket includes COMPOUND, The Attic: Terror of the Towers, Altonville Mine Tours: Tiny's Revenge and Daz Games: Panic Reloaded for £34-£38 in advance. Amigos in the Afterlife and Trick O Treat Town are included in the 'Spooks Duo' ticket for £15. Tickets for the theme park are also required and are from £35 in advance.

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