Because the evenings get darker and winter approaches, it’s time for all issues ugly, ghoulish and assured to make you scream – and should 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 course 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 start out 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 might discover some sinister spirits contacting you, together with considered one of Britain’s most prolific feminine killers, Mary-Ann Cotton.
Included in entry, for sure, this one is healthier 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 18 – November 4, whereas you may as well 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 ugly 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 the centuries to find the sinister roots of Halloween.
Then, for a very terrifying Halloween expertise in London, you can also make your manner all the way down to the scare maze that’s the London Tombs. Right here you’ll must squeeze your manner by the confined catacombs, making an attempt 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 may guide a guardian angel tour should you’re visiting with children aged 11 and underneath, 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 should you’ve obtained older teenagers who’re feeling courageous.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the London Bridge Expertise should you guide by 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 the landmark’s haunted previous, working from October 26-November 3, promising a hauntingly good time.
As you tour the Tower’s most infamous websites akin to Traitors’ Gate and the Bloody Tower, children will come nose to nose with roaming ghosts of characters who spent their last 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 observe of the ghosts you see. It’s greatest to guide your ticket upfront to ensure entry through the half-term holidays.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the Tower of London should you guide by 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 an additional eerie expertise by Historic Royal Palaces.
At Hampton Courtroom Palace, this Halloween households can uncover the numerous darkish secrets and techniques of Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted palace. With creepy sound results and eerie projections, the palace will probably be reworked with the assistance of some enchantments and there are ghosts to come across round each nook.
There’ll be ghost hunters available that can assist you hunt down all of the spine-chilling spirits inside the palace partitions, plus some spooky tales to get pleasure from 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 Courtroom Palace should you guide by my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Halloween at Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens have been well-known for the Christmas gentle path for years, and now there’s an added deal with to start out winter off with a shiver, with this 12 months’s new Halloween at Kew Gardens occasion.
Comply with 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 scorching chocolate and scorching 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, all the time sells out so guide early for this.
Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden – the Harry Potter tour
If you wish to assure wizards and witches this Halloween, you’ll be able to all the time head to Hogwarts – or the subsequent smartest 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 best way, you may as well 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 guide up properly upfront for this London Halloween time out, so it’s price planning forward should you’ve obtained 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 strategies too…
Methods and Treats at Sea Life Aquarium
Enterprise into Sea Life London Aquarium for some Methods 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 greatest assortment of piranhas, you’ll be able to 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 might 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 beneficial throughout half-term).
Ghoulish tales on the Cutty Sark
Greenwich’s iconic Cutty Sark is internet hosting quite a lot of family-friendly occasions to assist maintain children entertained this October half-term – together with an opportunity to satisfy Nannie the witch, and find out how the historic clipper ship obtained 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 should you guide by my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Bounce on the ghost bus
For a ghost tour with a distinction, hop on board London’s Ghost bus tour – it’s household pleasant (though greatest 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 assessment of the Ghost Bus Tour of London – with children, or with out
There are spooky info about a few of London’s greatest recognized 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 remaining have been destroyed in a mysterious fireplace.
Should you don’t have already got shivers down your backbone, you’re positive to by the point you step off…
For another tour that’s additionally scarily good, try the two-hour Ghosts, Ghouls and Gallows strolling tour with boat experience to see London’s most haunted home – runs till the tip of the 12 months, should you can’t get sufficient of being spooked
Thames Thriller Experience
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 ugly costumed information tells you a few of London’s creepiest and spookiest tales (family-friendly after all).
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 method to get the heartbeat racing this Halloween in London.
Dates are nonetheless to be confirmed however final 12 months, the Thames Thriller ran for in the future 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 considered one of their nice Halloween household occasions this October half-term.
There’ll be a Halloween Quest with creepy clues to unravel, as you discover the grounds of the lavish historic home. When you’ve accomplished the search, children can even hear unusual and supernatural tales from instances previous.
Operating 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 girls 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) may gaze again and its an ideal Halloween time out 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 may even scent pipe smoke, the favorite of the Duke of Lauderdale… who has been useless for properly over three centuries.
There’s additionally a potion-themed path by the grounds this Halloween, and often nice crafts for teenagers within the previous servants’ quarters too, working from October 26-November 3.
Bat walks at Syon Park
Be 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 may suppose.
With 5 several types of bat discovered at Syon Park in Brentford to this point, you’ll wander across the parkland and gardens with bat detectors and ears listening out for any tell-tale squeaks – carry a torch and appropriate footwear.
The 90-minute walks happen on the final Tuesday of the month, together with on October 29, and price £2. Whereas it’s open to all ages, it’s not the most suitable choice for youthful children.
Choose a pumpkin – Covent Backyard & Cowcross Yards
You received’t discover a conventional pumpkin patch within the coronary heart of London – unsurprisingly! – however that doesn’t imply it’s important 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 beautiful autumnal floral shows. Youngsters will love wandering amongst the pumpkins, in search of the proper one to take dwelling and carve simply in time for Halloween.
Don’t overlook to carry the digital camera, because it’s an ideal alternative for some nice household Halloween pictures!
For extra concepts of locations to choose pumpkins close to London, try this submit for one of the best pumpkin selecting areas
Halloween Pumpkin Carving at Chelsea Physic Backyard
What’s Halloween with no pumpkin? And at Chelsea Physic Backyard, you’ll be able to study all about pumpkin crops earlier than carving your personal to take dwelling.
Aimed toward children aged 5+ (who should be accompanied by an grownup), you’ll get every thing you want to create your personal jack-o-lantern through the periods going down on October 28 and 30, 2024.
Tickets embody entry to the Backyard, priced £20 for adults, £15 for kids, and periods run from 1pm to 3pm, contained in the backyard’s spooky shed. Prebooking tickets is crucial.
There’s additionally paint a pumpkin periods on the identical dates (guide right here) in addition to tales from the Enchanted Cottage from October 27-31 (guide right here).
Horniman Museum and Gardens Halloween Honest
Seize the whole household and head all the way down to the Horniman Museum’s annual household Halloween honest, which often 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 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 domestically made items. Tickets usually price £5, and final 12 months’s occasion ran from 11am-4pm.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park: Hair-Elevating Halloween
Wrap up heat and head exterior 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 will probably be full of loads of enjoyable and academic hands-on actions for youthful youngsters. You may discover the eerie nature path, guess the ugly contents of the feely packing containers, hearken to spooky interactive tales, and study in regards to the many bats that decision London’s Royal Parks dwelling.
Fancy gown can also be inspired if you wish to escape the Halloween costumes a bit early. The free half-term occasion will run each 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 may be – head off trying to find fungi, weave a willow wand or craft your personal clay acquainted on the best way. 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 personal creativeness (additionally 45 minutes, from 2.30pm) and the prospect to make your personal 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
Should you’re in search of 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 may as well 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. 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 really a captivating time out with children in London, particularly should 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 youngsters – Beatrix Potter used to reside close by and a few names on the tombstones apparently impressed characters in her tales: maintain 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 big mausoleums in addition to the grave of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, plus tightrope walker Charles Blondin, greatest recognized 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 perfect-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 contains a few of the metropolis’s darkest crime scenes from the previous 150 years, with genuine relics and dying masks. Evidently, this actually isn’t one to go to with youthful children – it’s beneficial for 16+ due to 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 – should you purchase direct, you’ll be able to reschedule at no cost plus there are on-line reductions for reserving upfront. You too can 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 attempt 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 precise spells along with your wand to get the substances from the puzzle chest, and crack the important expertise of transfiguration to concoct your tea, after all. Lasts for 1h 45 minutes.
Try my assessment 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 (gentle, darkish or earth magic), you get to choose your wand, the core and a particular ‘tree essence’ (saves chopping down all these wand bushes), earlier than practising a number of fundamental 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.
Operating from October 26-November 3, you’ll discover a witch alongside the same old 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 get pleasure from – in addition to assembly the primary ogre himself, encountering Princess Fiona and Donkey and an journey on the 4D flying bus.
Included in commonplace entry, most particular occasions happen after the primary Shrek meet and greet of the expertise. Prebooking beneficial.
Chessington World of Adventures Howl’O’Ween
Should you’re completely happy to journey barely exterior central London, Chessington’s ‘Howl’O’Ween’ Halloween occasion is all the time 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 instances for teenagers aged 5+, after 3pm for 8+), be careful for loveable werewolf Wilf and Violet the vampire bat on the mini stage, and luxuriate in rides at nightfall.
Don’t miss the fabulously scary 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 Road, 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 recollections – 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 same old enjoyable, and a few nice themed Lego builds to be discovered. Prebooking is extremely beneficial throughout half-term
For extra concepts of one of the best issues to do at October half-term in London with children, try my prime picks
Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Tower of London/Warner Bros Studio Tour/Cutty Sark copyright MummyTravels/all different photographs courtesy of Depositphotos
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