How to Spend a Spooktacular Halloween in London | 2026 Guide

With Halloween just around the corner, it’s time to plan a frightfully good October!

From pumpkin picking and magical adventures to horror screenings and haunted landmarks, London is packed with tricks, treats, and everything in between to make your October memorable. 🕸️

Pick Your Own Pumpkins 🎃

Who said you can’t pick your own pumpkins in the middle of the capital? Head to the London Pumpkin Patch for a picking experience right in the heart of London, with over 1,000 pumpkins to choose from and take home.

For a more authentic farm experience, you’ll need to venture a little further. Luckily, Crockford Bridge Farm is only an hour away from our Greenwich English Centre. For £7.50, you can explore the pumpkin-picking fields, or book tickets to the Wonderland Festival, complete with circus performers, autumnal activities, and DJs.

Want to get creative? Head to Big Penny Social’s free Pumpkin Carving Weekend. Carve your own pumpkin and hand it in to the bar to claim a free beer. You’ll also be entered into their pumpkin competition for the chance to win a £100 bar tab.

Have a Horror Movie Night 🎬

Film buffs are in for a frightful feast this month, with screenings ranging from retro classics to modern indie horrors. Whether you prefer supernatural silliness or something that’ll keep you awake at night, here are some standouts:

Hocus Pocus fans, or anyone craving a little magic over outright horror, should check out Hocus Pocus in Concert at the Hammersmith Apollo, where the film is accompanied by a full live orchestra performing the iconic score.

In it for the atmosphere? Take a look at the Rivoli Ballroom’s lineup this month. With its vintage interiors and red-velvet-draped walls, it’s the perfect setting for a Halloween cinema night.

Finally, hardcore horror fans should consider attending London’s ‘Woodstock of gore’, Frightfest, a bloodbath of international premieres, talks, and short film showcases.

Assemble Your Own Trick or Treat Candy 🍬

The best way to guarantee a Halloween full of treats? Buy them yourself, of course. London is packed full of brilliant bakeries, department stores, and chocolatiers all gearing up for Spooky Season in their own mysterious ways.

You might not think of pink when you think of Halloween, but Peggy Porschen brings a colourful twist to the holiday with their adorable pink pumpkin and ghost cupcakes. The cutest (and most delicious) fright you’ll have all month.

For something more traditional, head to one of London’s most indulgent chocolatiers to discover their latest Halloween additions. Dark Sugars, Melt, or Prestat are all worth exploring if you’re looking for something more luxurious than your average trick-or-treat haul.

On a budget? You don’t need to spend a fortune to satisfy your sweet tooth. Check out our supermarket guide this year’s best Halloween snacks, sweets, and decorations. LINK.

Visit the Wizarding World 🪄

Still waiting for your Hogwarts acceptance letter? Don’t worry – you can just buy a ticket.

Autumn is the best time to get your magical fix at Warner Bros. Studio’s Harry Potter tour. Explore iconic sets like Diagon Alley and the Great Hall, which gets a spooky makeover for the Dark Arts season, complete with floating pumpkins and cauldrons of sweets.

Nox evenings offer even more magic, with after-hours experiences of Hogwarts, trick-or-treating, and special themed cocktails. Just watch out for the Death Eaters...

If you’re on a budget, why not pay a visit to Platform 9 ¾ in Kings Cross before picking up a chocolate frog at the gift shop?

Explore Kew Gardens After Dark 🌙

Swap London’s busy streets for an enchanted wood. Running until November, this illuminated trail transforms Kew Gardens into a supernatural wonderland after dark. Wander through eerie woodland displays, encounter Dracula’s lair, and watch fire performers light up the night before stopping for a few toasted monster marshmallows and a hot toddy.

The spooky factor ramps up as darkness falls, so choose a later slot if you’re ready for some frights or opt for an earlier slot if you prefer more treats than tricks. We don’t judge.

Dance with the Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum 🦖

Let’s not forget that Halloween is also a time for revelry. Spend a real night at the museum at the Natural History Museum’s out of hours party, this year with the great Vampiric Council.

Maybe one of the few museums well-known for its parties, the NHM is putting on a night full of activities, with a silent disco under the magnificent blue whale and after-hours access to their exhibitions. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to whip out your vampire fangs and put your costume to good use.

In the mood for a tipple without the risk of toppling? Look out for The Haunting on Russell Street, a month-long Halloween popup bar serving up an array of frightfully good cocktails that will haunt you long into the night.

Go Fancy Dress Shopping 🧛

Love dressing up? London’s vintage shops and costume stores are treasure troves for anyone wanting to make a real impression this Halloween.

Carnival Store in Hammersmith sells everything you might need at affordable prices, from fake blood to witches’ hats.

For something more theatrical, head to Mad World, offering over 35,000 licensed costumes, including ones for hire. An excellent way to really impress (or scare) your friends.

Even if you don’t buy anything, browsing London’s wackiest fancy-dress outfits is entertainment in itself.

Discover the Secrets of Room 13 🔍

Step into the mystery of Room 13, an immersive horror experience that invites you to unravel the truth of unexplained paranormal encounters with a team of investigators. You’ll discover folklore, history, and, hopefully, solve the story’s riddle.

Prefer something more hands-on? Try one of London’s many escape rooms to put your nerve and problem-solving skills to the test. No Escape Halloween offer several horror-themed scenarios, from The Witch’s Curse to Sweeney Todd – with live scare actors in every game.

Explore London’s Most Haunted Landmarks 👻

London’s history is full of grisly tales and ghost stories. If you’re in the mood for a little fright, why not explore some of the capital’s most haunted landmarks?

Start at the Tower of London, where centuries of imprisonment and executions have inspired countless ghost stories. The fortress is famously linked to Anne Boleyn, a former prisoner whose ghost is said to haunt the grounds. This Halloween, the Tower of London is also hosting after-dark ghost tours led by a Yeoman Warder.

For a different dose of dark history, head to Henry VIII’s notoriously haunted Hampton Court Palace, re-vamped with projections, storytelling, and even the ghost of William Shakespeare.

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