Review of Halloween at Blackpool Tower Dungeon and The Fifth Floor*

The invite to live and breathe Lancashire’s ‘orrible past’ was too tempting to turn down. And so we found ourselves queuing up on a Saturday afternoon, waiting to enter the murky depths of Blackpool Tower Dungeon.

Given the time of year, the Pendle Witches show is now running, billed as ‘family Halloween fun’… with some scares.

And from the start, it didn’t disappoint.

The one-hour live-action experience began with a jester, who set the scene as we got ready to descend into the dungeon.

Our next stop was the wonderfully eerie ‘Dark Chapel’, where a creepy monk recounted tales of life in the Dark Ages.

Walking on, we arrived at the highlight of the experience – the Plague Doctor (which was also my son’s favourite). I won’t give too much away – except to warn you to look out for leeches!

Our journey continued via a torturer who clearly takes great pride in his work, a courtroom, mirrored labyrinth and a Viking Invasion. We also crossed paths with a smuggler and the ‘Pendle Witches’.

Our verdict

My nine-year-old son Ewan, husband Simon and I absolutely loved the whole spine-tinglingly hilarious experience. The actors were all gleefully macabre and there was plenty of audience participation, which added to the fun (although I was glad not to have been singled out in the torture chamber!).

There were parts of the show that made us jump, but the humour balanced the spooks out. However, my 13-year-old nephew, Fin, wasn’t too keen and left with my husband early on. However, big thanks to the staff, who let my husband return to the show later in the day, so he didn’t miss out.

I’m a big fan of Halloween and anything gothic, and I was impressed with how the dungeon team had blended laughter with scares to make it family-friendly. But be warned, it gets very dark inside some of the areas and there were a few scares along the way.

At the end there’s a Drop Dead ride, which you can bypass if you’re not tall enough, have a health condition or simply don’t fancy it. Simon braved the thrilling ride and gave it the thumbs up.

The show finishes in the dungeon’s very own pub, the Red Lion, where you’ll find a few interesting characters.

Leaving the dungeon behind, we headed a few floors up Blackpool Tower to the new Fifth Floor area. Here, we had a drink in the family bar, while Ewan and Fin enjoyed the circus-themed arcade.

Our final experience of the day was the tower’s new Virtual Reality Rollercoaster, which we all had a go at.

This VR ride was awesome. Of course, the whole point of VR is to be realistic – but this seemed to go beyond that. I get nervous on real-life rollercoasters, but my legs were even like jelly on the VR ride – even though I was sitting firmly in a seat on the ground. It really felt like I was hurtling down sheer drops.

Before leaving Blackpool and heading back to South Cheshire, we had a walk along the seafront to admire the illuminations. And by this time it was getting very busy.

Back in the car, the two boys were soon snoozing – the sign of a good day out.

When is Blackpool Tower Dungeon open?

Opening times vary. Click here to find out more.

How much is Blackpool Tower Dungeon?

Online dungeon-only saver tickets are priced:

• Adults: £14
• Children: £11.50
• Students: £10
• Group of four: £11.50 per person

Where is Blackpool Tower Dungeon?

• The Blackpool Tower Dungeon is at the bottom of Blackpool Tower, in Bank Hey Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 4BJ
• It’s a 10-minute walk from Blackpool North station and a 30-minute walk from Blackpool South station
• Bus services 1, 5, 7, 10 and 14 run by Blackpool Tower. Or hop on a tram (they run along the coast from Fleetwood to Starr Gate) and disembark at the Tower Tram stop
• If travelling by car, exit the M55 at junction 4 and take the second exit at the roundabout, signposted ‘central car parks’
• There’s no car park at the tower but Central and Bonny Street car parks are about 100m from the dungeon

About Blackpool Tower Dungeon

Blackpool Tower Dungeon brings together a cast of actors, special effects, stages, scenes and a ride. The exciting walk-through experience allows you to see, hear, touch, smell and feel, and is both fun and sometimes a bit scary.

Things to note:

• Blackpool Tower Dungeon aims to offer a fun, family-friendly experience. However, it’s not recommended for those of a nervous disposition or young children
• Health and height restrictions apply to the Drop Dead ride

About The Fifth Floor

Blackpool Tower’s new attraction – The Fifth Floor – includes a family bar, circus-themed arcade and Virtual Reality Rollercoaster. There’s also free, live entertainment every weekend. For further information, click here.

By Colette Warbrook

Photo Credit: Jason Lock / Blackpool Tower

You may also want to read this:

Family Day Out Review : Blackpool Tower

Family Day Out Review : Madame Tussauds Blackpool

Family Day Out Review : Blackpool Pleasure Beach

*We were provided with free entry passes to Blackpool Tower Dungeon and the Virtual Reality Rollercoaster in return for a review. All opinions are our own.