Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October in 2026, and London has plenty of spooky days out for families. This guide covers three that publish their 2026 details on their own official pages: Halloween at the Tower of London, Halloween at Hampton Court Palace and Halloween at Kew.
We checked these pages on 2 October 2026. Dates, session times and ticket rules can change, so confirm everything on the official page before you go. We have not quoted ticket prices. Other attractions run Halloween events too, but we have only included those we could confirm directly. For more seasonal ideas, see our guides to autumn in London and Bonfire Night 2026.
Halloween in London 2026 at a glance
| Halloween | Saturday 31 October 2026 |
| Tower of London | 24 October to 1 November; 10:30 to 16:00 daily; included with palace admission |
| Hampton Court Palace | 24 October to 1 November; during palace opening hours; included with palace admission |
| Halloween at Kew | 16 October to 1 November; evening sessions; ticketed with timed entry |
| Costumes | Not allowed at the Tower; limited rules at Hampton Court; check Kew before you book |
| Prices | Not quoted here; see the official pages |
Halloween at the Tower of London
Halloween at the Tower of London runs from 24 October to 1 November 2026, from 10:30 to 16:00 daily. It is a theatrical, family-focused experience with ghostly characters around the Tower, including the Haunted Forge and the Enchanted Wishing Well, and ghost gatherings at 11:15, 12:45 and 14:45 each day. The Tower describes it as designed to delight rather than frighten.
It is included in palace admission, and members go free with no pre-booking. One important rule: visitors arriving in costume will be refused entry. The page also says the ghosts may retreat in the rain, so check the weather before you travel.
Halloween at Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace runs its Halloween programme from 24 October to 1 November 2026 during palace opening hours, which the page lists as 10:00 to 17:45 with last admission at 17:00. The palace is transformed with projections, sound effects and spellwork, and there is an autumn trail with pumpkins and scarecrows in the Wilderness garden. Storytelling sessions run daily in the King’s Guard Chamber, with several start times from 11:30 and each lasting around 15 minutes.
The palace says the experience is family-friendly but may be scary for some visitors, with ghosts in full make-up, darkness, loud noises, flashing lights and occasional jump scares. Costumes are welcome if they are family-friendly and safe: no realistic weapons, sharp objects, fake blood, glitter or dragging hems, and masks are not allowed. Entry is included in standard admission.
Halloween at Kew
Halloween at Kew is an illuminated evening trail with themed attractions, including Dracula, fire performers and the Headless Horseman, plus a new cursed tomb experience. The listed dates are 16 to 24 October from 6pm to 10pm, and 25 October to 1 November from 4pm to 10pm. Last entry is strictly 8:30pm.
Kew groups sessions by scare level: daylight sessions up to 6pm are most suitable for very young children, twilight sessions from 6pm to 7:30pm step the scares up, and moonlight sessions after 7:30pm are described as the scariest but still suitable for all. Entry is by timed slot with limited capacity, and the page warns that tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded, so check the gate, date and time carefully when you book.
How to choose
- For young children, choose the Tower of London or a Kew daylight session, because both are pitched as gentle.
- For a bigger scare, pick a Kew moonlight session or Hampton Court, which warns about darkness and jump scares.
- For a daytime outing, the Tower and Hampton Court run during the day, while Kew is an evening event.
- If a costume matters, check each page first: the Tower refuses costumed visitors, and Hampton Court has detailed rules.
Planning tips
- The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October, so it gets dark an hour earlier from that weekend.
- Book Kew early because it uses timed slots and limited capacity.
- Use the TfL Journey Planner or National Rail for your date, and check for weekend engineering works.
- Dress for the weather: the Tower page notes the ghosts may retreat in the rain, and Kew is an outdoor event.
Frequently asked questions
When is Halloween in London 2026?
Halloween is Saturday 31 October 2026. The three events in this guide run on dates around it, mostly from late October to 1 November.
Is Halloween in London suitable for young children?
The Tower of London describes its event as designed to delight rather than frighten, and Kew has daylight sessions for very young children. Hampton Court warns that some visitors may find it scary.
Can I wear a Halloween costume?
Not at the Tower of London, where costumed visitors will be refused entry. Hampton Court allows family-friendly costumes with restrictions, and Kew does not list costume rules on the page we checked.
More from London
If it rains, our guide to free museums for a rainy day has six indoor ideas. For a day away from the city, see day trips from London by train.
