© Sašo Tušar via Unsplash

It’s the spookiest time of the year. It’s not only the Americans that go crazy for the annual scarefest with a host of daytime and nighttime events on for both children and adult on in London. With Halloween falling on a Tuesday this year, we can expect to see ghoulish events kicking off a bit earlier. As half-term holidays are the week before, there’s plenty of Halloween-themed fun for kids in the lead up to the 31 October. Meanwhile, for party animals, there’s plenty of late-night revelry, or for a calmer alternative, there’s special meals and film screenings.

Daytime jitters

• 1 October – 6 November : The Death Express @ The London Dungeon

Step aboard the Death Express, an old railway transporting the dead. Explore the history of London’s most gruesome residents and crimes. Tickets from £21 (timed entry). London Dungeon, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB. Nearest station: Waterloo or Embankment. For more information and booking, visit the London Dungeon website. For Metro Girl’s review of the London Dungeon, click here.

• 17 – 31 October : The Quarter of Curiosity Shop

Newburgh Quarter will be hosting a fortnight of Halloween fun, including a Halloween florist selling posies and bouquets in spooky shades. Also including series of free workshops, including Halloween Headdress making, potion cocktail making, pumpkin planters and a Halloween make-up masterclasses. The Quarter of Curiosity Shop, 2 Newburgh Street, Soho, W1F 7RD. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus. For more information, visit the Carnaby website.

• 21 – 31 October : Boo At The Zoo

A week of fiendish fun at London Zoo including Halloween-themed activities, pumpkin carving, crafts and animal demonstrations. Open 10am-5pm. Activities are free with entry to zoo. Entrance tickets: Adults £24.50, Child £18.00 (cheaper online). London Zoo, Regent’s Park, Marylebone, NW1 4RY. Nearest station: Regent’s Park or Camden Town. For booking, visit the ZSL website.

• 21 – 28 October : Spookfest @ London Museum of Water & Steam

Learn the secret history of the engine houses, enjoy a ride on the ghost train, a trip through the creepy wood and Halloween craft activities. Tickets: adults £12.50, children £5.50. London Museum of Water & Steam, Kew Bridge Road, Brentford, TW8 0EF. Nearest station: Kew Bridge. For more information, visit the London Museum of Water & Steam website.

• 23 – 27 October : Half-Term Horrors @ Eltham Palace

Creepy family fun at the Medieval and Art Deco Eltham Palace. Including costume competitions and pumpkin carving. Book a time slot at 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Tickets: Adults £14.40, Children £8.60. Eltham Palace, Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, SE9 5QE. Nearest station: Eltham or Mottingham. For more information, visit English Heritage website. For Metro Girl’s review of Eltham Palace, click here.

• 24 October : Family Day: Hallowe’en @ Benjamin Franklin House

A spooky family day with spooky 18th century stories told by Polly Hewson and gruesome games for 5-11 year olds. 4-5pm. Free, but advanced booking recommend. Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, Westminster, WC2N 5NG. Nearest stations: Charing Cross or Embankment. For more information, visit the Benjamin Franklin House website.

• 25 – 29 October : Four Legged Phantoms @ Sutton House

Halloween fun and games in a Tudor manor, including a ghost hunt and spooky stories. Fancy dress encouraged. Halloween activities are free with normal entry. Tickets: Adults £6, Children £3. Sutton House, 2-4 Homerton High Street, Hackney, E9 6JQ. Nearest station: Homerton. For more information, visit the National Trust website.

• 26 October : Crafty Pumpkin Fun @ Chiswick House

Children can enjoy pumpkin carving in the kitchen garden of Chiswick House. For 4-11 year olds. 10am-4pm. Tickets: £7 per child with accompanying adult (booking in advance recommended). Chiswick House, Chiswick, W4. Nearest station: Chiswick or Chiswick Park. For booking, visit the Chiswick House website.

• 26 – 29 October : Trick Or Treat Afternoon Tea

Foodies will love this afternoon tea with a spooky twist. Featuring black iced ghoul cupcakes, brownie coffins, blood orange tart and pumpkin sponge rolls. There will also be pumpkin carving classes in the café on Hallows Eve. Afternoon tea: £21.50pp (includes pot of tea or coffee). Bluebird, 350 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5UU. Nearest stations: Fulham Broadway, South Kensington or Sloane Square. For more information, visit the Bluebird website.

• 28 October : Trick Or Treat Run

A Halloween-themed charity run of either 2km, 5km or 10km around a closed park course. For adults and children, fancy dress encouraged. Prizes for the best costumes. Runs at 1.30pm and 5.30pm. Entrance fees start from £12 (adults) and £6 (children) depending on mileage. Richmond Park, Richmond, TW10 5HS. Nearest station: North Sheen, Richmond or Hampton Wick. For more information and to register, visit the Human Race website. 

• 28 – 31 October : Snow Kingdom – Backyard Cinema

Backyard Cinema are hosting a few days of Halloween films in their wintry immersive cinematic experience. Travel through an ice cave and across a frozen lake to watch spooky movies in the atmospheric Snow Kingdom with screenings day and night for children and adults. Tickets from £17. Backyard Cinema, 42 Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6DR. Nearest station: Elephant & Castle. For booking, visit the Backyard Cinema website.

Things that go bump in the night

Explore the Victorian Hoxton Hall with Hammer Horror Live

• 3 – 31 October : Hammer House of Horror Live

Legendary Hammer Film bring their first immersive theatre show to Hoxton Hall. Over 18s only. Tickets: £48.50 (Tues, Wed, Sun), £52.50 (Thur, Fri, Sat). Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, Hoxton, N1 6SH. Nearest station: Hoxton or Old Street. For tickets, visit Hoxton Hall’s website.

• 15 October – 4 November : London Horror Festival

Festival of live horror performance including cabaret, film screenings, Zombie weekends, midnight performances and a short horror play competition. Ticket prices vary. Most events take place at the Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, Islington, EC1V 4NJ. Nearest station: Angel. For more information, visit the London Horror Festival website.

• 21 October : Festival Of The Dead – Chapter 2 Limbo

Day of the Dead-style festival, featuring giant carnival floats and processions, acrobats and circus performers, DJs and live music, characters and costumes, skull face painting, confetti, co2 and light show, audience participation encouraged. 9pm-2am. Tickets from £24.90. The Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, Limehouse, E1 0HX. Nearest station: Limehouse. For more information, visit The Troxy website.

• 21 – 31 October : Phobophobia – Night Terrors @ The London Bridge Experience

The London Bridge Experience offers a special evening Hallowe’en event for over 16s only. Open 6-10pm. Tickets start from £26.95. London Bridge Experience, 2-4 Tooley Street, Borough, SE1 2SY. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information and booking, visit the London Bridge Experience website.

• 24 October : Pumpkin Carving Workshop @ Madame Tussauds

Learn how to carve the perfect pumpkin in a two-hour workshop. 6.30pm-8.30pm. Ticket: £15-£25 (inc carving tool kit, carry bag and pumpkins to take home). Madame Tussauds, Marylebone Road, Marylebone, NW1 5LR. Nearest station: Baker Street. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.

• 26 October : Musical Bingo Halloween Special

Musical bingo is similar to regular bingo – except they play music instead of shout numbers. Guests are encouraged to dress up for a night of bingo, music, food and ghoulish fun. There will also be prizes for the best dressed. Tickets: £12. 7pm-11pm. Concrete Space, 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ. Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street. For more information and booking, visit the Musical Bingo website.

• 26 October : Monster Mass Rockaoke @ Bunga Bunga Battersea

Singalong to some of the creepiest songs ever as a special Halloween edition of Rockaoke. From 8pm. Bunga Bunga, 37 Battersea Bridge Road, SW11 3BA. Nearest stations: Clapham Junction, Queenstown Road Battersea or Battersea Park. For more information, visit the Bunga Bunga website.

• 26 October : Night Of A Thousand Spirts @ Courtesan

Enjoy seasonal cocktails, dim sum specials and party games while listening to the haunted cabaret hosted by West End theatre emcee and vocalist Tim Rogers and featuring performances by burlesque stars Demi Noir and Eliza DeLite. 8pm-1am. Tickets: £6.66. Courtesan, 69-73 Atlantic Road, Brixton, SW9 8PU. Nearest station: Brixton. For tickets, visit DesignMyNight.

• 27 October : Halloween In The Sky

Experience London’s highest Halloween party at the Sky Garden at the Walkie Talkie. Featuring live music from the Katie Holmes band and the Soul Jets, with DJs playing until the early hours. Food and drink will also be available. The best costume could win dinner for two at one of the Sky Garden’s restaurants. 6pm-2am. Tickets from £25pp. Sky Garden, 20 Fenchurch Street, City of London, EC3M 3BY. Nearest station: Monument or Fenchurch Street. For more information, visit the Sky Garden website. For Metro Girl’s review of the Sky Garden, click here.

• 27 October : KIDS charity Halloween Party @ Tramp

Disabled children’s charity KIDS are hosting a Halloween party at iconic London nightclub Tramp. Featuring ghoulish costumes, spooky cocktails and dancing. Complimentary cocktail and canapés available before 10pm. 8pm-3am. Tickets: £40 (money goes to KIDS charity). Tramp, 40 Jermyn Street, St. James’s, SW1Y 6DN. Nearest station: Green Park. For tickets, visit the KIDS charity website. To find out more, read Metro Girl’s blog post on the event.

• 27 – 28 October : Halloween Variety Show @ Bunga Bunga

The Covent Garden branch of Bunga Bunga is hosting two Halloween celebrations, with immersive entertainment, theatrics, The Don’s mobsters lurking around and lots of cocktails. From 7pm. Bunga Bunga Covent Garden, 187 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, WC2B sPG. Nearest station: Covent Garden or Holborn. For more information, visit the Bunga Bunga website.

• 27 – 28 October : London’s Night Owls Sleepover @ Museum Of London

Overnight opening for children featuring fancy dress, trick or treat by torchlight, storytelling and after-hours tour of the museum before bedding down for a sleepover with breakfast and a film in the morning. For children aged 7-11. 6pm-10am on 28 October. Tickets £60pp (1 adult required for up for 4 children). Museum of London, 150 London Wall, City of London, EC2Y 5HN. Nearest station: Barbican. For booking, visit the Museum Of London website.

Head to the Newburgh Quarter for a Halloween florist and Fright Night

• 28 October : Fright Night @ Newburgh Quarter

The Soho shopping and entertainment district of the Newburgh Quarter are hosting a Halloween event across their shops and restaurants, featuring live tarot reading, works of body art by The Gypsy Shrine, delicious drinks, a monster-mash DJ, spooky surprises and terrifying treats at the Newburgh Quarter of Curiosity Shop. 5pm-9pm. Free. Newburgh Quarter, Soho, W1F 7RD. Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus. For more information, visit the Carnaby website.

• 28 October : Dark Circus Party – Halloween Special

The fabulous freaky Dark Circus Party returns to St Pancras. Featuring circus shows, acrobatics, music, sideshow, cocktails and more. 9pm-3am. Tickets from £35. The Grand Hall St Pancras, Euston Road, WC1H 9AU. Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras or Euston. For tickets, visit the Dark Circus party website.

• 28 October : Museums At Night – Craven Street Bones @ Benjamin Franklin House

Late opening of the Benjamin Franklin House museum with a talk by historian Braena Sykes on how human bones of 10 people were found under the basement floor in 1997. 6.30pm onwards. Tickets:£5. Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, Westminster, WC2N 5NG. Nearest stations: Charing Cross or Embankment. For more information, visit the Benjamin Franklin House website.

• 28 October : Maggie’s Creep Show

Maggie’s pays tribute to ’80s classic Creep Show with a Halloween bash, featuring face paint, creepy cocktails, scary songs and more. Fancy dress mandatory. 10.30pm-3.30am. Maggie’s, 329 Fulham Road, SW10 9QL. Nearest stations: South Kensington, Gloucester Road or Fulham Broadway. For more information, visit the Maggie’s website.

• 28 October : The Mansion Halloween Ball

Fabulous and freaky Halloween ball, featuring music from DJ Joffrey Bogart, DJ Hatim, and Jeff Walt across multiple floors. Entertainment includes cage dancers, spectacular silhouette cuttings, fabulous face painting, fire shows, fortune-teller, vintage movies and illustration exhibition. Street food and plenty of alcohol will be available. 9pm-3am. Tickets start from £30. Location revealed 48 hours before event. For more information, visit The Mansion website.

• 28 October : Uncle Bart’s Spookeasy

Exclusive Chelsea bar Barts host their annual spooky celebration with a champagne reception. Fancy dress encouraged. 6pm-1am. Barts, Chelsea Cloisters, 87 Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, SW3 3DW. Nearest stations: Sloane Square or South Kensington. For more information, visit the Barts website. For Metro Girl’s review of Barts, click here.

• 28 October : The Candlelight Club’s Halloween Ball

Celebrate Halloween 1920s style at the roaming vintage nightclub. In the ballroom, Champagne Charlie will be hosting proceedings with live jazz, Gatsby Girls dancers, vintage DJ, dinner and drinking. Meanwhile, the Cabaret Lounge will feature two cabaret shows, burlesque, comedy and more. 7pm until late. Tickets start from £30. At a secret East London location. For tickets, visit The Candlelight Club website.

• 28 October : Halloween @ Cahoots

Celebrate the spookiest night of the year in an abandoned tube station. Expect ghoulish characters, Veuve Clicquot and Belvedere cocktails, live entertainment and more. From 5pm until late. Cahoots, 13 Kingly Court, Soho, W1B 5PW. Nearest station: Oxford Circus. For more information, visit the Cahoots website. For Metro Girl’s review of Cahoots, click here.

• 28 October : Ultimate Power – Bat Out Of Helloween

Communal karaoke to power ballads at a special Halloween edition. 9pm-3am. Tickets: £13. The Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, NW5 1JY. Nearest station: Kentish Town. For tickets, visit the Ultimate Power website.

• 28 October : A Visit From Dr Frankenstein @ Mr Fogg’s Tavern

Phileas J Fogg invites the unnerving genius Dr Frankenstein into his tavern for one-night only. Expect lots of bubbling concotions and potions, bubbles from Veuve Cliquot and Belvedere cocktail flavours. 6pm-2am. Mr Fogg’s Tavern, 58 St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2N 4EA. Nearest station: Leicester Square or Covent Garden. For more information, visit the Mr Fogg’s website.

• 29 October : Silence Of The Lambs screening

Roaming pop-up cinema club Nomad will be screening Silence Of The Lambs over Halloween weekend. Doors open 6.30pm. Tickets: £12.50. The Hoxton, 81 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3HU. Nearest station: Old Street. For booking, visit The Nomad website.

• 29 and 31 October : Film & Fizz – Ghostbusters

A Halloween screening of 1980s classic Ghostbusters in a private screening room with a glass of champagne and three-course meal at Indigo. Sun 29th @ 4.30pm, Sun 31th @ 6.30pm. £55pp. One Aldwych Hotel, 1 Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ. Nearest station: Charing Cross or Temple. For more information, visit the One Aldwych website.

• 31 October : The Thing @ Cutty Sark

Watch cult classic movie The Thing in the atmospheric surrounds of the Cutty Sark. Over 18s only. From 6pm. Tickets: Adults £15. Cutty Sark Clipper Ship, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9HT. Nearest stations: Cutty Sark (DLR), Greenwich or Maze Hill. For more information, visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website.

• 31 October : Halloween Parade and Party @ Kings Cross

Wear your spookiest costume and meet at the Birdcage for the parade to Granary Square, before a party under the West Handyside Canopy. Parade: 6pm, Party: 6.30pm-8.30pm. Free. The Birdcage, Battle Bridge Place, Kings Cross, N1C. Nearest station: Kings Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit the Kings Cross website.

• 31 October : Gladwin’s Ultimate Pumpkin Party

Enjoy delicious tricks and treats and try a spot of pumpkin carving at The Gladwins’ new Battersea restaurant Nutbourne. 5pm-7pm. Free entry. Nutbourne, 29 Ransomes Dock, Battersea, SW11 4NP. Nearest station: Battersea Park or Queenstown Road Battersea. for more information, visit the Nutbourne website.

• 2 November : Cantina Laredo’s Dia De Los Muertos

London’s new tequila and guacamole bar Cantina Laredo host a Day Of The Dead celebration with a one off ofrenda four-course menu, cocktails, face-painting, DJs and more. 5pm-late. Tickets: £55pp. Cantina Laredo, 10 Upper St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2H 9FB. Nearest station: Leicester Square. For booking, visit BookATable.

For a guide to what else is in on London in October, click here.

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