Peterborough Museum set to go 'all out' for Halloween

As reputedly the most haunted building in the city, Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery is an obvious place to head for anyone who enjoys paranormal experiences and ghostly encounters.

Indeed, the museum has made a bit of a name for itself when it comes to delivering top-drawer offerings around spooky season, with staff members roping in costumed characters and enthusiastic tour guides to help ensure visitors enjoy a truly visceral experience at the historic – and slightly macabre – Priestgate venue.

"We try to go all out for Halloween,” explained Laura Hancock, Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery’s heritage engagement manager.

"For adults, we've got candle-lit tours [which provide] a glimpse of the the stories where we talk about the ghosts that we can find here in in the building.”

This involves exploring the museum’s lonely corridors and historic rooms after dark while listening to tales of real-life paranormal encounters highlighting the ghosts that are said to haunt the building, such as the famed ‘Lonely ANZAC’. Other apparitions include a phantom servant and a ghostly girl.

"All of the stories are things that have been reported to us,” Laura assured: “nothing's made up; no gimmicks, so yeah it's very very atmospheric.”

As well as exploring the main building (which used to be a hospital), visitors can also delve into the notorious 500-year-old Priestgate Vaults, or venture out into the city centre on Peterborough’s original ghost walk.

HAUNTED WALKS AND TOURS, October 24-31, from £3.50.

of course, adults aren’t the only ones welcome to get their spook on at the museum.

“We also have things for families as well,” Laura noted. “We've got a family after dark event where all the lights are off and families get torches to go around and and do all of the activities, meet various dressed-up characters – if they can get past our spooky butler at the door!”

Going into greater detail, she observed:

“We've got our Monster School on the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday of half-term where kids can come and become the monster they were always meant to be,” she explained, adding "there's loads of slime-making, mask-making and we've got creepy critters so you can see some live bugs.

"Once they've braved all the classes, then they can enjoy their full-blown monster self!”

MONSTER SCHOOL, October 27-29, 10am-4pm, from £7.50 per child (adults free).

"Then we've got the Halloween craft workshop and Halloween Lego sessions with loads of different things to be to be getting involved with,” she added.

LEGO® Club: Bats, October 31, FREE, from 11am–1pm.

FAMILY CRAFT WORKSHOP, October 31, 2pm, from £5 per child.

Laura was keen to point out that the museum is also holding new activities too:

”So new for this year, we're all really excited that we've got a family Halloween disco,” she said.

"So come and Monster Mash with us, or get your Ghostbusters out – there's prizes for the best dressed costumes.”

HALLOWEEN DISCO, October 30, 5–7pm, from £5 per person

Warming to the Halloween theme with gusto, Laura channelled her inner Nosferatu to ensure a suitably spooky exhibition was not omitted from her list:

"Did I mention the opening on Tuesday the 27th of October of our Nightmares on Film exhibition looking at the history of the evolution of the British horror film?” she said.

"That's why I found myself in this rather large coffin...” she said, while ensconced in an oversized coffin.

Other film-related activities include FAMILY FILMS AT FIVE and TERRROR AT TEN.

NIGHTMARES ON FILM, October 27-February 6, from £5 for a three-hour slot (10am-1pm or 1-4pm).

For a full list of all the activities that are going on this half-term, head to peterboroughmuseum.org.uk.