Residents and early-morning commuters in Warwick may have been forgiven for doing a double take after a very unexpected visitor was spotted making his way through the town.
The Headless Horseman, believed to be one of Warwick Castle’s most notorious Halloween residents, has been spotted on horseback around the streets of Warwick, apparently en route to clock in for his shift at the Castle ahead of the Halloween season.
Eyewitnesses reported sightings of the horseman passing the Lord Leycester and making his way through the East Gate and West Gate, although it remains unclear whether his route was guided by his sat-nav or simply by centuries-old instinct.
The Horseman was spotted pulling up at Wildflour Bakery, where he appeared to grab a coffee before settling down inside for a decidedly normal start to the working day. The mysterious visitor reportedly sat inside the coffee shop, enjoying his drink while quietly reading the morning paper before eventually heading off towards the Castle.
Commenting on the unusual start to the morning rush, Abby Hanlon, owner of Wildflour Bakery & Cafe said: “We get some interesting customers in first thing in the morning, but I have to say, a headless man arriving on horseback was a new one for us. He seemed to know exactly what he wanted, a double espresso, so we served him and he sat down to read the morning paper. Hopefully he’ll pop back in when he’s not on duty. He was a great tipper!”
With his caffeine fix taken care of, the Horseman continued towards Warwick Castle with just enough time to make the start of his shift. The Headless Horseman was approached for comment but declined to comment.
This Halloween, the Headless Horseman won’t be the only spooky character clocking in at the Castle. Across the grounds, visitors can expect a packed programme of family-friendly frights and after-dark scares, from the twisted trails of Haunted Hollows and mischievous Dead Centre Stage, to The Witches of Warwick, The Good Ship Warwick and the Scarecrow Disco.
After dark, brave visitors can take on Haunted Hollows After Dark, The Other Side and The Terror, before enjoying live entertainment, DJs, circus acts and a silent disco beneath the night sky.
Daytime Halloween activities run from 24th October to 1st November, with Castle After Dark taking place on selected evenings – 24th, 29th, 30th and 31st October.
Tickets for Halloween at Warwick Castle 2026 are on sale now. Book at warwick-castle.com.
