Bradgate After Dark (Leicester)

Bradgate is the county’s only medieval deer park — 830 acres of ancient woodland around the ruins of Bradgate House, birthplace of Lady Jane Grey, whose ghost is said to ride a coach pulled by headless horses through the park.

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.

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 in the lower meadows near the Deer Barn, and a separate 12+ evening session across temporary structures further into the designated event zone, with a hard changeover between the two.

Evening session finishes earlier (22:30) than some other Haunted Halloween Escape locations, at 30 minutes before the park’s usual dusk-linked closing pattern, in deference to wildlife and the rural setting. Last entry for Parkland Daylight is 15:00; last entry for After Dark is 21:00.

Scare Mazes (Evening Session)

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 well clear of the real ruins, ancient oaks, and deer grazing grounds.

Rides — Included in Standard Ticket

A dedicated ride zone operates in the lower meadow next to the Deer Barn throughout the Parkland Daylight session — the same footprint agreed with the Trust’s rangers as being outside the deer’s usual rutting grounds (see Section 8). All rides below are included in the standard admission price at no extra cost, and run at the same moderate noise levels already agreed for the wider event.

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 zone hours run 10:00–20:30, ending before the After Dark session’s more intense evening activity, and sit within the same noise and siting limits agreed with Trust ecology advisers for the whole event footprint.

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: Main visitor car park at Bradgate Park, Newtown Linford (LE6 0HB). Please keep to the designated event zone — this is a working deer park and SSSI.
• 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.