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The nights are drawing in, pumpkins are flickering in shop windows, and the air in London has that particular late-October edge: just the right mix of mischief, mystery and menace. As Halloween approaches this Thursday, October 30th, the capital transforms into a playground for the brave and the curious. We’ve rounded up the very best things to do this weekend, from immersive parties where the drinks flow as freely as the screams, to family-friendly frights, eerie walks and screenings of horror classics. Whatever your taste - spooky, playful, or downright terrifying - we’ve got your number. 1. The Prince Charles Cinema – HorrOctober Beloved central London repertory cinema The Prince Charles offers almost 100 horror screenings this October. From Suspiria (1977) to Nosferatu (1922) with live score, and all-night marathons including all six Final Destination films, cinephiles can revel in horror classics and obscure B-movies. Special 35mm screenings of The Exorcist, The Shining, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre provide an authentic retro experience. The cinema also hosts its famous Sing-A-Long-A Rocky Horror Picture Show, making HorrOctober a full month of frights for enthusiasts of every taste. Tickets: Vary by screening Details: Prince Charles Cinema Dates: Until 5 Nov 2025 2. Dark Secrets Exhibition – Waterloo Vaults Explore over 1,000 esoteric and macabre artefacts at the Dark Secrets exhibition. The labyrinthine show includes human skeletons, a calcified foetus, and rooms dedicated to ritualistic murder. While not suitable for children, it’s a rare, immersive dive into the occult and bizarre. Expect to be challenged, fascinated, and thoroughly creeped out during this 90-minute journey through the Vaults. Tickets: £23 Details: Dark Secrets Dates: Until 31 May 2026 3. FrightFest Halloween – Odeon Luxe West End, Leicester Square London’s premier horror film festival returns for a weekend of indie and UK premiere screenings. Expect chills, gore, and cinematic thrills, with an 18+ audience only. Tickets: £20–£40 Details: FrightFest Dates: 31 Oct–1 Nov 4. Home House Halloween Ball – The Lost Forest Home House is synonymous with some of London’s most lavish and inventive Halloween parties, and the 2025 edition is no exception. This private members’ club in Marylebone is open to the public for one night and transforms into The Lost Forest, a shadowy, moss-draped world where roots twist through the corridors. Every room presents a new realm: a witch’s swamp, pagan shrines, and woodland clearings where spirits gather. Famous for its Halloween parties, Home House has long been a hotspot for celebrities. Queen of pop Madonna is often seen roaming the halls there and stars like Paul McCartney, Boy George, and Annie Lennox have graced its rooms. The club occupies a Georgian manor with a storied history dating back to the 18th century, and each Halloween the venue reinvents itself with a fully immersive theme. This year, it’s The Lost Forest, promising a night of unearthly wonders. Tickets: Members £110 | Guests £130 Details: Home House Date: Friday 31 Oct 2025, 7pm–late 5. Hampton Court Palace – Outdoor Halloween Trail Hampton Court Palace’s sprawling gardens become a playground for Halloween with atmospheric projections, roaming spirits, and interactive story sessions. The outdoor trail immerses visitors in the history and legend of Henry VIII’s palace, while eerie soundscapes and dramatic lighting heighten the spooky atmosphere. This is a unique way to combine history, architecture, and Halloween thrills in a single evening. Tickets: From £20 Details: Hampton Court Halloween Dates: Until 2 Nov 2025 6. Boo at the Zoo – London Zoo, Regent’s Park London Zoo’s annual Halloween programme combines animal encounters with classic autumn fun. Pumpkin picking and painting, craft workshops, UV discos, and marshmallow-toasting stations keep the little ghouls entertained, while older visitors can explore the Zoo’s nocturnal animals at the darkened Cassons area and hear expert talks on mysterious nighttime creatures. Tickets: Free with Zoo admission Details: Boo at the Zoo Dates: Until 2 Nov 2025 7. Fright at the Museum: Vampire Ball – Natural History Museum, South Kensington A spine-tingling adult-only evening awaits at the Natural History Museum, featuring a vampire ball, live band, silent disco, and the museum’s ghoulish specimens. Visitors can mingle with scientists, explore jarred pickled creatures, and dance among the skeletons for a mix of education and eerie entertainment. Tickets: £25–£40 Details: Fright at the Museum Date & Time: Friday 31 Oct 8. Beavertown: The Lost Dimensions – Shoreditch Beavertown Brewery brings immersive Halloween thrills to Kachette in Shoreditch with “The Lost Dimensions,” a 90-minute journey through five twisted rooms. Expect surreal landscapes, unexpected encounters, side quests, and a pop-up Beavertown bar where DJs spin late into the night. Tickets include a drinks token, two cans of Beavertown beer, and a snack. Tickets: £35 Details: Beavertown Halloween Dates: 31 Oct–2 Nov 9. London Dungeon: Dracula: A Victorian Nightmare – London Bridge Experience the first Halloween show based on a fictional character at the London Dungeon. Ivy-strangled statues, mossy coffins, and soundscapes recreate Kingstead Cemetery in 1886. Tickets: £25–£35 Details: London Dungeon Halloween Dates: Until 2 Nov 2025 10. Halloween at Kew Gardens Kew Gardens returns with its Halloween trail, combining eerie illuminations with spine-tingling theatrics. The gardens are alive with ghoulish light installations, fire performers, and actors roaming the paths to stir up frights. Families can enjoy daylight slots for gentle spooks, twilight for a slightly scarier stroll, and moonlight sessions for full immersion into the dark, twisted magic of the gardens. Hot drinks and street food vendors keep visitors warm as they navigate the haunted trail, while costumes are strongly encouraged for maximum effect. Tickets: From £20 (children under 3 free) Details: Kew Gardens Halloween Dates: Until 2 Nov 2025 11. Dalston Pumpkin Lantern Festival – Dalston East Curve Garden Dalston’s East Curve Garden turns into a glowing autumn spectacle during the weekend leading up to Halloween. Families and visitors can help carve hundreds of pumpkins in community workshops, which are then lit up to create a mesmerizing lantern display. The garden, set on a converted railway line, becomes a labyrinth of glowing gourds, casting long shadows and creating a magical, slightly eerie atmosphere. It’s a hands-on, interactive way to celebrate Halloween, blending creativity, community, and classic autumnal fun. Suggested donations of £3–5 secure your place at carving sessions, and lantern-lit nights offer a visual feast for all ages. Tickets: Suggested donation £3–5 Details: Dalston Pumpkin Lantern Festival Dates: Until 31 Oct 2025
