Because the evenings get darker and winter approaches, it’s time for all issues ugly, ghoulish and assured to make you scream – and in case you’re spending Halloween in London with children, there’s loads of spine-chilling enjoyable.
With Halloween coinciding with October half-term in London, you’ll discover loads of household actions have an added serving to of spookiness all through the week.
However whether or not you’re visiting with teenagers who’re eager to be terrified or youthful children who’re all concerning the pumpkins, you’ll discover loads of scarily good enjoyable this Halloween in London.
The London Dungeons
The place higher to begin your terrifying journey than a go to to the London Dungeon? This Halloween in London, you’re dared to step into the attic of probably the most haunted home in England, a location shrouded in thriller, homicide and insanity.
With a string of legends concerning the numerous lives misplaced right here, the query is… will you emerge unscathed?
For sure, this one is healthier for older children (advisable for 10+), and it’s properly price prebooking tickets because it does promote out over Halloween. The fearsome enjoyable runs from October 15-31.
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. The spooky interactive walk-through journey options reside actors taking part in a few of London’s most notorious characters, together with Jack The Ripper, William Wallace, and lots of extra.
Then, for a really terrifying Halloween expertise in London, you can also make your means right down to the scare maze that’s the London Tombs. Right here you’ll must squeeze your means via the confined catacombs, trying 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 undoubtedly isn’t for the faint-hearted.
There’s additionally a particular Halloween expertise for over 16+ this yr in case you’ve received older teenagers who’re feeling courageous.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the London Bridge Expertise in case you e-book via 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 sights, 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 exhilarating family-friendly journey via the landmark’s haunted previous, operating from October 22-31.
As you tour the Tower’s most infamous websites resembling Traitors’ Gate and the Bloody Tower, children will come nose to nose with roaming ghosts of characters who spent their closing moments inside the partitions (with the assistance of projectors and eerie sound results).
The ghoulish Halloween Tower Tour is included in common admission. It’s greatest to e-book your ticket upfront to ensure entry throughout the half-term holidays.
There’s a reduction on tickets for the Tower of London in case you e-book via my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Halloween at Hampton Courtroom Palace
If one haunted royal residence wasn’t sufficient, head right down to Hampton Courtroom Palace for one more 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. Children can meet the palace’s ghosts, see portraits come to life within the Gallery of the Damned, and even take part in a séance to listen to voices from past the grave.
The spooky and academic expertise is appropriate for all ages. However you probably have older youngsters who need extra of a scare, go to the Palace After Darkish on October 28 or 29 for a barely extra eerie Halloween expertise.
There’s a reduction on tickets for Hampton Courtroom Palace in case you e-book via my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden – the Harry Potter tour
If you wish to assure wizards and witches this Halloween, you may all the time head to Hogwarts – or the following neatest 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 some other, whereas this yr the main target is on the Darkish Arts once more from September 23 to November 6.
Alongside the way in which, you can too spy a number of the creatures which appeared in the wizarding world, in addition to making an attempt your hand at flying a broomstick: most likely the closest you may get to magic inside half an hour of the capital!
For extra concepts of days out for Harry Potter followers in London, take a look at these magical recommendations too…
Creepy Creatures at Sea Life Aquarium
Enterprise into Sea Life London Aquarium and also you’ll discover a string of creatures to provide the shivers this Halloween.
In addition to the UK’s largest assortment of piranhas, this October sees a give attention to Creepy Creatures with the aquarium’s rainforest ranger serving to share extra about a number of the crawly creatures which reside there – and busting a number of the myths which encompass them.
You possibly can find out about every part from crocodiles to Chilean rose tarantulas and a colony of leafcutter ants. Runs from October 22-31, included in entry. There a reduction on prebooked tickets (which can also be advisable throughout half-term).
KidZania London Competition of Fright
For among the finest issues to do over Halloween in London with youthful children, head to KidZania at London Westfield.
This Halloween, the mini-city has been reworked into an eerie ghost city, with haunted homes and spooky sightings round each nook.
There are additionally all types of enjoyable themed actions for kids aged 4-14, together with a Halloween vogue present and dance periods the place children can showcase their monstrous strikes. KidZania’s Competition of Fright is happening each day from October 24-30.
There’s a reduction on tickets for KidZania London in case you e-book via my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Ghoulish tales on the Cutty Sark
Greenwich’s iconic Cutty Sark is internet hosting quite a few family-friendly occasions to assist preserve children entertained this October half-term – and from October 25-27, you may embark on a Halloween-themed journey with musical storyteller Paul Rubinstein to discover the extra creepy and disgusting tales from the ship’s historical past.
If that isn’t sufficient to offer you chills, be careful for one more immersive choice happening over October half-term too, with the Cutty Sark’s Ice Survival occasion (October 23-27), the place company of all ages can uncover how sailors as soon as survived the freezing temperatures of the Antarctic.
Plus older children (12+) can get their hearts racing 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 in case you e-book via 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.
There are spooky details about a few of London’s greatest identified 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 personal funeral bus service – painted midnight black – the remaining have been destroyed in a mysterious hearth. In the event you don’t have already got shivers down your backbone, you’re certain to by the point you step off…
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 strategy to get the heartbeat racing this Halloween in London.
The Thames Thriller runs from October 29-31 at various instances all through the three days.
Halloween Household Quest at Eltham Palace and Gardens
English Heritage’s Eltham Palace and Gardens is as soon as once more internet hosting considered one of their nice household quests this October half-term. This yr, you may be a part of Dennis the Menace, Gnasher, and buddies on a spooky Halloween journey.
Operating from October 22-30, the household path can have creepy clues that you just’ll want to unravel and comply with across the grounds of the lavish historic home.
When you’ve accomplished the search, children can meet costumed performers and listen to unusual and supernatural tales from instances previous. Tickets are free for members, in any other case there’s a reduction for reserving upfront.
Halloween at Charlton Home & Gardens
Begin your personal magical coaching this Halloween at Charlton Home and Gardens with Charlton Home Explorers: Witches of Greenwich.
Geared toward children aged 5-12, little witches and warlocks will don their best robes, seize a wand to practise magical spells, and even craft their very own potions at this family-friendly occasion.
Alongside the way in which, you may uncover 400 years of magic and thriller at this historic London manor, identified for being one of the haunted homes within the metropolis.
Charlton Home’s Halloween occasion is happening on October 25 and 26 between 10am and 12:30pm. Tickets value £5 and embrace crafts and goodies.
Halloween at Chiswick Home & Gardens
Model new for 2022, Chiswick Home is introducing a spooky illuminated path via its sprawling gardens for households to get pleasure from this Halloween.
The Chiswick Home Halloween path will function a haunted woodland crammed with creepy neon cobwebs, ghastly ghouls, large spiders, and extra, plus superb hearth artists, flickering pumpkins, and a secret backyard with much more spooky surprises.
Then when you’re completed exploring, cosy up across the bonfire and roast some marshmallows whereas the youngsters get pleasure from a sizzling chocolate and oldsters sip on a warming sizzling toddy.
The Halloween path is open from October 14-31. Entry slots are timed so that you’ll must e-book tickets upfront.
Syon Park: Halloween Spooktacular Enjoyable
Syon Park in west London is internet hosting its personal spooktacular enjoyable Halloween occasion for households this half-term, that’s not too scary for youthful children.
In addition to a tour of the historic home, the place costumed guides will thrill you with hair-raising tales, you may head out into the backyard to comply with the household trails. Don’t overlook to put on your greatest costume to hitch in on the Halloween enjoyable.
Guided Halloween excursions of Syon Home in Brentford are happening from October 26-29, adopted by a self-guided path on October 30.
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 17th century wanting glass which some individuals refuse to stare into for worry of who (or what) would possibly gaze again and its an ideal Halloween day trip in London.
A girl in black has additionally been noticed on the steps of the home, whereas a lovelorn nobleman is believed to scream right here – you would possibly even odor pipe smoke, the favorite of the Duke of Lauderdale… who has been lifeless for properly over three centuries.
There are normally nice crafts for youths within the previous servants’ quarters too. The home is reopening after conservation work on October 21, in time for October half-term and Halloween.
Covent Backyard Halloween Pumpkin Market
Nothing screams Halloween in London like a go to to Covent Backyard’s now well-known Halloween Pumpkin Market.
As soon as once more, over 200 pumpkins, squashes, and gourds of all sizes and colors will fill Covent Backyard’s iconic central market constructing, surrounded by gorgeous autumnal floral shows. Children will love wandering amongst the pumpkins, in search of the right one to take dwelling and carve simply in time for Halloween.
Don’t overlook to convey the digicam, because it’s an ideal alternative for some nice household Halloween images!
For extra concepts of locations to select pumpkins close to London, take a look at this publish
Halloween Pumpkin Carving at Chelsea Physic Backyard
What’s Halloween with out a pumpkin? And at Chelsea Physic Backyard, you may be taught all about pumpkin crops earlier than carving your personal to take dwelling.
Geared toward children aged 6+ (who should be accompanied by an grownup), you’ll get every part it is advisable to create your personal jack-o-lantern throughout the periods happening on October 24, 25 and 27.
Tickets embrace 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.
Horniman Museum and Gardens Halloween Honest
On Saturday twenty ninth October, seize the complete household and head right down to the Horniman Museum’s annual household Halloween truthful.
On the truthful, you’ll discover rides, video games, themed arts and crafts workshops, face portray, balloons, and a Halloween path across the gardens. Children can even get pleasure from mind-boggling close-up magic with Nyko the Magician, spooky science exhibits with Einstein’s Entertainers Halloween Science Spectacular, and a Halloween Parade via the Gardens led by a scary skeleton.
And for folks, the truthful may even have loads of meals and drinks stalls, in addition to arts and crafts stalls promoting distinctive and sustainable regionally made presents.
Mexico Household Fiesta at Kew Gardens
Halloween isn’t the one huge vacation happening over October half-term in London. You too can head to Kew Gardens to have a good time Day of the Lifeless (Dia de los Muertos) at their Mexico Household Fiesta.
From October 22 to 31, the Temperate Home at Kew Gardens will placed on a complete host of enjoyable household actions themed across the conventional Mexican vacation. You’ll get to get pleasure from vibrant parades, dress-up stations, carnival dance workshops, artwork installations celebrating Mexican tradition, and extra.
Tickets to the Day of the Lifeless household occasion are included with entry to Kew Gardens.
There’s a reduction on tickets for tickets to Kew Gardens in case you e-book via my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6
High Trumps Path at London Zoo
Try ZSL London Zoo’s Halloween High Trumps path – a brand new path to maintain children entertained this October half-term.
To participate within the problem, all it is advisable to do is seize a event card once you enter the zoo, then head off to seek out the enormous Halloween High Trumps playing cards across the enclosures.
When you’ve discovered a card, select your animal and class and begin the battle. You possibly can compete with the zoo to see in case your animal is the cutest, quickest, longest residing, or highest rated.
Plus, don’t overlook to go to the Terrace Restaurant the place children can have a go at designing their very personal animal High Trumps card.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park: Hair-Elevating Halloween
Wrap up heat and head exterior with the household this half-term for one more version of Hyde Park’s household discovery days.
The park’s Hair-Elevating Halloween Discovery Day might be full of loads of enjoyable and academic hands-on actions for youthful youngsters. You possibly can discover the eerie nature path, guess the ugly contents of the feely containers, take heed to spooky interactive tales, and be taught concerning the many bats that decision London’s Royal Parks dwelling.
Dressing up can also be inspired. The free half-term occasion will run each day from October 25 to 27, between 11am and 3pm.
Outdated Working Theatre, London
In the event you’re in search of blood and gore this Halloween, London’s Outdated 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.
This Halloween, you can too see the Victorian Working Theatre Dwell occasion on October 29, a genuinely chilling take a look at the origins of surgical procedure earlier than anaesthetic and antiseptics. Finest 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, but it surely’s really a captivating day trip with children in London, particularly in case 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: preserve 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 large mausoleums in addition to the grave of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, plus tightrope walker Charles Blondin, greatest identified 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 (except you’re a grave proprietor), though the entry cost is minimal (from £4.50 for an grownup ticket to the East Cemetery, 50p for youths) 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.
Chessington World of Adventures Howl’O’Ween
In the event you’re pleased to journey barely exterior central London, Chessington’s ‘Howl’O’Ween’ Halloween occasion is all the time a great one for households – and tickets embrace entry to the total theme park and zoo entry.
With adventures for little pumpkins and older thrill-seekers, you’ll must beware the Vile Villagers of Wild Woods (go to at earlier instances for youths aged 5+, after 3pm for 8+), be careful for the mischievous Wild Witches of Journey Level, who’ve conjured up a forged of curious characters throughout the resort, and luxuriate in rides at midnight on some dates.
Operating from October 15-31, the Creepy Caves are again for a closing yr on the Surrey theme park, together with the fabulously horrifying hearth and results of Banyan: The Circle of 8 present.
For extra concepts of the most effective issues to do at October half-term in London with children, take a look at my prime picks
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Tower of London/Warner Bros Studio Tour/Cutty Sark copyright MummyTravels/Chiswick Halloween picture courtesy Sony Music/all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos
