Nearly three thousand miles driven, fourteen events attended, more than sixty mazes and zones conquered, and hundreds of actors encountered. It has all led to this moment, what many call the most intense, hands-on, and downright unforgettable scare experience in the UK. Horror at Hinchingbrooke House.
To say we were nervous is an understatement, but there we were, ready to face whatever waited inside.
First Impressions
From the outside, Horror at Hinchingbrooke looks deceptively simple. There’s no huge festival set-up, but instead a compact and focused site. A few food and drink trucks surround the area, rock music echoes over the queue line, and a merch stall offers some great horror-themed t-shirts. The event takes place within the grounds of a beautiful old school building, lit perfectly to highlight its gothic features and atmosphere.
Roaming characters stalk the crowds, and the variety is impressive. Expect unpredictable clowns, loud scares, and even the event’s flamboyant hostess, Miss Fannie Burns, who certainly leaves an impression. The simplicity of the setup works in its favour and it builds tension rather than spoiling surprises.
Entering the Experience
We were lucky enough to be invited, allowing us to skip the main queue, though the general line moved at a good pace thanks to well-planned batching. After a short safety briefing, it was time to face the maze itself.
The walkthrough is enormous, lasting close to an hour from start to finish. It winds through the historic house, its corridors, and an impressive network of marquees built behind it. Each section features unique themes, and the transitions between them feel natural and well thought out.
What stood out most was the quality of the set design. The team only has around 24 to 48 hours to build the attraction each year due to the site being an active school. Considering that, what they achieve is incredible. The use of space, lighting, and detailed props rivals permanent attractions. It proves that brilliant theming can be achieved through creativity and focus, not just time or budget.
The Walkthrough
Once inside, the chaos begins. We knew it would be interactive, but this was on another level. Over the next hour, we found ourselves crammed into a cupboard with a Silent Hill character, almost decapitated, shoved into a freezer, pinned to a bed by deranged cowboys, poked by Jason from Friday the 13th, and stroked by Jeffrey Dahmer. At one point, a gang of clowns threw me into the back of a car.
That list only covers a small portion of what happened. It’s wild, unpredictable, and deeply immersive. Every scene feels alive, with actors who fully commit to their roles. The level of physical interaction won’t be for everyone, but for those who enjoy extreme scare experiences, this is the gold standard. It’s chaotic, hilarious, shocking, and genuinely thrilling all at once.
Between Runs
After exiting the maze, guests step into a small bar area to decompress and swap stories about what just happened. You’ll need it. The adrenaline rush is enormous.
We were lucky enough to head back in for a second run, this time joining two brilliant creators, Sean Evans from Lift Hills & Thrills and Jake from Oneminutesenough. Experiencing it with them made it even more entertaining.
On this second trip, we did encounter one issue. A batching delay in one of the indoor sections caused a ten-minute pause while security handled a situation further ahead. It didn’t ruin the experience for us since we’d already had a smooth first run, but if that had been our only one, it might have affected our impression. Thankfully, this seemed to be an isolated incident, as we didn’t hear of other issues during the night.
Final Thoughts
Horror at Hinchingbrooke House is unlike anything else in the UK scare scene. It’s raw, relentless, and wildly fun. The team delivers an experience that’s equal parts frightening and exhilarating. Despite a small hiccup during our second walkthrough, the overall night was phenomenal and easily ranks as one of our all-time favourite scare events.
We’ll be recommending this one again and again. It’s earned a permanent place on our “must-visit” list for every future scare season.
Horror at Hinchingbrooke House you nailed it. You blew us away. Five stars from us.
Watch Our Experience
Watch our full vlog of Horror at Hinchingbrooke House [here] (warning: contains strong language)
Check out Lift Hills & Thrills
Watch Oneminutesenough
