Killer clowns? No thank you. Our Halloween Kids London events guide doesn’t have a killer clown in sight (at least we hope not).
Searching for Halloween events can be a daunting experience — where to take your children without scaring the absolute bejeezus out of them? Every year, Babes about Town digs up the best child-friendly Halloween events for your mini monsters, from zombie parties to ghost rides and tricky treats.
Ahhhhh freak out!
HALLOWEEN KIDS LONDON EVENTS
Kidzania Halloween at KidZania London, Westfield London, Ariel Way, W12 7GA (Shepherd’s Bush tube/overground, White City tube)
Once again, the city of role play for little ones transforms itself for Halloween. Ride on a Ghost bus tour of Kidzania, sip on slimy green Milkshake, get your face painted in spooky colours, show off your monster moves, and much more. Holiday schedule 11am-8pm (Mon)/10am-8pm (Tue-Thu)/10am-9pm (Fri-Sat)/10am-8pm (Sun), last admission 4pm (5pm Friday); adult from £16.50/child ages 4-14 from £28/ages 1-3 £10/under 1s FREE/special Halloween family ticket £88 (Oct 15-30)
The Making of Harry Potter 15 Year Film Anniversary at WB Studio Tours, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden WD25 7LR (Watford Junction rail)
This Halloween and October half term coincides spooktacularly with the 15 year anniversary of the first Harry Potter movie, The Philosopher’s Stone. Can you Adam and Eve it? Visit the simply incredible WB Studio Tour where you can go behind the scenes to see the Great Hall decorated for Halloween, see the original Sorting Hat and stool from the movies for the very last time, and take a final glimpse inside Privet Drive, reopened for the anniversary celebrations. From 9am-10am first tours, last tour 4-6.30pm (closing time 3 hours after last tour); adult from £33/child from £25.50/family from £101/under 4s FREE but require tickets. Pre-booking essential. (Oct 15-Nov 4)
Halloween Pumpkin Carving at Eltham Palace, Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, London, SE9 5QE (Mottingham rail)
Creep into the fabulous grounds of Eltham Palace for a session of crafting and costumes, with the inevitable Jack o’ Lanterns (extra £4 for pumpkin carving). Prizes for costumes that frighten the fearless staff! 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm; adult £13.60/£8.10/concs £12.20/family £35.30 (Oct 24-28)
Fortnum & Mason Halloween Pumpkin Carving, Regent St, W1A 1ER (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Fortnum & Mason’s Halloween slasher fest is back! Create your own Jack-o-Lantern, with carving experts on hand to guide you, and prizes for the best pumpkin. For ages 5+ (just 20 per class so book early to avoid disappointment). 11am-1pm & 2.30pm-4.30pm; £20 per person (Oct 25-27)
Halloween at Greenwich Market, SE10 9HZ (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
Pirate treasure chests, creepy cobwebs, Halloween horror homes and more are all part of the fun at Greenwich Market this Halloween. Natty Peeps leads the crafting, plus there’s hoola hooping, pumpkin contests and more. All ages, 12pm-7pm, FREE (Oct 25-27)
Horniman Halloween Fair, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
This awesome museum hosts its annual Halloween fair featuring spooky trail, pumpkin carving, mask making, Curse of the Mummy performance from Tea Dance for Little People, freaky fashion parade, Farmer’s Market. And if you dare, crawl into the Wild Fangs creature cave! 10.30am-4.30pm, FREE (some events ticketed) (Oct 29-30)
Muswell Hill Geisterfest, St James Square (opposite St James’ Church), Muswell Hill, N10 3RS (Highgate Tube)
October sees the return of Geisterfest around St James Square, Muswell Hill. A street party with a terrifying twist, look out for dogs in fierce fancy dress, kids in costumes, shops and businesses doling out treats and a pumpkin treasure hunt. 4pm-late (Oct 31)
NIGHTS AT THE MUSEUM
Museum of London Halloween Night Owls Sleepover at 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN (Barbican/St Paul’s tube)
Settle in (or not as the case may be) for a Night at the Museum at their sleepover over Halloween for kids in London. Trick or treat your way around on a Halloween trail, get ready for close encounters, scary storytelling and sneak peeks into the Fire! Fire! exhibition. In the morning you can recover with brekkie and a family film. Ages 7+ and an adult. From 6.45pm overnight, tickets £60 per person (Oct 28)
Dulwich Picture Gallery: Pictures and Paintbrushes, Gallery Rd, SE21 7AD (West Dulwich rail)
Dulwich Picture Gallery hosts its first sleepover, specially for Halloween. Brave kids can spend the night among the Pillows and Paintbrushes, with retro printing workshops, fancy dress costume prizes, and a chance to meet a sorceress inside the gallery’s haunted halls. In the morning there’s a tasty breakfast and a classic family film to wake you up. Ages 7-13 and parent/carer (at least 1 adult for up to 3 kids). 6.45pm-8.30am; £50 per person (Oct 29 & 30)
Haunted (House) Parties
Eddie Catz Annual Family Halloween Party at Eddie Catz Putney, 68-70 Putney High Street, 1st Floor, SW15 1SF (Putney Bridge/East Putney tube)
The fantastic Sharky & George entertainment crew return for the Eddie Catz Halloween disco, where dancing, face painting, magic and a fancy dress catwalk are on the menu. Get your spooky portrait taken by Memory Gate (from £10). Ages 2-10 and their families. 5.30pm-7.30pm; adult £4.50 (includes drink and entry into fancy dress contest); child £15.50 (includes kids’ meal & drink, all entertainment & face painting, Halloween goodie bag); £1 tickets for under 1s, early booking recommended email info@eddiecatz.com to book spot (Oct 27 & 28)
Halloween parties also at Eddie Catz Wimbledon, Earlsfield and Newbury
Halloween Night with Highbury Roundhouse, Sotheby Mews Day Centre, Sotheby Road, N5 2UT (Highbury & Islington tube)
Every year ghouls and goblins from the Highbury area attend this lucky dip mix of disco (parents and kids), apple bobbing, scary face painting, tricks and treats. BBQ & drinks on sale. All ages. 5pm-8pm, adult £5/child £2 (Oct 29)
Halloween Party on Hampstead Heath, East Heath Rd, NW3 2SY (Hampstead Heath overground)
Get your rags and bones and witches hats on for a party to remember on the Heath. There are prizes for best fancy dress and best scary drawing, ghastly games, and a few surprises. For ages 5+ (kids under 8 must be accompanied by an adult). 2.30pm-4pm, FREE
Tel: 020 7482 2116 (Oct 30)
Disco Kids: Haunted House, at The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG (New Cross/Deptford overground)
Back for another monster boogie session at The Albany’s popular Sunday disco. DJ Jean Genie spins the spooktacular tunes to get hairy toes tapping and tails wiggling. Ages 0-7 and their families. 2pm-5pm, £6/family £20 (Oct 30)
Culpeper Garden Halloween Party, 1 Cloudesley Rd, N1 0EG (Angel tube)
Beautiful Culpeper Garden hosts a smashing Halloween party each year, with prizes for top costumes, a haunted trail, classic Halloween party games and goodies to munch on. All ages. 4.30pm-6pm, FREE (dates tbc, check via info@culpeper.org)
King’s Cross Halloween Happening with The Place at Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
King’s Cross and The Place dance theatre come together to celebrate things that go bump in the night. In the run-up to Halloween, there will be strange sights and pop-ups, culminating in Zombie Day dress up for King’s Cross workers and residents. Followed by a Halloween night party, with freaky performances from The Place. Come dressed to thrill. 5pm-7pm, FREE (Oct 31)
CREEPY CREATURES
London Zoo: Boo at the Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 (Regent’s Park tube)
Creepy crawly fun at London Zoo this half term as another Boo at the Zoo takeover brings Halloween mayhem into the animal enclosures. There’s pumpkin carving, a Pumpkin Party for devilish disco bunnies, a Ghoul School to cast a spell over your little ones, a Bat Cave where they can make masks and much more for under 5s. 11am-3.30pm daily; activities free with regular entry (pumpkin carving £3/£5 for 2 pumpkins for paying entrants); admission adult £24.25/child under 16 £17.60/under 3s FREE (online discounts available) (Oct 22-30)
Discovery Day: Hair-Raising Halloween at Isis Education Centre, Hyde Park, W2 2UH (Hyde Park Corner tube)
The popular Halloween events at the centre include potion making, bat mask making, and making a bat box to take home. All ages. 11am-3pm, FREE (Oct 26-27)
Riverside Cares: Teenie Halloweenie at Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, E1 3DG (Stepney Green tube/Limehouse DLR) & Hackney City Farm, 1a Goldsmiths Row, E2 8QA (Hoxton overground/Bethnal Green tube)
Riverside Cares presents two fang-tastic Halloween events for kids ages 7 and under, and their eerie entourage. Activities include bite-sized parenting lessons with, Monster Mash dancing, costume parade, make your own Halloween crowns, peek-a-Moo and more. All an opportunity to get your tiny ones up close with some not-so-creepy creatures in autumn. Ages 0-7. 10.45am-12.45pm on Thu Oct 27 (Stepney City Farm) and 2.30pm-4.30pm on Sat Oct 30 (Hackney City Farm), both events are FREE (Oct 27 & Oct 30)
Also see Stepney City Farm Day of the Dead family activities (Oct 30)
Halloween Dog Walk, Spaniards Rd, NW3 7JJ (Hampstead tube/East Finchley tube/Hampstead Heath overground)
Woof woof, the petrifying pooch parade makes its Halloween outing. Brilliant spot for pup and people watching. There are prizes for best costumed dogs (and owners), spooky stalls, goodies and other mayhem planned. Proceeds to charity. Registration from 10.30am, walk from 11am; entrance fee per dog £5 (Oct 30)
National Maritime Museum: Halloween Bermuda Triangle, National Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich, SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
Hunt for aliens, sea monsters, space zombies and other creepy creatures as the museum becomes a Bermuda Triangle of adventure for the foolhardy. Unexpected encounters, mystery missions and prizes for most terrifying fancy dress add extra excitement to the action. 11am-4pm; adult £10/child £6/member £5 (Oct 30)
Ripping Rides
Spookfest at London Museum of Water and Steam, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, London TW8 0EN (Kew Bridge rail, Kew Gardens/Gunnersbury tube)
This Halloween London kids can discover the spooky secrets of historic houses, meet some of their ghostly former occupants, make creepy crafts, and steam along on a haunted train. All ages. 11am-4pm; adult £12.50/child £5.50/ family of 3 £18/family of 4 £30.50 (NB: discounted tickets currently available)/under 5s FREE (Oct 22-31)
London Eye: A Slice of Pumpkin Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Grab a slice of Pumpkin Eye at the South Bank this autumn, as the London Eye hosts its Halloween London kids activity. Fly over London in a capsule, spell out PUMPKIN with London landmarks, then when you get home carve your own London-inspired pumpkin to enter for a special prize. Includes free entry to London Eye 4D experience. London Eye open from 10am to 8.30pm; online prices adult from £21.90/child from £16.95/under 3s FREE (walk up prices higher) (Oct 22-31)
Ghost Train on the Epping Ongar Railway, North Weald CM16 6BT (Epping tube zone 6, bus to North Weald)
All aboard the Epping Ongar Ghost Train this Halloween for a dark ride through enigmatic Epping Forest on a vintage steam or diesel train. Expect surprises on board, fancy dress fun, and free gift for all kids (included in ticket fee). All ages. Departures 12.30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm (earlier trains best for younger passengers); train and bus fare: adult £14/child £10/under 3s FREE (Oct 28-31)
London Canal Museum Halloween Boat Rides, 12-13 New Wharf Rd, N1 9RT (King’s Cross tube)
One of London’s most favourite narrowboat rides provides a spooky experience through Islington tunnel, with sweets and glow sticks for kids, and a chance to explore the museum before or after your journey. Boats depart every 20 mins from 3pm-9pm; adult £11/child ages 0-15 £8.50 (Oct 29-30)
Cook and Eat
Le Pain Quotidien Halloween Cookie Decorating Workshops, multiple venues
These popular workshops give minis a chance to make macabre cookies for Halloween in Hampstead (4pm & 5.30pm, Oct 27), Notting Hill (5pm, Oct 28), Highgate (3pm & 4pm, Oct 28), Wimbledon (3pm, 4pm & 5pm, Oct 28) and Chiswick (4pm & 5pm, Oct 30) branches. All FREE. Booking 020 3657 6929 (Oct 27-30)
BKD Haunted Houses at Hoxton Hotel, Shoreditch, 81 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HU (Liverpool St/Old St tube)
You’ve heard of gingerbread houses, well baking wizards BKD are inviting cheeky chefs to create their own Haunted Houses using chocolate biccie slabs, edible googly eyes and other tools. Aprons etc provided, do come in your own costumes if you fancy. For ages 3+. 11am-12.30pm, £27.99 per child (includes 1 adult plus booking fee) (Oct 29)
Angel Central Halloween Pumpkin Rescue Squad, 21 Parkfield Street, Islington, N1 0PS (Angel tube)
After a successful outing last year, Angel Central’s Pumpkin Rescue squad return to the piazza for a communal cook-up with leftover pump for a mini foodie fest, with a communal cook up of leftover pumpkins, with tips from top chefs, food waste feely boxes, face painting etc. Part of the London wide #PumpkinRescue. All ages. 11am-3pm, FREE (Oct 30)
Don’t miss all the fun in our October Half Term guide
Photo credits: Fortnum & Mason, Dulwich Picture Gallery, The Place, Dogbunch @Dogbunch, Epping Ongar Railway, BKD