How to Celebrate Halloween in London: 16 SPOOKY Events and Attractions [2023] - London City Calling (2024)

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Spooky season is finally here! The pumpkins are out in force and there’s nowhere better to be than in the capital. London is a fantastic place to celebrate this frightful holiday. From hair-raising historical horrors to eerie immersive attractions, Halloween in London promises countless spine-tingling experiences only for the brave-hearted.

Looking for some spooky thrills this October? I’ve put together the ultimate list of the best and scariest things to do in London for Halloween 2023…

Note: I will continue to update this list for 2023 as new London Halloween events are announced.

1. Brave the UK’s Scariest Attraction: The London Bridge Experience

Descend into the depths of The London Bridge Experience, an award-winning, multi-sensory attraction that has been voted the scariest in the UK.

Set in the historical vaults of London Bridge, the interactive walk-through experience sees a live character guide take you on a journey through the darkest and most gruesome parts of the city’s history. From plague-ridden streets to eerie catacombs, it’s bound to leave you with goosebumps.

And that’s not even the scariest part. Once you’ve finished the London Bridge Experience, you’ll then head even deeper to The London Tombs, winner of the UK’s best Scare Attraction for 13+ years.

Located within the bridge’s most haunted vaults, The London Tombs is a terrifying immersive scare maze inhabited by an array of creepy characters and creatures. From clowns and doctors to zombies, butchers, and even spiders, this chilling maze is not for the faint-hearted.

Plus, don’t miss the year-round attraction’s special 2023 Halloween event “Cir-Curse,” an even scarier experience (if that’s even possible!) that’s strictly for adults only (16+) and definitely one of the scariest Halloween attractions London has to offer.

Halloween 2023 sessions are already booking up, so grab your Halloween tickets here asap.

2. Head Down Into The London Dungeons

Similar to the London Bridge Experience, The London Dungeons offers another opportunity to step back in time and immerse yourself in the gruesome history of London.

Live actors will guide you through a series of recreated chilling scenes from London’s history, including the Great Fire of London, Guy Fawkes, and the infamous Jack the Ripper, while amazing special effects and exciting underground rides add an extra frightening element to the thrilling immersive experience.

While the Dungeons are open all year, a visit to this iconic attraction is certainly one of the top things to do in London for Halloween.

Special offer: Get an adult ticket for £25 and save £10pp on selected dates by booking here.

3. Try Medieval Torture Devices at The Clink Prison Museum

Uncover the brutal realities of London’s oldest prison, The Clink, which dates back to 1144.

This ominous little museum offers a fascinating yet chilling insight into the medieval justice system, with a creepy collection of original torture devices (some of which you can even try out – don’t worry, they’re safe!) and eerie stories of past prisoners.

The Clink Museum doesn’t have live actors or jump scares like the London Bridge Experience and London Dungeons, but it does provide a stark reminder of the city’s dark past through its interesting and interactive historical displays.

4. Create Magical Potions at The Cauldron

Indulge your inner witch or wizard this Halloween in London with a co*cktail-making experience at The Cauldron. This unusual establishment lets you mix and brew your own extravagant potions from a large selection of magical ingredients.

With wizarding robes, interactive wands, and bubbling cauldrons, this Harry Potter-inspired co*cktail experience offers a unique blend of fantasy and fright. Plus, it’s the perfect adults-only Halloween activity in London. Who says dressing up and playing make-believe is only for kids?

To visit the bar, you’ll need topre-book a potions-making classin advance. And make sure to check out these othermagical London attractions for Harry Potter fans too.

5. Attend El Día of The Dead at the London Cabaret London

London’s favourite immersive dinner show producers, London Cabaret Club, will be running their
Halloween show, ‘El Día of The Dead’, from the 26th to the 28th of October this year.

The extravagant show will transport you into a realm of bone-chilling immersive entertainment while telling the sorrowful story of Romeo and Juliet.

You can join for drinks or go full out with the gourmet 3 course dining menu while you enjoy the show. Plus don’t forget to stick around for the after party too!

Read more about my full experience at a previous London Cabaret Club.

6. Go to a Harrowing Halloween Film Screening

Nothing screams Halloween quite like watching a scary movie. From The Shining to Dracula, The Exorcist to Hocus Pocus, Halloween films are one of the best things about the spooky season. And where better to enjoy a classic horror movie with friends than in one of the capital’s coolest venues?

Some of the best Halloween film screenings in London this October:

• Horroctober at The Prince Charles Cinema
• Halloween at Rooftop Film Club
• Halloween Movie Nights at The Clapham Grand
• Halloween Fright Night Cinema at Rivoli Ballroom

7. Get Lost in the Steampunk World of Phantom Peak

One of the coolest immersive experiences in London, Phantom Peak: The Lunar Festival is an unusual open-world experience that calls itself “part escape room, part immersive theatre, part real-life videogame.”

Set within a twisted steampunk universe where Victorian-era science fiction meets the supernatural, you can roam freely around the 30,000 sq ft venue, meeting peculiar characters, following clues, playing arcade-style games, and tackling secretive quests. There’s even a restaurant and bar within the venue, so you can stop for a drink and bite to eat whenever you need a break.

At the end of the 4-hour session, a special closing ceremony will take place, culminating in a finale that you helped create.

Plus during October, Phantom Peak will undergo a spooky makeover to become one of the most unique Halloween nights out in London; “Hallowed Peak.”

8. Enter Madame Tussauds’ Chamber of Horrors

This Halloween at Madame Tussauds London, venture into the infamous Chamber of Horrors, an exhibit featuring eerily lifelike wax figures of some of London’s most notorious criminals.

From Jack the Ripper to The Cray Twins, you’ll get to encounter many of the capital’s seediest and most unsavoury characters.

With all of the exhibits based on real crime scenes, and featuring real historical artefacts, the Chamber of Horrors shines a menacing light on London’s darkest crimes over the past 150 years.

9. Discover the Dark Arts at the Harry Potter Studios

Step into the enchanting world of magic and wizardry at the Warner Bros. Studio Tours: The Making of Harry Potter, which undergoes a spooky Halloween makeover each October.

On a visit to the studios this autumn, you can experience Halloween as if you were really a Hogwarts Student as you step into the Great Hall with over 100 pumpkins floating above a Halloween feast.

From 15th Sept to 5th Nov, you can also discover the Dark Arts with a variety of exclusive seasonal activities, including eerie floating Death Eater processions and live wand combat sessions.

Even if you’ve visited the Warner Bros. Studio Tour already, Halloween is a fantastic time to visit to experience the studio at its spookiest!

Book your Harry Potter Studio tickets with return transport from central London here.

10. Walk in a Murderer’s Footsteps on a Jack the Ripper Tour

Walk in the footsteps of one of London’s most notorious murderers this Halloween on a Jack the Ripper walking tour and help investigate one of the capital’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

On an eerie guided tour through the streets of Whitechapel, you’ll retrace the infamous steps of Jack the Ripper, including many of the real life murder locations, and discover how he managed to evade authorities during his notorious killing spree.

You’ll also hear about the most prominent suspects at the time, from Queen Victoria’s heir to a lowly east end butcher, as well as modern theories on Jack the Ripper’s real identity. Once you’ve gone through all of the evidence, you can make up your own mind on who this infamous killer really was.

There are numerous Jack the Ripper Walking Tours available, but I’d recommend this one, which uses unique “Ripper-Vision” projection technology to help you imagine life in Victorian London.

11. Take a Ride on London’s Comedy Horror Ghost Bus Tour

Experience London from a different perspective this Halloween with a hair-raising ride on the Comedy-Horror Ghost Bus.

Step on board the midnight black vintage funeral bus and take a journey around the city while your creepy yet comical conductor reveals sinister secrets and terrifying truths about many of the capital’s most famous sights. Along the way, you’ll learn about the city’s most haunted places, not-so-friendly ghosts, and unmarked burial grounds.

While the bus tour features plenty of spooky and gruesome stories, it’s not too scary for children, making it a fun Halloween activity in London with kids too.

12. Enjoy a Pint in one of the Capital’s Most Haunted Pubs

If you’re in need of a stiff drink to calm the nerves this spooky season, how about enjoying a pint in one of London’s most haunted pubs? These terrifying taverns are perfect for a Halloween night out in London – although, maybe don’t tell your friends until after you’ve left!

• The Ten Bells, Spitalfields – believed to be haunted by numerous ghosts, including one of Jack the Ripper’s victims, a Victorian landlord, and even the ghost of a murdered baby!
• The Bow Bells, Bow – home to a mischievous ghost who usually frequents the ladies’ toilets. Be careful, the ghost might flush for you.
• The Grenadier, Belgravia – a small pub in a former officer’s mess that’s haunted by the ghost of Cedric, a junior soldier who was bludgeoned to death when he couldn’t pay off his gambling debts. Don’t forget to leave a bill on the ceiling to help pay off poor Cedric’s debt.

Or you could book a Haunted London Pub Tour.

13. Experience Tricks and Treats on a Halloween-Themed Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

London’s favourite afternoon tea bus tour is getting a Halloween makeover from 21st to 31st of October.

Step onboard the classic red Routemaster bus and cruise past many of the capital’s most famous sites while indulging in a specially curated afternoon tea menu, featuring spooky treats like pumpkin tarts and witch-finger sandwiches.

And as for the tricks, a creepy onboard entertainer will keep you on your toes with all sorts of interactive Halloween-themed pranks and laughs.

We had the fantastic Chef JP, who with his blood-soaked apron, unnerving stare, and piercing laugh knew all too well how to make you feel extremely uncomfortable.

A journey onboard BBakery’s Halloween-themed afternoon tea bus has to be THE most quintessentially British way to spend Halloween in London. And that’s really not a bad thing.

Check out a full review of my experience on BBakery’s Halloween Afternoon Tea Bus here.

14. Explore a London Museum After Dark

How about spending Halloween inside one of London’s most iconic museums?

On the evening of 31st October, London’s Natural History Museum will open its doors after-hours for some Halloween fun amongst its world-class collection.

With fancy dress encouraged, the after hours museum event promises an evening of scares, entertainment, and spooky science.

You can explore the museum’s many weird and wonderful exhibits without the big daytime crowds, learn all about spirits (alcohol not ghosts) with behind-the-scenes talks, and brave the exclusive “Spooky Tour” where you’ll get to see many of the museum’s all-time strangest specimens.

Plus don’t forget to grab a drink from the bar and bust out your finest monster mash at the creepy silent disco. Yep, that’s right, you can spend October 31st dancing with the dinosaurs – definitely one of the most unusual Halloween parties London has to offer!

15. Defeat Zombies in the Virtual World

Spend this Halloween attempting to survive a zombie apocalypse… in the virtual world, of course.

At Otherworld VR, one of London’s coolest bars, you can step inside your ownprivate immersion pod, equipped with multi-sensory effects(such as heat, wind, and rumble) and state-of-the-art headsets and remotes. Once inside, you’ll be transported to Otherworld Island, a virtual world filled with exciting games and activities, including several chilling horror games.

Some of the scariest games available in Otherworld are Arizona Sunshine and Five Nights at Freddys. These terrifying virtual reality games are guaranteed to get your palms sweating and your heart beat racing!

16. Attend a Frightfully Fun Halloween Party in London

Looking for somewhere you can get dressed up in your spookiest fancy dress and party until the ghastly hours? Don’t worry, there’s no shortage of fun Halloween nights out in London.

There are countless Halloween parties taking place across the capital this year. And with Halloween 2023 falling on a Tuesday, you can expect a full weekend and week’s worth of parties to pick from.

Some of the best London Halloween club nights already announced:

• Halloween Ball at The Candlelight Club (Sat 28th October)
• Haunted Streets Halloween Party at LaLaLand Shoreditch (Sat 28th October)
• The Night Of The Dead Party by Madison Lates, St. Pauls (Sat 28th October)
• Fright Night and Day of the Deadat DUO Camden (Fri 27th/Sat 28th October)
• Silent Sounds Halloween Disco Boat (Sat 28th October)
• Halloween Rave at Ministery of Sound (Tues 31st October)

Night owl? Check out more fun things to do in London at night.

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