Trick-or-Treating
There’s a reason people go for classic Halloween activities like trick-or-treating: a generous serving of sweet treats, the opportunity to get creative dressing up in a scary costume and a chance to marvel at the neighbourhood’s spooky decorations. An age-old tradition that’s been floating around for generations, nothing beats going trick-or-treating when you’re a kid.
Get trapped in a room with a zombie
As a general rule, escape rooms tend to have an unsettling air - throw in some zombies and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a truly terrifying adventure. The premise is simple: work as part of a team to escape from a zombie within 60 minutes. Easy right? Not so much. You’ll have to move fast because every 5 minutes, the zombie gains more freedom and one single touch means death. Solve puzzles, unravel riddles and put together clues to find the key if you’ve got any chance of making it out alive.
Zombie Outbreak
Halloween is when zombie experiences really come alive (excuse the pun). Not for the faint-of-heart, 2 hours and 30 minutes of immersive zombie battling action in London awaits. Learn how to handle three different weapons in your fight against the horde and train in zombie outbreak stopping tactics with safety gear provided.
Go on a haunted London pub tour
How scary can a haunted London pub tour be, right? Delve deeper into the capital’s most haunted pubs as a knowledgeable guide recounts the murky history of the areas and pubs you visit. Discover three pubs on your haunted trek, including the one that inspired the iconic Sweeney Todd’s Barber Shop.
Explore the murkier side of Edinburgh
This spooktacular season, spend some time learning about Edinburgh’s frightening history with a guided tour of the Old Town and Blair Street Underground Vault. Hear fascinating true tales of all the city’s grisly goings on and occult occurrences in a 1 hour 15 minute escapade.
Ghostly Edinburgh Underground Vault Tour for Two
Enjoy a picturesque stroll through the paved streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town. All is not as it seems as you explore the murkier side of Edinburgh’s long and famous history. With this ghostly guided tour, you’ll venture below the ancient alleyways and into the famous haunted Blair Street Underground Vaults.
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Go to a haunted house
If you’re on the hunt for indoor Halloween activities, you really can’t go wrong with a trip to a haunted house. Get in the spirit by gathering your friends to grip onto as you experience a few palpitating scares. Take on one created by an events company or do your own research and visit one of the most haunted places in the UK.
Make some custom costumes
With so many creative DIY costumes out there, why limit yourself to buying something from the shop? One of the most fun Halloween activities for kids, get them involved in designing and making a custom costume of their choice. Ghosts are obviously the easiest, requiring just a white sheet, but we’re big fans of thinking outside the box.
Brave a scare maze
Scare mazes are a twisted, immersive and festive scare attraction that continually proves to be a popular activity for those courageous enough. Voted the UK’s #1 and Europe’s largest Halloween attraction, Tulley’s Shocktober Fest is a nightmare-inducing paradise. Alternatively, theme parks like Thorpe Park run Fright Nights and Alton Towers host a Scarefest which are full of thrills.
Carve pumpkins
We couldn’t talk about Halloween activities without mentioning the tried-and-tested classic: pumpkin carving. The perfect endeavour to show off your crafting skills and get your hands a little dirty! By now, you’re probably tired of the classic toothy grin and triangle nose so we think it’s time to let your imagination run wild - we’re talking carving witches on broomsticks, Harry Potter-inspired designs and beyond.
Test your nerves at London Bridge
It's pretty notorious for serving up a good helping of horror on even the best of days, but London Bridge really takes it up a notch for Halloween. Being one of the world's most infamously haunted bridges lays a solid foundation for frights of epic proportions, but it's the jump scares, harrowing re-enactments, and sinister tales of war, fire and murder that make this one stand out.
The London Bridge Experience - 2 Adults
If you fancy a good old scare together then the London Bridge experience is the place to go. Voted the ‘Top Horror Attraction in the World’, this fully integrated character led journey through history sees you uncover the dark secrets that lie beneath one of the world’s most famous and haunted bridges. You’ll laugh, scream and possibly cry as the re-enactments of well-known moments in history unfold before your eyes.
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Get in the spirit with the National Trust
They may not be your initial thought for Halloween experiences but the National Trust really knows how to create some spooky days out. Hear spine-chilling tales of folklore and superstition, craft something creepy or wander through atmospheric woodland on a cold October night. Fetch the jumpers, dig out the scarves and don’t forget to keep your wits about you.
Have a horror movie night
A good, old-fashioned movie night makes for one of the best indoor Halloween activities. Guaranteed to delight thrill seekers, pop some popcorn, grab a blanket to hide under for the scary bits and browse the array of horror screenings on Netflix. If that’s not your speed, there are plenty of less intense options over at Disney+.
Satisfy your serial killer curiosity
Covering all manner of unsavoury characters, locations and theories, an expert tour guide will take you on a journey of London’s macabre past. Follow in the footsteps of real serial killers, hear about heinous crimes and delve into the mysteries of unsolved murders. Venture down the capital’s dark alleyways and hidden corners, each with a creepy tale to tell.
Live out your crime scene investigator fantasy
Crime-lovers, Halloween is your time to shine. Hosted by forensic experts, delve into an authentic crime scene and use newfound skills to catch the criminal(s) responsible. Get hands-on with professional CSI equipment and techniques like lifting fingerprints, analysing blood spatter, interviewing witnesses and more.
Shake up pumpkin cocktails
Fun Halloween activities don’t get more spirited than channelling your inner mixologist and crafting some pumpkin cocktails. The star of the season, if you’re a fan of all things pumpkin-flavoured, cocktails are a great way to satisfy your craving. Sip on one of these seasonal libations while cosying up with a suitably scary movie.
Read a horror book
Instead of watching the horror films, why not read the books that inspired the likes of It and The Shining? Get lost in a literary world of horrors, guaranteed to give you an even scarier experience. If you really want to set the tone, light an assortment of seasonal aromatic candles - it’ll only elevate the reading experience.
Build a haunted gingerbread house
The best Halloween activities for children involve simple supplies and simple set up - making building a gingerbread house a great choice. If you thought gingerbread houses were just for Christmas, think again. Buy a pre-made one and spend the afternoon with your kids transforming the house into a haunted affair with orange and green icing, plenty of sweets and more.
Spend the night at a haunted prison
Yep, you read that right. The ultimate sleepover, celebrate the spooky season by spending the night behind bars at one of the UK’s most haunted prisons. Staying in a traditional Victorian cell, embark on a guided tour of the jail including the chilling strip cell and execution room. Explore the site, go ghost hunting and play games, before enjoying a hearty breakfast and getting released back into the world.
Swap scary stories
Swapping ghost or eerie stories is a must-do on Halloween night. Find a scary tale online, listen to a true crime podcast or create your own narrative. You could light a bonfire and sit in a circle to really set the tone for the evening.
Create custom goodie bags
Now that trick-or-treating is back, we think it’s time to welcome back the tradition with open arms. Don’t just give a chocolate bar, get creative with your activities for Halloween and make little goodie bags for visitors. Guaranteed to earn you brownie points in the neighbourhood, make bags with a mix of sweets and chocolate - you could have a special prize reserved for your favourite outfit of the evening.
Visit the Blackpool Dungeons
Paying homage to Lancashire’s grisly history is the Blackpool Tower Dungeon - great for both big and little kids alike. Live actors and immersive sets bring 1000 years of history to life, enhanced by sights, sounds and smells. Top things off with a thrilling drop ride to the death.
Create a frightening treasure hunt
Keep little ones entertained by organising a themed treasure hunt around your town or city. Set up creepy clues, hide a sweet treat at each stop and spend some time investigating your town’s murky past…who knows what you might discover?
Make your own mummies
All the best Halloween activities for kids involve getting crafty. You’ll need a haul of toilet paper for this one - split up into teams or just choose one willing individual to be transformed into a mummy. Make the mummies race each other and make sure to snap plenty of pics!
Become a Zombie for a Day at The London Tombs
We'd be hard-pressed to find something more immersive than The London Tombs. Voted the world's top horror attraction and winner of the UK's scariest attraction 11 years running, it's Halloween every day of the year down here. Become one of the London Tombs’ zombies for a day, join in on live shows, learn the tools of the scare actor trade and how to apply FX make-up.
Play bob for apples
Not all fun Halloween activities have to involve being terrified: bobbing for apples is seasonal and entertaining. Simply fill a bucket with enough water so the apples can float. Then, place players’ hands behind their backs, have them attempt to grab the apples with just their mouths. Whoever is able to get the most in a designated time frame, wins.
Do some origami
Weather not playing ball? One of the best indoor Halloween activities is to do some origami. Okay so this one does require a few expert folding skills, which some little ones might not have the patience for, but the finished result is beautiful and is something you can cherish for years. Think Frankensteins, pumpkins, skeletons etc.
Go on a Pumpkin Patch Excursion
Nothing says you’ve got the season down quite like planning a trip to a pumpkin patch. A trend that’s made its way over from across the pond, the UK is filled with pumpkin patches and farms, where you can take your pick from all kinds of pumpkins. Whether you use them to bake tasty desserts, carve or make into a decorative centrepiece, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to sourcing your own.
Try pumpkin golf
You’ve heard of mini-golf but have you heard of pumpkin golf? The whole clan can practise their golfing prowess as they putt the ball into pumpkins’ open mouths instead of holes. For young kids give a prize when they get it in the pumpkin and for older kids offer prizes for holes-in-one or top scores.
Book a room at a haunted hotel
One for the adults, the UK is home to an array of hotels reported to be haunted. Bound with spooky histories, eerie interiors and even some resident ghosts - be brave and book yourselves a room. For example, The Langham is famous for not only its luxurious accommodation but sightings of a man in Victorian wear.
London Paranormal Activity Tour
Hone in on the capital’s ghostly history, taking part in a paranormal investigation through the streets of London. Uncover abandoned jail cells, a gin palace, London’s largest execution site and more. Along the way, you’ll attempt contact with the other side using the paranormal investigation tools of the trade. Be prepared for some spine-tingling encounters.
Name the Tune
Looking for fun party game ideas? Name that Tune is a popular choice. Curate a playlist full of Halloween tunes, split into two teams and have each team try to guess the name of the song first. Alternatively, you can create a sheet of lyrics to popular Halloween songs and have each person try to name the songs.
Dress your pets
Dressing up on Halloween has now evolved to get even pets involved with the fun. There’s a wide array of dog, cat and various other pet costumes available on the market - from pirates to lobsters to royalty, you name it. If you really want to go out, you can have your pets matching your outfit for the night.
Paranormal Investigation Online Course
You don’t have to leave the house to get a piece of the action. If you want to know your shadow people from your intelligent hauntings, indoor Halloween activities don’t get much more fitting than this online course. It’s a six-chapter course, run online by supernatural experts, covering everything from dowsing rods to running your own investigation, and how to move stubborn spirits on.
Haunted Oxford Walking Tour
The City of Dreaming Spires may appear like it only gives off positive vibes but the darker side of Oxford is ready to come out as soon as the sun sets. Journey through the city’s spookiest corners and cobbled lanes, hearing eerie stories and tales of apparitions, manifestations and other supernatural phenomena.
VR Adventure
Lovers of immersive experiences will want to do something that indulges their passion this Halloween. Zero Latency are here to offer a suitably spooky twist to your VR adventure, transporting you to a virtual city swarming with zombies. Navigating on foot in a state-of-the-art free roam VR adventure, participants will need to search out a cure in a thrilling 45-minute session, all while fighting off hordes of the undead.
Newcastle True Crime Walking Tour
As true crime fever spreads across the world, this Newcastle walking tour is the perfect expedition for the spooky season. Led by a local expert, delve deeper into the city’s history of crime, execution and debauchery revisiting scenes of murder, intrigue and suspense. Hear anecdotes and stories of haunting true crimes, witch hunts and more.
Ultimate Free Roam Virtual Reality Experience for Two at Zero Latency
Get ready to step into a world outside your own, with this Ultimate Free Roam Virtual Reality Experience for Two at Zero Latency. Using state-of-the-art, exclusive VR equipment, you and a friend will be virtually transported to a city swarming with zombies.
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Halloween hike
It’s the perfect way to simultaneously enjoy the changing colours of the leaves and scope out the Halloween decorations in your area. There’s some organisations like Ultra Challenge who host spooky strolls, where participants dress to scare and can enjoy frighteningly good food.
Bake apple treats
If you thought pumpkin was the only star of the season, think again. Apple’s making a big comeback - channel your inner star bakers by making a bunch of apple treats. Think apple crumble, apple strudels or even caramel apples.
Watch a West End show
From the singing witches of Wicked to the doomed romance of Phantom of the Opera to the terrifying Woman in Black, there’s a West End performance to suit every creepy persuasion. You could make a real occasion of it and head out for a meal at one of the many restaurants near the theatres.
Decorate cookies
It’s not Halloween without really going all out on sweet treats, right? Gather your friends or loved ones for a night of adding a spooky decorative twist to cookies with icing spiderwebs, marshmallow ghosts, googly-eyed pumpkins and more. If you want to be really resourceful, you can make use of the leftover chocolate (provided there is some).
Psychopath’s Den Escape Room
The perfect way to spend the scariest night of the year? Tackling London’s premium horror escape room, of course. Plunged into the torture chamber of a psychopath, solve mind-bending puzzles and clues to make it out in one piece.
Halloween Heads Up
Sometimes, the simple choices really are the best. Give Heads Up a seasonal twist by getting each person to write down any Halloween word of choice on a post-it note. Then, let the fun ensue as each player grabs a post-it note from the pile and tries to guess the word. If you’re in need of Halloween activities for children, this is a great idea.
CSI: Mafia Murder - Play At Home
Yet more proof you don’t have to leave the house to have fun. Head into a virtual criminal underworld, work together against the clock to unravel the identities of two killers at a Mafia club. Follow the scent via a series of audio and video files as you work the case, navigating a series of thrilling and fiendish puzzles.
Murder Mystery Evenings
Halloween has evolved to be a time of great parties, which brings us neatly onto murder mystery parties. Don’t let the delectable three-course dinner fool you as arguments, fights and ultimately the death of an individual unfolds before your eyes. Cross-examine suspects, solve vital clues and find out who the killer is before they strike again.
Need some help deciding? Check out our full range of Halloween gifts, packed with spooktacular experience days.
