Tell us about your favourite spooky spot in the UK
By Emma Carter
Image information
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Intro
Travelers across the UK are being invited to recommend the spooky places and experiences that have made the strongest impression on them.
Vocabulary
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| eerie adjective | adjective | Meaning: Strangely unsettling or frightening, especially because something seems unnatural or mysterious. | Example: The abandoned station acquired an eerie stillness after the final train departed. |
| outings noun | noun | Meaning: Short trips or excursions undertaken for pleasure, entertainment, or a particular activity. | Example: The museum organises educational outings for students throughout the year. |
| leisurely adjective | adjective | Meaning: Unhurried and relaxed, allowing ample time rather than demanding speed. | Example: They took a leisurely walk along the river before dinner. |
| twilight noun | noun | Meaning: The soft, dim light immediately before sunrise or after sunset. | Example: The mountains appeared especially dramatic in the fading twilight. |
| distinctive adjective | adjective | Meaning: Clearly different from others because of noticeable or characteristic qualities. | Example: The district is known for its distinctive architecture and narrow lanes. |
| convey verb | verb | Meaning: To communicate or express an idea, impression, or feeling effectively. | Example: The photographs convey the scale and solitude of the landscape. |
| enduring adjective | adjective | Meaning: Continuing to exist or remain influential for a long time. | Example: The novel's enduring appeal lies in its moral complexity. |
The story
The Guardian is inviting readers to share their favourite spooky places and experiences in the United Kingdom for a Halloween-themed travel feature. Contributors are asked to describe eerie sites, haunted houses or ghost tours they have experienced. The strongest recommendation will receive a £200 voucher toward a break at a Coolstays property.
The appeal covers a wide variety of outings. A reader may have joined a guided ghost walk through a city, for example, or followed a self-guided route at a more leisurely pace. Other possible subjects include a visit to a castle with a haunted reputation or an evening among ruins whose atmosphere changes as daylight fades.
The request is not limited to famous destinations. What matters is the individual experience and the reasons it stood out. Contributors are encouraged to explain what made a location or activity particularly memorable, whether that was the setting, the route, the organisation of a tour, or the feeling created by exploring an old site at twilight.
This approach gives the feature a practical purpose as well as a seasonal one. Personal recommendations can help other travelers imagine what an outing is actually like, rather than merely identify a place on a map. A useful tip may therefore combine a clear description of the experience with details that convey its distinctive mood.
Tom Hall of Lonely Planet will select the best tip of the week. Its author will receive the £200 Coolstays voucher. Coolstays is described as having more than 3,000 properties worldwide, although the requested recommendations are specifically about experiences in the UK.
The Guardian plans to publish the best submissions in its Travel section and on its website. The feature offers readers a chance to turn a memorable autumn excursion into advice for others, while gathering ideas for people interested in ghost walks, historic buildings and atmospheric ruins. It also reflects the enduring appeal of travel that combines local history, imaginative storytelling and a sense of mystery.
Warm-up questions
- What makes a travel destination memorable beyond its fame or visual appearance?
- Which would you prefer: a guided ghost walk, a self-guided route, or a historic ruin at twilight? Explain why.
Comprehension questions
- What incentive is offered to the author of the strongest recommendation?
- What kinds of experiences may readers submit?
- Why does the feature seek personal explanations rather than simple place names?
- How can personal recommendations serve a practical purpose?
- Where will the best submissions appear?
Opinion questions
- Would a financial incentive strengthen or weaken the authenticity of readers' travel recommendations? Why?
- Which matters more in a spooky travel experience: historical significance, atmosphere, or storytelling? Defend your view.
Further discussion
- How might a publication balance seasonal entertainment with responsible representations of local history?
- What information should a travel tip include to help readers judge whether an experience suits them?
Writing prompt
- Write a 220–280-word C1-level recommendation for a memorable atmospheric destination, combining vivid description with practical details and a clear explanation of its appeal.
