Adult Halloween events and parties in London: Halloween 2024
DARK ARTS: The Warner Bros Studio Tour London — located just north of the capital in Hertfordshire — gets a spooky makeover for Halloween. The Great Hall is decorated with more than 100 floating pumpkins, Dementors will appear unexpectedly in The Forbidden Forest (fear not though, you can banish them with a Patronus charm), and you can learn duelling techniques in The Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. The Dark Arts events are in addition to the usual tour of sets from the Harry Potter film series. 13 September-10 November
SEASON OF THE WITCH: Always a solid bet for the unique and macabre, The Last Tuesday Society has a special Season of the Witch series of events running through Halloween and beyond, to celebrate the venue's 20th anniversary. Lectures, workshops, art and absinthe cocktails all feature, with a talk about Scandinavian folklore and ancient witchcraft on Halloween itself. 25 September-March 2025
MONTH OF THE DEAD: Halloween may not be until the end of October but London Month of the Dead goes on for the whole month. Informative, entertaining, and often pretty creepy, the festival enthuses on the subject of death through talks, cemetery tours, screenings and workshops. Many events are already selling out, so be quick. 3 October-2 November
ROOFTOP FILM CLUB: Open-air cinema Rooftop Film Club keeps its doors open right up until Halloween, with several spooky screenings to catch throughout October. Classics such as Hocus Pocus, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Addams Family are joined on the programme by more recent releases, such as new Tim Burton film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. There are a couple of family-friendly screenings in there, too. 5 October-1 November
MIXTAPE HALLOWEEN: Mixtape Choir, a volunteer-run, non-auditioning choir for women, non-binary and genderqueer people, are at Magdalen Hall in Bermondsey for an evening of pop, rock and indie classics, with some spooky extras thrown in. 12 October
HALLOWEEN ESCAPE ROOM: Escape room chain No Escape, which has branches in Victoria, Oxford Street, Holloway and Aldgate, is offering Halloween twists on its nine games, including the newly introduced ones The Orphanage and The Witch Hunt. Other themes include The Killer, The Gates of Hell and The Haunted Toy Store, all of which sound sufficiently ghoulish for Halloween. Each experience lasts 60 minutes, with professional actors in the room with you. A costume contest runs over the Halloween period, with prizes for the best outfit. Age 16+. 24 October-2 November
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT: Take an evening tour of London's oldest botanical garden, armed with UV torches in search of moths, bats, snails, slugs and fungi. 25 October. The garden also hosts Hex in the Garden, about the 17th-century women who were persecuted for witchcraft, on 28 October
CLAPHAM GRAND: Legendary events venue The Clapham Grand has a whole host of Halloween events, from film screening nights and themed bingo to a huge Halloween party. 25 October-2 November
TIM BURTON: Just in time for Halloween, the Design Museum opens World of Tim Burton, looking at the director's comically grotesque and the endearingly misfitting style. 600 items including costumes and artworks are on display, spanning his films including Catwoman, Batman Returns, Sleepy Hollow, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands — as well as Netflix series Wednesday. 25 October-21 April
CANDLELIGHT CLUB HALLOWEEN BALL: Legendary speakeasy party The Candlelight Club once again holds a clandestine, 1920s-themed Halloween ball. Dress code is 1920s elegance with an optional Halloween twist: think ghostly flapper or vampish witch. Expect live jazz, cabaret and cocktails, all overseen by host Champagne Charlie, at an historic mansion in south London. 26 October
BLACK AT THE MANSION: A regular fixture on London's Halloween calendar, The Mansion is back at a top-secret venue for a hardcore party spread across two floors, with cage dancers, tarot readers, and a spooky graveyard thrown into the mix. 26 October
SPOOKY BRUNCH: Social darts bar Flight Club hosts a spooky brunch. Dance to Halloween-themed tunes from the resident DJ, sup on a devilish cocktail on arrival followed by a bottle of prosecco, soaked up with bottomless pizza. An hour of darts is included in your ticket too. Arrive in fancy dress to be in with a chance to win a prize. 26 and 27 October
MURDER MYSTERY: Mr Fogg's Residence in Mayfair beckons you into an eerie Victorian setting, where deception, betrayal and murder await. As the clock ticks away, you must rack your brains to solve the crime. Maybe the two cocktails included in the ticket price will help sharpen your senses. 26 and 27 October and 2 and 3 November
PALACE GHOST TALES: Head to Eltham Palace for three evenings of spooky storytelling for visitors aged 16+. A narrator leads you through the palace, recounting tales of supernatural sightings as you go. Take a torch with you, things are likely to get rather dark. 26-31 October
CLUB DE FROMAGE: Cheesy disco night Club de Fromage hosts two 'Murder on the Dancefloor' Halloween specials at O2 Academy Islington. Gruesome and revolting outfits very much encouraged, with sing-alongs, confetti cannons and themed cocktails all part of the fun, as DJs spin Halloween-themed tunes. 26 October and 2 November
SKY GARDEN PARTY: Celebrate Halloween on high at Sky Garden. The 35th floor venue hosts its annual bash celebrating both Halloween and the Day of the Dead with live music, dancing and cocktails, not to mention sublime views over London. Ghoulish costumes very much encouraged for this one. 31 October
SCIENCE MUSEUM HALLOWEEN LATES: Science Museum gives its monthly late night opening a spooky theme for October, which is apt as it falls on Halloween itself. Delve into the science of phobias, learn how to survive a zombie outbreak, find out about nature's real-life monsters and explore how science has inspired some of the scariest stories ever told. As always, you can also explore the museum's usual galleries and exhibitions after dark, and dance the night away at a silent disco. FREE, 31 October
HALLOWEEN WINEMAKER DINNER: Not into hardcore partying, but still want to mark Halloween with a drink or two? Humble Grape in Fleet Street has a special supper club hosted by winemaker Tomás Stahringer from Vinyes Ocults in Argentina. Taking place by candlelight, tuck into six courses paired with Vinyes Ocults wines. Fancy dress encouraged! 31 October
HAUNTED HOUSE: Sambourne House in Kensington stays open for a Halloween late, as the former home of Victorian illustrator and photographer Linley Sambourne transforms into a haunted house. An actor playing the role of Mrs Sambourne leads a tour through her family's home, taking you back into Victorian London, with a welcome drink and introductory film included in your ticket. 31 October
HALLOWEEN AT THE MUSEUM: Once again, the Natural History Museum stays open late on Halloween itself for a spooky, adults-only event. Don fancy dress to take a spooky tour of the museum's all-time strangest specimens, or to visit the exhibitions and displays after dark. Age 18+. 31 October
DICKENS GHOST STORIES: "The monstrous thought came into my mind, as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man." The Charles Dickens Museum hosts three performances of two of the author's most spine-chilling stories, The Signalman & The Trial for Murder. James Swanton (who you may recognise from some scary stuff on TV) spins the yarns. 31 October-2 November
GOTHIC OPERA: Theatre company Gothic Opera presents Maria de Rudenz by Donizetti, fully staged with a new arrangement for chamber orchestra. The opera — which premiered in Venice in 1838 — tells a story of deceit, murder, betrayal and resurrection from the dead. This is the first time Maria de Rudenz has been staged in the UK, so the event, at Battersea Arts Centre, is rather special. 31 October-2 November
OGREPALOOZA: South Bank venue Between the Bridges celebrates Halloween in unique style: Ogrepalooza is headlined by the UK's #1 Shrek tribute band The Ogretones. There's a lot to unpack in that sentence, so we'll just say this: arrive dressed to impress, and ready to hear covers of hits by the likes of Ricky Martin, The Proclaimers and Bonnie Tyler. 1 November
THE LAST TUESDAY SOCIETY: The Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society has a slightly... unsettling selection of events year-round, so it really comes into its own for spooky season. Events this October include séances and tarot readings.
Family-friendly events in London for Halloween 2024
PUMPKIN PICKING: Embrace all things autumnal and take the kids to one of these farms or pumpkin patches near London where they can pick their own. Some have play areas, tractor rides and other fun activities too — and one will even let you carve your pumpkins on site, to save you making a mess on the kitchen table at home. Don't forget your wellies!
HALLOWEEN AT KEW: For the first time ever, Kew Gardens holds a Halloween trail. After dark, wander through a fiendish fire garden, and illuminated haunted woods filled with creepy neon cobwebs, ghastly ghouls, wicked witches, larger-than life spiders and beastly bats. Given how good Kew's Christmas trail is each year, and the fact it's produced by the same team, we've got high hopes for this one. 18 October-3 November
BOO AT THE ZOO: London Zoo has a host of family-friendly spooky activities included in its ticket price this Halloween. Boo at the Zoo events include a pumpkin patch where children can pick and decorate their own gourd, and spooky animal talks about species including bats and spiders. 19 October-3 November
EAST SHEEN HALLOWEEN HUNT: Once again, the Hare & Hounds is the base for the East Sheen Halloween Hunt, a trail through the local area visiting different businesses. Each is home to a letter which, when combined, spell out a phrase. Once your kids have sussed out the phrase, head back to the pub where they can collect a prize. 26 October
TOWER OF LONDON: The restless spirits at the Tower of London are brought back to life for October half term. Halloween-inspired decorations and installations are dotted around the site, and the Yeoman Warders continue to recount the tower's gory history, which includes plenty of grim deaths and potential ghosts. 26 October-3 November
HAMPTON COURT PALACE: An Alchemist's Apothecary, a Spider's Lair and a Haunted Gallery are among the Halloween attractions opening at Hampton Court Palace for October half term, along with Halloween storytelling, and spooky sound effects which bring the palace's former residents back to life. 26 October-3 November
HOCUS POCUS: Come, we fly! Disney's Hocus Pocus in Concert comes to the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, screening the 1993 Salem-set comedy about witching trio the Sanderson Sisters, accompanied by a live orchestra performing John Debney's score. 30 October
SPOOKY WALKS: Highgate's Lauderdale House offers family-friendly spooky walks around the house and through Waterlow Park next door at dusk. Aimed at 5-9 year olds and their families, the walk has actors dressed up as creepy characters, striking a balance between fun and a little bit spooky. 31 October
