Scare City Experience offers a winding journey along a 2km trail through nine horror zones set within the ruins of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park. When we visited in 2024, we described it as “an unrelenting nightmare.” This year, the event has been completely reinterpreted. Achieved by reversing the path, new areas are introduced, and the result is something that feels very different. If you think you’ve seen it before, think again!
The trail begins with “Contained,” a suffocating network of steel containers where the infected burst forward at a startling rate. From here, you are thrown into “The Hollow,” a fog-drenched forest where frantic wendigos charge from the black. Next is “Settlement”, a bleak landscape patrolled by scavengers who stalk with clattering exactness. “Puppet Master” comes next, a workshop of dolls that appear to move of their own accord under the watchful eye of the Toy Maker. Then comes “Infirmary,” a nightmarish hospital where scalpels slice and procedures never end. “Castellum” shifts into gothic horror, a vampire cult hunting for blood to complete their master’s rising. The experience grows even more disorienting in “Abyss 2.0,” a smokey passage of absolute darkness where every sound and movement feels near. Afterwards, the chaos of “Carnivalley” takes over, a corrupted circus where losing their games means far more than being beaten. Finally, everything concludes with “The Slaughter House,” a blood-soaked gauntlet where deranged butchers and serial killers chase you through corridors hanging with hooks. Each zone offers its own trial of your mettle, and together they create a night of fear that lingers long after leaving.
“Castellum” was the most visually arresting. Thick red velvet-covered walls, a chamber of mannequins in dark gothic gowns, convincing rock-like caves that seemed hewn out of living marble, and even a banquet table laid for a feast combined to create an atmosphere both opulent and threatening (and of course we were the main course!). Here, the sense of story and setting was especially strong. One of the most sensorily rich environments was “Abyss 2.0”, a unique take on a blind maze. Instead of blindfolds, they used thick smoke effects to obscure all around us, rather than masks, all the while textures brushing against our hands and heads. Our team felt mixed on this: some appreciated the novelty compared to other mazes of its ilk, others felt that the genre does not deliver as much as promised.
Finally, “The Slaughter House” amplified its brutality with an overwhelming soundtrack of screams and butchery. The constant noise pushed the intensity higher, making even quiet moments feel unbearable.
Most impressively, the ability for this entire site to be pumped through with atmos as far as the eye could see really brought the entire world together and added an eerie ambience that paired well with the glowing trail lights.
The attention to costume and makeup at Scare City Experience was striking, with each zone delivering designs that felt authentic.
In “Settlement,” the standout was a figure wielding an actual flamethrower, his gear battered and scarred since he had survived the collapse of civilization itself. “The Hollow” featured a towering demonic rabbit-man on stilts, its snarling fangs and eerie detailing making it one of the most unsettling creations of the night. Over in “Carnivalley,” the cymbal monkey character stole the scene. They suddenly sprang into motion, and the costume was so convincing that it made the shock all the greater. In “Castellum,” the creatures dressed in opulent attire that never once felt like stage clothes. These figures carried themselves with such poise that it was easy to believe they belonged to another era, waiting for their next banquet. As mentioned earlier, Scare City Experience creates unique characters we have never seen at other haunts, with complete and professional looks from head to toe, and we always look forward to what creatures will rise from the grave.
Before arrival, Scare City Experience’s website is easy to navigate, whether it is for dates, prices, or other FAQs. When reaching out to the attraction ahead of time, the response was always very quick, helpful, and agreeable. The staff onsite were amazing as well – every single staff member greeted us as we entered the attraction, whether it was the Merch stand attendant or security. It rained nearly the entire time we were at the park, but all the attendants were still cheerful, helpful, and chatty. It must have been difficult to stand in the rain in the same spot for hours at a time!
We did, however, dock points on locating the venue, parking, and site safety. We passed the entrance to Scare City Experience as there were no lights illuminating signage and our Sat Nav wanted us to go further. When we left the park there was no signage either giving directions on how to exit, nor attendants (leaving us having to do a U-turn and going back the way we had come). There was also a point in one of the mazes where there were stairs immediately after a turn – luckily, this area was well lit but could have been a bit better marked. We are being a bit picky here – but something to improve upon for next year.
Because the experience unfolds across an entire trail, even the walk between zones felt planned. It was often hard to tell where the pre-show areas ended and where the scares started. Red lanterns glowed in the black, pulling us ahead, and each section carried its own story and actors. The zones that leaned into narration and interaction stood out most.
“Puppet Master” offered one of the strongest storylines. A narrator, costumed like a puppet, introduced the haunt in a way that felt real and uncanny, his voice almost ventriloquized. Inside, a doll shop owner continued the theme, engaging us in conversations that were synthetic by design, heightening the feeling that we were speaking with something not entirely human.
“Carnivalley” began with an engaging fortune teller who set the stage for what felt like an authentic carnival. Later, a clown with glowing red eyes continued, giving the sense of a unified narrative. Yet, parts of this maze were less steady, with an outdoor stretch themed around “It” that felt disconnected from the carnival’s story. The lower number of performers in these areas also weakened the flow, pulling us out of the world that had been so effective elsewhere.
The use of effects across the trail ranged from subtle touches to large-scale spectacle, often working in tandem with the sets and performances to heighten the impact of each zone.
In “The Hollow,” clever lighting made it appear as though pairs of red eyes were blinking in the dark, following us through the saplings. A small and beautifully lit campsite was set up not far off, a charming scene corrupted by the presence of prowling beasts – you certainly would not want to roast marshmallows there. “Infirmary” impressed with its construction, featuring a literal padded room built from mattresses. Traversing it threw us off balance, adding physical unease to the already disturbing environment. This space felt sturdy and permanent, as if it could exist outside the haunt.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8.25
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 9.5
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.75
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 9
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7
The scares across Scare City Experience were as varied as its habitats, with each zone using its own tricks to unsettle and astound.
In “Castellum,” one of the most impressive moments came when a vampire on a harness launched out and soared above us. The sense of flight made the attack feel inescapable, and elsewhere the actors also worked hard to split groups apart, isolating us for added vulnerability. “The Hollow,” on the other hand, leaned on sudden turnarounds, with creatures attacking from behind when we least expected it. The strike from the rear added to the disorientation of the mist and shifting silhouettes.
In “Settlement,” scares were triggered by loud, metallic clashes. Survivors hammered the wrecked cars with heavy implements, creating jarring noises that made us flinch as though we were about to be struck ourselves. The close calls gave the sense of chaos barely contained.
“Puppet Master” thrived on animating ordinary objects and toys. Figures that appeared lifeless moved, and one moment was so startling it left our group screaming together (though we will not spoil what came to life!)
“Infirmary” specialized in misdirection. A pig-masked doctor would grab our attention only for a patient to flail from the opposite side of the room upon a bed, catching us off guard again. The quick shifts in focus kept us constantly wrong-footed.
“The Slaughter House” was built to the unavoidable. The sudden roar of a chainsaw marked the peak, and the chase that followed provided a frenzied climax.
The main attraction at Scare City Experience is spectacular value for money. We suggest you get a fast pass – there’s often long queues to get into each of the zones, which does tend to break up the journey and take you out of the moment, whereas a fast pass allows you to stay in the mind frame of the haunt the entire way through. Having had the fast pass ourselves, it still took us fifty minutes to get through the entire experience (not including any breaks or stops at their pit stop along the way), which is almost 1.69 minutes per pound – incredible!
We liked the setup of the pit stop halfway through the trail this year: despite the rain, Satan’s Soiree was full of life. It offered shelter from the elements and a fun and festive atmosphere. We only saw one roaming actor in this space, but there was a fire performer on stage when we arrived, so there was entertainment while browsing all the food and drink options available. We had such a great time at the Scare City Experience and cannot wait to go back next year! The reskinning of the entire park blew our minds and offered us a full hour of action-packed, horrifying chaos, and we loved every minute of it.
Camelot Theme Park, Charnock Richard, Chorley PR7 5LP