Halloween in Britain has deep roots in Medieval and Celtic traditions. The ancient festival of Samhain marks the boundary between summer and winter through the practice of “souling”, where children would go house to house offering prayers in return for soul cakes. This time also coincides with the revival of the haunting Victorian ghost stories and gothic horror novels, but London isn't short on more modern frivolities, with plenty of contemporary takes on Halloween finding a home in the city.
London itself is no stranger to hauntings and mystique, whether they be connected to the notorious murders of Jack the Ripper, the countless victims from the Black Death, Great Plague and Great Fire of London, or the legendary haunts of the Tower of London. The city is alive in a most ethereal manner when the last night of October comes around, and the following destinations are both some of the more popular and spirited events to really embrace Halloween in London.
Experience Halloween at Kew Gardens
From the 17th October through to the 2nd November 2025, Kew Gardens shifts into another of its signature light displays, as Halloween graces the botanical jewel in London’s crown with its presence. The event runs in timed sessions from about 6pm until as late as 10pm. At approximately 1.5 km long, the spectral pathway is a decent walk for those wishing to take in the glow-in-the-dark spectacle, including the occasional pit stop for displays, snacks, and shows along the course of the eerily lit walk.
The trail is divided into daylight, twilight and moonlight sessions with the more “frightening” elements dialled up with the onset of darkness. From a “forgotten fairground” to Frankenstein’s laboratory, giant spiders, ghostly woods, fire performances, eerie projections and wandering costumed actors, Kew knows how to bring Halloween out in spades. Weather permitting, this is certainly one of the most beautiful, open-air Halloween experiences that London has to offer.
Embrace the Dark Arts at Warner Bros. Studio Tour, London
Already a landmark institution thanks to the great British export that is the wizarding world of Harry Potter, Warner Bros. Studios just outside of Watford knows how to put on a show at Halloween, transforming the iconic studio space into a celebration of all things Potter, and the world’s most popular spooky holiday. Running between 12 September and 9 November 2025, the Studio Tour embraces its darker side with the “Dark Arts” takeover.
Over 100 pumpkins defy gravity and float above the heads of visitors in the Great Hall. Death Eaters march ominously through some of the series' most iconic sets, Dementors lurk in the Forbidden Forest, and lighting & projection effects referencing the Dark Mark, Voldemort’s sigil, dominate the setting. The option is there for serious enthusiasts to also participate in wand duelling in the studios’ Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. On 29, 30 and 31 October, there’s a special after-hours event called NOX, during which the entire studio is plunged into darkness, the Great Hall opens with themed cocktails, trick-or-treating stations are scattered around, and Death Eaters threaten to storm proceedings at any moment. For any fans of the series, this is the hottest ticket in (and outside of) town for Halloween.
Dare Ye Venture into The London Dungeon?
The London Dungeon ratchets up its menace through October with a somehow, even scarier edge to its usually darkly theatrical immersion into the city’s often bloody and haunting history. The experience runs continuously through opening hours, where once inside, visitors traverse 14 live interactive shows, from plague alleys and torture chambers to the Drop Dead vertical free-fall ride, exiting through the Victorian tavern in all its thematically spooky glory.
What has always set the London Dungeon apart is its raw theatricality. Actors engage visitors in dialogue, dark humour and occasional jump scares, bringing centuries of grim history (Jack the Ripper, the Great Fire, witchcraft trials) to life in highly grotesque and gripping fashion. Halloween only serves to intensify the experience, with lighting and effects for the season making an already eerie and gruesome setting all the more haunting.
A Haunted Hampton Court Palace at Halloween
Over the October half-term period, Hampton Court Palace leans into its historical hauntings with garden trails, storytelling, beastly creatures, and secret grottoes in the Magic Garden. Entry is included with the palace admission (free for Historic Royal Palaces members), though booking is recommended well in advance, as this is an incredibly popular destination at the best of times.
Within the grounds of the regal Tudor palace, actors and immersive props dot the gardens and palace rooms, bringing a whole new dimension to storytelling sessions and regaling the tales of prior residents past. When one visits Hampton Court, the uniqueness of the occasion does not lie in the blending of royal pageantry, atmospheric gardens and mythic beasts but rather, walking a living Halloween trail and stepping into centuries of intrigue and hauntings.
The Mandrake “Into the Woods” Halloween Party
For one night only on the 25th of October, The Mandrake in Central London hosts a truly special gathering on All Hallows Eve. Samhain: Into the Woods is an immersive, theatrical Halloween party that leans into mysticism, performance art and rituals of the past. The Mandrake’s décor and programming for the event evoke the hallowed Celtic roots of Samhain. Through the creation of (quite literal) fire passages and dark forests, haunting performances of both modern and interpretive dance give way to contemporary DJ sets and guest music acts to produce a party truly worthy of waking the dead.
Guests are encouraged to dress to the theme (Children of the Forest), and surprises lurk around every corner in the immersive salons and hallways of the dressed-for-the-occasion hotel. This is not your average horror haunt per se, but an atmospheric ritual-party hybrid with theatrical storytelling, music, as well as plenty of opportunity for those who want to be a part of the story rather than simply observing proceedings. There are not many events occurring in the capital with such a wonderful sense of the occult and occasion as there are at the Mandrake on Halloween weekend.
