YouthTV at Tulleys Shocktober Fest, Europe’s Biggest Scream Park

When Tulleys Farm kindly invited YouthTV down to this year’s Shocktober Fest press night, we knew it was going to be a scary night out, but nothing could have prepared us for just how terrifying and fun it would be. Known as Europe’s largest scream park, Shocktober is like stepping into an entire festival dedicated to Halloween. From the moment you walk through the gates, it is buzzing with street actors, music stages, food stalls and, of course, the infamous scare mazes.

The mazes are on another level. One of our favourites was Purgatory, which takes place in Havistock Manor, a crumbling country house where the family mysteriously vanished years ago. We were handed a lantern to guide us through the pitch black corridors, as ghostly characters appeared out of nowhere. It was eerie, tense and honestly one of the scariest experiences of the night. Another highlight was Doom Town, which felt like stepping straight into a horror movie set. We started in a defiled church and ended up wandering through abandoned shops including a haunted Blockbuster, a Boots and even a cursed Greggs, which was a clever nod since they sponsor the event. The detail was incredible, with broken cars on the streets, flickering lights and actors leaping out at every corner. Everywhere we looked, there was something to make us jump.

Other mazes pushed us in different ways. Glitch blended futuristic tech horror with chilling scares. The Electrick Circus was a chaotic maze filled with sinister clowns. Wastelands Penitentiary trapped us in a brutal post apocalyptic prison while Chop Shop turned up the terror with chainsaws from every angle. The Village Coven of 13, Hell-ements, The Creepy Cottage and The Carving each had their own unique twist. The one that everyone talks about is the Haunted Hayride: Route 666. You sit on a truck that drives you through outdoor horror sets filled with scarecrows, haunted houses and monsters that climb onto the trailer to get right in your face. It felt like a live action horror film playing out around us, and it was visceral!

But Shocktober is not only about being scared. It feels like a massive Halloween festival with so much more to do. Fairground rides like the Stratosphere, Slingshot and Waltzer gave us a different kind of adrenaline rush and the live music kept the energy high all night. On the main stage, Euphoria, the resident Halloween band, played rock covers and spooky classics while a DJ kept the crowd entertained at the DJ stage. We even ended up dancing with zombies, who stayed in character all night, which made the whole experience feel fully immersive. For anyone wanting a calmer vibe, the Barn Stage offered Nashville style music to unwind to.

The food and drinks were just as impressive as the entertainment. Street food trucks were dotted all around, serving pizza, burgers, Greek food and more, alongside churros and doughnuts for anyone with a sweet tooth. Bentley’s BBQ Grill was also on site, with an American style diner serving smash burgers and bourbon chicken, which added to the festival feel. Sponsors were present throughout the night, with Greggs greeting us at the entrance and NYX Makeup running booths for spooky touch ups.

What makes Tulleys Shocktober so unforgettable is how immersive it is from start to finish. The roaming actors never let the energy drop. Whether they were whispering in our ears, creeping up behind us or dancing in the crowd they made sure there was never a dull moment. With the detail in the sets, the variety of experiences and the constant feeling that something terrifying could happen at any second, it is a night that keeps you on edge from beginning to end.

Tickets start from £42.95 for the XScream Pass, which gets you unlimited access to all the mazes, the music stages, the food courts and parking. Shocktober runs until 1 November 2025 and if you are looking for the ultimate Halloween experience, this is the place to be. We came out hoarse from screaming, still laughing about the jump scares and already recommending it to all our friends. Shocktober at Tulleys Farm is not only Europe’s biggest scream park, it is the best Halloween night out you will ever have!