English Heritage has joined forces with award winning author Cressida Cowell for a really wizard family day out this October half term. The author’s bestselling Wizards of Once series is the inspiration for a brand new Halloween trail at both Stonehenge and Old Sarum from 23-31 October.
Set in a fantastical, ancient Britain, the Wizards of Once books are full of wizards, warriors, witches, giants and sprites - and are packed with thrilling adventure. The challenges of Xar, a wizard boy with no magic, and Wish, a warrior girl with a magical secret, have inspired the English Heritage quests, created in partnership with Cressida Cowell. Young adventurers must discover clues, solve riddles, and find all the ingredients for a magic spell. Successful explorers will be rewarded with a magical prize.
Cressida Cowell comments: “I am incredibly excited and inspired by the past. When I was little I was very lucky to be taken to a lot of historic places and museums, and it started me thinking ‘what would it have been like to have lived back in those times?’ I really hope the Quest will bring everything alive for children and do what these historic places did for me when I was a child. I hope it will spark their imaginations and get them thinking about writing their own stories about these amazing places.”
James Rodliff, English Heritage’s Operations Manager for Stonehenge comments: “From mysterious standing stones to legends of haunted abbeys, the sites and stories of ancient Britain have inspired writers for centuries. The Wizards of Once brings a magical version of England’s early history to life for a whole new generation, and we can’t wait to welcome families to Stonehenge and Old Sarum this half term.”
There will be a prize for the best fancy dress too if you upload a picture to social media and tag @EnglishHeritage.
For full ticket details please visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/old-sarum-halloween-quest/
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