Halloween in London: 11 Spooky Ways to Celebrate
Halloween in London is a season, not just a single night. From late September, the city fills up with after-dark garden trails, immersive horror experiences, film screenings and haunted pub tours. This year, Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October, so many events run across the whole weekend from Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
Whether you have just moved into one of our student apartments in London or are getting to know the city like a local, there is something for every mood, from cosy autumn evenings to spine-chilling nights out.
Here is our guide to the best Halloween events in London this year.
Dance Under the Whale at Halloween at the Natural History Museum
Saturday 31 October 2026 | South Kensington
Best for: A grown-up Halloween night with a difference
On Halloween night, the Natural History Museum opens after hours for an adults-only celebration among its skeletons and specimens. Expect spooky science, conversations with museum experts and a silent disco in Hintze Hall, beneath the blue whale skeleton.
It is one of the most memorable ways to spend 31 October in London, especially if you live or study close to South Kensington.
Student Luxe tip: This event usually sells out, so book as soon as possible. Costumes are encouraged, and anything nature-inspired will fit right in.
Watch a Halloween Classic on the JOIA Rooftop, Battersea
29–31 October 2026 | Battersea Power Station
Best for: A cosy, special-occasion film night with skyline views
For a more refined Halloween, JOIA turns its rooftop above Battersea Power Station into an open-air cinema for the third year. The evening starts with dinner in the restaurant from 5.30pm, followed by a Halloween classic on the rooftop from 7.30pm. Ghostbusters screens on 30 October, with The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween night.
Tickets include dinner and the film, starting from £79.50. It is a little more of an occasion, but perfect for celebrating with friends or visiting family.
Student Luxe tip: Wrap up warm, even with blankets provided. Living nearby? Read our guide to living in Battersea.
Brave The Nightmare Realm at Avery Hill Mansion
9 October – 1 November 2026 | Avery Hill, Greenwich
Best for: Horror fans who want a real scare
One of Europe's best-known horror attractions has crossed the Irish Sea for its London debut. The Nightmare Realm takes over the Victorian Avery Hill Mansion with more than 70 actors and two immersive stories: Avery Hill Asylum and Sundown Manor, connected by a Halloween Town village to explore in between.
Tickets cost £30–£38, and the experience lasts around 75 minutes. It is recommended for ages 13 and over and is designed to be intense.
Student Luxe tip: Allow at least two hours in total so you can explore at your own pace. Go with a group, and check your journey home before you leave, as Avery Hill is in south-east London.
Image: © The London Dungeon / Merlin Entertainments. Source: The London Dungeon
Face the Curse of the Mummy at the London Dungeon
17 October – 1 November 2026 | South Bank
Best for: A central, easy-to-plan Halloween scare
The London Dungeon's Halloween show this year is Curse of the Mummy, based on the real Victorian legend of the 'Unlucky Mummy'. Across three theatrical shows, you are taken into 1880s London, where a cursed Egyptian mummy board brings misfortune to everyone who owns it.
The show is included in standard admission, with tickets from £27. Next to the London Eye, it is an easy plan to combine with dinner or a walk along the river.
Student Luxe tip: Book a timed entry slot in advance. Half term makes the second half of October especially busy, so weekday evenings are your best option.
Sing Along to Rocky Horror at the Rivoli Ballroom
29 & 30 October 2026 | Brockley, South-East London
Best for: Dressing up, singing along and a night out with friends
London's only intact 1950s ballroom hosts a Halloween pop-up cinema, screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a pre-film DJ set, a vintage bar and complimentary popcorn. On 30 October, cabaret and drag hosts join the fun.
Tickets are £18.70, and the events are for over-18s only. Shouting at the screen is very much encouraged.
Student Luxe tip: Bring props and come in costume, as this is a crowd that commits. The nearest station is Crofton Park, on the Thameslink line.
Join a Haunted Pub Tour in Hampstead
Various dates from 16 October, with late-night specials on 30 & 31 October 2026 | Hampstead
Best for: History, ghost stories and a pint or two
Peculiar London's Halloween tour leads you through the winding lanes of Hampstead and across the Heath in the dark, stopping at some of north London's most charming (and reportedly haunted) pubs. Expect horrible history, immersive theatre and a complimentary Halloween drink.
Tickets start from £26.12, and the tour is for over-18s. On Halloween weekend, a late-night special runs from 8pm to 11pm.
Student Luxe tip: Dress warmly and wear sturdy shoes, as part of the route crosses the Heath. The tour starts at The Freemasons Arms, near Hampstead Heath station.
Image: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Source: Wizarding World
See Hogwarts Dressed for Halloween at Dark Arts
16 September – 8 November 2026 | Leavesden, Hertfordshire
Best for: Harry Potter fans and a Halloween day trip
During Dark Arts, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London dims the lights and dresses the Great Hall with floating pumpkins and a Halloween feast. Brave visitors can also follow a special Dark Mark trail with a themed activity passport.
The seasonal feature is included with Studio Tour admission, so there is no extra ticket to buy.
Student Luxe tip: Tickets must be booked in advance for a specific date and time. Trains run from London Euston to Watford Junction, where a shuttle bus takes you to the Studio Tour.
Spot the Giant Tentacles at Leadenhall Market
Throughout October 2026 | City of London
Best for: A free, photo-worthy Halloween stop
Every October, giant six-metre purple tentacles creep out of the windows of this Victorian market, one of the City's most beautiful buildings. It is a quick, free stop that makes a great photo, and it combines easily with a walk around the City or a drink nearby.
Student Luxe tip: Visit on a weekday, when the market's shops and restaurants are open. Look up, as the tentacles are easy to miss if you are just walking through.
Check the full list of London Tube hacks before your Halloween night out
Celebrate at a Members' Club or in Mayfair
30–31 October 2026 | Marylebone & Mayfair
Best for: A glamorous, dressed-up Halloween night
Some of London's most talked-about Halloween parties happen behind closed doors. On Friday 30 October, Home House in Marylebone becomes a mysterious 1980s toybox, with entertainers and unexpected characters at every turn. Entry is for members and their guests, so if a friend is a member, this is the night to ask.
On the same night, The Maine in Mayfair hosts one of the season's best-known Halloween parties in its Georgian townhouse. Nearby, Mayfair clubs such as Maddox and The Cuckoo Club usually mark Halloween weekend with themed nights, so follow their Instagram accounts for this year's announcements.
Student Luxe tip: Book a table or join the guest list as early as possible, as Halloween weekend is one of the busiest of the year in Mayfair. Plan your costume carefully, because at these parties the effort is part of the dress code, and always bring photo ID.
Dance Until Dawn at a Halloween Rave
29–31 October 2026 | Marylebone & North-West London
Best for: Big productions, house music and dancing until late
For a night that goes on until the early hours, Perplex brings The Neon Church to One Marylebone, a former church on Marylebone Road, from 29 to 31 October. Expect neon lighting over the altar, three stages, five experience rooms, immersive performers and more than 18 DJs, from 10.30pm to 4.30am.
On 30 and 31 October, KONFLICT. and Boneca present The Mansion: Casa del Cartel at [YOU.] Studio in north-west London. The venue becomes a cartel mansion across two floors, with a different house line-up each night, from 10pm to 5am. Costumes are mandatory.
Student Luxe tip: Saturday at The Neon Church has already sold out, so book Thursday or Friday, or watch for extra releases. Buy tickets only through official sellers such as DICE and DJ Tickets, and plan your journey home in advance: the Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights, but not on Thursday.
Host a Halloween Night in Your Apartment
Any night you like | At home
Best for: A relaxed night in with friends
Not everyone wants to queue for a club or a haunted house, and some of the best Halloween nights happen at home. If you live in one of our fully furnished apartments in London, you already have an equipped kitchen and a living room ready for guests, so all you need is a plan.
Cook a Halloween dinner together, from pumpkin soup or risotto to a dessert everyone can decorate. Then dim the lights, choose a scary film and turn your sofa into a home cinema. Classic picks include Halloween, The Shining and Scream; for a gentler night, try Hocus Pocus or Practical Magic.
It is also a lovely way to get to know new friends from your course during your first autumn in the city. Still looking for a home close to your university? Explore our student apartments in London.
Student Luxe tip: Ask everyone to bring one dish or drink, and keep decorations simple: a few pumpkins from a local market, LED candles and a good playlist. Keep noise down late at night and check our house rules before inviting a group.
A little about us
At Student Luxe, we only recommend what we would genuinely suggest to a friend. Our team is made up of international students and long-time Londoners, and between us we have spent many Halloweens in the city: queuing for the Mayfair clubs, dressing up for Rocky Horror and hosting our own Halloween dinners at home. The tips in this guide come from that experience.
We help students and professionals find fully furnished, all-inclusive apartments across London, with bills, Wi-Fi and weekly housekeeping included. Every enquiry goes directly to a real member of our team, who will help you find a home close to your university, your work and, of course, the best of the city.
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