Alexandra Palace After Dark (London)
Dates
October 20, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
Alexandra Palace & Park
Tickets from
Price range: £16.00 through £88.00
Book your experience
- Instant e-ticket by email, with a QR code per guest
- Secure card checkout — final total confirmed at checkout
- Every activity on the night is optional
Inside the venue
Gallery
About this
Event Description
Alexandra Palace is the 196-acre ‘People’s Palace’ famous as the birthplace of the world’s first regular BBC television broadcasts — and its own staff have shared first-hand reports of unexplained phenomena in the restored Victorian Theatre and South Corridor.
Each day splits in two: a fully family-safe Parkland Daylight session of rides, trails and entertainment, then a separate After Dark session for ages 12+ built around live-actor scare mazes, shows, a horror market and street food. A licensed fire show runs on the season’s bigger nights.
Tickets
- Parkland Daylight (Adult, Young Person, Child) — full daytime access including all rides and family attractions.
- After Dark (Adult, Young Person 12–15 with a guardian) — the full evening scare event.
- Family (2 adults + 2 children) — a discounted daytime family ticket.
- Season Pass — unlimited entry to both sessions across all 13 days.
Dates & times
20 October – 1 November 2026 (13 nights). Parkland Daylight runs 10:00–16:00; After Dark runs 17:30–22:30. Last entry for Daylight is 15:00 and for After Dark 21:00.
Good to know
- Two sessions each day: a family-safe Parkland Daylight session, then a separate After Dark session for ages 12+ (16+ for the most intense mazes).
- Every standard ticket includes full access to the ride zone and daytime attractions at no extra cost.
- All mazes are no-touch: actors may startle but never make physical contact. A ‘no-scare’ wristband is available on request.
- Wrap up warm and wear sensible footwear — much of the event is outdoors on parkland.
Daily Schedule — Two Distinct Experiences
The day is split into a fully family-safe session across the open parkland, and a separate 12+ evening session using temporary structures closer to the Palace building itself, with a hard changeover between the two.
| Session | Time | Audience | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Daylight | 10:00 – 16:00 | All ages, families, under-12s | Rides, pumpkin trail, deer paddock visit, magic show, trick-or-treat trail, and family-friendly entertainment across the park. |
| Changeover | 16:00 – 17:30 | Park closed to guests | Full site reset: lighting rig, fog systems, actor call, safety checks, and a final walkthrough before the evening session opens. |
| Haunted Halloween Escape After Dark | 17:30 – 23:00 | Ages 12+ only (16+ for extreme mazes) | Live scare actors, 5 scare mazes across temporary structures closer to the Palace building, evening shows, and the Hilltop Horror Market. |
Last entry for Park Daylight is 15:00; last entry for After Dark is 21:30. Doors close and all guests must exit within 30 minutes of the advertised end time. On 31 October and 1 November, evening hours and layout would be adjusted to run alongside (or be folded into) the Palace’s own Fireworks & Drone Festival rather than competing with it for the same crowd and airspace.
Scare Mazes (Evening Session)
| Maze | Concept | Min. Age |
|---|---|---|
| The Swinging Light | Inspired by Alexandra Palace's own publicly shared account of an unexplained swinging stage light in the restored Victorian Theatre. | 15+ |
| The 1873 Blaze | A respectful, clearly-fictionalised dramatisation referencing the Palace's real history of surviving a devastating fire in 1873, in which staff lost their lives. | 16+ |
| The South Corridor Static | Inspired by real staff-reported unexplained radio noise in the South Corridor. Corridor maze with crackling-radio sound effects and flickering fluorescent lighting. | 13+ |
| The Grey Figure | Inspired by the Palace's own reported blurry CCTV figure. A mirrored, low-visibility maze playing on half-glimpsed shapes rather than jump scares. | 15+ |
| Ally Pally Woods | Outdoor trail through a themed section of the real park woodland, with heavy ground fog, distant owl calls, and silhouette actors glimpsed only among the trees. | 12+ |
All mazes are no-touch: actors may startle but never physically contact guests. Guests may request a “no-scare” wristband to pass through with reduced actor interaction. All structures are temporary and demountable, sited to protect the Grade II listed Palace building and its historic theatre.
Rides — Included in Standard Ticket
A dedicated ride zone operates on the East Terrace throughout the Park Daylight session, built as freestanding, demountable structures sited well clear of the Grade II listed Palace building and its restored Victorian Theatre. All rides below are included in the standard admission price at no extra cost.
| Ride | Description | Age/height guidance |
|---|---|---|
| The Ally Pally Wheel | A 20-metre Halloween-themed Ferris wheel with gondola seating and panoramic London skyline views. | All ages; under-6s with an adult |
| Broadcast Carousel | A traditional carved carousel with a Victorian "People's Palace" paint scheme. | All ages; under-4s with an adult |
| The Terrace Hayride | A gentle tractor-drawn hay-cart circuit around the East Terrace and deer paddock. | All ages; under-3s on a guardian's lap |
| Crypt Coaster Jr. | A small-scale family roller coaster with mild dips, no inversions. | Min. height 100cm, or 90cm with an adult |
| The Spinning Cauldrons | Tea-cup-style spinning ride in cauldron-shaped cars. | Min. height 90cm, or any age with an adult |
| Theatre Ghost Train | A dark-ride style trackless train looping through a mild-scare tunnel, lit for family viewing. | All ages; may not suit very young or easily frightened children |
Ride queues are timed and marshalled; each ride is inspected daily by a qualified engineer under standard UK fairground safety (HSE/ADIPS) requirements before opening. Ride siting is agreed in advance with the Alexandra Palace and Park Charitable Trust, consistent with the same heritage protections that apply to the evening mazes (Section 8).
Before you visit
- Entry & timings: Parkland Daylight runs 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:00); the 12+ After Dark session runs from 17:30 (last entry 21:00–21:30). Please leave within 30 minutes of your session’s advertised end time.
- Parking & getting there: Alexandra Palace railway station is a short walk away; Wood Green and Bounds Green tube stations are within reach with onward buses. On-site parking is available.
- Code of conduct: Daylight is for all ages; After Dark is 12+ only (16+ for the most intense mazes). This is a no-touch event and a free ‘no-scare’ wristband is available on request. Please follow all steward instructions — anti-social behaviour may result in removal without a refund. Much of the event is outdoors, so dress warmly with sturdy footwear.
Getting there
Where
Venue
Alexandra Palace & Park
Please allow extra travel time — several of our venues are rural, with limited public transport. Parking details are shown on your ticket.
Event dates
October 20, 2026
Instant e-ticket
In your inbox the moment you pay
Secure checkout
Encrypted card payment
Guide-supervised
Every vigil led by experienced staff
Date changes
Move night up to 48 hours before*
Still deciding
Questions
Is anything staged?
No. Nothing is staged and no outcome is ever promised. These are genuine historic buildings, investigated with structured vigils and traditional techniques.
What happens after I pay?
Your e-ticket is emailed straight away, with a unique QR code for every guest. Save it as a PDF, add it to Apple or Google Wallet, or resend it anytime from My Account.
Which ticket should I choose?
Twilight for families and first-timers, Standard for the full after-dark tour, Premium if you want a small-group vigil with equipment, VIP for the extended late session on 31 October.
Can I change my date?
You can move to another available night up to 48 hours before, subject to availability on the night you move to. Get in touch and we will sort it.
Do I need any experience?
None at all. Guides run every session, explain the equipment, and stay with your group the whole time.
Price range: £16.00 through £88.00
Early Bird — 30% off
