Because the evenings get darker and winter approaches, it’s time for all issues grotesque, ghoulish and assured to make you scream – and if you happen to’re spending Halloween in London with children, there’s loads of spine-chilling enjoyable.
Whereas Halloween is barely after October half-term in London, 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 concerning the pumpkins, you’ll discover loads of scarily good enjoyable this Halloween in London. UPDATED FOR 2023
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 1815 to face your demons – however will you escape the costs of treachery alongside the best way?
For now, should of what you’ll discover inside will stay a thriller – however if you happen to’re courageous sufficient, you’ll be able to prebook now… and simply pray you emerge unscathed!
For sure, this one is best for older children (beneficial for 10+), and it’s properly price prebooking tickets because it does promote out over Halloween. The fearsome enjoyable runs from October 13-31.
The London Bridge Expertise & London Tombs
Journey again in time to find over 2,000 years of the world’s darkish and grotesque historical past as a part of The London Bridge Expertise. The spooky interactive walk-through journey options stay actors enjoying a few of London’s most notorious characters, together with Jack The Ripper, William Wallace, and lots of extra.
Then, for a really terrifying Halloween expertise in London, you may make your approach all the way down to the scare maze that’s the London Tombs. Right here you’ll must squeeze your approach by way of the confined catacombs, trying to flee the zombies, spiders, clowns, bloody butchers, and different creatures of nightmares round each nook.
The London Bridge Expertise is for youngsters 4+, whereas the London Tombs is barely appropriate for youngsters 11+ – however be warned, the Tombs have been topped the UK’s scariest attraction for the final 13 years, so the attraction positively isn’t for the faint-hearted.
You possibly can e book a guardian angel tour if you happen to’re visiting with children aged 11 and beneath, to maintain the zombies at bay although.
There’s additionally a particular Halloween expertise for over 16+ this 12 months on October 20-21 and 26-31 if you happen to’ve received older teenagers who’re feeling courageous.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the London Bridge Expertise if you happen to e book by way of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Halloween on the Tower of London
There’s one other spooky Halloween expertise to be discovered at one of many capital’s most well-known points of interest, the Tower of London, as you comply with within the footsteps of a few of its notorious prisoners.
Halloween on the Tower of London is an exciting family-friendly journey by way of the landmark’s haunted previous, operating from October 21-29.
As you tour the Tower’s most infamous websites similar to Traitors’ Gate and the Bloody Tower, children will come nose to nose with roaming ghosts of characters who spent their ultimate moments throughout the partitions (with the assistance of projectors and eerie sound results), from Roman troopers to the Wizard Earl.
The ghoulish Halloween Tower Tour is designed to spook not terrify although, and included in common admission. It’s finest to e book your ticket prematurely to ensure entry through the half-term holidays.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the Tower of London if you happen to e book by way of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Halloween at Hampton Courtroom Palace
If one haunted royal residence wasn’t sufficient, head all the way down to Hampton Courtroom Palace for one more eerie expertise by 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. Children can meet the palace’s ghosts, see portraits come to life within the Gallery of the Damned, and even take part in a séance to listen to voices from past the grave.
With witches and alchemists infesting elements of the palace, and intricately carved pumpkins within the Haunted Backyard, there’s additionally the prospect to take heed to spooky tales and luxuriate in a number of Halloween treats.
The spooky and academic expertise is appropriate for all ages, and runs from October 21-29.
There’s a reduction on tickets for Hampton Courtroom Palace if you happen to e book by way of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden – the Harry Potter tour
If you wish to assure wizards and witches this Halloween, you’ll be able to at all times head to Hogwarts – or the following neatest 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, wanting on the home which turned out extra darkish wizards than another, whereas this 12 months the main focus is on the Darkish Arts once more from September 15 to November 5.
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: most likely the closest you will get to magic inside half an hour of the capital!
For sure, tickets e book up properly prematurely for this London Halloween day trip, so it’s price planning forward if you happen to’ve received your coronary heart set on this magical Halloween – try my ideas for locating tickets to the Harry Potter Studio tour.
For extra concepts of days out for Harry Potter followers in London, try these magical options too…
Tips and Treats at Sea Life Aquarium
Enterprise into Sea Life London Aquarium and also you’ll discover a string of creatures to provide the shivers this Halloween.
In addition to the UK’s largest assortment of piranhas, this October sees a concentrate on the spooky creatures hiding beneath the waves from the fearsome Wolf Fish to the mysterious Octopus.
Add in challenges, fill within the exercise sheets and you can earn some Halloween treats too. Runs from October 21-31, included in entry. There a reduction on prebooked tickets (which can also be beneficial throughout half-term).
KidZania London Pageant of Fright
2023 TBC: For among the finest issues to do over Halloween in London with youthful children, head to KidZania at London Westfield.
This Halloween, the mini-city is often reworked into an eerie ghost city, with haunted homes and spooky sightings round each nook.
There are sometimes all kinds of enjoyable themed actions for youngsters aged 4-14, together with a Halloween style present and dance classes the place children can showcase their monstrous strikes. Final 12 months, KidZania’s Pageant of Fright occurred from October 24-30.
There’s a reduction on tickets for KidZania London if you happen to e book by way of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Ghoulish tales on the Cutty Sark
Greenwich’s iconic Cutty Sark is internet hosting quite a lot of family-friendly occasions to assist hold children entertained this October half-term – and on choose dates you’ll be able to meet Nannie the witch, to learn the way the historic clipper ship received its identify, one of many characters on the Cutty Sark.
Plus older children (12+) can get their hearts racing one other approach, by climbing the ship’s well-known masts within the thrilling Cutty Sark Rig Climb Expertise.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the Cutty Sark if you happen to e book by way of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Soar 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.
There are spooky info about a few of London’s finest identified 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 have been destroyed in a mysterious hearth.
When you don’t have already got shivers down your backbone, you’re certain to by the point you step off…
Thames Thriller Experience
2023 TBC Pace alongside the Thames this Halloween in a hair-raising thrill experience expertise with Thames Rockets.
The Thames Thriller Halloween expertise will first take you to discover probably the most iconic websites alongside the River Thames whereas a grotesque costumed information tells you a few of London’s creepiest and spookiest tales (family-friendly in fact).
Then, when you attain Tower Bridge, the Rocket revs as much as an electrifying 35mph and have you ever twisting and turning previous the London skyline whereas listening to a monster mash-up of enjoyable Halloween hits. That’s one option to get the heartbeat racing this Halloween in London.
Final 12 months, the Thames Thriller ran from October 29-31 at various instances all through the three days.
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 one in every of their nice Halloween household occasions this October half-term.
There’ll be a Halloween Quest with creepy clues to resolve, as you discover the grounds of the lavish historic home.
When you’ve accomplished the hunt, children can meet costumed performers and listen to unusual and supernatural tales from instances previous.
Working from October 21-29, tickets are free for English Heritage members, in any other case there’s a reduction for reserving prematurely.
Halloween at Charlton Home & Gardens
Begin your individual magical coaching this Halloween at Charlton Home and Gardens with Charlton Home Explorers: Haunted Manor.
Aimed toward children aged 5-12, it’s an opportunity to find a number of the ghosts which stay on the Home – because it has existed for hundreds of years, it’s not shocking there are one or two!
Alongside the best way, you’ll be able to uncover 400 years of historical past at this historic London manor, identified for being one of the haunted homes within the metropolis.
Charlton Home’s Halloween occasion is going down on October 24 and 25 between 10am and 1pm. Tickets value £5 and embrace crafts and goodies.
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 17th century wanting glass which some individuals refuse to stare into for concern of who (or what) would possibly gaze again and its an ideal Halloween day trip in London.
A lady 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 useless for properly over three centuries.
There are often nice crafts for teenagers within the previous servants’ quarters too, in addition to household occasions throughout October half-term.
Syon Park: Halloween Spooktacular Enjoyable
Syon Park in west London is internet hosting its personal spooktacular enjoyable Halloween occasion for households this half-term, that’s not too scary for youthful children.
Look out for some creepy critters and a terrifyingly good household path, Ghastly Guts, Gory Gravy and GUNPOWDER!
There might be animal dealing with classes from Zoolab, though as a Halloween twist, anticipate them to be hairier and scarier than the standard fluffy enjoyable.
Then head into the historic home, the place costumed guides will thrill you with hair-raising tales, from sinister plots to disgusting gravy and a serving to of added gore. The Halloween occasions at Syon Home in Brentford are going down from October 25-27.
Covent Backyard Halloween Pumpkin Market
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.
The centrepiece is recognizing 200 pumpkins, squashes, and gourds of all sizes and hues in Covent Backyard’s iconic central market constructing, surrounded by beautiful autumnal floral shows. Children will love wandering amongst the pumpkins, searching for the proper one to take residence and carve simply in time for Halloween.
Don’t neglect to deliver the digital camera, because it’s an ideal alternative for some nice household Halloween photographs!
For extra concepts of locations to select pumpkins close to London, try this publish for the most effective pumpkin choosing places
Halloween Pumpkin Carving at Chelsea Physic Backyard
What’s Halloween with no pumpkin? And at Chelsea Physic Backyard, you’ll be able to be taught all about pumpkin vegetation earlier than carving your individual to take residence.
Aimed toward children aged 6+ (who have to be accompanied by an grownup), you’ll get every thing you want to create your individual jack-o-lantern through the classes going down on October 24 and 26, 2023.
Tickets embrace entry to the Backyard, priced £20 for adults, £15 for youngsters, and classes run from 1pm to 3pm, contained in the backyard’s spooky shed. Prebooking tickets is important.
Horniman Museum and Gardens Halloween Honest
2023 TBC. Seize all the household and head all the way down to the Horniman Museum’s annual household Halloween truthful on the final Saturday in October.
On the truthful, you’ll usually discover rides, video games, themed arts and crafts workshops, face portray, balloons, and a Halloween path across the gardens. In earlier years, children might additionally take pleasure in mind-boggling close-up magic with Nyko the Magician, spooky science reveals with Einstein’s Entertainers Halloween Science Spectacular, and a Halloween Parade by way of the Gardens led by a scary skeleton.
And for fogeys, the truthful may also have loads of meals and drinks stalls, in addition to arts and crafts stalls promoting distinctive and sustainable regionally made items.
Boo on the Zoo at London Zoo
Boo on the Zoo is again at London Zoo once more to maintain the youngsters entertained this October half-term and Halloween.
With every thing from hair-raising animal info to some conventional Halloween crafts, there’s even an opportunity to take pleasure in a session in sorcery this 12 months.
Some actions are perfect for little ones, together with being reworked right into a black cat or different creepy creature by the zoo’s fearsome face painters (for a payment), whereas older children can really feel a real shiver as they navigate the extinct species graveyard.
Plus there a pumpkins to embellish, menacing masks to craft and loads of devilish demonstrations as properly. Free with zoo entry, the occasions run from October 21-31.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park: Hair-Elevating Halloween
Wrap up heat and head exterior with the household this half-term for one more version of Hyde Park’s household discovery days.
The park’s Hair-Elevating Halloween Discovery Day might be full of loads of enjoyable and academic hands-on actions for youthful youngsters. You possibly can discover the eerie nature path, guess the grotesque contents of the feely bins, take heed to spooky interactive tales, and be taught concerning the many bats that decision London’s Royal Parks residence.
Fancy costume can also be inspired if you wish to get away the Halloween costumes a bit early. The free half-term occasion will run each day from October 24-26, between 11am and 3pm.
Previous Working Theatre, London
When you’re searching for blood and gore this Halloween, London’s Previous 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.
This Halloween, you can too see the Victorian Working Theatre Reside occasion on October 25, a genuinely chilling take a look at the origins of surgical procedure earlier than anaesthetic and antiseptics. Greatest with older children.
Spy well-known names in a cemetery
The thought of going for a stroll in a cemetery may appear an odd one, however it’s truly a captivating day trip with children in London, particularly if you happen to go to one of many Magnificent Seven, the ring of seven graveyards created principally within the Victorian age and impressed by Pere Lachaise in Paris.
Brompton Cemetery has an uncommon attraction for youthful youngsters – Beatrix Potter used to stay close by and a few names on the tombstones apparently impressed characters in her tales: hold 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 identified 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 (until you’re a grave proprietor), though the entry cost is minimal (from £4.50 for an grownup ticket to the East Cemetery, 50p for teenagers) and a few of its catacombs are Grade II listed. It’s the ultimate resting place of Karl Marx, George Eliot and poet Christina Rossetti.
Madame Tussaud’s
The place may very well 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 consists of 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 beneficial for 16+ because of 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 – if you happen to purchase direct, you’ll be able to reschedule without cost plus there are on-line reductions for reserving prematurely. You may also purchase mixture tickets with the London Dungeon
Get pleasure from a wizard afternoon tea or wand making
Tuck right into a Wizard afternoon tea in central London, on the The Wizard Exploratorium in Soho, or strive your hand on the half-hour Magic Wand Expertise so as to add some magic to your October.
There’s extra than simply scones and desserts on the afternoon tea, with ‘sand-witches’ plus tea brewed by magic wand – so long as you’ll be able to forged the appropriate spells together with your wand to get the components from the puzzle chest, and crack the important abilities of transfiguration to concoct your tea, in fact. Lasts for 1h 45 minutes.
Take a look at my evaluation of a Wizard Afternoon Tea in London with children
Over children aged 8+ can emerge with their very personal magic wand. After selecting your magical fashion (mild, darkish or earth magic), you get to select your wand, the core and a particular ‘tree essence’ (saves slicing down all these wand timber), earlier than practising a number of primary spells.
Chessington World of Adventures Howl’O’Ween
When you’re pleased to journey barely exterior central London, Chessington’s ‘Howl’O’Ween’ Halloween occasion is at all times a great one for households – and tickets embrace entry to the total theme park and zoo entry.
With adventures for little pumpkins and older thrill-seekers, this 12 months sees a model new trick or deal with expertise, Enchanted Hole, the place the animal residents unleash their mischievous streak with a number of cheeky tips together with the treats as you discover.
Some previous favourites are again too – beware the Vile Villagers of Wild Woods (go to at earlier instances for teenagers aged 5+, after 3pm for 8+), be careful for the Wild Witches of Journey Level, who’ve conjured up a forged of curious characters throughout the resort, and luxuriate in rides at nightfall.
On the mini stage, there’ll be enjoyable and video games from the Witch from Room on the Broom together with the fabulously horrifying hearth and results of the Banyan present for older guests. Runs from October 7-8 and 14-30, separate ticket required for Enchanted Hole.
Brick or Deal with at Legoland Windsor
The Lego Monsters are taking on, 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 September 28 to November 5.
Take a look at the frightfully enjoyable 4D film, The Nice Monster Chase, watch the Monster Jam present, plus there’s an opportunity to go to the Monster Avenue walk-through expertise, with its Creepy Crypts… if you happen to’re courageous sufficient.
Plus all the standard enjoyable, and a few nice themed Lego builds to be discovered. Prebooking is extremely beneficial throughout half-term
For extra concepts of the most effective issues to do at October half-term in London with children, try my high picks
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Tower of London/Warner Bros Studio Tour/Cutty Sark copyright MummyTravels/all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos