Switch off the TV, ditch the coffee date and do something unusual this October. Here’s our guide to taking a walk on the quirky side…

Brighton Zombie Walk ©heatherbuckley.co.uk

Zombie Beach, Brighton

Get practising your best zombie stagger and flesh-hungry groans for the annual Brighton Zombie Walk on 20 October. Now in its sixth year, thousands of zombie men, women, children and even dogs will infect the iconic pebble beach and streets of bohemian Brighton in search of brains and maybe a few stylish accessories if they stumble upon the Lanes. Squirt on a good dollop of fake blood, go heavy on the eyeliner and join in with the gory fun.

London Cocktail Week

London Cocktail Week

Celebrate London’s vibrant cocktail culture with a week of mojitos, martinis, margaritas and Moscow mules…hiccup! There is more to Cocktail Week then getting sloshed though, really. Based in the swish Seven Dials area of Covent Garden, the biggest drinks festival in the country runs from 8 to 14 October and lets you drink up some of the best cocktail experiences in the city, including access to a mix of high- end luxury hotels, underground bars and exclusive members clubs which will be buzzing with tastings, master classes, pop-up shops and cocktail parties.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Championships

So the high jump or the 100 metre sprint just isn’t your thing. Who cares when you can battle for the title of rock, paper, and scissors champion instead. No strenuous training is required, just crafty tactics and lots of finger flexing. This year’s UK championships take place at the Cross Keys Pub in London on 13 October, with a break out of games between spectators too. So even if you’re not competing in the championships, you can still join in with a pint in one hand and rock, paper or scissors in the other.

Whitby Abbey ©James McCormick

Whitby Goth Weekend

Get your goth on in the cute yet creepy harbour town of Whitby in North Yorkshire. It’s the hallowed spot where Bram Stoker took inspiration from the eerie Whitby Abbey ruins when penning Dracula, so it only makes sense that one of the biggest goth gatherings in the world should be held here. From 31 October to 5 November, steam punks, bikers, emos and probably a fair few Cure fans will indulge in a weekend of live music, shopping, drinking and generally promenading their best gothic getups. Don a pair of lacy gloves and top hat, and join in with the morbid goings on or watch the spectacle from the side lines.

Welly Walk

Pull on your wellies and explore Weston Park’s autumnal woodlands and the wider ‘Capability’ Brown Parkland. Taking place on 30 October, the family-friendly walk is led by Head Gardener Martin Gee and allows you to explore some of estate’s hidden leafy pockets using your senses. Sniff around autumnal blooms, drink up the fresh air, listen for the tweets and calls of birds, and take a closer look or even hug the various species of trees towering above you.

Got any quirky suggestions you’d like to share?