Autumn is finally upon us!
And I absolutely adore this season. There’s a freshness to the air and the leaves are changing colours. Fashion-wise, the colors are usually rich and the materials are cosy.
But it’s also the season for all things spooky!
To add to the long litany of things I love, something you all may not know about me is that I love spooky things. My mom, sister, and I used to love curling up on the sofa to watch some television show about haunted houses. I also have fond memories of sleepovers and watching horror films.
But did you know that there’s an attraction in York that combines two of my great loves? Both history and spookiness?
WHAT IS THE YORK DUNGEON?
The York Dungeon is a live and interactive show that takes you through over 2,000 years of York’s history in only 75 minutes! All the spookiest bits of history are recounted by a wonderful and frightening cast of characters who spin scary and haunting tales that you now get to be a part of.
And what better time to check out the spookiest and darkest bits of York’s history than right before Halloween?
On a bright afternoon, Megan and I ventured into The York Dungeon. We learned, laughed, and definitely jumped more than a few times.
THE EXPERIENCE
So after getting our tickets, Megan and I ascended the stairs, chattering to ourselves and psyching each other out. We also took this time to silence our phones since you can’t use your phone or take photos while in The York Dungeon.
But our first stop was to take some photos in order to commemorate our trip! (These photos are available for purchase once you’ve survived. Megan and I left with both prints and keychains!)
After that, we were led into a dark room to await our fates. And, boy, did we have an eventful afternoon!
Now, I’m not going to spoil any of the surprises (or warn you about where to expect the scares) since that would take the fun out of it, but I will let you know who you’ll encounter and some of the ‘locations’ you’ll visit while in The York Dungeon:
A hidden chamber in Eoforwic Minster
Being a Saxon during a Viking invasion of York
A visit to the Plague Doctor
Travelling down the Shambles to visit The Golden Fleece
Meeting Margaret Clitherow’s husband (and hiding from the Protestants on the lookout for Catholics!)
A run in with Guy Fawkes (kinda?)
Surviving the Torturer
Facing the Judge in the Courtroom
Chatting about traitors with the Executioner in Micklegate Bar
Getting caught by the Highwayman
MY SURVIVAL TIPS
Dress comfortably — The show is 75 minutes and you’ll be on your feet for the majority of that time. The experience will definitely be better if you’re comfortable. I’d definitely suggest comfortable shoes and maybe a light layer in case you get cold.
Book your tickets in advance — It’s both easier and cheaper for you to do this. There are 10 shows every day so booking online lets you pick your time slot.
Bring a friend — Especially if you spook easily, bring at least one friend with you! It makes a perfect outing and you get to take a silly photo (which Megan and I totally bought because look how cute!)
Participate — Someone will be picked to interact and participate in each location, and, honestly, it’s just easier to go with it. So be ready to have fun with yourself and with the cast of The York Dungeon. It makes it more enjoyable for everyone!
Have fun! — The most important thing is to have fun! I honestly think having no phones helps this immensely. So just turn your phone on ‘do not disturb’ and enjoy your time at The York Dungeon!
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All in all, Megan and I had literally so much fun at The York Dungeon. It was the perfect spooky afternoon to really get us in the Halloween Spirit!
If you haven’t visited yet, I would totally suggest it as a great activity for people of all ages. Or if you haven’t visited recently, definitely worth another trip to check out the new bit about Margaret Clitherow!
Also be sure to check out The York Dungeon on social media because there’s always some other fun events going on, especially during this Halloween season!
I hope that you all have a wonderful and spooky October!
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LINKS TO THE YORK DUNGEON
Website: www.thedungeons.com/york/en
Twitter: www.twitter.com/YorkDungeon
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yorkdungeon/
Disclaimer: I wanted to thank Lisa Byrne PR and The York Dungeon for the two complimentary tickets for my visit. But that being said, everything above is totally my genuine opinion, and I’m super happy to share my experience with you all!
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