Scarefest has returned to Alton Towers for 2025, and this year’s event sees some exciting additions, including a brand-new maze and scare zone in the Dark Forest. Alongside these fresh experiences, fan favourites such as The Compound and Altonville Mine Tours also make a return. With extra theming, improved lighting, and new merchandise, this year’s Scarefest feels like one of the most ambitious editions in recent years.
Edge of the Forest – New Maze for 2025
The headline addition for this year is Edge of the Forest, a chilling new maze set within the Dark Forest. The story centres around a sinister new spirit, “Leshwall”, who lurks in the shadows, waiting to prey on unsuspecting visitors.
From the very beginning, this maze impressed us. It feels like one of the strongest new creations Merlin has produced in years. The set design is detailed, atmospheric, and cleverly used to disorient guests.
You begin inside a small cottage on the forest’s edge, where an elderly woman welcomes you to warm yourself by the fire. Just as you settle, the lights cut out and she vanishes, leaving you to step through a mysterious door into the dark forest beyond.
The maze cleverly loops back through the cottage several times, but with each return the setting becomes more twisted and corrupted. On our first run-through, we almost thought we were walking in circles, but the theming gradually revealed that we were being drawn ever closer to Leshwall’s domain.
A top tip: keep an eye on the car wreck outside the cottage. Each time you revisit, it grows more damaged, and the radio plays fun Easter eggs, including references to Thunder Rock Radio.
The finale brings you into a decayed bedroom where you finally come face to face with Leshwall himself. This climactic scare is captured on video for guests to purchase afterwards. The final scenes felt somewhat reminiscent of Stranger Things, with reality consumed by a nightmarish parallel world.
Overall, Edge of the Forest is a superb addition and sets a high benchmark for future Scarefest mazes.
Dark Hollow – New Scare Zone for 2025
The Dark Forest also welcomes a new scare zone: Dark Hollow. This free-to-experience attraction draws on characters from Alton Towers’ history, including the iconic “Thirteen girl” from early marketing campaigns, the Hampton twins from The Boiler House, and even props such as statues from The Invitation.
The atmosphere is heightened not just by the roaming actors and eerie lighting, but also through cleverly designed audio. Among the soundscapes, fans will spot nods to past marketing, including the famous “Don’t Go Alone” tagline woven into the clips. It’s a subtle but effective Easter egg that long-time Scarefest visitors will appreciate.
At night, the area feels deeply immersive, with even the window of the old Swiss Cottage themed to match. At around four minutes in length, it’s short but highly enjoyable, and one of the best scare zones the park has produced in years.
The Compound
Back again for 2025, The Compound continues to deliver the intensity and unpredictability that made it a standout last year. Although the layout hasn’t changed, there are so many possible routes that each run-through still feels different. The costumes and makeup remain first-class, and while we would love to see an even more intense version in future, the experience is still a highlight.
Amigos of the Afterlife
Barry the little wormy returns for another season of family-friendly fun. Located in the former Dungeon building, this maze is bursting with colourful theming and cheeky humour. While it’s aimed at families, our group thoroughly enjoyed it. Even our junior team member braved the darker moments and came out smiling – helped, no doubt, by the free paper mask at the end. It’s a brilliant option for younger guests experiencing Halloween attractions for the first time.
Trick or Treat Town
This returning attraction remains cute and playful, with plenty of actor interaction. However, the pricing structure is a little steep: each adult must pay to accompany a child, which feels poor value for money given the sweets on offer. While the theming is charming, we’d love to see the large building repurposed into a more substantial attraction in future.
Altonville Mine Tours
Now one of the longest-running mazes at Alton Towers, Altonville Mine Tours returns for another year. While the costumes and makeup remain strong, the maze has not changed at all, and it’s beginning to feel tired. Still enjoyable, but it is overdue for retirement and replacement.
Burial Grounds
This Wicker Man-themed scare zone continues to provide solid entertainment. With strong costumes and immersive theming, it’s a great introduction for guests new to scare attractions. That said, the layout has remained largely unchanged, and we’d like to see it refreshed in the future.
Alton Ancestors
The Alton Ancestors once again perform flashmob-style dance routines across Towers Street, Fountain Square, and Mutiny Bay. This year’s choreography and playlist felt fresh and energetic, breathing new life into the troupe. While they remain a Scarefest staple, we’d welcome something new to replace or evolve the format in coming years.
Themed Food and Drink
Food and drink options felt slightly underwhelming this year. While novelty items such as “blood bags” were available, most exclusive offerings were confined to the hotel – including Scarefest-branded pizzas. With no themed food vans on the lawns, the selection felt sparse compared to previous years. We particularly missed Ozzy Boozy, which added a lively atmosphere in the past.
Park Lighting
The lighting around the park has been stepped up considerably for 2025. The Towers looked spectacular at night, and it seems the park is gradually phasing out the portable generators that used to dominate the atmosphere.
Extra Theming
This year, Scarefest characters were scattered throughout the park, adding life and humour. From flags on the Towers to pumpkins delivered on the lawns, these little touches enhanced the atmosphere. The ride-themed pumpkins on Towers Street have also received repaints, with the Nemesis pumpkin now updated to reflect Nemesis Reborn. Even the famous frogs received a seasonal makeover.
Maze Prices and Fastrack
For 2025, Alton Towers introduced Fastrack options for the scare mazes, allowing guests to skip queues at a premium. However, with mazes priced from £12 for passholders – the highest they’ve ever been – this year’s ticketing felt expensive. On opening weekend, we rarely saw long queues, suggesting that the pricing may have deterred some guests. This may change closer to Halloween, but it’s a trend worth noting.
Merchandise
Three new pin badges join the Scarefest range for 2025, alongside embroidered shirts, plush toys, and collectible models. Some 2024 stock remains available, though overall the merchandise offering felt fresh and appealing for fans and collectors.
Family Shows
With the lawns stage removed, family entertainment has relocated to Courtyard Tavern. While the temporary stage works well, shows don’t begin until 5pm – arguably too late for younger families. This year’s line-up includes Freaky Friend Meet and Greet, Pail’s Halloween Dance Party, and Alton Ancestors: Final Haunt. We didn’t catch the performances ourselves, but the area looked lively and inviting, with a large themed entrance sign featuring Franklin.
Overall
Scarefest 2025 feels like a confident and well-rounded event. The addition of Edge of the Forest is a triumph, and Dark Hollow adds atmosphere and nostalgia to the Dark Forest. With extra theming, improved lighting, and extended operating days, it’s clear that Merlin recognises Scarefest as a flagship event and has invested accordingly.
That said, a few areas – such as food, Mine Tours, and family shows – feel in need of revitalisation. Maze pricing also risks alienating some visitors.
This year also marks the first Scarefest under Merlin’s new entertainment partner, RWS Global, and the transition has been handled smoothly. Overall, Scarefest 2025 is a strong year, setting the stage for exciting future developments. We can’t wait to return later in the season – and to see how Alton Towers continues to build on its Halloween legacy.
