Things to do in London this Halloween Season
Autumn, Fall, Halloween, October, Spooky Season, whatever we’re calling it, is finally upon us and you’re here for one reason only: finding the best experiences in London to get you in the mood for it. Lucky for you, we are seasoned in seasonal activities so enjoy our free guide to enjoying the city over the coming weeks. From family friendly to dog friendly, from totally free to slightly boujee, our recommendations are below, and includes two very good Halloween walks, courtesy of Where Now Tours…
1. Visit a Haunted London Location
London has its fair share of spots where you’ll never be totally alone - if you know what we mean. Amongst our favourites is the Trafalgar Tavern, a beautiful pub in Greenwich overlooking the Thames River. Whilst also being incredibly aesthetically pleasing both inside and out, the pub has a lengthy history of ghost stories, from a disappearing pianist to Frances, the pub’s resident spirit.
If you fancy stretching your legs, take a stroll around St James’ Park. It’s up to you whether you brave this in the dark (the pedestrian gates close at midnight) as you may bump into the Headless Woman of the Lake. Legend says she was murdered and decapitated in the 18th Century and her ghost still wanders the park in search of her lost head.
One of the more famous haunted locations is the Ten Bells pub in Spitalfields. Its connections to two Jack the Ripper victims make this location eerie enough, let alone the many additional ghost stories reported by staff and visitors. The most volatile? A spirit whose laugh echoes through corridors before pushing you down the stairs.
Pictured left: Highgate Cemetery
We’ll leave you with one more: Highgate Cemetery. Highgate is often cited as one of the most haunted locations in London, so the town’s cemetery on Swain’s Lane is a must mention. During the 60s and 70s, the North London location garnered media attention following supernatural sightings by ghost and vampire hunters. Amongst its many spirits, you’ll find a beautiful, gothic spot to wander around this October.
2. Enjoy a Family-Friendly Activity
Need something more wholesome than haunting? We’ve got you. Amongst the scary shenanigans are plenty of family friendly activities. Grab a ticket for Halloween at Kew, where the botanical garden is transformed into a shadowy trail filled with surprises and scares. Early sessions are much more child-friendly, plus there’s plenty of sweet treats, hot chocolate and themed food available as a reward for making it through!
A slightly more educational option: Hampton Court! Henry VIII’s palace is a famously haunted spot in London with plenty of child-friendly, daytime activities during the October half term. You can enjoy the grounds yourself, or join their storytelling events for a terrifying, historical tale.
Between 25th September - 1st November, you can visit Hobbledown’s pumpkin patch for an evening, an afternoon, or as part of your full day in the adventure park. Experience the true autumnal atmosphere with marshmallow toasting, seasonal games and kid-friendly entertainment.
Pictured left: The Clink Museum
Perhaps one for the older children, the Clink is an underrated and fantastically creepy museum near London Bridge. The building -- a real life former prison -- dates back to the 1100s and is now filled with prison artifacts, models and torture devices showcasing the horrors faced by inmates in the Clink.
3. Choose a Free Activity
The beautiful Leadenhall Market is definitely worth a visit for its iconic Halloween transformation. From October, you wont be able to miss the giant monster tentacles bursting out of the market’s windows Cthulhu style. The market hosts plenty of fun Halloween activities for an extra cost, but is brilliant in its own right to wander around, enjoy the exquisite decorations and window shop at the market stalls.
The British Museum is, of course, totally free to enter, and, of course, totally full of weird history. We’d argue it’s absolutely worthy of a Halloween day out. Between mummified human remains, witches carved into wood, a two-headed mosaic serpent, there’s plenty of strange, historical artifacts to see there this October.
Try not to get lost in the Brent Lodge Park Millennium Maze. The hedge maze is made from 2000 yew trees, around 4-5 feet tall, located next to Hanwell Zoo. While it’s not technically a Halloween themed activity, we can’t think anything much scarier than trying to find the exit whilst it gets dark. Give it a go and report back… if you make it out!
On the 25th October, you can visit the SoLo Craft Fair Halloween Market at Between the Bridges. The market will be home to 60 independent shops showcasing Halloween and Autumnal wares, a treasure hunt, a free workshop, and plenty of food, drinks and music throughout the day. It’s also dog-friendly!
4. Classic London Activities
Would it be a “things to do in London” guide if we didn’t include these classics? The Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of royal and British history. It's worth a visit all year round, but during the Halloween season, the ghosts of the tower truly come alive (specifically at 11.15, 12.45 and 14.45).
Equally as iconic, the London Dungeons will transport you to London’s scariest place (its past). Between dark humour, rides and jumpscares, you’ll enjoy recreated scenes from the city’s gruesome history. Educational and horrifying!
Pictured left: London West End ft. Phantom of the Opera
For something a little more classy, why not enjoy one of the many West End shows available throughout October? Plenty of performances have spooky themes to keep the Halloween vibes going. Wicked has witches, the Mousetrap has murder, Phantom of the Opera has… Andrew Lloyd Webber. You get the jist!
5. The Ultimate Halloween Walks with Where Now Tours
Now for the good bit (if we say so ourselves). Where Now Tours has recently launched our Dark History of London Tour, a brand new guided walking experience through central London at dusk. Filled with the city’s creepiest, lesser known tales of murder, ghosts, disease and disaster, we’ll tick off your Halloween bingo card.
Our guided tours are a labour of love, as we research, write and host them ourselves. Each tour is chosen for our passion for the topic and this one is no exception! Running from 7:30PM every evening, tickets are available to purchase now. Or, you can check out our Ghosts of Greenwich or Jack the Ripper Tours here! We also offer audio tours, which of course tend to have a ghostly theme attached. Browse them here.
