We’ve had the pleasure of experiencing both this season, so we put together a comparison blog post to help you decide where to visit!
Alton Towers Scarefest:
Scarefest is well known for offering family-friendly options alongside the thrill scare mazes. This year’s event is one of the best in years. With their brand-new scare mazes, The Final Exhibit is the true star of the show. You can embrace Alton Towers’ history while being terrified; it truly is a delight. This season’s offering is brilliant: 2 free scare zones, 4 scare mazes for those over 13, and 2 for those under 13. Multiple shows are beginning from 3pm, and the Alton Ancestors are doing their flash mob throughout the day across Tower Street and Fountain Square. Of course, you can enjoy the entire park after dark, which is well worth a visit on its own. There’s decor and photo opportunities spread across the park for the first time in all the years we’ve visited. You’ll find Cargo Eats, outsourced food outlets & a bar, offering a wide variety of options.
Thorpe Park Fright Nights:
Thorpe Park is aimed at an older crowd, so it’s best for teenagers and up. This year, they have 5 scare mazes for guests to enjoy, including their brand-new Tentament, a new-for-Thorpe Park maze style. They also have 3 free scare zones. Over at the new-for-2026 The Hub, the Rebel Ball takes over. Plus, again, the night rides on their coasters. This is aimed more at thrill-seekers than families. Thorpe Park mazes are cheaper overall than Scarefest. Don’t forget it’s also 25 years of Fright Nights, so that alone is worth visiting to say you celebrated the anniversary!
Where Should You Visit?
It depends on who is visiting. If you are visiting with young children, Alton Towers Scarefest is the event to visit. There is little point in children younger than perhaps 10 visiting Thorpe Park as a whole unless they are tall enough to ride the coasters. As mentioned above, it’s a theme park aimed at teenagers and up. Whereas Alton Towers they cater for the entire family, from toddlers with CBeebies Monster Ball up to thrill seekers with their scare mazes offering. In terms of cost, Thorpe Park’s scare mazes are cheaper than Alton Towers’. Thorpe Park has more free scare zones than Alton Towers. But both events start at 3pm. Both parks close at 9pm during their Halloween events. Both offer night rides, but Alton Towers has a wider range of family rides than Thorpe Park. We personally preferred Scarefest this season to Fright Nights, as Fright Nights felt like it had fewer actors throughout the mazes, and the overall event felt cut back.
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Check out our FULL reviews for both below
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Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!
