Because the evenings get darker and winter approaches, it’s time for all issues grotesque, ghoulish and assured to make you scream – and in case you’re spending Halloween in London with children, there’s loads of spine-chilling enjoyable. UPDATED FOR 2024
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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 begin your terrifying journey than a go to to the London Dungeon? This Halloween in London, you’re invited to a sinister seance, the place you’ll be transported right into a Victorian Medium’s parlour.
As you place your fingers on the Ouija board to see if her paranormal items are actual, beware, you possibly can discover some sinister spirits contacting you, together with certainly one of Britain’s most prolific feminine killers, Mary-Ann Cotton.
Included in entry, for sure, this one is healthier for older children (really useful for 10+), and it’s properly value prebooking tickets because it does promote out over Halloween. The fearsome enjoyable runs from October 18 – November 4, whereas you too can encounter some rotten royals, together with King Charles I as he faces the executioner’s block…
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 this October. The spooky interactive walk-through journey sees you stepping right into a particular Halloween world of witches, pumpkins and spine-chilling legends as you enterprise by means of the centuries to find the sinister roots of Halloween.
Then, for a really terrifying Halloween expertise in London, you may make your manner right down to the scare maze that’s the London Tombs. Right here you’ll have to squeeze your manner by means 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 kids 4+, whereas the London Tombs is simply appropriate for kids 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 ebook a guardian angel tour in case you’re visiting with children aged 11 and beneath, to maintain the zombies at bay although.
There’s additionally a particular Halloween Scare Maze expertise for over 16+ this 12 months on October 24-26, 30-31 and November 1-2 in case you’ve bought older teenagers who’re feeling courageous.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the London Bridge Expertise in case you ebook by means 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 observe within the footsteps of a few of its notorious prisoners.
Halloween on the Tower of London is an exhilarating family-friendly journey by means of the landmark’s haunted previous, operating from October 26-November 3, promising a hauntingly good time.
As you tour the Tower’s most infamous websites reminiscent of Traitors’ Gate and the Bloody Tower, children will come nose to nose with roaming ghosts of characters who spent their ultimate moments inside the partitions (with the assistance of projectors and eerie sound results) – count on stressed spirits starting from Roman troopers to the Wizard Earl.
The ghoulish Halloween Tower Tour is designed to spook not terrify although, and included in common admission, with a path to maintain monitor of the ghosts you notice. It’s finest to ebook your ticket upfront to ensure entry in the course of the half-term holidays.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the Tower of London in case you ebook by means of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Halloween at Hampton Court docket Palace
If one haunted royal residence wasn’t sufficient, head right down to Hampton Court docket Palace for an additional eerie expertise by Historic Royal Palaces.
At Hampton Court docket 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 can be reworked with the assistance of some enchantments and there are ghosts to come across round each nook.
There’ll be ghost hunters readily available that can assist you hunt down all of the spine-chilling spirits inside the palace partitions, plus some spooky tales to take pleasure in and Halloween-themed treats within the cafe.
Ths hair-raisingly enjoyable expertise is appropriate for all ages, and runs from October 26-November 3.
There’s a reduction on tickets for Hampton Court docket Palace in case you ebook by means of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Halloween at Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens have been well-known for the Christmas mild path for years, and now there’s an added deal with to begin winter off with a shiver, with this 12 months’s new Halloween at Kew Gardens occasion.
Observe the path because it leads you previous flickering flames in a fiendish fireplace backyard the place fireplace artists will go away you open-mouthed, and enterprise into the haunted woods, illuminatd with creepy cobwebs, depraved witches and beastly creatures.
Spy grinning pumpkins as they glow within the nightfall, be careful for ghastly ghouls and be prepared for a number of extra stunned alongside the path, created by the identical individuals who design Christmas at Kew. There’s additionally marshmallows to toast, and sizzling chocolate and sizzling toddies to drink.
Timed entry slot on dates from October 18-November 3, good in case your children have an earlier half-term than most London faculties. Christmas at Kew, which has an extended run, at all times sells out so ebook early for this.
Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden – the Harry Potter tour
If you wish to assure wizards and witches this Halloween, you may 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 as soon as once more on the Darkish Arts, from September 13 to November 10.
Alongside the way in which, you too can spy a few 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!
Evidently, tickets ebook up properly upfront for this London Halloween day trip, so it’s value planning forward in case 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 ideas too…
Tips and Treats at Sea Life Aquarium
Enterprise into Sea Life London Aquarium for some Tips and Treats this Halloweeen, and also you’ll discover a string of creatures to provide the amazed shivers too.
In addition to the UK’s largest assortment of piranhas, you may be a part of Serafina the Sea Witch who’s set some magical problem to seek out those that are worthy to hitch her military of ocean defenders.
As you study in regards to the tips some sea creatures can pull, fill within the exercise sheets and tackle the duties, you possibly can additionally earn your self some Halloween treats. Runs from October 19-November 3, included in entry. There a reduction on prebooked tickets (which can also be really useful throughout half-term).
Ghoulish tales on the Cutty Sark
Greenwich’s iconic Cutty Sark is internet hosting a lot of family-friendly occasions to assist hold children entertained this October half-term – together with an opportunity to satisfy Nannie the witch, and learn the way the historic clipper ship bought its identify, one of many characters on the Cutty Sark.
Plus older children (12+) can get their hearts racing one other manner, 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 in case you ebook by means of my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
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 evaluate of the Ghost Bus Tour of London – with children, or with out
There are spooky information 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 real survivor of a nineteenth century non-public funeral bus service – painted midnight black – the remainder have been destroyed in a mysterious fireplace.
If you happen to don’t have already got shivers down your backbone, you’re certain 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 top of the 12 months, in case you can’t get sufficient of being spooked
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 few 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 fashion 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 varied dates in October, together with the week of October 19 in case your children have their half-term early, in addition to the week of October 26 together with October 31 itself.
Thames Thriller Journey
Velocity alongside the Thames this Halloween in a hair-raising thrill journey expertise with Thames Rockets.
The Thames Thriller Halloween expertise will first take you to discover essentially 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 strategy to get the heartbeat racing this Halloween in London.
Dates are nonetheless to be confirmed however final 12 months, the Thames Thriller ran for at some point solely in late October..
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 certainly one 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 also can hear unusual and supernatural tales from occasions previous.
Working from October 26-November 3, 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 wanting 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 lady in black has additionally been noticed on the steps of the home, whereas a lovelorn nobleman is assumed to scream right here – you would possibly even odor pipe smoke, the favorite of the Duke of Lauderdale… who has been lifeless for properly over three centuries.
There’s additionally a potion-themed path by means of the grounds this Halloween, and normally nice crafts for youths within the previous servants’ quarters too, operating from October 26-November 3.
Bat walks at Syon Park
Be a part of one of many bat walks at Syon Park in west London this October for an opportunity to identify this supposedly spooky creature within the fluttering flesh, and to study extra about why they aren’t as scary as you would possibly assume.
With 5 various kinds of bat discovered at Syon Park in Brentford thus far, you’ll wander across the parkland and gardens with bat detectors and ears listening out for any tell-tale squeaks – deliver a torch and appropriate footwear.
The 90-minute walks happen on the final Tuesday of the month, together with on October 29, and value £2. Whereas it’s open to all ages, it’s not the most suitable choice for youthful children.
Decide a pumpkin – Covent Backyard & Cowcross Yards
You gained’t discover a conventional pumpkin patch within the coronary heart of London – unsurprisingly! – however that doesn’t imply it’s a must to 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.
The centrepiece is recognizing 200 pumpkins, squashes, and gourds of all sizes and colors in Covent Backyard’s iconic central market constructing, surrounded by gorgeous autumnal floral shows. Children will love wandering amongst the pumpkins, on the lookout for the proper one to take residence and carve simply in time for Halloween.
Don’t overlook to deliver the digicam, because it’s an ideal alternative for some nice household Halloween photographs!
For extra concepts of locations to select pumpkins close to London, take a look at this put up for the perfect pumpkin selecting places
Halloween Pumpkin Carving at Chelsea Physic Backyard
What’s Halloween and not using a pumpkin? And at Chelsea Physic Backyard, you may study all about pumpkin crops earlier than carving your individual to take residence.
Geared toward children aged 5+ (who have to be accompanied by an grownup), you’ll get every little thing it’s good to create your individual jack-o-lantern in the course of the classes happening on October 28 and 30, 2024.
Tickets embody entry to the Backyard, priced £20 for adults, £15 for kids, and classes run from 1pm to 3pm, contained in the backyard’s spooky shed. Prebooking tickets is important.
There’s additionally paint a pumpkin classes on the identical dates (ebook right here) in addition to tales from the Enchanted Cottage from October 27-31 (ebook right here).
Horniman Museum and Gardens Halloween Honest
Seize the complete household and head right down to the Horniman Museum’s annual household Halloween honest, which normally takes place on the final Saturday in October – 2024 occasion tbc.
On the honest, you’ll discover loads of spook-tacular enjoyable and video games, from circus expertise to hooping, bubbles, craft actions, face portray and extra. There’s additionally a Halloween disco and within the afternoon, a Halloween Parade by means of the gardens.
And for fogeys, the honest will even have loads of meals and drinks stalls, in addition to arts and crafts stalls promoting distinctive and sustainable regionally made items. Tickets usually value £5, and final 12 months’s occasion ran from 11am-4pm.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park: Hair-Elevating Halloween
Wrap up heat and head outdoors 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 can be full of loads of enjoyable and academic hands-on actions for youthful kids. You possibly can discover the eerie nature path, guess the grotesque contents of the feely bins, hearken to spooky interactive tales, and study in regards to the many bats that decision London’s Royal Parks residence.
Fancy costume 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 29-31, between 11am and three.30pm.
Discover the supernatural at WWT London
Head to the London Wetland Centre in Barnes and there’s some spooky enjoyable to get you within the temper for Halloween.
This 12 months’s theme is ‘Discover the Supernatural‘, to find how tremendous wetland pure could be – head off looking for fungi, weave a willow wand or craft your individual clay acquainted on the way in which. There’s additionally a scavenger hunt card to identify a few of the hidden wonders of the wetlands.
Add in a 45-minute potion-making workshop, utilizing native crops (takes place at 11.30am) in addition to clay modelling impressed by actual life creatures or one thing from your individual creativeness (additionally 45 minutes, from 2.30pm) and the prospect to make your individual non permanent piece of artwork (all day)
Runs from October 26-November 3. Actions are included in entry, no prebooking required (first come, first served).
Previous Working Theatre, London
If you happen to’re on the lookout 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, when 150 medical college students might need crammed in to study
This Halloween, you too can see the Surgical procedure and the Victorian Working Theatre occasion on October 26, 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 thought of going for a stroll in a cemetery might sound an odd one, but it surely’s truly an interesting day trip with children in London, particularly in case 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 kids – Beatrix Potter used to reside close by and a few names on the tombstones apparently impressed characters in her tales: hold an eye fixed 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 big 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.
One of the best-known of the cemeteries, Highgate, isn’t free (except you’re a grave proprietor), though the entry cost is minimal (from £4.50 for an grownup ticket to the East Cemetery, 50p for youths) 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 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 consists of a few of the metropolis’s darkest crime scenes from the previous 150 years, with genuine relics and demise masks. Evidently, this actually isn’t one to go to with youthful children – it’s really useful 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 – in case you purchase direct, you may reschedule at no cost plus there are on-line reductions for reserving upfront. You may as well purchase mixture tickets with the London Dungeon
Take pleasure in 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 may forged the best spells together with your wand to get the substances from the puzzle chest, and crack the important expertise of transfiguration to concoct your tea, in fact. Lasts for 1h 45 minutes.
Try my evaluate 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 type (mild, darkish or earth magic), you get to select your wand, the core and a particular ‘tree essence’ (saves chopping down all these wand timber), earlier than practising a number of primary spells.
Scared Shrekless at Shrek’s Journey
Look out for tips and treats at Shrek’s Journey this October half-term, as a part of Scared Shrekless.
Working from October 26-November 3, you’ll discover a witch alongside the standard inhabitants of Far Far Away, able to shock guests with some tips (and treats). There’ll be an opportunity to snap a photograph earlier than she flies away, in addition to some enjoyable frights to take pleasure in – in addition to assembly the primary ogre himself, encountering Princess Fiona and Donkey and an journey on the 4D flying bus.
Included in customary entry, most particular occasions happen after the primary Shrek meet and greet of the expertise. Prebooking really useful.
Chessington World of Adventures Howl’O’Ween
If you happen to’re blissful to journey barely outdoors central London, Chessington’s ‘Howl’O’Ween’ Halloween occasion is at all times 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 for 2024 after launching final 12 months, 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 occasions for youths aged 5+, after 3pm for 8+), be careful for loveable werewolf Wilf and Violet the vampire bat on the mini stage, and revel in rides at nightfall.
Don’t miss the fabulously horrifying fireplace and results of the Banyan present for older guests, in addition to a model new spooktacular present for journey level. Runs from October 5-6, 12-13 and 19-31, in addition to November 1-3, 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 27 to November 3.
Wander Monster Avenue, filled with characters simply dying to satisfy you, watch the Monster Jam present, and assist save the dream world from the By no means Witch, who’s busy stealing reminiscences – you’ll want all of your Lego expertise to assist. There’s additionally a brand new frightfully enjoyable 4D film, Z-Blob Rescue Rush and extra.
Plus all the standard enjoyable, and a few nice themed Lego builds to be discovered. Prebooking is extremely really useful throughout half-term
For extra concepts of the perfect issues to do at October half-term in London with children, take a look at my prime picks
Disclosure: This put up incorporates 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 pictures courtesy of Depositphotos
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