Halloween at the American Museum & Gardens
Enchanted nights of lights and frights
16 October – 1 November | Timed entry from 5.30–8.30pm
This Halloween, something strange is stirring at the American Museum & Gardens…
As daylight fades and darkness falls across the estate, step into a world where all is not quite as it seems. Familiar paths take an unexpected turn, shadows shift amongst the trees and surprises wait to be discovered around every corner.
For the first time, the Museum’s autumnal gardens will be transformed for a spooktacular Halloween experience after dark. Wander through the grounds beneath the night sky, encounter strange and playful characters along the way and see the historic Manor House dramatically transformed against the darkness.
And the experience doesn’t end at the door. There’s a chance for you to step inside the Manor House by candlelight for a rare opportunity to explore some of its historic rooms and collections after hours, when familiar spaces take on a very different atmosphere.
“Enchanted nights of lights and frights” is a new Halloween experience for 2026, created especially for the extraordinary setting of the American Museum & Gardens.
Seasonal food and drink will be available throughout the evening.
Things you need to know
When booking you will need to choose a time slot.
The timed entry will be shown on your ticket email confirmation and is when you can begin the Halloween experience.
Please arrive 10 minutes beforehand and check in with the Ticket Office team, who will give you more information about your visit.
We are pleased to offer free parking. If the main car park is full, please follow our signs to the additional parking, just a short distance up Claverton Hill from the main car park. We encourage you to car share or use public transport where possible - plan you travel here.
Tours of the Manor House will take place at selected times throughout the evening and are included with your event ticket, with places offered on a first come, first served basis and capacity is limited.
If you have any questions, please contact us via email at ticketoffice@americanmuseum.org or by phone on +44 (0)1225 460503.
FAQs
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What is Halloween at the American Museum & Gardens?
Halloween at the American Museum & Gardens is a specially created after-dark experience, transforming selected areas of our gardens and parts of our historic Manor House.
Follow an atmospheric route filled with imaginative lighting, projections, eerie scenes, sound effects and playful Halloween surprises, with the opportunity to experience selected rooms of the Manor House after dark on a special candlelit tour.
This is not an actor-led Halloween trail. It is self-led with an emphasis on atmosphere, visual spectacle and enjoying our unique setting after dark.
Is this a large, illuminated trail?
Halloween at the American Museum & Gardens is intentionally a more intimate, carefully curated experience, designed around the character and scale of our heritage site.
It combines a compact outdoor route through selected areas of the gardens with the opportunity, subject to availability, to join an atmospheric candlelit tour inside the Manor House. It is not a long-distance illuminated trail.
How long does the experience take?
We expect most visitors to spend approximately 60 minutes enjoying the whole experience.
You are welcome to take the route at your own pace. You may also wish to allow additional time to enjoy the seasonal food and drink available during your visit.
Is the experience suitable for children?
The experience has been designed to be eerie, playful and atmospheric rather than terrifying. However, it includes darkness, spooky characters and displays, theatrical sound and lighting effects, which some visitors may find unsettling.
Parents and carers are best placed to decide whether the experience will be suitable for their children.
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Will there be actors or jump scares?
This is not an actor-led experience and visitors will not be chased or singled out by performers. However, there will be spooky scenes, characters, sounds and surprises along the route.
Can we wear Halloween costumes?
Absolutely, Halloween costumes are encouraged!
Please make sure that costumes and footwear are suitable for walking outdoors in autumn weather with some uneven surfaces.
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Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, please book your tickets in advance. Entry is divided into timed slots, and each slot has a limited capacity. Popular dates and early-evening times will sell out.
Tickets may be available on the night, subject to availability, but we cannot guarantee admission without an advance booking.
What does my booking time mean?
The time shown on your ticket email confirmation is your allocated arrival and entry time. Timed entry helps us manage visitor numbers, parking and the flow of people through the experience.
Once you have entered, you can enjoy the experience at your own pace. Your ticket time is not the time by which you need to leave.
Does my ticket guarantee entry to the Manor House?
Your Halloween event ticket includes the opportunity to join a special candlelit tour of selected rooms in the Manor House after dark, at no additional charge.
Tours will run at selected times throughout the evening, with limited places offered on a first come, first served basis. Tours cannot be reserved in advance, so an event ticket does not guarantee entry to the Manor House. Please speak to the Ticket Office team when you arrive to find out the available tour times.
When should I arrive?
Please aim to arrive approximately 10 minutes before the time shown on your ticket email confirmation. This will give you time to park, walk to the Ticket Office and have your ticket scanned.
Please do not arrive significantly earlier than your allocated time, as this may create congestion in the car park and entrance area.
What happens if I am late?
If you miss your allocated time, entry cannot be guaranteed. Our team will do its best to accommodate you in the next available slot, but this will depend on capacity.
Please allow plenty of time for your journey and parking, particularly on busy evenings.
Do I need to print my tickets?
You can show your ticket email confirmation with your QR code on your phone or bring a printed copy. If using your phone, please have the email open and ready to scan when you arrive.
We recommend finding your tickets before travelling in case the mobile signal is limited.
Does everyone in my party need a ticket?
Yes. Everyone attending must have a valid ticket, including children. Any children under two qualify for free admission, but will still need a ticket.
Is my Halloween ticket valid for a daytime visit?
Your Halloween ticket is valid only for the evening experience on the date and at the time booked. It does not include daytime admission to the Museum and Gardens.
Likewise, standard daytime admission tickets and annual memberships do not include entry to the Halloween experience. A separate event ticket is required.
Visitors attending during the day will need to leave when the Museum closes and return at their allocated Halloween entry time.
Can I change my booking or receive a refund?
Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled by the American Museum & Gardens.
If you need to amend your booking, please contact the Ticket Office as soon as possible. Any changes will be subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
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Is parking available?
Free parking is available at the American Museum & Gardens. Spaces cannot be reserved and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Parking attendants will be on hand to manage arrivals and direct you to the next available space. If the main car park is full, you may be directed to additional parking a short distance further up Claverton Hill.
Please follow the directions of our parking team and allow sufficient time to park before your ticketed entry time.
Is Blue Badge parking available?
A limited number of spaces close to the entrance in our main car park are available for Blue Badge holders on a first come, first served basis. Please display your Blue Badge clearly and speak to one of our parking attendants when you arrive.
If you have particular access requirements, please contact us before your visit so that we can advise and assist you.
What address should I use?
American Museum & Gardens
Claverton Manor
Claverton
Bath
BA2 7BDPlease plan your route in advance and check for any local road closures or travel disruption before setting out.
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Will food and drink be available?
Yes. A selection of seasonal food and drink will be available to purchase from the American Garden Deli.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks.
Can I bring my own alcohol?
Only alcohol purchased at the event may be consumed on site, in accordance with our premises licence.
Will you accept cash?
The event and the deli will be card only.
Are toilets and baby-changing facilities available?
Yes. Toilets are located by the Deli, accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are available in the Gallery Shop.
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Is the experience accessible for wheelchair users and mobility scooters?
The experience takes place across both indoor and outdoor areas of our historic estate. The route is step-free but includes pathways in our garden with some slopes and uneven surfaces, plus some outdoor surfaces may become more difficult in wet weather.
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs are welcomed. Please contact us before booking if you would like to discuss your individual access requirements.
Our team will also be available during the event to offer directions and assistance.
Can I bring a pushchair?
Pushchairs are welcome, although visitors should be aware that parts of the outdoor route may include slopes, uneven surfaces and wet ground.
Will there be flashing lights, lasers, haze or loud sounds?
The experience uses theatrical lighting, projections, lasers, haze and sound effects. Some areas will also be deliberately dark or dimly lit.
Please consider this if somebody in your group has photosensitivity, sensory sensitivities or another medical concern.
What should I wear?
Parts of the experience take place outdoors and the event will go ahead in most weather conditions. Please dress warmly and wear sturdy, weather-appropriate footwear.
Paths may be wet, muddy or slippery following rain. You may wish to bring a small torch for emergencies, but please avoid using it unnecessarily as this can affect the experience for other visitors.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The experience will go ahead in most weather conditions, so please check the forecast and dress appropriately.
If severe weather creates a safety risk and we need to cancel an evening, we will contact ticket holders using the email address provided when booking. We will also publish an update on our website and social media channels.
Unless you hear from us, please assume the event is going ahead. Refunds will not be offered simply because the weather is wet or cold.
Can I bring my dog?
Only registered assistance dogs are permitted at the Halloween experience. The event includes indoor areas, darkness, theatrical lighting, haze and sound effects, so it may not be suitable for other dogs.
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Can I take photographs?
Yes, we would love to see your photographs! Please feel free to take pictures for personal use, while being considerate of other visitors and following any instructions from our team inside the Manor House.
Share your pictures using #HalloweenAM&G and tag @americanmuseumandgardens on Instagram so that we can see them. We may even share some of our favourites!
Professional or commercial photography are not permitted without prior agreement.
Can I bring a drone?
Drones are not permitted anywhere on the Museum estate.
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Is smoking or vaping permitted?
No. The American Museum & Gardens is a completely non-smoking site. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vaping.
Who should I contact if I have another question?
Please contact our Ticket Office, including your booking reference if your enquiry relates to an existing booking:
Email: ticketoffice@americanmuseum.org Telephone: 01225 460503