Halloween is a time when London transforms into a city of eerie enchantment and spooktacular festivities. Whether you're a family with young children or teenagers looking for some thrilling adventures there is a variety of London Halloween events to cater to all tastes and ages. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best family-friendly Halloween attractions and activities in London for 2023, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the magic and mystery of the season.
Halloween at London Zoo
Location: ZSL London Zoo, Regent's Park
London Zoo has a long-standing tradition of hosting a fantastic Halloween event that's perfect for families. In 2023, they'll once again transform into a spooktacular wonderland. Here are some of the things that you can get involved in...
- Decorate a petrifying pumpkin.
- Navigate through the extinct species graveyard.
- Head to Ghoul School to learn some spells.
- Party away in our bubble boogie.
- Craft a menacing mask to take home with you.
- With the help of the Zoo’s fearsome face painters, transform into a black cat, spider or other creepy creature.
- Tune in to terrifying animal talks and devilish demonstrations.
Harry Potter Studio Tour: Dark Arts
Location: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Leavesden
For fans of the wizarding world, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is a must-visit this Halloween. Explore the darker side of magic as the studios are decorated with over 100 floating pumpkins and sinister lighting. Teenagers will be captivated by the authentic sets, costumes, and magical effects, while younger children can participate in wand-making and other enchanting activities.
Spooky Thames River Cruise
Location: Various docks along the River Thames
Take a Thames River Cruise with a spooky twist. These family-friendly cruises offer a unique perspective of London's iconic landmarks illuminated in eerie lights. Teenagers will appreciate the ghost stories and legends of the river and adults will love it too!
Creepy Critters at Syon Park
Location: Syon Park, Brentford
This Halloween we've got lots of gore in store for families! We’ve got ‘Creepy Critters’ and a family trail ‘Ghastly Guts, Gory Gravy and GUNPOWDER!’
Zoolab are back with their animal handling sessions, but this time the creatures are even more spine-tingling! Hairier and scarier!
The Ghost Bus Tours
Location: Various starting points
Teens with a taste for the macabre will relish The Ghost Bus Tours. Step aboard the vintage Routemaster bus, reimagined as a haunted vehicle for a thrilling journey through London's darkest history. With tales of serial killers, grave robbers, and haunted sites, this tour is not for the faint-hearted. You will encounter all of the top attractions of London, including the Houses of Parliament, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral and The Tower of London. It is the UK's only comedy-horror theatre experience on wheels!
Halloween at the London Dungeon
Location: The London Dungeon, County Hall
The London Dungeon is a year-round attraction that becomes even more captivating during Halloween. Teens will love the spine-tingling tales and realistic recreations of London's gruesome past. While the London Dungeon can be intense, it's suitable for older kids who enjoy a good scare.
This Halloween, will you dare step into the attic of the most haunted house in England - 50 Berkley Square. Mystery, murder and madness surrounds the terrifying legend of this property with countless lives lost. As the stories of these fateful souls play out in front of your eyes, just one question remains - will you survive the night?
This is a limited-run show which is included in your standard entry to the London Dungeon.
Pumpkin Picking Farms
Location: Various farms in the surrounding countryside
For a more laid-back Halloween experience, consider taking a short trip out of the city to visit a pumpkin picking farm. Teens can enjoy the adventure of selecting their own pumpkins, while younger children will appreciate the opportunity to explore the farm and engage in seasonal activities like hayrides and corn mazes.
Halloween Pumpkin Trail in Belgravia
Location: Various Belgravia Locations
Go in search of spooky Halloween displays by following this family-friendly pumpkin trail, returning to Belgravia from 23 to 31 October, 2023. During the trail, see a mix of showstopping pumpkin displays and smaller eye-catching displays. See below for last year's spooky displays. More details about 2023's trail will be revealed in October.
Fright Night at Thorpe Park
Location: Thorpe Park Resort
For thrill-seeking teenagers, Thorpe Park's Fright Night is the ultimate Halloween destination. This theme park turns into a nightmarish playground with terrifying mazes and scare zones. Make sure your teens are prepared for the adrenaline-pumping experience, as it can get quite intense.
Wizard's Afternoon Tea
Location: The Wands & Wizard Exploratorium
Wizard Afternoon Tea at The Wands & Wizard Exploratorium is an interactive tea-brewing experience where you step into the imagined worlds of your childhood through the subtle science of tea brewing, molecular gastronomy, and technology.
Spell Casting: After selecting your magic wand, you are led to an interactive work station where you cast spells with your wand to control your tea stand and open your locked puzzle chest, which contains your ingredients.
Tea Brewing: During your time with us you will brew two different types of interactive teas, the first of which focuses on transfiguration and second of which has been designed to encourage experimentation and iteration for finding the perfect blend for your palette. You can expect to be hands-on with your tea and use all of your senses.
Confectionary Delights: Your Wizard Afternoon Tea® Experience includes a scone and a carefully curated selection of “sand-witches,” and desserts. These may be items you've never tried or even heard of before, and we've baked molecular gastronomy into this other-worldy tea experience!
Conclusion
Halloween in London is a magical time for families and teenagers alike. Whether you're exploring haunted zoos, embarking on ghostly bus tours, or picking pumpkins on a farm, there are countless ways to enjoy the season's festivities. With a variety of family-friendly events and activities, London offers something for everyone, ensuring that Halloween 2023 will be a memorable and spooktacular affair for all ages. So, gather your family and friends, embrace the spirit of the season, and make the most of the enchanting Halloween offerings in the heart of London.
Leave a Reply