How To Celebrate Halloween In London
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7 months ago
The spookiest things to do
You could always carve your own pumpkin, get dressed up and go to a spooky party, or just nestle in at home and stick a scary film on – but here’s how to celebrate Halloween in London if you’re looking for something a little different this year.
How To Celebrate Halloween In London 2023
Pick Your Own Pumpkin
Running for one week only from 25 October 2023 at Cowcross Yards (9–13 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6DR)
Forget BYOB, it’s all about PYOP. London’s first Urban Pumpkin Patch is coming this October, inviting visitors to pick their own in the heart of the city in celebration of spooky season. Visitors can expect farm vibes – think white picket fences and hay bales – while they select their superb squash. If you don’t rate your carving abilities, the Graffiti Kings will be on hand, spray painting 50 mini pumpkins for free on 25 October. cowcrossyards.co.uk
Discover more pretty pumpkin patches near London here
Catch A Scary Film Under The Stars
Thursdays–Sundays throughout October at Rooftop Film Club (Roof A, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST)
For the first time, London’s popular summer outdoor cinema is reopening for an October window, inviting horror film fans back to Peckham for screenings of the likes of Hereditary, American Psycho and The Exorcist: Believer from Thursday to Sunday throughout October. Plus, on 28 October, there will be a special Haunted Rooftop Riot, where ghosts, ghouls and probably a few Barbies will be ready to dance the night away (book your ticket here). rooftopfilmclub.com
Fancy staying in? These are our favourite scary films to watch this Halloween
Halloween Masquerade Ball
27 October 2023 at Dartmouth House (37 Charles St, London W1J 5ED)
A live DJ, a casino, a photo booth, and cocktails and canapes galore: two London members clubs have teamed up to host a spooky black-tie event called The Halloween Bal Masqué. Dartmouth House Members’ Club and Cocktails & Conversations will host 300 guests for this unique Halloween evening combining members with non-members in the beautiful surrounds of Dartmouth House. Tickets are £45 each and can be purchased here.
The Price Is Fright
The Kraken Screamfest VII: Shock Exchange runs 26–28 October 2023 at Clerkenwell Catacombs (2 Sans Walk, London EC1R 0AS)
© Nigel Davies
Before you are granted entry to the Shock Exchange cocktail bar, you’ll have to traverse an immersive horror gauntlet armed with a heart rate monitor. Weather the horrors and jumpscares intact, and you’ll end up in Kraken Rum’s cocktail bar where the price of your drink is determined by your heart rate. That’s right: the more your heart pounds, the more pounds you pay. Good luck! Entry is £10 per person and can be purchased here.
Belgravia Ghost Tours
From 6.30pm on 28, 29 and 31 October across Belgravia
Fancy a frightening fix? Delve into Belgravia’s mysterious history on a free ghost tour, passing the likes of The Grenadier Pub (haunted by a lonely soldier who was murdered by his comrades) and the Plumber’s Arms Pub (where Lord Lucan, the prime suspect in a gruesome 1970s murder scandal, was last seen before mysteriously disappearing). Book your free ticket here.
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies
Extended Halloween opening hours: 11am–5pm from 11 October–3 November 2023 at 159 Hoxton St, London N1 6PJ
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This spooky store was established in 1818 – though no one is quite sure why. It must be that the same monsters that come out to play every Halloween were a common presence on London’s nineteenth century streets, too. Whether you’re a vampire or a werewolf (or something in between), find all the supplies you could ever need right here. monstersupplies.org
Monster Mail at Leadenhall Market
11.30am–4.30pm on Monday 23 October & Thursday 26 October 2023 at Leadenhall Market (Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT)
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Speaking of monsters, the Hoxton Street Monster Supplies team is teaming up with London’s iconic Leadenhall Market to help little ones become a penpal with a Yeti, Gremlin, Dragon, Werewolf or Vampire, and receive an original reply, posted directly to your home anywhere in the world before Christmas with its Monster Mail service. There is a £10 donation per letter, with all proceeds going to children’s charity Ministry of Stories. Children must be accompanied by an adult and will receive a free pencil and monster mail sticker to take home. leadenhallmarket.co.uk
Bagatelle London’s Halloween Circus
26 October–1 November 2023 at Bagatelle London (34 Dover St, London W1S 4NG)
Enter Bagat-hell at this exuberant circus wonderland, with jaw-droppingly transformed interiors and exteriors showcasing the circus’ most frightful act: the clown. Guests can expect surprise performances throughout the evening, plus tuck into the limited-edition Halloween dessert, Spiced Pumpkin. bagatelle.com
Creepy Crypt Visit
Tuesday 31 October 2023 at Westminster Abbey (Dean’s Yard, London SW1P 3PA)
This Halloween, Yaatra – the stunning Indian restaurant in the Old Westminster Fire Station – is partnering with Westminster Abbey to offer an unparalleled experience, taking intrepid souls into the heart of the Abbey’s history, including exclusive access to typically off-limits locations. Afterwards, restore your spirits at Yaatra, where a Dark & Sinister cocktail will be ready and waiting. From 2pm on Halloween. Tickets are £37 per person and can be purchased here.
After Dark Party At SAW: Escape Experience London
21, 28 & 31 October 2023 at 1 America Square, London EC3N 2LS
© The Other Richard
There’s not long left to enjoy (or cower in fear from) London’s SAW: Escape Experience, which ends on 5 November. Luckily for us, it’s going out with a bang: in celebration of spooky season, players can book in for an adrenaline-fuelled 70-minute game of survival at late night intervals before dancing the night away in The Traproom bar to a hair-raising lineup of alternative bangers. Tickets must be booked in advance at sawtheexperience.com
Find more spine-chilling escape rooms here
The Big Halloween Quiz
31 October 2023 at The Hawk’s Nest (Goldhawk Rd, Shepherd’s Bush Market, London W12 8DF)
Let’s get quizzical this Halloween at Shepherd’s Bush Market, where The Hawk’s Nest will host its annual Big Halloween Quiz. Chomp on delicious pizza, sip on new winter cocktail ‘Salted Caramel Smoky Old Fashioned’, and test your brains – the winner will bag a £150 bar tab, after all. Dress to the nines and you could bag a £50 bar tab for best dressed team. Book your table at the-hawks-nest.co.uk
Follow A Spook-tacular Pumpkin Trail
23–31 October 2023 across Belgravia
The famed Belgravia Pumpkin Trail is back for another year, bringing a winding series of displays to its beautiful streets and shop windows, all inspired by Halloween and rich autumnal colours. belgravialdn.com
Step Into The World Of Grimm’s Tales At The Thin White Duke
27 & 28 October 2023 at The Thin White Duke (22B Great Windmill St, London W1D 7LD)
Step into the spooky world of Grimm’s Tales across two evenings at Soho cocktail bar The Thin White Duke, where live storytelling will be accompanied by burlesque performances from Miss Betsy Rose, an enchanted feast of fairytale desserts, and beguiling cocktails concocted by Dav Eames. Tickets are £40 per person – including a welcome drink, a feast of desserts, and an evening of entertainment – and can be booked here.
Burials, Bombs & Fantastic Beasts Walking Tours
Every Wednesday from 6.30–8pm, 11 October–1 November 2023 at Leadenhall Market (Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT)
Leadenhall Market
The City of London guides are back with their famed ‘Burials, Bombs & Fantastic Beasts’ Walking Tours at Leadenhall Market, unveiling the history that goes back all the way to 1321, and uncovering some of the darker history – think witchcraft, murder and death – around every corner. Tickets are priced from £7 and must be booked in advance at leadenhallmarket.co.uk
Halloween Steamed Buns At Bun House
Available from 23–31 October (or until sold out) at Bun House (26-27 Lisle St, London WC2H 7BA)
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This October, the beloved Cantonese-style steamed bun specialist Bun House will be bringing back its much-loved limited-edition Halloween steamed buns. Crafted on-site, sink your teeth into freshly steamed spiced pumpkin buns, served piping hot straight from the bamboo baskets. £6 each, also available to take away and steam at home. bun.house
Free Spooky Face Painting
3–5pm on 31 October at five Badiani branches: Angel, Balham, Chelsea, Notting Hill & Windsor
A scarily good deal: bring your little goblins and ghosts to Badiani for free face painting when you scoop up a cone of delicious gelato. badiani1932.com
Do The Time Warp At Rocky Horror Halloween Brunch
21 & 28 October & 4 November 2023 at Devonshire Terrace by Drake & Morgan (Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4WY)
Love The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Well, have we got the brunch for you. It’s just a jump to Liverpool Street, and then slide to Devonshire Square, where Devonshire Terrace is ready and waiting with an immersive brunch experience complete with two courses, a welcome drink, and the option to upgrade to bottomless cocktails. But, as we know, it’s the pelvic thrust that really drives you insaa-aa-aa-aane. Tickets are £49.95 per person from drakeandmorgan.co.uk
Decorate Spooky Biscuits
3–31 October 2023 at Biscuiteers Belgravia (14-15 Eccleston Yards, 21 Eccleston Pl, London SW1W 9AZ) & Notting Hill (194 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2ES)
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Who needs gross, wet pumpkin innards when you could be decorating a cute biscuit instead? Head to Biscuiteers in Eccleston Yards or Notting Hill to ice your own amid a spookily made-up cafe. Plus, enjoy a luxury hot chocolate, a warming pumpkin spiced latte and/or a tasty Halloween cupcake (and maybe pick up some of the professionally iced Halloween biscuits while you’re there…). biscuiteers.com
Visit A Haunted Pub
The Ten Bells (84 Commercial St, London E1 6QQ)
(c) Hulki Okan Tabak, Unsplash
East London is famously the old stomping ground of Jack the Ripper – and The Ten Bells is thought to still host one of his victims, Annie Chapman, who was murdered after a night of drinking there. Ever since, landlords, staff and punters alike have reported chilling signs of paranormal activity – which you can put to the test over a pint this Halloween. tenbells.com
