Looking for fun things to do in London for Halloween this year? The British capital has so many spooktacular events that will make you scream this autumn - or if you don’t want to be scared, get serious Halloween feels instead at the best parties and autumn events. From freaky scare mazes, pumpkin spice lattes to Harry Potter movies, haunted escape rooms and Halloween parties in London, we’ve got you covered with the best things to do in the city in October for Halloween…
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FACE YOUR FEARS AT THE LONDON TOMBS
This is the scariest interactive maze experience in London so it’s perfect for Halloween - and trust us, it’s not for the fainthearted. The London Bridge Experience combines history with horror where first, you’ll get to learn about the haunted history of London Bridge (the not-so-scary part). Then you’ll head underground to the haunted London Tombs for what we think is the UK’s scariest immersive maze where you’ll find yourself confined in tight spaces and facing all sorts of terror! The question is whether you can handle it or not.
Watch Halloween movies at the Backyard Cinema
Halloween is the best excuse to binge on spooky movies but rather than sitting on your sofa hiding behind your blanket, why not head to the Backyard Cinema instead? Throughout the autumn and winter, Backyard Cinema transforms into a winter night garden where you walk through a magical wardrobe into an enchanted forest-themed cinema. There will be movies showing throughout October so book your date as soon as possible before it gets sold out! There’s a Backyard Cinema in Wandsworth.
AN EERIE TOUR OF THE TOWER OF LONDON
Consider yourself a bit of a history buff? Why not pay a trip to one of London’s haunted sights for Halloween? The Tower of London is a former fortress, palace and prison (where tortures and executions once took place). You can take a tour of the Tower of London where you’ll get shown around by ‘Beefeaters’, the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. Inside you’ll learn about the tower's spooky history and discover the secrets of famous prisoners who were executed.
GET THRILLS AT THORPE PARK FRIGHT NIGHT
Get some real scares at Thorpe Park Fright Night where adrenaline and horror go hand in hand. This theme park goes all out for Halloween every year with terrifying scare mazes, actors and decorations - along with all the crazy rides and roller coasters to get your thrills. Fright Night takes place between 30th September - 31st October so you can visit between these times. Thorpe Park is on the outskirts of London so you’ll need to get a train to Staines where buses take you straight to the park.
PARTY HARD AT BELUSHI’S HALLOWEEN PARTY
If you’re looking for the best free Halloween party in London, then Belushi’s Bars has you covered. With epic events taking place from 28th October - 31st October, trick or treat yourself to freakish drinks deals, costume parties, the best DJs in town and a buzzing party crowd all night long. Come dressed as your favourite movie villain and book yourself in advance to guarantee entry. You can find Belushi’s Bars in different locations across London including London Bridge, Camden, Shepherd’s Bush, Hammersmith and Greenwich.
The Covent Garden Pumpkin Market
Yep, they are real pumpkins! The Halloween Pumpkin Market will return to the Covent Garden Market Building. Made up out of over two hundred pumpkins, squashes and gourds, this is the best Insta opportunity in London for Halloween 2022. Check it out between the 29th and 31st October.
Jack the Ripper Tour
For a real Halloween horror story, take this tour of East London. Jack the Ripper was a serial killer who was active in and around Whitechapel in London during 1888. The Jack the Ripper tour takes place 7 days a week and it’s a chilling experience where you can learn more about the case. For £12 per person you can take a tour of the East End at night and go back in time to the 19th century when the biggest murder mystery took place on the very same streets. The expert guides are knowledgeable on all things Jack the Ripper as some have been investigating the case, been in TV shows or written books on the subject. The tour has been running since 1982.
Drink Pumpkin lattes and eat pumpkin pie
October brings with it a selection of seasonal foods like pumpkin, butternut squash, blackberries and sprouts. When you eat out in London try and order dishes from the menu that use foods of the season! To get into the Halloween spirit, coffee shops around London will be bringing out their popular autumn drinks like pumpkin spiced lattes to warm you up as the weather gets colder as well as Halloween sweet treats like cookies and decorated cakes. Starbucks, Costa and Pret a Manger have awesome autumn line ups. While pumpkin pies are an American thing, the Hummingbird bakery (a chain across London) serves up the best pumpkin pie which you can buy for your Halloween party! If you want to buy your own pumpkins to carve (or to create your own pumpkin recipes), head to Borough Market in London Bridge.
Haunted Escape Rooms
Wanna do something different this Halloween? London has several scary escape rooms that you and your friends can break out of. One of the best ones in London is Mission Breakout , a fully immersive escape room located in an old ghost tube station in Camden. You and your team will be locked inside with just 60 minutes to escape by solving a series of puzzles and using clues to help you get out. Another cool escape room for Halloween is Enigma Escape in Hornsey where you have to try and escape from the killer.