Our Halloween London Kids guide becomes bigger and beastlier each year. We love this holiday: the chance to dress up and, as they sing in Shrek the Musical, let your freak flag fly (and for little ones to confront their monsters head on).
Babes about Town will be trick or treating around the neighbourhood come October 31, but I’ve done some digging (mwa ha ha) and have unearthed 24 child friendly Halloween events all over London, starting this weekend. Have a magical time!
SPOOKY SPECTACLES
The Spooky Secret Garden, Secret Garden, Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath, NW3 (Hampstead tube)
It’s a little hush hush but this is absolutely one of our favourite Halloween events in London. Come in your freakiest fancy dress to meet the scary inhabitants of the secret garden. All ages. 3-5pm, FREE (Oct 25)
Madame Tussauds Glamoween + Kids Go Free, Marylebone Rd, NW1 5LR (Baker St tube)
Waxworks get dolled up for Halloween with sparkly pumpkins, flickering candles and glittery cobwebs. Kids in fancy dress get in free! 9am-7pm; 1 adult + 1 FREE child ages 4-15 from £24.20 online/£55.80 door/under 4s FREE (Oct 25-Nov 2)
Halloween Dog Walk at Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Rd, NW3 7JJ (Hampstead tube/Hampstead Heath overground)
The annual parade of pooches takes over Hampstead Heath, with owners dressing themselves and their canine companions in suitably terrifying style. Registration from 10.30am, walk from 11am; entrance fee per dog £5 (Oct 26)
Pumpkins at King’s Cross, Canal Side Steps, Granary Square, N1C (King’s Cross tube)
See the canalside steps by Granary Square lit up by 3000 pumpkins. Bring one or carve your own right there to add to the collection. Come for carving sessions at the Skip Garden (Thu & Fri 12-4.30pm) then watch the installation come alive from Fri Oct 31, 5pm. On Sat (Nov 1) you can take home a pumpkin and a recipe sheet. All FREE (Oct 30-Nov 1)
Fortnum & Mason Pumpkin Carving Competition, Regent St, W1A 1ER (Piccadilly Circus tube)
It’s time for the annual slasher fest with a special competition for kids up to 10 years. The judges award for skill, scariness, creativity and luminosity and there’s a stash of treats for the winner. 3-5pm, FREE (Oct 31)
Dark Arts at Hogwarts, WB Studio Tours, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden WD25 7LR (Watford Junction rail)
Go behind the scenes at Hogwarts to experience the Hallowe’en feast from the first Harry Potter movie, see Death Eaters in action and engage in wand combat. adult £31/child £23.50/family £93/under 4s FREE (until Nov 3)
GHOSTLY RIDES
Halloween Boat Rides at London Canal Museum 12-13 New Wharf Rd, N1 9RT (King’s Cross tube)
Climb aboard a narrowboat for a haunted ride through Islington tunnel, with sweets and glow sticks for kids, plus more activity in the museum. Boats depart every 20 mins from 3pm-9pm; adult £10/child ages 0-15 £8 (Oct 25-26)
Halloween at London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Soar over the macabre landscape of London town and hear bewitching tales from the Witches Academy. Includes free entry to London Eye 4D experience. 12.30-6.30pm (Oct 25, 26, 31), 12.30-5.30pm (Oct 27, 28, 29) & 1.30-6.30pm (Oct 30-Nov 1); adult £24.25/child £17.93/family of 4 £65.60/under 4s free (up to 50% savings for online bookings!) (Oct 25-Nov 1)
Epping Ongar Railway: Ghost Train, North Weald CM16 6BT (Epping tube zone 6, bus to North Weald)
Board the steam or diesel train for a ghostly ride with apple bobbing, witches’ brew and Halloween goodie bags for all. Departures 15:30, 16:50, 18:10 and 19:30; train and bus fare: adult £14/child £9/under 3s FREE (Oct 30-31)
HAUNTED HANGOUTS
Horniman Halloween Fair, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
Go on a Halloween hike with riddles to solve, get your face painted, join in a skeletons workshop, munch on food, hear live music and parade around with your pumpkin or costume. 10.30am-4.30pm, FREE (some events ticketed) (Oct 25-26)
A Pumpkin Hunt in Barnsbury Woods, 137 Hemingford Road, Barnsbury, N1 1BZ
Join kids outdoor brand Muddy Puddles for a very special pumpkin hunt in the wood. Stomp around in wellies and all-weather gear, then tuck into delicious cupcakes by Hat & Bells. 10am-12pm, FREE (Oct 29)
Ragged Ghoul Museum, Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield Rd, E3 4RR (Mile End tube)
Go back in time for some Victorian style terror with Halloween activities including crafting, face painting and an under 5s play area to keep your littlest pumpkins happy. 10am-5pm, FREE (Oct 29-30)
Halloween at Freightliners Farm, Sheringham Road, London, N7 8PF (Highbury & Islington tube)
Visit the lovely farm and engage in Halloween fun from carving pumpkins to making animal skeletons, and a costume/pumpkin contest on the last day. 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm, FREE entry (donations welcome) (Oct 29-31)
Lauderdale House Spooky Trails, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG (Highgate tube)
Tickets are selling like hot coals for this magical mystery event, when teeny skeletons and witches go on a mini adventure around the ‘haunted’ grounds. Best for ages 3+, although buggies welcome. 5-6.30pm at 15 minute intervals (early booking advised); £7/under 2s FREE (Oct 31)
Muswell Hill Geisterfest, in and around Muswell Hill Broadway, N10 3RS (Highgate Tube)
It’s a Halloween takeover of local shops and businesses by ghouls of all sizes. Pumpkin carving, pizza making, creepy grotto and pop choir are set to terrify the locals! 4pm-late (Oct 31)
The Foundling Museum Halloween Special, 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ (Russell Square tube)
Conjure your own magic spells and potions using ink, quills, words and paper, inspired by the exhibition The Generous Georgian: Dr Richard Mead. 10.30am-1pm and 2pm-4.30pm, FREE (Oct 31)
PETRIFYING PARTIES
Baby Loves Disco & Pop Lock-In Halloween Parties at DNA London, 1 St Johns Hill, Clapham Junction SW11 1TN (Clapham Junction rail/overground)
Come for toddler friendly tricks and treats at the BLD Halloween groove for ages 0-7 (1-3pm); or find Thriller moves and bloody mocktails at the Pop Lock-In for ages 4-11 (4-6pm). Baby Loves Disco £9.95 per walking human; Pop Lock-In child £12.95/£15.45 with goodie bag/accompanying adults FREE (Oct 25)
Selfridges Kids Halloween Party, 400 Oxford St, W1A 1AB (Bond St tube)
Cool kids brand Tootsa McGinty are running Day of the Dead mask-making activities, plus there’s pumpkins, creepy crafts, costume contest and live DJ. 2-6pm, FREE entry (Oct 25)
Disco Kids: Spooky Science at The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG (New Cross/Deptford overground)
There might be blood on the dancefloor at this mini monster mash-up with DJ Jean Genie spinning terrifying tunes for all ages. 2-5pm, £6/family £20 (Oct 26)
Stratford Circus Halloween Parties with Tea Dance for Little People, Theatre Square, Stratford, London E15 1BX
(Stratford tube/overground/DLR)
Dress up for song and dance, sensory play and potion making along with gingerbread monster workshops for ages 2-8. 10am, 11.30am, 2pm and 4pm, £8/£24 family of 4 (Oct 30-Nov 1)
Halloween Party at Culpeper Garden, 1 Cloudesley Rd, N1 0EG (Angel tube)
This gorgeous garden is one of Islington’s best kept secrets and their Halloween party is a treat with magical trail, apple bobbing and fancy dress contest. 4.30pm-6pm, FREE (Oct 31)
Queen’s House Spooktacular Family Fun Day, Greenwich SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR)
Head to Greenwich for creepy costume parade, freaky photo booth, devilish disco, and animated ghost stories at this brilliant sounding party. All ages (some events for ages 3+ or 6+). 11am-4pm, adult/child £12/family of 4 £40/under 3s FREE (Oct 31)
CREEPY COOKING
Le Pain Quotidien Halloween Cookie Workshops, various venues
Dress up and decorate creepy cookies for Halloween at Notting Hill (Oct 28), King’s Rd (Oct 29), Highgate (Oct 29), Hampstead (Oct 30) and Wimbledon (Oct 30) branches. 4-5pm, FREE. Booking 020 3657 6929 (Oct 28-30)
BKD Kids Halloween Baking at The Hoxton Hotel, Shoreditch, 81 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HU (Liverpool St tube)
Little monsters get messy in the kitchen with uber yummy BKD’s Halloween cake decorating class. Fancy dress encouraged. For ages 2+. 10.30am-12pm, £25 (Oct 29)
Look out for the Half Term London Kids Scoop out tomorrow!
Thanks to All Dogs Matter, EO Railway, Muswell Hill Geisterfest, Tea Dance for Little People and Le Pain Quotidien for the great photos.
Adventures in London: Climbing Up at the O2