Deep within the ancient forests of Leicestershire lies a place where an old curse has never died.
Hard Luck Wood.
For centuries, these woods have been haunted by the legend of witches, curses and revenge.
Now the witches have found a new way to punish the living.
THEY ARE TAKING THE CHILDREN.
AND TURNING THEM INTO EVIL LIVING DOLLS.
PORCELAIN FACES.
HOLLOW EYES.
FIXED SMILES.
Twisted little bodies that move through the darkness, hunting those who enter the woods.
The children are no longer innocent.
They are no longer themselves.
They belong to the witches.
AND THEY WILL NEVER LEAVE HARD LUCK WOOD.
The legend begins in 1542, when the Witchcraft Act condemned those accused of dark magic to death. Among them were women from Leicestershire, dragged before the courts following accusations made by a young boy named John Smyth, who was plagued by terrifying visions and seizures.
John claimed the women could summon animal spirits and speak to shadows — accusations that sparked fear throughout the region and ultimately led to the deaths of the accused by fire, rope and drowning.
But before the nooses tightened, the condemned women uttered a final vow:
“Five hundred years from now, your children shall pay the price for your fear.”
FIVE CENTURIES LATER, THE WITCHES HAVE KEPT THEIR PROMISE.
Children from the surrounding villages are being lured into Hard Luck Wood by laughter, whispers and the sound of a familiar nursery rhyme.
Once inside, they are claimed by the witches.
Their faces become porcelain.
Their eyes become cold and lifeless.
Their smiles become fixed.
And whatever innocence they once possessed is replaced by something far darker.
The witches have created a collection of doll children — twisted, obedient and deadly.
They remain hidden among the trees, waiting for their next victims.
Right Reverend Richard Cole, protector of the town, has warned anyone who dares enter the forest: do not look upon the witches.
Their power comes through sight.
His sacred Latin warning is simple:
NON VIDEBO.
I shall not look.
But the witches want you to look.
They want you to see what they have created.
Because once you see them…
THEY SEE YOU.
And once they see you…
THE DOLLS WILL COME FOR YOU.
As Halloween descends upon Leicestershire, step beyond the edge of the forest and into The Witches of Hard Luck Wood at Xtreme Scream Park — an immersive woodland scare attraction where ancient witchcraft, revenge and evil dolls collide.
Prepare to enter a world of dark folklore, terrifying witches and evil doll children unlike anything you’ve encountered before.
FOLLOW THE LAUGHTER.
FOLLOW THE NURSERY RHYME.
BUT WHATEVER YOU DO…
DON’T LOOK BACK.
Because in Hard Luck Wood, the children don’t come home.
They stay with the witches.
AND THEY KILL FOR THEM.
DISCOVER THE WITCHES’ REVENGE.
Part of the multi-award-winning Xtreme Scream Park — named Best Scream Park UK in 2025 and home to several internationally acclaimed haunts — The Witches of Hard Luck Wood continues our tradition of immersive, story-driven horror. Recognised across Europe as a leader in live scare entertainment, Xtreme Scream Park raises the bar with unique attractions like this haunting woodland experience, making it one of the top haunted attractions in the UK. Join us in the heart of Leicestershire for a night of fear, fun, and full-throttle festival energy at the UK’s ultimate Halloween destination.
