10 Spooky Fun Halloween Activities for Families
Halloween is the perfect time for some spooky fun with the family, and you can find lots of special events and attractions in and around London during the season.
We’ve picked some of our favourite activities, from ghostly tours and haunted landmarks to magical experiences and family-friendly thrills.
Legoland Brick or Treat
A trip to Legoland Windsor this Halloween will provide you with the usual fun of this popular theme park along with extra monstrous parties and experiences. There are spooky Lego characters as well as interactive walkthrough areas, and photo ops to get adorable Halloween pictures of your little ones.
New for this year is the Monster Jam show, featuring a host of characters putting on a frightfully good concert complete with spectacular special effects. You can also meet the show’s monstrous denizens in the park afterwards.
There are several options for family tickets to enter the park, including annual passes that give you access for the full year.
Pumpkin Picking
It’s not Halloween without a good pumpkin, and picking your own is an especially fun activity for the kids. Thankfully, there are lots of locations around London where you can do this, including the family-run Cammas Hall in Hertfordshire, which offers 40 varieties of pumpkin as well as spooky trails and characters suitable for all ages. There’s also Crockford Bridge Farm in Surrey, offering pumpkin picking throughout early October, as well as the Pumpkin Market open later in the month, and even a whole Pumpkin Festival!
Naturally, many of the most popular pumpkin patches require booking and dates start to run out into October, so get your tickets now if you want to harvest your own.
Halloween at Chiswick House & Gardens
The historic Chiswick House & Gardens in West London takes on a spooky tone during the Halloween season, with some unique entertainment and family-friendly activities. There’s a ghoulishly glowing display of pumpkins featuring fire artists, along with a haunted forest glowing with neon spooks, bats, and spiders, and even a secret garden full of things that go bump in the night.
Refreshments in the form of a hot toddy or hot chocolate are also on hand (with a spooky theme, naturally).
Halloween at the Tower of London
The Tower of London can already boast some spine-tingling vibes when you explore the fortress and its history, but at Halloween, things get really spooky. The courtyards and corridors of the castle come alive with the ghosts of its past, from infamous criminals who were imprisoned before meeting their end on the scaffold, to the wandering spectre of Ann Boleyn who lost her head here in 1536.
You needn’t worry if this sounds a bit too grisly, as the event is family-friendly and described as ‘designed to chill your bones rather than churn your stomach’ by Historic Royal Palaces, who run the Tower and the event.
The Making of Harry Potter - Dark Arts
The hugely popular Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter, is bringing back its Dark Arts event for the Halloween season. The lights will be lower and the sets and props spookier as the Great Hall is filled with Pumpkins and a feast of treats, and dark wizarding items are given pride of place.
As well as the usual treasure trove of screen-used objects, costumes, and sets, you’ll also be able to see a selection of props from the Boggart wardrobe scene with Professor Lupin. There’ll also be Death Eaters roaming the tour, showcasing their wand skills and intimidating aura, as well as genuine costumes from the films.
Pre-booking is essential for the studio tour, and all the exhibits are included in the price of admission.
Chessington World of Adventures
Howl ‘o’ ween at the Chessington World of Adventures resort is all about providing family fun, especially if you want to make it a full weekend getaway. There are events and shows aimed at different age groups, from fun potion-crafting and huggable werewolves for the little ones, to terrifying haunted houses and spooky forest trails for older kids with stout hearts.
Kids can also dress up and take part in a fancy dress competition, while thrill-seekers can ride some of the park’s rollercoasters after dark on select nights.
The event goes on from the 15th to the 30th October, available as part of a day trip or if you want to take a short break with the family.
Wizard Afternoon Tea
Bring a magical touch to Halloween at the Wands & Wizard Exploratorium in Soho, where kids and grown-ups can enjoy a unique afternoon tea. Not only are there treats and sandwiches in a spooky theme, as you might expect, but you also get to make use of a magic wand to bring things around the shop to life.
It’s an experience that should keep any young fans of magic and wizardry entertained, while the adults can also enjoy a glass of prosecco or cider, as well as all the delicious treats on offer.
Just be prepared for the shop where kids can get their own wands along with interactive products to cast spells upon at home.
Hampton Court Palace
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace is all about creating that perfect spine-tingling atmosphere, making excellent use of sound effects and projections across this historic attraction. There are portraits that come to life, famous ghosts wandering the halls, and even the opportunity to take part in a séance in the Council Chamber.
It’s a spooky experience without being too intense for kids, with everything designed for a family-friendly adventure. The event takes place from the 22nd to 30th October, with pre-booking recommended as it’s a popular attraction.
The Halloween festivities are included in the price of entry into the palace during the day, but there is also the option to visit after dark on the 28th and 29th October in a separately ticketed event.
Ghost Bus Tours
A uniquely spooky way to experience the sights of London, the Ghost Bus Tour offers a different slant on the usual stories. Described as the UK’s only comedy-horror theatre experience on wheels, you can expect plenty of spooky fun on board as you travel around London’s most famous landmarks, including Downing Street, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London.
Even if you’re a London local, this is a very different way of seeing the city, and perfect for the Halloween season. Each tour leaves from Northumberland Avenue, and there are family tickets and single-parent tickets available.
The London Dungeon
An essential destination for any fans of the darker side of London’s history, Halloween at the London Dungeon provides some excellent chills and thrills. This year, you’ll be able to step into the attic of 50 Berkley Square, reputedly the most haunted house in London, with many legends around murder, madness, and mystery.
You’ll also be able to enjoy all the regular spooky delights of the Dungeon on your visit, learning about London’s dark past from medieval justice to the mystery of Jack the Ripper. Naturally, it’s an attraction more suited to older children, and might be a bit intense if your kids are younger or more sensitive.
Pre-booking gives you access to cheaper tickets, as well as a guarantee you’ll be able to enter the London Dungeon on your chosen day.
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