SOME seriously creepy characters have found their way into Chessington World of Adventures this month.

As part of Chessington’s Howl’o’ween extravaganza, a bunch of Vile Villagers have taken over the Wild Woods, lurking behind trees and ready to pounce on visitors.

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My brother and I were visiting the theme park in Kingston upon Thames, South West London, with my son Leo, eight, and his six-year-old cousin Buddy, who fancied themselves as teenage ghostbusters.

But little Buddy went running for his daddy’s hand when the ghouling got too tough.

The attraction’s young actors put in Oscar-worthy performances and their make-up, prosthetics and props made for a genuinely unnerving experience.

It’s a live, immersive experience, next to the famous Vampire ride, and horribly blood-soaked.

A wonderful thing about most Merlin attractions – but especially Chessington, perhaps because of the zoo’s many and wonderful animals – is how enthusiastic and knowledgeable the staff are.

Silent disco

It was too dark to see most of the name badges but every time we got lost, or needed to know a ride’s height restriction or a toilet location, we were saved by a member of the faultless team.

If your little trolls and ogres are not ready for the PG-12 frights, there are plenty of other options to entertain younger and softer souls.

Banyan: The Final Flame is an hypnotic fire-and-special effects show taking place at Adventure Point.

It was an action-packed afternoon and us fat dads needed a rest, but instead we were dragged away to more rides.

All the rides, like Mandrill Mayhem and Kobra, feel extra-thrilling after dark and the summit of Croc Drop gives a super-spooky view of nighttime London before sending you hurtling back to earth.

Our little terrors claimed to be too big and cool for the Wilf and Violet show on the Mini Stage and the appearances of Cocomelon’s JJ and Cody. But everyone else seemed to be loving the action.

The Pumpkin Patch is a brilliant spot for family photos – no matter what your age or fear factor.

And another success of our visit was the silent disco, which got our football-mad rough-housers dancing and singing like an Abba tribute act.

Our boys have not been old enough to do an after-dark theme park before but now inform us that they ONLY go on rides at midnight.

Mummify yourself in warm clothes and check out the timings of all of the shows so you can catch every scene. Then, strap yourself in as it’s guaranteed to be a spooktacular night.

(credit: VistaJet)

As the global leader in private aviation for 20 years, VistaJet – a part of Vista, the world’s first private aviation ecosystem – has announced a new suite of experiences through Private World. Offeringonce-in-a-lifetime adventures all around the world, a gift for all VistaJet Members, to fully immerse in the iconic silver and red legacy, the company takes care of every detail of their guest’s itinerary so they can make the most of their special vacation. From exclusive looks into the cacao plantations of the Amazon and a helicopter safari following humpback whale migration in Mozambique and more, see the full list of new experiences below. 

(credit: VistaJet)

Botswana with Belmond

Belmond’s Southern Africa escapes embrace two thrillingly different safari experiences in Northern Botswana. Eagle Island Lodge is in the heart of the Okavango Delta and Savute Elephant Lodge sits beside the mysterious Savute Channel. Experienced guides, rich wildlife encounters and unique activities will enchant even the most seasoned safari traveler. Breathlessly captivating, this corner of Botswana has long been associated with the world’s greatest explorers, including David Livingstone. Follow in their footsteps at Savute Elephant Lodge and head out to a unique viewing hide at dusk or dawn, overlooking the watering hole, to see elephants, hyenas and cheetahs in their element. Returning to the lodge, receive a serene welcome while the eco-friendly design immerses you in harmony with the stunning landscape.

Eagle Island Lodge’s high-ceiling tented rooms in the Botswana wetlands are flooded with light, and each has a plunge pool and oversized bed with views of the Delta. Get closer to the wildlife of this UNESCO World Heritage Site with a silent glide past hippos in a traditional canoe, as fish eagles soar overhead.

(credit: VistaJet)

Luxury Cacao Experience in Ecuador with The Cacau Club

Indulge in the ultimate luxury cacao travel experience in Ecuador, where the lush landscapes of the Amazon rainforest meet the rich cultural heritage of cacao cultivation. Embark on a sensory journey, exploring exclusive cacao plantations nestled within the pristine rainforest, where expert guides unveil the secrets of premium chocolate production. Immerse yourself in hands-on experiences, from harvesting ripe cacao pods to the intricate chocolate-making process. Delight your taste buds with an exquisite tasting at Toak, the ‘Hermes of Chocolate.’ Toak, renowned for its dedication to Amazon conservation while producing exceptional cacao and chocolate, opens its doors to VistaJet for an intimate exploration of their exquisite creations.

Delve into the artistry behind each bar, savoring the distinctive flavors that have earned Toak its prestigious reputation in the world of luxury chocolates. Beyond the plantations, discover the vibrant local communities that have sustained cacao traditions for generations. Engage with indigenous artisans, gaining insight into their time-honored techniques for crafting artisanal chocolates. Personalized culinary experiences await, featuring unique cacao and chocolate-infused dishes prepared by skilled chefs.                  

(credit: VistaJet)

Spectacular Humpback Helicopter Safari in Mozambique with Kisawa

Experience the magic of the ‘Great East African Blue Migration’ up close, witnessing hundreds of adult and newborn humpback sightings at Kisawa Sanctuary, Benguerra Island. For a truly unforgettable perspective, take to the skies above the Bazaruto Archipelago National Marine Park for a private helicopter safari led by the science team at the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS). You will weave around the stunning blues of the archipelago with the best chance of watching these traveling pods from above.

Kisawa Sanctuary is an award-winning island resort, celebrating the unbreakable bond between people and land. Located on 300 hectares of pristine tropical coastline, rolling dunes and coastal forest, Kisawa has been created to ensure maximum privacy, with minimum impact on the natural environment, showcasing a design culture that celebrates craft and heritage.     

Private Champagne Billecart-Salmon Dinner in Mareuil-sur-A¨y, France

An immersion of timeless elegance and artisanal craftsmanship of Champagne-making, enriched by the personal insights and expertise of Mathieu Roland Billecart himself. VistaJet Members can enjoy an exquisite estate and cellar tour at Champagne Billecart-Salmon, followed by an intimate private dining experience within the domaine, graciously hosted by Mathieu Roland Billecart, the 7th Generation CEO at this celebrated vintner’s family champagne house.        

A HUGE £200m water park with a 500-room hotel and bowling alley has moved one step closer to opening in the UK.

Great Wolf Resorts (GWR), which has sites in the US and Canada, is now prepping to open Great Wolf Lodge in Chesterton, near Bicester.

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After planning was initially approved in 2021, Europe’s first taste of the monster resort is now even closer to opening.

“Some infrastructure improvements” have recently been made, GWR said, pushing the development further.

A spokesperson for the company said: “The potential of bringing a Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park resort to families in the UK is exciting, and we’re exploring the best possible ways to bring our beloved family entertainment brand to this market.

“We recently completed some infrastructure improvements to the Chesterton site, and we continue to explore the potential for additional resorts within the UK to reach more families and provide our strongest entry into the market.”

An exact opening date has not been given.

The resort will bring in a £200m investment for the area as well as creating 600 jobs.

It will be a 498-room hotel with themed rooms, featuring an indoor water park with twisty slides and a variety of pools.

And a second resort is hoping to open in Basingstoke.

While official ticket prices haven’t been revealed, day passes would be available for anyone wanting to visit the indoor waterpark and restaurants, along with discounts for locals.

The 45-acre attraction will also have miniature golf courses.

Guests will also be able to book overnight stays at the resort too, similar to Butlin’s and Center Parcs.

A one-night stay for a family of four at a Great Wolf Resort in the US starts from $199 (£157) a night.

Basingstoke councillor John Izett said: “A Great Wolf indoor water park resort in Basingstoke would bring some £275 million of investment, many new visitors to our borough, many good job opportunities and a material and long term for the local economy.

“It would put us on the map as a UK visitor destination, and, I would expect, attract the best, most exciting leisure operators for the new leisure park. 

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ALTON Towers is adding two new attractions to its annual Scarefest celebrations for Halloween – one for families and the other not for the fainthearted. 

The UK’s biggest theme park has created Amigos in the Afterlife, where guests magically step into the afterlife to meet some colourful and friendly spirits, in a series of rooms themed around the Mexican Day of the Dead. 

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The new attraction takes over the previous site of the Alton Towers Dungeon and features spooktacular effects, encountering mischievous characters who challenge guests with tasks to earn their passage back to the living realm.

My crack team of ‘terror testers,’ aka my son Clark, nine, daughter Lily, 12 and her friend Faye, 12, loved meeting such silly characters as one minute they were in a Mexican wrestling ring and the next they were solving riddles and silly songs.

Just next door is more glow-in-the-dark fun with the return of Trick O’ Treat Town with HARIBO, where the kids filled their bags with tons of sweets while travelling from room to room, howling with laughter at some of the goofy spooks they met along the way. 

If you fancy treating yourself to this family fun you need to purchase the Spooks Duo package, costing £15 per person. 

For people who like their Halloween more terrifying, Alton Towers also offers you the Frights Combi package for £34.

This gets you into four seriously scary attractions. We did Altonville Mine Tours – Tiny’s Revenge, which is this crazy maze in the dark based around the concept that an escaped killer is on the run from a US prison.

We were screaming our heads off as insane characters in gas masks jumped out at you from every nook and cranny, while we squeezed through a wooden maze in the dark, with haunting sounds and smoke along the way. 

12-year-olds Faye and Lily were shoved to the front by two adult participants who clearly just wanted to survive with a killer on the loose.

The girls loved being scared like this and it’s perfect for teens and older, but anyone younger needs to be seriously brave to take this on.

We had our fill of scares after this one but there’s plenty more eerie-sistible frights for horror fans. 

As part of the Combi Frights package you also get access to Daz Games: Panic Reloaded. The flagship attraction is best described as an immersive experience where escape room meets live-action scare.

It’s concocted by YouTuber Daz Games and unlike the usual live-action horror experiences where you simply follow a path to the end, this one has an active aim – finding symbols to escape.

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The frenzied running of people desperate to find their symbols and escape the hellhole, along with flashing lights, ominous music and obstacles, makes it all the more thrilling.

Alton Towers has brought back another scare maze from last year too – The Attic: Terror Of The Towers – which sees you go on a spooky ghost hunting tour around the grounds of Alton Manor. 

But most terrifying of all is its brand-new attraction COMPOUND. This disorientating live-action scare maze is based on the story of Nemesis Reborn, which has had an alien-themed facelift this year to celebrate its 30th birthday. 

In COMPOUND, guests find themselves as a subject of the Phalanx – a shady organisation originally tasked with keeping the Nemesis beast under control.

It is an intense and disorientating scare attraction, set within an intimidating scientific facility featuring dark and claustrophobic environments amongst the hallways and chambers of their labs.

Guarded by their screaming operatives, guests are plunged into a sinister sci-fi experiment where their DNA is the next weapon.

It makes the nearby Nemesis Sub-Terra ride look like a kiddies soft play and will be irresistible to people who like their Halloween horror turned up to ten. 

All around the park there was Halloween-themed fun, with entertainment on the resort’s front lawns arena featuring shows with the Freaky Five characters, meet and greets, photo opportunities and more.

CBeebies Land gets into the fun too with its Monster Ball being held in Big Fun Showtime.

In it, guests can join their favourite CBeebies friends to dance, play games and enjoy a skele-fun party. 

And guests are also able to enjoy Rides in the Dark across the Resort throughout Scarefest. 

Alton Towers has a range of offers this autumn, which includes Scarefest. See here for more details.

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