The award-winning author Cressida Cowell has partnered with English Heritage to create ‘a really wizard family day out’ at Stonehenge and Old Sarum this October half term. 

The author’s bestselling Wizards of Once series is the inspiration for a brand-new Halloween trail at both sites in the lead up to Halloween from October 23 to October 31. 

Set in a fantastical, ancient Britain, the Wizards of Once books are full of wizards, warriors, witches, giants and sprites - and are packed with adventures. 

As part of the English heritage trails, young adventurers must also discover clues, solve riddles, and find all the ingredients for a magic spell, and successful explorers will be rewarded with a prize. 

Cressida Cowell said: “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.”

English Heritage’s Operations Manager for Stonehenge James Rodliff commented: “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.”

English heritage have said to “Come dressed to impress” and upload your picture to their social media @EnglishHeritage for a chance to win prizes for the best fancy dress.

You can find tickets for the Stonehenge event here which runs from 9.30am until 5pm, and tickets for the Old Sarum event here which runs from 10am until 5pm. 

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