The Howl Scream Park at Mead Open Farm combines immersive scenery, intriguing street theatre and seven different attractions for the perfect Halloween night out. Here’s my review of 2023’s scream park at Mead Open Farm.
I’m no stranger to Mead Open Farm. Having grown up in Dunstable, I used to visit the farm to feed the animals all the time when I was younger. In much later years, when it first launched The Howl, I attended three years in a row – loving how it was conveniently just a 20-minute drive away from me.
I haven’t actually been for a few years though, so I was delighted to be invited to 2023’s event. Having recently reviewed the much bigger Shocktober Fest at Tulley’s Farm, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this event on a smaller scale. I was really curious to see how it had changed and expanded over the years since my last visit.
My Review of the Howl Scream Park at Mead Open Farm
I had SO much fun at The Howl Mead Open Farm! Despite being smaller than Shocktober Fest, the fact that everything takes place on a smaller farm works really well.
With six mazes to choose from, my friend and I actually managed to repeat our favourites a couple of times each. Even though we are getting closer to Halloween now, the lines were never too long. I noticed that Squealers Yard and Red were two mazes from previous years, but have been updated lots since I last attended. So there were still plenty of surprises.
I really loved that once you entered the farm, you were more or less ushered straight into the first maze: Howl Valley High. This was a great way to control crowds and get people in the right mood for the evening. Howl Valley High was by far one of the best mazes of the night. As always, I loved the attention to detail on the set, but the actors really stood out to me. It was amazing to see them hanging from the ceiling and doing all sorts of impressive parkour-esque moves!
In fact, the scare actors were amazing in each and every maze. They really went out of their way to interact with us and I loved being able to joke around with some of them.
My favourite maze of the night – other than Howl Valley High – would have to be The Full Moon Manor, which is actually new for 2023. Without giving too much away, this maze begins in a lift and takes you through an abandoned once-grand hotel. The steam room towards the end really stood out for me. It was chillingly good and really played on my senses, being unable to see what was going on. I even scared myself by walking into a wall!
This year, The Howl also has a circus of horrors. This was really fun too – a perfect mix of bizarre and entertaining horror. I think this show is a great addition to the experience – especially if you need a break from the mazes.
The street theatre was amazing too, and all the food vans. We had delicious food inside the Hearse & Hound Bar whilst watching some live music. Although it was too loud to talk inside, the band were amazing! This indoor bar also served some spooky-themed cocktails which I was very happy about.
Overall, I absolutely loved The Howl Scream Park! It exceeded my expectations by far. I’d also add that I brought my American friend with me who used to attend massive scare attractions and theme parks in the US. She thought The Howl was totally on par with those, which is amazing!
THE NEED-TO-KNOWS
Whether you’re attending with a group of friends or on a date, The Howl is the perfect Halloween activity. Like most scare farms, it’s not for the faint-hearted though. Unlike Shocktober Fest, there are just a few limited things to do if the mazes aren’t your thing. But if you’re happy to listen to some live music, check out the circus and have a bit of a dance at some of the DJs, you’ll have a blast.
The event is not suitable for anyone under the age of 12 and anyone under the age of 15 must attend with an adult.
In terms of wait times for the mazes, we had no trouble at all. Even though we attended mid-way through October, we found that later in the night some of the mazes had no queues at all. This was especially prominent for Toppers Twister, a maze which is a little hidden away.
That being said, it will of course get busier and busier as the month goes on. Therefore, if queueing isn’t your thing, buy a fast pass. There are also lots of great street entertainment taking place, so you won’t be bored in the queues.
If you’re looking for a fun Halloween attraction in the South West area of the UK this Halloween, Mead Open Farm is a no-brainer. Although it’s on a farm, it’s also pretty close by to Dunstable too, so very easy to get to.
*Please note, I was kindly invited to attend this event free of charge. There is no obligation to post about my experiences. This review is entirely honest and unbiased.
Mead Open Farm The Howl Scream Park
www.thehowl.co.uk
Mead Open Farm, Billington Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9JH
Dates from 6th – 31st October.
Entry from £20 when booked in advance, or £26 to include maze access.
There are public toilets, free parking and many food vans onsite.
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