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Halloween in London Activities

Updated: January 29, 2024
 By Margaret

For those coming to London in October for Halloween, we’ve got spooky events popping up all over town to help thrill, scare, and entertain visitors on the scariest night of the year!

Note that many of these events take place throughout October and into November.

We are local tour guides who lead ghost tours as well as Jack the Ripper Tours in London.

We also take part in several of the activities listed below, so we know a thing or two about Halloween in London.


Do People in London Celebrate Halloween?

Halloween is becoming more and more popular in London as time goes on. You will notice that although not many people decorate their houses for Halloween, a lot of shops and stores will have Halloween/spooky style decorations up in October. Fortnum & Mason, for example, have a whole Halloween shop!

Some neighbourhoods will see children trick-or-treating, but it is nowhere near as prevalent as it is in the United States and many people won't have a single visitor on Halloween night.

Dressing up for Halloween in the UK is becoming more popular and some children will dress up for school, and many adults will dress up for a visit to a party or a pub on or around the 31st of October.

Pumpkin carving is not as popular in the UK as it is in the US, although you are able to buy larger pumpkins at some of the bigger supermarkets these days. However, you won't see many jack-o-lanterns outside people's houses.


Spooky Walking Tours

Jack the Ripper Tour

This one goes without saying!

Join us on one of our ever-popular Jack the Ripper Tours - bringing the story of this most famous serial killer to vibrant (and spooky) life!


Dark Side of London Ghost Tour

You will learn the stories of heretics burnt alive, the story of a young girl who is still terrifying travellers on the tube centuries after she died, deadly surgeries, spirits with missing feet, kings and heroes killed in a most unexpected way and standing before an old Victorian hospital famous for grave-robbery...and more!

We will visit the largest ‘Plague Pit’ in England – only discovered in 2003.

Then, we will continue on to the Old Bailey Courthouse, the site of countless executions and the trial of a Victorian serial killer 100 times more prolific than Jack the Ripper!

This tour is a must for anyone who wants to get off the beaten track and learn about the most macabre tales and historical scandals that this ancient city has to offer.

You’ll never look at London the same way.


The Final Journey

This specialty tour, available as a private excursion, will take you along the path that condemned criminals would have walked in times gone by.

From The Old Bailey, we will trace the three-mile journey that the condemned made before finally finishing at Marble Arch, the site of the feared 'Tyburn Tree', the gallows that took so many over the centuries.

Along the way, tales of crime, retribution, and punishments in a darker age will give us an idea of the fate that befell those who got on the wrong side of the law in times past, and the myriad ways there were to die by execution in London's dark past.


Harry Potter Tour

Halloween is the perfect time to live in the world of witches and wizards and where better to do that than London on our classic Harry Potter walking Tour?

Grab your wands and come along as you walk in the footsteps of Harry and his friends, defeating death eaters and the dark arts as you go!


Ghost Bus Tours

Billed as the world's only comedy-horror show on wheels, the London Ghost Bus will take you on a terrifying journey through centuries of spooky history!

Led by guides and drivers in creepy fancy dress, this tour will uncover the gruesome history of London's bloody past as you cruise through the city on a classic London route master bus.


Halloween Films and Plays

The Woman in Black

For two decades now, Londoners have been scaring themselves silly at the Woman in Black, the city's most terrifying stage production.

Based on Susan Hill's iconic story, the play brings the terror and panic of its' characters to life with impressive special effects adding to the other-worldly experience.

This is one you won't want to miss. To get discount tickets, check out our post about cheap tickets in London here.

Nearest Tube Station: Covent Garden


Secret Storytelling

The team behind London Dreamtime our putting on multiple events from the start to the end of October to celebrate the spooky season in London.

Photo by Dreamtime

With dark nights of ghostly storytelling aimed at children as well as adults, you'll find something for everyone on their jam-packed Halloween schedule.

Taking place in secret locations, as well as within the Royal Parks, these experiences are led by expert storytellers who will take you on an adventure like you've never experienced before.


The Mousetrap

One of the world's longest-running plays, the Mousetrap is a classic who done it that has been mystifying spectators for decades.

Soak up the creepy atmosphere in this classic play and see if you can solve the mystery before it's too late!


Wicked the Musical

The untold story of the Witches of Oz, Wicked the Musical will give you your fill of witches, wizards, spells, and stories in one of the city's most beloved performances.

Playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre for nearly two decades, making it one of the city's longest-running musicals, it's a must-see throughout the year but particularly for fright night and spooky season!


Halloween Events and Activities

Halloween at Hampton Court Palace

Known for ghostly activity throughout the year, Hampton Court Palace goes all out for Halloween!

Walk through the halls decorated with pumpkins and cobwebs as you hear creepy sound effects and take in eerie lighting.

Their website tantalizingly describes the experience you can expect to have:

"As you tiptoe through the dark winding corridors and courtyards, you’ll feel the chilling presence of our infamous ghosts, in period costumes, hiding around every corner".

Some may even be closer than you expect, but keep your distance – these ghosts are best kept to the past.

Double, double, toil, and trouble, there’s even more magic afoot as witches and alchemists have taken over parts of the palace.

Head to the Gallery of the Damned and see eerie portraits come to life, or stop by the Council Chamber to take part in a spine-tingling séance. Whose voice will echo from beyond the grave?"

Nearest Rail Station: Hampton Court


Halloween at Chiswick House

From the team that brings us Christmas at Kew, Halloween at Chiswick House is an incredible spooky sensory experience, with stunning light displays, scary sounds, and the creepiest atmosphere in the city.

The 2023 dates are yet to be released so watch this space...

The nearest Tube Station: Turnham Green


Pumpkin Picking

For those wanting to pick a pumpkin, grab some gourds, or carve a jack-o-lantern, there are a few options for you here in London!

For those wanting to stay in the centre of town, Covent Garden boasts a pumpkin market for the duration of October.

Anybody wanting to visit a pumpkin patch will need to venture a little further, but with London's amazing public transport, that's no problem!

Consider a visit to Surrey to enjoy Secretts Farm, Garsons, or Priory Farm.


Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND

This is one for the kids! LEGOLAND transforms into a "pumpkin-filled wonderland" to be explored by the whole family.

Tick-or-treaters will find Halloween sweets and treats as well as a brand-new show, lego building, and an opportunity to walk down 'Monster Street!'


Halloween at Sky Garden

Looking for live music, unbeatable views, and an endless list of gin and tonic?

The Sky Garden has you covered.

Underneath London's largest skylight, you can tuck into a three-course meal, enjoy specially crafted cocktails, and dance the night away to a live DJ on top of one of the city's most iconic buildings.


Halloween at Leadenhall Market

Known primarily for its usage as a film location in the Harry Potter movies, Leadenhall is a charming Victorian-covered market filled with interesting shops, restaurants, and bars.

And for Halloween - they go all out with a series of pop-ups featuring seasonal decorations, scheduled walks, and events in historic pubs.


Halloween Parties

Although Halloween is not as widely celebrated in the UK as it is in North America, there are still a few parties around for those wanting to dress up and celebrate!

Consider attending an After Hours Halloween Party at the Natural History Museum, a Halloween Ball inspired by the works of Edward Allen Poe, or a Halloween Costume Ball at The Mansion.

Music lovers will find a special line up of DJs playing Halloween specials at The Cause (on multiple nights), theatre goers can enjoy a terrifying Halloween Cabaret in Soho, and thrill seekers will want to attend The Haunted Mandrake - which will see one of London's top hotels turned into a spooky haunted house.


Haunted London Underground Stations

The world's oldest, and arguably best-known, underground transit system, the tube is filled with stories of historical hauntings, creepy events, ancient ghosts, and disturbed graves leading many to believe that it's one of the most haunted locations in the city!

We have a comprehensive list of London's Most Haunted Underground Stations so that you can explore these spooky spots yourself.

Or, maybe you'd rather explore from the comfort (and safety) of your own home..!


All Year 'Round Spooky Attractions

The London Dungeon

Spooky all year round, the London Dungeon brings London’s macabre and dark history to life.

The Master of Tricks leads guests through room after room of terrors and tragedies.

Visitors take part in a spooky truth-or-dare game and will come face-to-face with well-known London baddies like Sweeny Todd, Henry VIII, and of course, Jack the Ripper!

Nearest Tube Station: Waterloo or Westminster


The Tower of London

A former prison, site of torture and execution, as well as the burial location for countless bodies throughout the centuries, the Tower of London is widely regarded to be one of the most haunted locations in the country.

Thrilling to visit all year round, guests can also come face to face with the legendary Ravens, Beefeaters, and Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Use our link above to get the best price for your tickets!

Nearest Tube Station: Tower Hill


The Clink

Dating back to 1144, the Clink was one of the most notorious prisons in the country, known for its grim conditions and high-profile inmates.

Today you can visit this once-terrifying prison from the safety of the 21st century. Just make sure you leave before they lock the doors..!

Nearest Tube Station: London Bridge


Berkeley Square

Berkeley Square might be well known for Nightingales (any Good Omens fans reading this?) but it's also home to what was once said to be the most haunted house in the UK: Number 50 Berkeley Square.

50 Berkeley Square is associated with a number of tragic deaths as well as decades of reports of spectral hauntings.

The building hasn't been in residential use for some time and is now occupied by offices, and there are no current reports of hauntings...for now! 

Find out more about what happened at this house on our London's Dark and Ghostly Past Virtual Tour.

Nearest Tube Station: Green Park

About The Author

Margaret

An American simply by accident of birth, Margaret moved to London over 16 years ago and hasn’t looked back since! With a keen interest in History – and a BA degree to match – Margaret prides herself on her knowledge of the amazing city she calls home and she's been guiding here now for nearly a decade. Social history is her real expertise, with sound understanding of the day-to-day lives of Londoners over the past centuries. Read More...
Updated: January 29th, 2024
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