Le freak, c’est chic. NB new visitors: These events are dead and buried in 2011.
Sink your teeth into our 2014 LONDON KIDS HALLOWEEN EVENTS GUIDE instead!
Babes Choice
Sun 23: One Bigg Party at Fulham Palace, SW6 (Putney Bridge tube)
A fangtastic mix of entertainers, workshops, stalls and prizes for ages 2-10. 11am-6pm, child £16.50/adult £11.50/babies under 18 months free (Oct 23)
Fri 28: Pumpkin Carving Competition at Fortnum & Mason, Regent St, W1 (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Test your skills with other kids up to 10 years old (and adults aged 11 to 99 plus). Points awarded for skill, scariness, creativity and luminosity. 3-5pm (kids contest), 7pm (adults), FREE (Oct 28)
Sat 29: The Secret Spooky Garden, Secret Garden, Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath, NW3 (Hampstead tube)
Join families from all over in fancy dress on an enchanted tour of the Heath’s secret garden. 3-5pm, FREE (Oct 29)
Sat 29: House of Fairytales: Permission to Haunt at Cardinal Place, Victoria, SW1 (Victoria tube)
Interactive and surreal fun and games with the maverick crew established by artists Gavin Turk and Deborah Curtis. Ectoplasm experts will be in force! 12-4pm, FREE (Oct 29)
Sun 30: Wicked Day at London Film Museum, County Hall, Belvedere Rd, SE1 (Waterloo tube)
Spooktacular family fun with the cast of ‘Wicked’ the musical, raising money for green causes. 12-4pm, FREE (OCT 30)
Local Pick
Sat 29-Sun 30: Halloween Boat Trips at London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Rd, N1 (King’s Cross tube)
A ghoulish narrowboat ride through Islington tunnel, with candies and glowsticks for kids, plus spooky stories in the museum. Boats depart every 20 mins from 3-9pm; adult £10/child ages 0-15 £8 (Oct 29-30)
Central and West London
Sun 23-Mon 31: Boo at the Zoo, London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 (Regent’s Park tube)
Ghostly walks, creepy crafts and a macabre makeover for the Animal Adventure zone. 10am-5.30pm (until Oct 29), 10am-4pm (from Oct 30); regular entry adult £19.50/child £15.50/under 3s free (Oct 23-31)
Sat 22-Mon 31: The Spooky Rainforest at Sealife London Aquarium, County Hall, Belvedere Rd, SE1 (Waterloo tube)
Meet the Fish witch bubbling up a cauldron of fun and go on a Hallo-marine trail. 9am-8pm; adults £14.28/child £10.55/under 3s free. (Oct 22-31)
Sat 22-Mon 31: The Wicked Witch of the London Sky at London Eye, South Bank, SE1 (Waterloo tube)
Brace yourself for a wild ride over London’s haunted landscape with Wilhelmina the witch as your guide. Includes free entry to London Eye 4D experience. 10am-8.30pm; adult from £16.74/child £8.58/under 4s free (Oct 22-31)
Wed 26: Mini Make Believe: Hubble Bubble at Somerset House, the Strand, WC2 (Charing Cross tube)
The magic cauldron’s bubbling over with songs, stories and games for under 5s. 11.30am, 12.45pm & 2.30pm, FREE (Oct 26)
Sat 29: To Trick or Not to Treat from Paddington Bear Statue, at Paddington Station, W2
A ghostly walk with spooky storytelling and treats along the way. Fancy dress welcome. 2pm, free (Oct 29)
North and North West London
Sat 28: Halloween Party at Burgh House and Hampstead Museum, New End Sq, NW3 (Hampstead tube)
Ghastly games, weird stories and a spooky tea. 3-5pm, child £15 (Oct 28)
Sat 29: Ian Saville Halloween Magic at Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 (Highgate tube)
Magic spells and teddy bear tricks for ages 3-8. 10-10.45am & 11.30am-12.15pm; £4.50/£3 concs. (Oct 29)
Sat 29-Sun 30: Witch Weekend at RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, NW9 (Colindale tube)
Ever wondered how broomsticks fly? Come and make your own! 11am-1pm & 2-4pm, FREE (Oct 29-30)
Mon 31: Halloween at Kentish Town City Farm, 1 Cressfield Close, off Grafton Rd, NW5 (Kentish Town tube)
An evening of scary storytelling, dress-up and witches’ cafe. 5.30-7pm, £1 entry (Oct 31)
Mon 31: Spooky Walk and Adventure Trail at Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 (Highgate tube)
Witches, wizards, skeletons and sprites take a nighttime stroll around the ‘haunted’ grounds. Best for ages 3+, although buggies welcome. 5-5.45pm (early booking advised); £6 (Oct 31)
East and South East London
Tue 25 & Thu 27: Halloween at the Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill SE23 (Forest Hill rail)
Dig up spooks from your imagination and uncover the secrets of real skeletons. Ages 3+. 1.45-2.45pm, child £3/adults and under 3s free (Oct 25 & 27)
Fri 28: Halloween at Spitalfields City Farm, Buxton St, E1 (Whitechapel tube)
Come along for pumpkin soup, pumpkin carving, stories, costumes and jacket potatoes around the fireside. 5-10pm, £10 (Oct 28)
Sun 30: Family Day: Global Gargoyles at Sutton House, 2 & 4 Homerton High St, Hackney E9 (Hackney Central rail)
Rez Kabir, creepy costumes and marvellous monsters take over the historic house. 12.30-4pm; adult £3/child £1 (Oct 30)
Sun 30: Halloween Family Fun Day at National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, Greenwich SE10 (Cutty Sark DLR)
A blood-suckingly tasty day out for all the clan in the Queen’s House with costume prizes, dance workshops and more. Early booking advised! 11.30am-4pm; adult £6/child £3.50 (Oct 30)
Sun 30: Halloween Disco Skate at Lee Valley Ice Centre, Leyton Marsh, Lea Bridge Rd E10 (Walthamstow Central tube)
Get your freakiest outfit on for an ice skating shebang. 2.30-4.30pm; £6 incl. skate hire (Oct 30)
South and South West London
Sat 22-23: Bats and Spiders Weekend at London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 (Hammersmith tube)
Dare to meet exotic spiders and bats, with face painting, games and more scary fun. 9.30am-5pm, adult £10.55/child £5.85/under 4s free (Oct 22-23)
Sun 23-Tue 25: Time Travellers Go: Ghosts and Ghouls at Eltham Palace & Gardens, Court Yard, Eltham, SE9 (Eltham rail)
Go on a ghost-hunting escapade around the palace grounds with crafts and activities along the way. 11am-4pm, adult £9.30/child £5.60/under 5s free (Oct 23-25)
Photos via London Eye, Lauderdale House, National Maritime Museum and London Wetland Centre web sites
Check out the most recent Halloween London Kids Guide
