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HalloweenHalloween in London with Kids: What to Do in 2026?
Pumpkins, witches, ghosts and fantastic creatures: Halloween in London with children can be just as fun as it is spooky. In 2026, several major London attractions are hosting events designed for families, including Kew Gardens, the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and LEGOLAND Windsor.
The most important thing is to choose an activity that suits the age and sensitivity of your children. Some experiences focus on magic, pumpkins and decorations, while others make greater use of darkness, spooky characters or special effects. The wider Halloween in London programme also includes shows, evening tours and scarier experiences for those who want to continue after dark.
What are the best Halloween activities in London with children?
For Halloween 2026, several events stand out for a family day out. The best choice depends mainly on the age of your children, how easily they are frightened and the type of experience you are looking for.
| Activity | Best for | Atmosphere | 2026 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halloween at Kew | Families and young children depending on the time slot | Magical to more intense | 16 October - 1 November |
| Dark Arts - Harry Potter | Older children and Harry Potter fans | Magical and dark | 16 September - 8 November |
| Halloween at the Tower of London | Families interested in history and legends | Ghosts and history | 24 October - 1 November |
| Halloween at Hampton Court Palace | Families and school-age children | Haunted palace | 24 October - 1 November |
| Brick or Treat - LEGOLAND Windsor | Young children and LEGO fans | Playful Halloween | 10-11 October and 17 October - 1 November |
| Brigit's Bakery - Halloween Afternoon Tea Bus | Families / children aged 5+ | Sweet treats and Halloween fun | 19 October - 1 November |
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Tip: if your child is easily frightened, choose daytime experiences and events where you can opt for a gentler atmosphere. Halloween in London is not only about scary attractions: several events are primarily designed for family fun.
Halloween at Kew: a family-friendly experience
In autumn, the famous Kew Gardens hosts Halloween at Kew, an illuminated trail created especially for the season. In 2026, the event runs from 16 October to 1 November.
The trail combines illuminations, legendary creatures, haunted scenes, actors and performances. Dracula, the Headless Horseman and other creatures appear throughout the gardens after dark.
For families, one of the advantages of Kew is being able to choose a time according to how comfortable your children are with spooky experiences:
- Daylight: sessions until 6pm, particularly suitable for young children and families;
- Twilight: from 6pm to 7:30pm, when the atmosphere gradually becomes more eerie;
- Moonlight: after 7:30pm, offering the darkest and most intense atmosphere of the evening.
With young children: Daylight sessions are the easiest option to choose. Twilight and Moonlight sessions remain open to families, but the darkness and atmosphere of the trail are more pronounced.
Tickets: Halloween at Kew has its own ticketing system. Check that the ticket you are buying includes access to the Halloween event rather than standard Kew Gardens admission only.
Discover the Dark Arts of Harry Potter at Halloween
For children and teenagers who love Harry Potter, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter is one of the most iconic experiences of the Halloween season.
From 16 September to 8 November 2026, Dark Arts transforms several areas of the Studio Tour. The Great Hall is decorated with more than 100 floating pumpkins, while Death Eaters and Dementors add to the darker atmosphere of the visit.
Lighting and sound effects, smoke and pyrotechnic effects are also used during parts of the experience. The 2026 edition also gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the sound effects used in the films and the creation of Nagini.
Sensitive children: Dark Arts includes dark environments, sound and lighting effects, smoke and pyrotechnic effects. Keep these elements in mind if your child is sensitive to sudden noises or intense scenes.
Tickets for the Studio Tour must be booked in advance. During the school holidays and around 31 October, it is best to book as soon as your travel dates are confirmed.
Celebrate Halloween at the Tower of London
With its defensive walls, former prisons and centuries of sometimes macabre history, the Tower of London already provides a particularly appropriate setting for Halloween.
From 24 October to 1 November 2026, the fortress hosts Halloween at the Tower of London. Visitors can explore its more mysterious side through stories, spirits and installations inspired by its past.
The event runs each day from 10:30am to 4pm, making it possible to enjoy the Halloween atmosphere during the day before continuing with another activity in the evening.
Good to know: Halloween at the Tower of London activities are included with Tower of London admission in 2026. You do not need to buy an additional Halloween ticket.
This means you can combine the seasonal activities with the fortress's main attractions during the same visit.
Explore a haunted Hampton Court Palace
Once home to Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace has all the ingredients for a good Halloween setting: historic rooms, stories of the royal court, ghost legends and gardens that take on a very different atmosphere in autumn.
From 24 October to 1 November 2026, atmospheric projections, sound effects, magic and ghostly characters transform parts of the palace into a family Halloween adventure.
Good to know: as at the Tower of London, the Halloween event is included with Hampton Court Palace admission. It is a good way to combine a cultural visit with a seasonal activity without buying two separate tickets.
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Windsor: Halloween for younger children
If your children prefer LEGO bricks to ghosts, Brick or Treat is one of the Halloween experiences most clearly designed for families.
In 2026, LEGOLAND Windsor celebrates Halloween on 10 and 11 October, then from 17 October to 1 November. The park is transformed for the season with themed LEGO models, LEGO Monsters, character encounters and entertainment in a deliberately playful atmosphere.
Practical tip: LEGOLAND Windsor Resort is in Windsor, outside central London. With children, it is better to plan it as a full-day excursion rather than trying to combine it with several attractions in central London.
Enjoy a Halloween Afternoon Tea with Brigit's Bakery
For something different from palaces and attractions, Brigit's Bakery offers a very London way to celebrate Halloween: an afternoon tea served aboard a double-decker bus while sightseeing around the capital.
From 19 October to 1 November 2026, the Spooky Halloween Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Bus Tour takes families aboard a Routemaster decorated for the season. For around 90 minutes, the bus travels through central London while passengers enjoy savoury bites, cakes and Halloween-themed treats.
The experience is available for children aged 5 and over. Prices start from £45 per adult and £37 per child. Vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free menus are also available, subject to the conditions specified when booking.
With younger children: Brigit's Bakery also offers a Peppa Pig Halloween Afternoon Tea Bus Tour from 19 October to 1 November 2026. Suitable for children from the age of 2, this version combines Halloween, songs and Peppa Pig entertainment with a sightseeing journey past several London landmarks.
The bus is a good alternative for children who enjoy Halloween but do not want to be frightened. It also combines a seasonal activity, afternoon tea and a short sightseeing tour of London without requiring lots of travelling between attractions.
What can you do for free in London with children at Halloween?
Celebrating Halloween in London as a family does not necessarily mean buying a ticket for every activity.
The Royal Parks organise free autumn and Halloween activities during the school holidays. In 2026, Discovery Days: Hair Raising Halloween is scheduled in Hyde Park from 27 to 29 October, from 11am to 3:30pm.
These educational family days explore nature in autumn and the world of bats, with creative activities and Halloween-themed stories.
Budget idea: combine a free daytime activity with one paid experience or an evening show. With children, this is often more enjoyable than trying to fit several ticketed attractions into the same day.
A walk through historic neighbourhoods or parks filled with autumn colours can also be added to your plans. With younger children, these quieter moments provide a useful break between visits.
Which London show should you see with children at Halloween?
Halloween is also a good opportunity to see a West End show as a family. Wicked is a natural choice thanks to its world of witches and magic without being a horror show. For older children and teenagers who enjoy J.K. Rowling's world, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is another option that fits particularly well with the season.
Our selection of the best shows to see in London for Halloween goes further, with fantasy and gothic productions as well as darker shows aimed at older teenagers and adults.
Which Halloween activity should you choose for your child's age?
Age alone is not enough to determine whether an activity will be suitable. Two children of the same age can react very differently to spooky characters, darkness or sudden noises. Your child's individual sensitivity is therefore the best guide.
| Profile | Activities to consider | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Very young children | Peppa Pig Halloween Bus Tour, free daytime activities | Playful atmosphere without focusing on scares |
| Young children | Brick or Treat, Kew during Daylight, Brigit's Bakery | Halloween decorations with a more manageable level of intensity |
| School-age children | Tower of London, Hampton Court, Kew | Halloween combined with history, legends or a visual trail |
| Harry Potter fans | Warner Bros. Studio Tour - Dark Arts | Film sets and the magical world in a darker atmosphere |
| Pre-teens and teenagers | Dark Arts, Kew Twilight/Moonlight, West End show | More immersive and atmospheric experiences |
| Sensitive children | LEGOLAND, Brigit's Bakery, free daytime activities, Wicked | Enjoying Halloween without making fear the focus of the experience |
Can you celebrate Halloween in London without frightening children?
Yes. Halloween in London is not limited to haunted houses and horror attractions. Several experiences focus more on pumpkins, magic, decorations and imagination than on scares.
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For a gentler experience, Brick or Treat, Brigit's Bakery's Halloween Afternoon Tea, free daytime family activities and the earliest Halloween at Kew sessions are all good options. A show such as Wicked also keeps the witches-and-magic theme without turning the evening into a horror experience.
Other activities designed for older children and teenagers may include darkness, frightening actors, sound effects or more intense scenes.
Before booking: do not rely only on the recommended age. If your child is sensitive to darkness, sudden noises or frightening characters, check the specific warnings provided for each event as well.
How to plan Halloween in London as a family
Book the most popular activities in advance
Late October generally coincides with the October school holidays in England. Saturday 31 October 2026 may therefore be particularly busy.
For Warner Bros. Studio Tour and events with limited time slots, it is best to book as soon as your itinerary is confirmed.
Do not plan too many activities on the same day
With children, one major attraction and one lighter activity often make a more realistic programme than several paid visits in succession. Trips to Windsor or Warner Bros. Studio Tour also involve more travel time than attractions in central London.
Consider the time of your visit
The atmosphere of the same experience can change considerably after dark. This is particularly true at Kew, where the trail becomes darker depending on the time slot you choose.
Prepare for London weather
At the end of October, some activities include outdoor sections. Clothing suitable for rain and autumn temperatures is particularly useful for Kew, LEGOLAND and activities held in London's parks.
Tip: keep part of your schedule flexible when an activity takes place mainly outdoors. With young children, an overly busy day can quickly become more difficult if it rains or everyone gets tired.
What to do in London on 31 October 2026 with children?
31 October 2026 falls on a Saturday, making it possible to plan a full family Halloween day.
A seasonal attraction can take up a good part of the day: the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace or Warner Bros. Studio Tour, for example. In the evening, a family-friendly West End show allows you to continue the Halloween theme without necessarily adding a scary experience.
With younger children, a day at LEGOLAND or a suitable session at Kew will often be easier than trying to fit several attractions into one day. For a less busy programme, Brigit's Bakery's Afternoon Tea Bus can also work as the main activity before a walk or a show.
FAQ: Halloween in London with children
What is the best Halloween activity in London with young children?
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Windsor is specifically designed as a family Halloween celebration. Halloween at Kew is also a good option with a Daylight session. For an experience without scares, Brigit's Bakery's Afternoon Tea Bus offers a more food-focused alternative.
Which activity should you choose for a child who does not like being scared?
LEGOLAND, Brigit's Bakery, free daytime family activities and a fantasy show such as Wicked are among the most accessible options. At Kew, choose a Daylight session rather than a later time slot.
What can you do with teenagers for Halloween in London?
Warner Bros. Studio Tour during Dark Arts, Halloween at Kew during a Twilight or Moonlight session and selected West End shows are particularly interesting for pre-teens and teenagers looking for a more immersive experience.
Are Halloween activities included with attraction tickets?
Conditions vary depending on the event. In 2026, Halloween activities at the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace are included with admission to these attractions. Halloween at Kew, on the other hand, has separate ticketing.
Is there a Halloween Afternoon Tea for children in London?
Yes. In 2026, Brigit's Bakery offers a Spooky Halloween Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Bus Tour for children aged 5 and over, as well as a Peppa Pig Halloween version suitable from the age of 2. Both combine a sightseeing journey through London aboard a double-decker bus with a themed afternoon tea.
Do you need to book Halloween activities in London in advance?
Booking ahead is strongly recommended for limited-capacity experiences and required for some attractions. Warner Bros. Studio Tour, for example, requires tickets to be purchased in advance. Around Halloween weekend, booking early also gives you a wider choice of dates and time slots.
Summary
For young children, Brick or Treat, Kew's Daylight sessions and Brigit's Bakery experiences are among the easiest options to consider. To combine Halloween with British history, the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace offer seasonal activities included with admission. For Harry Potter fans and older children, Dark Arts at Warner Bros. Studio Tour provides a darker and more immersive experience.
The best choice ultimately depends on your children's sensitivity, their age and the time you have available. One well-chosen activity is generally better than filling the entire day with attractions.
Check the tickets and experiences available on AllTrippers to choose activities that fit your travel dates and compare the options available for Halloween 2026.
Planning your trip? These are the tours and tickets travellers book most.
