The arrival of autumn means darker, colder nights and the coming of Halloween. Although traditionally just one night, there tends to be days, or sometimes weeks, of spooky celebrations. over the October period, sometimes creeping into early November. As it coincides with half-term, there’s some Halloween themed daytime fun on offer for children. However, when it comes to the nights, there a range of activities for those who want to celebrate – from simple film screenings or immersive, fancy dress parties.

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

Here’s Metro Girl’s guide to the best Halloween events and parties on around London this October:

Daytime jitters

• 1 – 31 October : Screamfest @ London Dungeon

Special Halloween event at the London Dungeon, featuring 20 spooky tales, two rides and a Jack the Ripper show. Tickets from £27 (online), £31 (on the door). 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.

• 20 – 27 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 (10% discount for children’s in Halloween costume). 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.

• 20 – 28 October : Gruesome Nature Live @ London Zoo

A week of fiendish fun at London Zoo, featuring interactive musical show. 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.

• 20 – 31 October : Ascarium @ London Aquarium

A spooky adventure at Sea Life London with the Sea Witch asking visitors to help unlock her treasure chest. Tickets start from £21 (online), £26 (on the day). Sea Life London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, South Bank, SE1 7PB. Nearest station: Waterloo. For more information, visit the Sea Life website.

• 22 – 30 October : Wizard and Witch Woodland Walk @ Strawberry Hill

A spooky walk for little wizards and witches and their families, then cast a spell in the ‘cauldron room’ and hear a spooky story. Times: 4pm-5pm (4-6yrs), 5.30pm-6.30pm (7-10yrs). Tickets: £8. Strawberry Hill, 268 Waldegrave Road, Twickenham, TW1 4ST. Nearest station: Strawberry Hill. For more information, visit the Strawberry Hill website. For Metro Girl’s review of Strawberry Hill, click here.

• 23 October : Family Day: Halloween @ Benjamin Franklin House

A spooky family day with spooky 18th century stories told by Polly Hewson and gruesome games for 5-11 year olds. 4pm-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.

• 24 – 28 October : Halloween Horrors @ Sutton House

Halloween fun and games in a Tudor manor designed by Tea Break Theatre. Fancy dress encouraged. Halloween activities are with normal entry. 12pm-5pm. Tickets (general admission): Adults £7, Children £3.50. Sutton House, 2-4 Homerton High Street, Hackney, E9 6JQ. Nearest station: Homerton. For more information, visit the National Trust website.

• 27 – 28 October : Horniman Halloween Fair

Meet creepy crawlies, spooky storytelling, arts and crafts markets and food stalls. Halloween costume encouraged. 10.30am-4.30pm. Free entry. Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ. Nearest station: Forest Hill. For more information, visit the Horniman Museum website.

Things that go bump in the night

• 7 October – 3 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.

• 12, 16-19 and 30-31 October : The Silhouette in the Smoke

An immersive theatrical experience with a murder mystery written especially for the London Museum of Water and Steam. Victorian high tea included. You must solve the mystery in groups of six. Over 16s only. 7.15pm. Tickets: £28. 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. 

• 18 – 31 October : Oktoberfest London – Halloween Special

A special spooky edition of the popular German beer festival. Opening hours vary. General admission starts from free to £10 (depending on day). Finsbury Park, N4. Nearest station: Finsbury Park. For more information, visit the Oktoberfest London website.

• 23 – 26 October : Halloween Fright Night Cinema

Watch classic horror films in a stunning 1950s ballroom. Movies include Scary Movie, Halloween (1978), The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Shining. Doors open 8pm. Tickets: £12. Rivoli Ballroom, 350 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY. Nearest station: Crofton Park. For more information, visit the Rivoli Ballroom website.

• 23 – 30 October : Halloween Movie Nights @ Clapham Grand

Films include The Corpse Bride, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hocus Pocus, Ghostbusters and Phantom Of The Opera. Including live shows from dancers, costume prizes, confetti and themed cocktails. From 7pm. Tickets from £5. Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John’s Hill, Battersea, SW11 1TT. Nearest station: Clapham Junction. For tickets, visit the Clapham Grand website.

• 25 – 27 October : A Twisted Cabaret – The London Cabaret Club Halloween Special

The London Cabaret Club present a special Halloween edition of their live shows. Featuring trick or treat cocktails, a live show, and three or five-course meal. Tickets start from £45. The London Cabaret Club, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, Holborn, WC1B 4DA. Nearest station: Holborn. For tickets, visit the London Cabaret Club website.

• 25 and 31 October : Musical Bingo Halloween

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 : London’s Night Owls Sleepover @ Museum Of London Docklands

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. 6.30pm-10am on 27 October. Tickets £60pp (1 adult required for up for 4 children). Museum of London Docklands, No.1 Warehouse, Hertsmere Road, Canary Wharf, E14 4AL. Nearest station: West India Quay or Canary Wharf. For booking, visit the Museum Of London website.

• 26 October : Even Stranger Things – The Halloween Experience

An immersive Stranger Things-inspired party, inviting you to step into 1980s Hawkins, Indiana. Featuring a Halloween Snowball room and the Upside Down. Expect ’80s DJs, champagne and waffle reception, adult ball pit, prom photo area, Ouija board chants, Demogorgon dancers and more. 9pm-3am. Tickets start from £10.95. E1, 110 Pennington Street, Wapping, E1W 2BB. Nearest station: Shadwell or Wapping. For tickets, visit DesignMyNight.

• 26 – 27 October : Dead Famous – Halloween Silent Disco @ Madame Tussauds

Enjoy a silent disco amidst the waxworks of Madame Tussauds. Dress code: Your favourite celebrity (dead or alive). Over 18s only. 7.45pm-11.45pm. Tickets: £29 (inc welcome drink). Madame Tussauds, Marylebone Road, Marylebone, NW1 5LR. Nearest station: Baker Street. For tickets, visit Time Out London.

• 26 – 27 October : Halloween @ Skylight

London’s drinking, dining and fun rooftop destination is having a Halloween party over two nights. Music (Friday – 90s Club Classics) and Saturday (Deep House Disco), with DJs including JakJax, Joaz, Because of Art, Freddie Ried and Alex Glover. There will also be Halloween surprises including costume parades, prizes, tricks, treats and more. 5pm-12am. Tickets: £15-£25. Skylight, Tobacco Quay (Pennington Street entrance), Wapping, E1CW 2SF. Nearest station: Shadwell or Wapping. For tickets, visit DesignMyNight.

• 26 – 27 October : Purge – Lockdown Immersive Halloween Party

“The Government have announced all crime will become legal for two nights” – how will you escape the chaos? Go on lockdown in the Bunker 51 safehouse with live theatre performers and DJs. Fancy dress encouraged (NO high heels). Over 18s only. 8pm-2am. Tickets: £10-£25. Bunker 51, 3 Herringham Road, New Charlton, SE7 8NJ. Nearest station: Charlton or £2 shuttle bus from North Greenwich. For tickets, visit DesignMyNight.

• 26 – 27 October : The Bunga House Of Horror

The original Bunga Bunga in Battersea has a Halloween makeover. Expect dry ice, bubbling concoctions, Halloween twists on your favourite treats, pizza, oxblood red Belvedere cocktails, music and more. 6pm-3am. 37 Battersea Bridge Road, Battersea, SW11 3BA. Nearest station: Battersea Park or Queenstown Road Battersea. For more information, visit the Bunga Bunga website.

• 26 – 31 October : Phobophobia – Hillbillies’ Halloween @ 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 £31. 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.

• 27 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: £10. Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, Westminster, WC2N 5NG. Nearest stations: Charing Cross or Embankment. For more information, visit the Benjamin Franklin House website.

• 27 October : Halloween Disco @ Rivoli Ballroom

A spooky-themed evening of ’70s and ’80s disco and funk at an authentic 1950s ballroom. 8pm-1am. Tickets from £16. Rivoli Ballroom, 350 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY. Nearest station: Crofton Park. For more information, visit the Rivoli Ballroom website. For Metro Girl’s review of the Rivoli Ballroom, click here.

• 27 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 London location. For tickets, visit The Candlelight Club website. For Metro Girl’s review of the Candlelight Club, click here.

• 27 October : The Dark Circus Party

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. For tickets, visit the Dark Circus party website.

A voodoo-inspired Halloween Ball at The Mansion

• 27 October : Halloween Ball at The Mansion

A voodoo-inspired Halloween ball over three dancefloors, 1 art room and 2 lounges at ‘The Mansion’. Featuring music from DJs Joffrey Bogart, Hatim, and Amin Sane, live entertainment includes cage dancers, fire shows, hypnotist, make-up artists and art shows. Street food and plenty of alcohol will be available. 9pm-4am. Tickets start from £36. North-west London location revealed 48 hours before event. For more information, visit The Mansion website.

• 27 October : Ultimate Power – Bat Out Of Helloween

Communal karaoke to power ballads at a special Halloween edition. 9pm-3am. Tickets: £15.55. The O2 Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, NW5 1JY. Nearest station: Kentish Town. For tickets, visit the Ultimate Power website.

• 27 – 28 October : The Amazing Halloween Experience @ London Canal Museum

Listen to spooky stories from a witch and take a trip through the dark Islington tunnel on a narrowboat. Age 5-6yrs and 11-13 yrs. Fancy dress encouraged. 3pm-9.30pm. Tickets: Adults £11, Children £8. London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Road, King’s Cross, N1 9RT. Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit the London Canal Museum website.

• 28 October : Spooky Swing Dance @ Cahoots

Post-war underground station-cum-bar are hosting a 1940s style Halloween bash. Opens at 5pm for dance lessons, otherwise 7pm-late. Tickets: £10 entry, £20pp for dance lessons, table bookings £25pp (minimum spend). 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 – 29 October : Halloween Screenings @ Natural History Museum

Watch horror films underneath Hope the Whale in the Hintze Hall. Films at 7pm and 9/9.30pm. Tickets: £26.50 (NHM members £23.85). Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, Kensington, SW7 5BD. Nearest station: South Kensington. For more information, visit the Luna Cinema website.

• 29 October – 2 November : Halloween Hocus Pocus – Crystal Maze

The immersive Crystal Maze game is getting a Halloween makeover. Starts from 8pm-9.15pm. Tickets: £49.99 (cheaper the more tickets you buy). Crystal Maze, 10-14 White Lion Street, Clerkenwell, N1 9PD. Nearest station: Angel. For more information, visit the Crystal Maze website.

• 30 October : Hocus Pocus screening @ Vauxhall Street Food Garden

Vauxhall One’s pop-up cinema returns with a special screening of ’90s cult Halloween classic Hocus Pocus. 7pm arrival, film starts 7.30pm. Free entry (subject to numbers). Vauxhall Street Food Garden, 6A South Lambeth Place, SW8 1SP. Nearest station: Vauxhall. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

• 31 October : Scream and Scream 2 Screenings with The Nomad

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.

• 31 October : Film & Fizz – The Shining

A Halloween screening of classic The Shining in a private screening room with a glass of champagne and three-course meal at Indigo. From 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 : Halloween Whisky Tasting @ The Cutty Sark

Late-night opening of the Cutty Sark, featuring a whisky tasting by expert Julie Lambeth from the South London Wine School. Doors open 6.45pm. Tickets: £40 (inc six varieties of whisky, cheese and biscuits). Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9HT. Nearest station: Cutty Sark (DLR) or Greenwich. For tickets, visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website.

• 31 October : Mr Fogg’s House Of Botanical Horrors

New Mr Fogg’s venue in Fitzrovia will be serving killer cocktails featuring Deadly Nightshade and essence of Foxglove. 4pm-11pm. Mr. Fogg’s House of Botanicals, 48 Newman Street, Fitzrovia, WIT IQQ. Nearest station: Goodge Street. For more information, visit the Mr Fogg’s website.

• 31 October : The Bloody Bunga Masked Ball

Enjoy frightful variety acts and a three-course Italian feast while dressed in your finest glad rags… and a mask of course. 7pm-2am. £38pp (three course meal and welcome champagne cocktail). Bunga Bunga Covent Garden, 167 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, WC2B 5PG. Nearest station: Covent Garden or Holborn. For more information, visit the Bunga Bunga website.

• 31 October – 2 November : Pain vs Pleasure @ The Little Blue Door

Multi-sensory supper club with ‘painful’ guidance from renowned food psychologist, Charles Spence. Join ‘the flatmates’ for a five-course tasting menu of daring delicacies and tantalising tipples, incorporating sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. 7pm-9.30pm. Tickets: £40. The Little Blue Door, 871-873 Fulham Road, Fulham, SW6 5HP. Nearest station: Parsons Green. For tickets, visit DesignMyNight.

• 2 November : Day Of The Dead Festival @ V&A

Celebrate the Día de Muertos Festival at a late-night opening of the V&A. Featuring live mariachi music, traditional Mexican dancers, giant skeleton puppets, special activities, costume competition and visit an ofrenda (offering)dedicated to Frida Kahlo. Fancy dress encouraged. 5pm-10pm. Free entry. Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 2RL. Nearest station: South Kensington. For more information, visit the V&A website.

• 2 November : Day of the Dead @ Cantina Laredo

Enjoy a candlelight dinner, featuring Grasshopper topped Guacamole and Aubergine Tostadas served with Green Habanero Mayonnaise, the Dangerous Don dessert and a Poisonous Passion cocktail. Seatings from 12pm-10pm. £50pp. Cantina Laredo, 10 Upper St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2H 9FB. Nearest station: Covent Garden or Leicester Square. For more information, visit Cantina Laredo’s website.

• 3 November : The Beautiful And Damned – A Halloween Costume Party

SweetArt present a Halloween costume party in the crypt of a Gothic church. Expect art, cocktails, spooky performances and storytelling, live music and a sweet treat gory banquet. 6pm-2am. Tickets: £10. Vout-O-Reenee’s, 30 Prescot Street, Whitechapel, E1 8BB. Nearest station: Tower Hill or Aldgate. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.

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