Because the evenings get darker and winter approaches, it’s time for all issues ugly, ghoulish and assured to make you scream – and when you’re spending Halloween in London with children, there’s loads of spine-chilling enjoyable. UPDATED FOR 2025
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This 12 months, Halloween falls proper in the midst of October half-term in London, so that you’ll discover loads of household actions have an added serving to of spookiness all through the vacation week.
So whether or not you’re visiting with teenagers who’re eager to be terrified or youthful children who’re all in regards to the pumpkins, you’ll discover loads of scarily good enjoyable this Halloween in London.
The London Dungeons
The place higher to start out your terrifying journey than a go to to the London Dungeon? This Halloween in London, you’re transported again to 1886 when Jack the Ripper is terrorising London – however a extra historic terror additionally lurks within the capital: Dracula.
The Depend is looked for his misplaced beloved and has come to Victorian London to search out her. Do you dare descend into his crypt under the crumbling stones of Kingstead Cemetery?
Included in entry, for sure, this one is healthier for older children (advisable for 10+), and it’s nicely value prebooking tickets because it does promote out over Halloween. The fearsome enjoyable runs from October 18 – November 3, whereas you can too courageous plague and plots as you journey by London’s darkest historical past…
The London Bridge Expertise & London Tombs additional alongside the riverside closed earlier this 12 months and received’t be open this Halloween
Halloween at Hampton Courtroom Palace
It’s onerous to beat a haunted royal residence at Halloween, head all the way down to Hampton Courtroom Palace for an eerie expertise from Historic Royal Palaces.
At Hampton Courtroom Palace, this Halloween households can uncover the various darkish secrets and techniques of Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted palace. With creepy sound results and eerie projections, the palace and gardens shall be reworked with the assistance of some enchantments and there are ghosts to come across round each nook.
Try the eerie new out of doors path, conserving a watch out for the ghost of Oliver Cromwell and the much-married Tudor king then get pleasure from some spooky tales to get pleasure from and Halloween-themed treats within the cafe.
Ths hair-raisingly enjoyable expertise is appropriate for all ages, and runs from October 25-November 2. Kids below 12 are welcome to put on Halloween costumes, though you’re requested to keep away from something with unfastened glitter.
There’s a reduction on tickets for Hampton Courtroom Palace when you guide by my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Halloween at Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens have been well-known for his or her Christmas gentle path for years, and now there’s an added deal with to start out winter off with a shiver, with Halloween at Kew Gardens again once more this 12 months.
Comply with the eerie illuminated path because it leads you thru haunted woods, the place large spiders wait in creepy cobwebs, and ghastly ghouls and wicket witches lurk. Beware the monsters lurking in Frankenstein’s laboratory too, in addition to a couple of tips within the forgotten fairground.
Survived the scares? You’ll additionally discover additionally marshmallows to toast, and sizzling chocolate and sizzling toddies to drink.
Timed entry slot on dates from October 17-November 2, good in case your children have an earlier half-term than most London colleges.
Halloween at Kenwood
There’s a model new illuminated Halloween path coming to London, with a collection of eerie surprises within the grounds of Kenwood Home in north London.
Wander the paths to find mystical installations, shimmering lights and a laser backyard to twist your perceptions, to not point out a spider tunnel and slime internet – don’t get caught!
Add some devilishly good sizzling chocolate, and ghostly storytelling and it guarantees to be fearfully good household enjoyable. Runs from October 17-November 2.
Boo on the Zoo, London Zoo
Head off on a Halloween journey at London Zoo, with every little thing from pumpkin patches to talks about eerie animals and nocturnal creatures this October half-term.
In addition to the standard animals, there’ll be spooky actions and 4 likelihood to carve pumpkins, plus some tales in regards to the world’s nocturnal wildlife on the planet at Boo on the Zoo and an opportunity to satisfy a couple of Halloween superspecies.
Discover the pumpkin patch earlier than portray your personal, get pleasure from some spooky crafts and spookier talks, about every little thing from spiders to bats and creatures of the night time, in addition to a silent disco. Runs from October 25 to November 2, included in zoo entry.
Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden – the Harry Potter tour
If you wish to assure wizards and witches this Halloween, you possibly can all the time head to Hogwarts – or the following smartest thing, at The Making of Harry Potter tour within the Warner Bros studios close to London.
Earlier particular Halloween occasions have included A Celebration of Slytherin, trying on the home which turned out extra darkish wizards than another, however this 12 months the main target is as soon as once more on the Darkish Arts, from September 12 to November 9.
Alongside the best way, you can too spy a number of the creatures which appeared in the wizarding world, in addition to making an attempt your hand at flying a broomstick: in all probability the closest you may get to magic inside half an hour of the capital!
For sure, tickets guide up nicely upfront for this London Halloween day trip, so it’s value planning forward when you’ve bought your coronary heart set on this magical Halloween – take a look at my ideas for locating tickets to the Harry Potter Studio tour.
For extra concepts of days out for Harry Potter followers in London, take a look at these magical strategies too…
Leap on the ghost bus
For a ghost tour with a distinction, hop on board London’s Ghost bus tour – it’s household pleasant (though finest for round age 7+), as you cruise on the ‘orrible omnibus’ to the West Finish, across the metropolis and south of the river.
Try my overview of the Ghost Bus Tour of London – with children, or with out
There are spooky details about a few of London’s finest recognized landmarks, together with the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, with a creepy conductor offering the commentary.
Set overseas the one Necropolis Bus left, the only survivor of a nineteenth century personal funeral bus service – painted midnight black – the remaining had been destroyed in a mysterious fireplace.
Should you don’t have already got shivers down your backbone, you’re positive to by the point you step off…
For another tour that’s additionally scarily good, take a look at the two-hour Ghosts, Ghouls and Gallows strolling tour with boat journey to see London’s most haunted home – runs till the tip of the 12 months, when you can’t get sufficient of being spooked
Take a Halloween bus tour
There are some particular Halloween-themed Youngsters Excursions from Tootbus this October, with decoratings, enjoyable scary masks to put on, spooky themed sweets, some creepy music and guided commentary with a ghostly spin.
In addition to seeing a number of the key sights, together with the London Eye, the Homes of Parliament, Massive Ben and Westminster Abbey, there’ll be a Finest Halloween Costume
The 45-minute tour runs from October 18 to November 2. And because it’s geared toward youthful children so you possibly can count on the emphasis to be on spooky enjoyable somewhat than terror.
Ghosts and Ghouls tour at Shakespeare’s Globe
Double, double, toil and bother… Are you courageous sufficient to go to Shakespeare’s Globe for a particular family-friendly spooky Ghosts and Ghouls guided tour, bringing to life a number of the ghosts, spirits and scary happenings of Shakespeare’s play.
From the Three Witches in Macbeth, to Hamlet’s father’s ghost, one thing depraved this manner comes, with loads of spectres and supernatural sightings, in addition to some real-life historical past that’s nearly as scary – from the medical practices of the time or conventional methods to guard your self in opposition to evil spirits in addition to folktales about mysterious London creatures.
The hour-long tour takes place on numerous dates in October, though the tour on October 18 is already bought out in case your children have their half-term early, however there’s nonetheless availability for the week of October 25 together with October 31 itself.
Halloween Household Quest at Eltham Palace and Gardens
Seize your broomstick and head to English Heritage’s Eltham Palace and Gardens, which is as soon as once more internet hosting their nice Halloween half-term enjoyable this October.
There’ll be a Halloween Quest with creepy clues to unravel, as you discover the grounds of the lavish historic home. When you’ve accomplished the search, there’s extra frightful enjoyable and gruesom video games to get pleasure from as nicely.
Operating from October 25-November 2, tickets are free for English Heritage members, in any other case there’s a reduction for reserving upfront.
Ham Home, Surrey
Ghostly women are ten a penny however there aren’t fairly as many historic homes that may boast a ghostly canine as Ham Home can.
Add in mysterious chilly spots, ghostly footsteps and a seventeenth century trying glass which some individuals refuse to stare into for worry of who (or what) would possibly gaze again and its an ideal Halloween day trip in London.
A girl in black has additionally been noticed on the steps of the home, whereas a lovelorn nobleman is believed to scream right here – you would possibly even scent pipe smoke, the favorite of the Duke of Lauderdale… who has been lifeless for nicely over three centuries.
There’s additionally the Stranger People digital path by the grounds this Halloween for a spooky journey full of goblins and previous magic, from October 25-November 2.
Madame Tussaud’s
The place could possibly be extra spine-chilling than a go to to the Chamber of Horrors at Madame Tussauds this Halloween?
Scaring Londoners since 1818, this rogue’s gallery contains a number of the metropolis’s darkest crime scenes from the previous 150 years, with genuine relics and demise masks. For sure, this actually isn’t one to go to with youthful children – it’s advisable for 16+ due to the content material.
In case your teenagers determine in opposition to is on the final minute, there’s loads of much less blood-curdling enjoyable too, with everybody from celebrities to superheroes to the royal household on show.
Prebooked tickets are suggested – when you purchase direct, you possibly can reschedule free of charge plus there are on-line reductions for reserving upfront. You can even purchase mixture tickets with the London Dungeon
Choose a pumpkin – Covent Backyard & Cowcross Yards
You received’t discover a conventional pumpkin patch within the coronary heart of London – unsurprisingly! – however that doesn’t imply you must miss out on all of the squash-filled enjoyable.
Nothing screams Halloween in London like a go to to Covent Backyard’s now well-known Halloween Pumpkin Market, in addition to different spine-chillingly enjoyable occasions deliberate – 2025 particulars tbc however you possibly can count on some frightfully enjoyable actions.
Final 12 months’s centrepiece packed 200 pumpkins, squashes, and gourds of all sizes and hues in Covent Backyard’s iconic central market constructing, surrounded by gorgeous autumnal floral shows. Youngsters will love wandering amongst the pumpkins, on the lookout for the right one to take dwelling and carve simply in time for Halloween.
Don’t overlook to carry the digital camera, because it’s an ideal alternative for some nice household Halloween pictures!
For extra concepts of locations to choose pumpkins close to London, take a look at this put up for the very best pumpkin choosing places
Halloween Pumpkin Carving at Chelsea Physic Backyard
What’s Halloween and not using a pumpkin? And at Chelsea Physic Backyard, you possibly can study all about pumpkin vegetation earlier than carving your personal to take dwelling.
Geared toward children aged 5+ (who have to be accompanied by an grownup), you’ll get every little thing you have to create your personal jack-o-lantern through the classes happening on October 24, 27 and 30, 2025.
Tickets embody entry to the Backyard, priced £20 for adults, £15 for kids, and classes run from 11am-1pm, contained in the backyard’s spooky shed. Prebooking tickets is crucial.
There are a string of different Halloween occasions happening too, from crafts to workshops, storytelling and extra. Should be prebooked as occasions promote out nicely upfront.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park: Hair-Elevating Halloween
Wrap up heat and head exterior with the household this half-term for an additional version of Hyde Park’s household discovery days.
The park’s Hair-Elevating Halloween Discovery Days shall be full of loads of enjoyable and academic hands-on actions for youthful youngsters. You’ll be able to discover the eerie nature path, guess the ugly contents of the feely bins, take heed to spooky interactive tales, and study in regards to the many bats that decision London’s Royal Parks dwelling.
Fancy gown can also be inspired if you wish to escape the Halloween costumes a bit early. The free half-term occasion will run every day from October 28-30, between 11am and 3pm.
Discover the supernatural at WWT London
Head to the London Wetland Centre in Barnes and there’s some ‘tremendous pure’ enjoyable to get you within the temper for Halloween – good in case your children don’t like spookiness or scares.
This 12 months’s theme is ‘Discover the Supernatural‘, to find how tremendous wetland pure will be – head off trying to find fungi, weave a willow wand, make a potion or craft your personal clay acquainted on the best way. There’s additionally likelihood to identify a number of the hidden wonders of the wetlands and discover the wild stroll.
Runs from October 25-November 2. Actions are included in entry, no prebooking required (first come, first served).
Outdated Working Theatre, London
Should you’re on the lookout for blood and gore this Halloween, London’s Outdated Working Theatre is an eye-opening expertise with a glance again at real medical and surgical practices of way back.
Set within the attic of an 18th century church of the previous St Thomas’s Hospital, it’s the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe and takes you again to the times earlier than anaesthetics, when 150 medical college students might need crammed in to study
This Halloween, you can too see the Surgical procedure and the Victorian Working Theatre occasion on November 1, a genuinely chilling have a look at the origins of surgical procedure earlier than antiseptics and anaesthesia. Finest with older children.
Spy well-known names in a cemetery
The concept of going for a stroll in a cemetery might sound an odd one, however it’s really a captivating day trip with children in London, particularly when you go to one of many Magnificent Seven, the ring of seven graveyards created largely within the Victorian age and impressed by Pere Lachaise in Paris.
Brompton Cemetery has an uncommon attraction for youthful youngsters – Beatrix Potter used to reside close by and a few names on the tombstones apparently impressed characters in her tales: maintain a watch out for Peter Rabbett, Jeremiah Fisher, Mr Nutkins, Mr Brock and Mr McGregor as you go to.
You’ll additionally discover Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, Victorian adventuress Elizabeth Le Blond and pioneering doctor Dr John Snow, plus this cemetery has made numerous appearances in movies, together with Bond film Goldeneye and Sherlock Holmes.
Kensal Inexperienced is London’s largest and oldest public cemetery, with large mausoleums in addition to the grave of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, plus tightrope walker Charles Blondin, finest recognized for crossing the Niagara Gorge on a tightrope.
Bunhill Fields is a Nonconformist burial floor which dates again to the 1660s, with the graves of writers, artists, intellectuals and radicals, together with John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and William Blake.
The most effective-known of the cemeteries, Highgate, isn’t free (except you’re a grave proprietor). A few of its catacombs are Grade II listed. It’s the ultimate resting place of Karl Marx, George Eliot and poet Christina Rossetti.
Halloween at Excessive Avenue Kensington
Comply with a Halloween path round Excessive Avenue Kensington from October 24-31 for an opportunity to find some curious characters and spooky goings on, ending with Holland Park’s transformation into the Playful Park of Peculiar.
Anticipate surreal and spooky installations, interactive video games and monochrome characters roaming the grounds from 4-7pm, together with the Day of the Lifeless-inspired Skeleton Serenade parade, full with 9ft dancing skeleton puppet.
Should you’ve bought older children and youths, there’s additionally a goth-inspired classic flea market on October 25, good to get some dress-up inspiration. Takes place on Phillimore Stroll from 10-4.30pm.
Chessington World of Adventures Howl’O’Ween
Should you’re glad to journey barely exterior central London, Chessington’s ‘Howl’O’Ween’ Halloween occasion is all the time an excellent one for households – and tickets embody entry to the complete theme park and zoo entry.
With adventures for little pumpkins and older thrill-seekers, trick or deal with expertise, Enchanted Hole, is again once more, the place the animal residents unleash their mischievous streak with a couple of cheeky tips together with the treats as you discover.
There’s additionally the brand new scare zone, Stone Watchers: Vampire’s Lair; cross the road and the Stone Watchers come to life, able to ward out any evil spirits – are you courageous sufficient to sneak by?
There are some enjoyable reveals and interactive experiences, together with Spelltactular, or watch mummified monsters come to life to summon their chief, to not point out rides at nightfall. Runs from October 4-5, 11-12 and 18-31, in addition to November 1-2, separate ticket required for Enchanted Hole.
Brick or Deal with at Legoland Windsor
The Lego Monsters are taking up, with the return of Brick or Deal with to Legoland Windsor. And that’s solely the beginning of the Halloween themed enjoyable on the theme park, which is being reworked right into a pumpkin-filled wonderland from October 4 to November 1.
There’s a brand new present this 12 months, Lord Vampyre’s Home Celebration which is bound to get everybody dancing, watch the Monster Jam present, courageous the Haunted Home Monster Celebration and extra spooky surprises. There’s additionally a brand new frightfully enjoyable 4D film, The Nice Monster Chase.
Plus all the standard enjoyable, and a few nice themed Lego builds to be discovered. Prebooking is extremely advisable throughout half-term
For extra concepts of the very best issues to do at October half-term in London with children, take a look at my prime picks
Disclosure: This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Tower of London/Warner Bros Studio Tour/Cutty Sark/Ghost bus copyright MummyTravels/all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos
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