Find out what fairs, club nights, film screenings, family fun and other Halloween activities are on this October.

After a rather lacklustre Halloween in 2020 due to the pandemic, fans of the spooky season will be in for rather more choice with ways to celebrate it this year.

Halloween itself falls on a weekend at the end of the autumn half-term break, so there’s plenty of ghostly events for families during daytime and evenings.

Find out what exhibitions, boat trips, film screenings, story-telling, installations, club nights, ghost tours, supper clubs and beer fests this Halloween. While most day-time events are for families, there are some evening events open to children.

Be aware, some events or locations may have Covid-19 requirements for entry, such as vaccination proof, negative rest results or other protocols.

Look out for the 🐻 for family-friendly activities.

Daytime Halloween events

• 23 September – 7 November 2021 : Dark Arts @ Warner Bros. Studios

Dark Arts returns to the Harry Potter experience for the Halloween season. The Great Hall is full of 100 floating pumpkins, while the table features a Halloween feast. Watch a procession of the Death Eaters. Tickets: Adults £47, Children £38. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7LR. Nearest station: Watford (then a shuttle bus to studios). For booking, visit the Warner Bros Studio Tour website. 🐻

• 9 – 31 October 2021 : The Surgeon @ London Dungeon

A special Halloween show explores the horrors of Victorian surgery. Step into an old operating theatre as things turn gory. Times vary. Show included with general entry. Tickets: Adults from £20, adult entry & ‘Bloody Bellini’ cocktail £38, Children from £24. The London Dungeon, The Queen’s Walk, South Bank, SE1 7PB. Nearest station: Waterloo, Westminster or Embankment. For booking, visit the London Dungeon website. 🐻

• 16 – 31 October 2021 : Halloween @ Battersea Power Station

Two weeks of family-friendly activities will be taking place around the Power Station, including Halloween Hunt & Competition, Spooky Maze, Halloween-themed food at Queen of the Crepes, Spooky Story Telling & Thriller Dance Sessions and performances. Times and prices vary.  Battersea Power Station, Battersea, SW8 5BN. Nearest station: Battersea Power Station. For more information, visit the Battersea Power Station website. 🐻

• 19 October – 13 November 2021 : Halloween @ Backyard Cinema

Spooky screenings at Backyard Cinema’s two winter experiences – the Winter Night Garden or the Snow Kingdom. Full bar and street food stalls available. Matinees and evening screenings. Tickets: £10.50-£29.99. Capital Studios, 13 Wandsworth Plain, Wandsworth, SW18 1ET. Nearest station: Wandsworth Town. For booking, visit the Backyard Cinema website. 🐻

• 22 – 31 October 2021 : Halloween @ The London Bridge Experience

Get scared silly at one of two shows at the London Bridge Experience, with the Family Halloween Show taking place during the day. Children can take a spooky stroll through the dark past of London Bridge, before visiting the tombs, while counting the pumpkins along the way. Open 11am-5pm. Tickets: Adults £25, Children 5-15yrs £19. 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. 🐻

• 23 – 31 October 2021 : Ghost Raiders @ Tower of London

Help a team of ghost raiders investigate spooky occurrences in the Tower and track down the evil spirit trying to take over. Suitable for 8-14yrs. 10am-4pm. Tickets: (event included in tower admission) Adults £29.90, Children £14.90. Tower of London, City of London, EC3N 4AB. Nearest stations: Tower Hill, Tower Gateway or Fenchurch Street. For booking, visit the Tower of London website. 🐻

• 23 – 31 October 2021 : Halloween at KidZania

Join a ghost tour through the world of KidZania, visiting haunted spots and listening to terrifying tales. Aspiring fashion designers can make creepy-crawly costumes or perform a spooky soundtrack. Open 10am-7pm. Tickets: Adults from £16, Children from £26. KidZania, Westfield London, Ariel Way, W12 7GA. Nearest station: Shepherd’s Bush or Wood Lane. For more information, visit the KidZania website. 🐻

• 23 – 31 October 2021 : London Eye River Cruise presents Halloween Spooky Sailing

Enjoy a 40-minute circular boat tour as you learn about the spooky history of the River Thames. Boat departure: 6pm. Tickets: Adults from £20 (in 1 Beefeater Gin mulled drink), Children from £15. Departs from the London Eye Pier, South Bank, SE1 7PB. Nearest stations: Waterloo, Embankment or Westminster. For more information and booking, visit the London Eye website. 🐻

• 23 – 31 October 2021 : Pumpkin Quiz Trail @ Battersea Park Zoo

Find out which animals are hording pumpkins on a family-friendly trail around the zoo. Open 10am-4.30pm. Quiz trail £1.50 entry (includes prize at the end). General entry tickets: Adults £10.95, Children £8.95. Battersea Park Zoo, Battersea Park, Chelsea Embankment, Battersea, SW11 4NJ. Nearest station: Battersea Park. For more information, visit the Battersea Park Zoo website. 🐻

• 23 – 31 October 2021 : The Wizards of Once Halloween Quest @ Eltham Palace

Follow an adventure trail inspired by Cressida Cowell’s Wizards of Once series. Search for the ingredients for the Spell and find the Cup of Second Chances. Fancy dress competition. Open 10am-5pm. Event included with general admission. Tickets: Adults £17.30, Children 5-17yrs £10.40. Eltham Palace, Court Yard, Eltham, SE9 5QE. Nearest station: Eltham or Mottingham. For booking, visit the English Heritage website. 🐻

• 26 October 2021 : Family Day: Halloween @ Benjamin Franklin House

A spooky family day with spooky 18th century stories told by Polly Hewson and gruesome games and crafts for 5-11 year olds. 11am-12.30pm. Free, but advanced booking recommended. Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, Westminster, WC2N 5NG. Nearest stations: Charing Cross or Embankment. For more information, visit the Benjamin Franklin House website. 🐻

• 26 – 27 October 2021 : Ghosts, Gargoyles, and Goodies @ Charlton House

South-east London’s Jacobean mansion is a hosting a variety of Halloween sessions, including ghost stories, make-your-own-gargoyle workshop, treasure hunt and spider trail in the gardens. Fancy dress welcome. Suitable for children 5-12yrs, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Sessions @ 10am, 11.30am and 2pm. Tickets: £5 per child, free for accompanying adult. Charlton House, Charlton Road, Charlton, SE7 8RE. Nearest station: Charlton. For more information, visit the Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust website. 🐻

• 26 – 29 October 2021 : Halloween @ King’s Cross

A series of children’s activities are taking place during half-term across the King’s Cross site. Including Spooky Drawing Workshop, ‘Pimp your Pumpkin’ digital art class, Spooky Costume Swap Shop, scary storytelling, and more. Times and dates for each activity varies. Free, but advanced booking recommended. At various locations across King’s Cross, N1C. Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit the King’s Cross website. 🐻

• 27 October – 1 November 2021 : Halloween @ Merchant Square

Enjoy a host of Halloween activities for the family, including pumpkin carving, photo competitions, pirate treasure hunts and a free film screening of Casper the Friendly Ghost. Times vary. Merchant Square, Paddington Basin, W2 1JS. Nearest station: Paddington. For more information, visit the Merchant Square website. 🐻

Enjoy a spooky evening at the Old Royal Naval College for Halloween

• 29 – 31 October 2021 : Halloween @ Old Royal Naval College

Celebrate with the spooky season with a series of Halloween-themed events for children or adults at the Old Royal Naval College. Children can listen to Icy Mystery: Halloween Voyage Into The Unknown, story-telling session (29-30 Oct, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm); or adults can enjoy late-night visits, with Ghoulish Ghost Tours accompanied by either a Spooky Supper (29-30 Oct, 7pm) or Chilling Cocktails (29-31 Oct, 7pm). Tickets vary depending on event. Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN. Nearest stations: Cutty Sark, Greenwich or Maze Hill. For more information, visit the ORNC website. 🐻

• 31 October 2021 : Kids’ Halloween Party @ Beckenham Place

Head to a Georgian mansion for a children’s party, featuring interactive games, funky dancing, monster hat making and treasure hunt. For ages 4-7yrs. Fancy dress encouraged. Session 1: 2pm-3.15pm, Session 2: 4pm-5.15pm. Tickets: £15 (1 adult and 1 child). Beckenham Place Mansion, Beckenham Hill Road, Beckenham, BR3 1SY. Nearest station: Beckenham Hill. For more information, visit the Beckenham Place website. 🐻

Evening and late-night Halloween events

• 6 – 21 October 2021 : Burials, Bombs and Fantastic Beasts’ walking tours @ Leadenhall Market

Every Wednesday in October, explore the dark side of Leadenhall Market on a guided tour. Discover the history of the site, dating back to Roman times, featuring witchcraft, murder and death. 6.30pm-8pm. Tickets: £8.14. Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch Street, City of London, EC3V 1LT. Nearest stations: Monument or Bank. For more information, visit the Leadenhall Market website.

• 18 – 31 October 2021 : London Horror Festival 2021

Festival of live horror performance including cabaret, film screenings, puppet shows, horror musicals, improvisation and more. Ticket prices vary. Most events take place at The Space, 269 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs, E14 3RS Nearest station: Mudchute; or Pleasance, Carpenters Mews, North Road, Islington, N7 9EF. Nearest station: Caledonian Road. For more information, visit the London Horror Festival website.

• 22 – 31 October 2021 : Smoke & Spiders @ Canary Wharf

Jubilee Park is taken over by giant spiders and ghoulish greenery for Halloween. 5pm-9pm. Free entry. Jubilee Park, Canary Wharf, E14 5JP. Nearest stations: Canary Wharf or Heron Quays. For more information, visit the Canary Wharf website. 🐻

• 22 – 31 October 2021 : Phobophobia Unhinged

Brace yourself for an adults-only scare show at the London Bridge Experience and confronting some of the world’s scariest creatures. Over 16s only. 6pm-10pm. Tickets from £25. 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.

Switch up your Halloween routine and mark Day of the Dead

• 23 October 2021 : Festival of the Dead

Europe’s biggest touring Halloween show returns to the capital. Expect fire shows, circus performers, live music, giant skeleton puppets, carnival processions and more. 9pm-2am. Tickets: £29.99-£46.20. Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, Limehouse, E1 0HX. Nearest station: Limehouse. For more information and tickets, visit The Troxy website.

• 27 – 28 October 2021 : Gothic Twilight Tours

Tour through Horace Walpole’s castle with expert guides sharing stories of the macabre and gothic. Doors open: 6pm for 6.30pm tour or 6.30pm for 7pm. Tickets: Adult £25. Strawberry Hill House, 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 House, click here.

• 27 – 29 October 2021 : Fright Night Cinema @ Rivoli Ballroom

Watch classic horror films in an original 1950s ballroom. Movies include The Crow, The Witches, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hocus Pocus and The Shining. Times vary. Tickets: £10. Rivoli Ballroom, 350 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY. Nearest station: Crofton Park. For more information, visit the Rivoli Ballroom website.

• 27 – 31 October 2021 : Wandsworth Common Halloween Beer Festival 2021

With 100 British beers and ciders, street food and live music. Family and dog-friendly. Open 6pm-11pm. Tickets: £5-£40. Le Gothique Restaurant & Bar, Royal Victoria Patriotic Building, John Archer Way, Wandsworth Common, SW18 3SX. Nearest station: Wandsworth Common or Clapham Junction. For more information, visit Le Gothique website.

• 28 October 2021 : Boneca Halloween: Théâtre des Vampires

Three day Halloween show inspired by the Théâtre des Vampires from the Interview with a Vampire novel. Featuring electronic music from Rampa vs &ME, performers, walkabout characters, fortune tellers, ‘stooges and victims’. Over 18s only. From 10pm-4am. Tickets: £88-£165. Porchester Hall, Porchester Road, Notting Hill, W2 5HS. Nearest station: Royal Oak. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.

• 28 – 30 October 2021 : London Cabaret Club presents Halloween Show – El Dia of the Dead

The LCC presents a special Day of the Dead adaptation of their James Bond-inspired show ‘London Never Dies’. Fancy dress encouraged. Doors open 6pm, 8.30pm show starts. Tickets from £50. London Cabaret Club, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, Holborn, WC1B 4DA. Nearest station: Holborn. For more information, visit the London Cabaret Club website.

• 28 – 29 and 31 October 2021 : Spooky Spurs Halloween Tour

Spurs fans of all ages can enjoy a tour of their stadium with a Halloween twist. Expect a Halloween-themed tour, costume competition, live actors, trick or treat station, games and more. Tours start at 6pm or 6.30pm. Tickets: Adults £27, 5-15yrs £20. Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium 782 High Road, Tottenham, N17 0BX. Nearest station: White Hart Lane. For booking, visit the Tottenham Experience website. 🐻

• 28 – 31 October 2021 : Ghost Tours @ Eltham Palace

Join story-tellers to explore historic Eltham Palace after-dark. Over 16s only. Tours at 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm, and 8.30pm. Tickets: £17.50 (£12 EH members). Eltham Palace, Court Yard, Eltham, SE9 5QE. Nearest station: Eltham or Mottingham. For booking, visit the English Heritage website.

• 28 – 31 October 2021 : Halloween Oktoberfest

A special spooky edition of the popular German beer festival. Opening hours vary. Tickets range from £5-£65 (depending on day and package). Walpole Park, Ealing, W5. Nearest station: Ealing Broadway or South Ealing. For more information and tickets, visit the London Oktoberfest website.

• 28 – 31 October 2021 : Halloween @ The Grand

Head to the historic Clapham Grand for a series of spooky events. Including The Disney Villain Ball (28 Oct), Trapped in Wonderland immersive Halloween experience (29 Oct), the Rocky Horror Picture Show movie night (30 Oct) and the Battersea Poltergeist – Live! (31 Oct). Times and tickets vary. The Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John’s Hill, Battersea, SW11 1TT. Nearest station: Clapham Junction. For more information and booking, visit The Grand website.

• 29 – 30 October 2021 : The Candlelight Club’s Halloween Ball

Celebrate Halloween 1920s style at the roaming vintage nightclub. Featuring entertainment from Ghost with the Most, Champagne Charlie, Shirt Tail Stompers and vintage vinyl spun by the Bee Knees. Dress code: 1920s with an optional Halloween flair. 7pm-12am. Tickets start from £25. At a secret central London location. For tickets, visit The Candlelight Club website. For Metro Girl’s review of the Candlelight Club click here.

• 30 October 2021 : Twisted Circus Halloween Festival

A spectacular Halloween event, featuring incredible acts, crazy characters and thumping music. 9pm-4am. Tickets from £14.95. Indigo at The O2, 205 Peninsula Square, North Greenwich, SE10 0ES. Nearest station: North Greenwich. For more information, visit the Twisted Circus website.

• 30 October 2021 : Romesh Ranganathan’s: Hip Hop Saved My Halloween – The Fancy Dress Party!

Comedian and personality Romesh Ranganathan returns with his second hip-hop party. Featuring DJs Jaguar Skills, Shortee Blitz, Martin2Smoove, Miss Candy and Home Alone. Dress code: Hip-hop fancy dress. 10.45pm-4am. Tickets: £9.21-£16.76. Lafayette, 11 Goods Way, King’s Cross, N1C 4DP. Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.

• 30 October 2021 : Black at The Mansion

Spectacular Halloween extravaganza over three floors, including three dancefloors, 1 art room, 2 lounges, fire shows, cage dancers, DJs, percussionists, saxophonists, clairvoyant, make-up artists and more. Dress code: Black. 9pm-4am. Tickets start from £36. At a secret north-west London location revealed 48 hours before event. For more information, visit The Mansion website.

• 30 October 2021 : Ultimate Power – Bat Out Of Helloween

Communal karaoke to power ballads at a special Halloween edition. 9pm-3am. Tickets: £12. The O2 Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, NW5 1JY. Nearest station: Kentish Town. For tickets, visit the Ultimate Power website.

• 30 October 2021 : Night of the Raving Dead

London’s biggest fancy dress party! Expect an immersive experience filled with ghouls, ghosts and zombies. Cash prize for the best dressed. Over 18s only. 8pm-2am. Tickets from £17.70. Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, Limehouse, E1 0HX. Nearest station: Limehouse. For tickets, visit The Troxy website.

• 31 October 2021 : Neon Nightmares Paint Party – Halloween Special

Cover yourself in paint and dance the night away in a Halloween special. Featuring live DJ playing drum ‘n’ bass and jungle, disturbed dancers and neon paint party. From 8pm-1am. Tickets: £9.21-£11.37. The Jago, 440 Kingsland Road, Dalston, E8 4AA. Nearest station: Dalston Junction or Haggerston. For more information and tickets, visit Eventbrite.

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