Things to Do for Halloween in London
Date post added: 1st October 2026
London doesn’t need much help to look a little eerie and maybe even haunted. Its ancient alleyways, historic churchyards and underground tunnels do that all by themselves. Add in some seasonal mist, darkness and a few centuries of ghostly goings-on and you have the perfect recipe for Halloween spookiness.
Halloween itself is on 31st October, All Hallows Eve. But Halloween events and activities can run for weeks. It also coincides with school holidays for many, so there’s a whole host of fun, family-friendly things to do with the kids. Enjoy seasonal fun like pumpkin picking and carving, ghost trails, magic shows and illuminated gardens filled with witches, bats and giant spiders.
If you want a proper scare, London can serve that up in spades too. Follow in the footsteps of a serial killer, wander through a shadowy cemetery or terrify yourself with classic horror films.
Here are some of the best things to do for Halloween in London in 2026.
What are some spooky things to do in London?
You’re never far from a ghoulish tale or grisly secret in London. You can discover its history and ghost stories at any time of year, but it’s particularly fitting as the darker, chillier nights set in.
Ghost walks
Leave the city’s bright lights behind and venture into the darker corners of the capital. Beyond London’s sleek exterior you can discover haunted buildings, plague pits and churches where the dead are decidedly less settled than you might like.
Join us for a series of Halloween ghost walks this October
Jack the Ripper walk
The brutal Whitechapel murders that took place in Victorian East London are enough to give you nightmares. But the mystery around Jack the Ripper is endlessly fascinating too. Our bestselling Jack the Ripper walk takes you into the streets where the crimes happened. Prepare to hear real-life tales that will haunt you and give you chills. This isn’t make-believe horror. It’s an interactive tour of a very real and disturbing part of London’s past, led by guides who know its history inside out.
Our Halloween Jack the Ripper walk starts at 7.30pm from Tower Hill.
Read the stories of Jack the Ripper’s victims
The London Dungeon
The London Dungeon takes some of the city’s darkest chapters and brings them to life with actors, elaborate sets, special effects and a hefty splash of fake blood. It’s a theatrical, noisy and deliberately frightening experience. Older kids and teens with a fascination for the gruesome will love it. Just try to avoid the plague and the curse of the mummy while you’re there.
Highgate Cemetery
Stepping over graves isn’t for everyone. But as cemeteries go, this is an exceptional one. Not only is it the final resting place for remarkable figures like Karl Marx, George Eliot and Douglas Adams, it’s also a beautiful place to spend time. Its weathered angels, ivy-covered tombs and winding woodland paths wouldn’t look out of place in a gothic film set. But keep your eyes peeled for the legendary Highgate Vampire who supposedly stalked the cemetery in the 1960s and 1970s.
What are the best Halloween events and attractions in London?
There’s a heap of autumn seasonal fun going on in London this October. When it comes to family-friendly Halloween activities, you’re spoilt for choice.
Hyde Park at Halloween: Get up close and personal to some creepy crawlies and bats who have made the royal park their home. These Halloween discovery days encourage kids to explore nature in the park. What’s more, it’s free! They take place from 27 – 29th October, 11am – 3:30pm.
High Street Kensington Halloween trail: Between 24th and 31st October, you can follow a family-friendly trail to find surprise treats around High Street Ken. And on Halloween itself, Holland Park transforms into the Playful Park of Peculiar with spooky entertainment and activities from 4pm to 7pm.
Twist Museum: This immersive museum of illusions plays with your mind at the best of times. Take that to another level with their Halloween wonderland taking place from 18th October to 2nd November. Follow their trail, The Haunted Hunt, around the museum and look out for clues, curiosities and treats too.
Dickensian ghost stories: The storyteller of all storytellers, Charles Dickens, knew how to tell a scary tale. Head to Charles Dickens’ old home in Bloomsbury (now the Dickens Museum) to hear a haunted house tale from a ghostly storyteller. The ghost story sessions take place on 29th October, last for 45 minutes and are suitable for ages seven and up.
Tower of London: Does the Tower of London do anything for Halloween? Hell, yes! Numerous people have met their grisly end at the Tower of London (not recently, we hasten to add). It’s absolutely rife with gruesome and chilling tales. There are spooky goings-on throughout this historic building and Halloween’s a good time to discover them. You can encounter the wandering spirits in the tower from 24th October to 1st November.
Who are the 13 Tower of London ghosts?
Chelsea Physic Garden: There’s an enchanting array of Halloween activities going on at Chelsea Physic Garden this October. Take a ghost tour of the 350-year-old garden. Get involved in brilliant workshops like potion-making, pumpkin carving, slime sessions and witches’ hat creation. There’s also spooky sensory play. Book your place on the classes early as they’re bound to sell out.
Hobbledown Heath: The Hounslow adventure park has an autumnal makeover. From 25th September to 1st November 2026, the park opens up its gourd-geous pumpkin patch. Take the kids on a pumpkin picking experience. There’s marshmallow toasting to enjoy too. Tickets are £7.50 or £20 if you want the thrills of the adventure park as well.
Regents Park Scavenger Trail: The Royal Parks’ free drop-in activities are perfect for families. Follow their Scavenger Trail around the park. Have a go at their nature crafts, games and quizzes. And enjoy this magnificent park while you’re there. You may even get a glimpse of some of the residents of London Zoo!
Halloween at Charlton House: This historic house in Greenwich is hosting a Halloween children’s day on Thursday 30th October. Get involved in gruesome games, spooky storytelling, Dracula-themed crafts and a Halloween trail.
Greenwich Market: On the afternoon of Friday 31st, Greenwich market turns spooky. The stallholders and the market itself get dressed up in ghoulish attire. You’re encouraged to go along in Halloween costumes as well. Plus there’s face-painting to complete your fantastical look.
Halloween Tunnel Boat Trip: Hosted by the Canal Museum (an absolute gem of a place on Regent’s Canal), you can take a boat trip along the canal and through the dark, and rather creepy, Islington tunnel. Sweeten up the experience by opting for the ‘Scream Tea’ cruise at 3pm. The Halloween tunnel boat trip runs four times daily on 29th, 30th and 31st October.
London Ghost Bus Tour: Board a double-decker bus for a haunted London bus tour complete with fiendishly tasty afternoon tea. You can always stifle your screams with a finger sandwich (no actual fingers are harmed in the making of said sandwich). Along the way, you’ll hear ghoulish tales and see major London sights like St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the London Eye and the River Thames.
Covent Garden: The gang at Covent Garden do seasonal decorations exceptionally well. Halloween’s no exception. Expect eye-catching autumnal displays, pumpkins galore and showstopping window displays. On 31st October itself, you can take a self-guided Trick or Treat Trail between 11am and 5pm. You start (and hopefully finish) at The Phoenix Garden, enjoying the delights of Seven Dials and Covent Garden along the way.
Halloween day trips from London
“Halloween i Legoland 2016 23.jpg” by Legoland Billund Resort is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Less than an hour from London, there are theme parks, botanical gardens and royal palaces brimming with seasonal experiences for families. You’ll need to book in advance, but it makes for a memorable day out.
Kew Gardens: The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew turn a tad eerie in October. Ahead of their Christmas extravaganza, they warm you up with a slightly spooky illuminated light trail. Being Halloween, you can expect a few scares along the way. You may come face to faceprinc with legendary creatures and even Dracula’s said to be hiding in the wings somewhere. The Halloween trail runs from 16th October to 1st November, from late afternoon into the evening.
Brick or Treat at Legoland Windsor: Lego monsters are throwing a party at their park in Windsor. There’s s haunted house party, a vampire party and a ghoulish monster jam. That’s on top of the exhilarating rides and extensive thrills on offer throughout the theme park.
Hampton Court Palace: There are scary things afoot at this historic palace. Yes, scarier than getting lost in its famous maze. This October, the palace turns up the terror levels with spooky visuals, sounds and encounters. A sprinkling of magic means a day at the palace will become a hauntingly memorable adventure from 24th October to 1st November 2026.
Chessington World of Adventures: If being thrown up, around and upside down on the theme park rides isn’t thrilling enough, there’s more excitement in store at Chessington this October. Dare you set foot in the scare zone? There’s heaps of fun to be had with their new Halloween shows, trick or treat and Enchanted Hollow to explore.
Scary experiences for adults only
“Natural History Museum Night.jpg” by JeyHan is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
If opening your household bills isn’t scary enough right now, Halloween’s the time for a fright night. Buckle up! There are some horrifying experiences to be had around London.
Prince Charles Cinema: This charming West End cinema in Leicester Square turns utterly terrifying with its HorrOctober season. You can watch classic horror flicks like The Exorcist (extended cut), A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining and Nosferatu.
Rooftop Cinema Club: Over in Peckham, you can countdown to Halloween with a series of scary films including Scream and Psycho. Then on 31st October itself there’s a more family-friendly showing, the magical Hocus Pocus.
Natural History Museum: Sounds family-friendly and wholesome enough doesn’t it? But Halloween night here is strictly for over 18s. Halloween at the Museum includes live music, a silent disco and an entire evening of spine-tingling entertainment. That’s all within those impressive, hallowed halls. Ticket prices start from £65 (£58 for members). Last year it sold out, so it’s wise to grab your tickets well in advance.
Our spooky, scary and ghost walks
Our guides are wonderful storytellers. They can tell ghostly tales and horror stories that will give you goosebumps. Join them to hear real life crime stories and the stuff of folklore and legend.
- Halloween ghost walks
- Classic Jack the Ripper walk
- Ghosts of the Old City walk
- Harry Potter film locations
Pippa Jackson
Pippa is a word nerd and content aficionado with a background of working in TV on both sides of the globe. She loves to discover and share the diverse and wonderful stories of her much-loved London. When she’s not writing blogs and articles, you’ll find her walking beside the Thames or even paddleboarding on it (in the finest of conditions only!) or enjoying a coffee in the sunshine with a good book.
David Tucker
David – the Seigneur of this favoured realm – broods over words, breeds enthusiasms and is “unmanageable.”* He’s a balterer, literary historian, university lecturer, journalist, logophile and lifelong thanatophobe. For good measure, he’s the doyen of London guides.