Top shows and attractions in London for Halloween
Trick or treat! Discover a wide variety of fun activities and events to book for Halloween in London, ranging from spine-chilling shows to eerie attractions.
Something wicked this way comes… and London is packed with spook-tacular shows and activities that are perfect for Halloween 2024. The annual fright night falls on 31 October, which is a Thursday this year, and if you just love everything about this spine-tingling holiday, then you’ll want to start thinking about your plans now.
One ghoulishly great way to celebrate Halloween is with a play or musical – perhaps one that centres on witches, like Wicked, or which has a murder mystery at its heart, such as London’s undying long-runner, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.
You could also test your Halloween courage by exploring London by night in a special tour, learning about the grisly goings-on at the Tower of London, or revisiting some of history’s most chilling horrors at the London Dungeon.
Read on for our guide to all the best spooky things to do in London this Halloween.
Book tickets for a spell-binding show
Wicked
She’s the cackling villain of The Wizard of Oz, who struck terror into many a cinemagoer’s heart – but is there actually more to the Wicked Witch of the West’s story? That’s the clever premise for enduring West End favourite Wicked, which offers the ideal mix of scares and heart for a memorable Halloween outing.
Book Wicked tickets on London Theatre.
The Phantom of the Opera
Looking for a haunting this October? There is a ghost, of a kind, lurking at the Paris Opera House in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacular The Phantom of the Opera. Thanks to its atmospheric staging and spine-tingling score, this gothic West End staple is the ultimate Halloween musical.
Book The Phantom of the Opera tickets on London Theatre.
The Mousetrap and Witness for the Prosecution
Agatha Christie is still the reigning Queen of Crime, and you can experience not one but two of her fiendishly plotted whodunits in London theatres this Halloween. The Mousetrap sees a group of strangers stranded in the countryside with a killer in their midst, while Witness for the Prosecution is a riveting court case, with a man on trial for murder, staged in the imposing London County Hall.
Book The Mousetrap tickets on London Theatre.
Book Witness for the Prosecution tickets on London Theatre.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Fans of Netflix’s smash-hit sci-fi series will know that there are very spooky goings-on in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. This jaw-dropping stage show is a prequel story that continues Stranger Things’ successful blend of adolescent drama and heart-pounding supernatural activities.
Book Stranger Things: The First Shadow tickets on London Theatre.
The Duchess
There is no genre quite as gory as the Jacobean revenge tragedy: you can always expect a high body count. Zinnie Harris is putting a modern spin on John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, and, for an extra otherworldly Halloween twist, this new production is led by former Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker.
Book The Duchess tickets on London Theatre.
Hadestown
What could be more appropriate on All Hallows’ Eve than taking a trip to the Underworld? That’s the drastic step which Orpheus takes when he loses the love of his life, Eurydice, in Anaïs Mitchell’s extraordinary Tony-winning folk-musical version of the enduring, and haunting, Greek myth.
Book Hadestown tickets on London Theatre.
The Play That Goes Wrong
You could be forgiven for wondering if the poor am-dram troupe in this hysterical West End comedy sensation are the victims of some kind of evil curse. Everything goes wrong for them, from fluffed lines and mysterious accidents to the entire set crashing down. Delirious Halloween fun.
Book The Play That Goes Wrong tickets on London Theatre.
Experience a top London attraction
Tower of London
There’s almost 1,000 years of history to delve into at the Tower of London. From its time as a medieval palace to fortress and, most famously, a prison and place of execution, there are plenty of ghosts lurking here – including the beheaded Anne Boleyn and the Princes in the Tower. It’s ideal for a Halloween outing.
Book Tower of London tickets on London Theatre.
London Dungeon
Enter if you dare! The London Dungeon plunges you into a petrifying past, teeming with the most notorious figures from history – like Jack the Ripper, Guy Fawkes and Sweeney Todd. You can experience the gallows with the vertical ride Drop Dead – and finally raise a Halloween cocktail to the departed in the Victorian tavern.
Book London Dungeon tickets on London Theatre.
Shrek's Adventure!
If you’re looking for a family outing this Halloween, then go green. You can enter the world of Shrek via this fairy tale walk-through experience, which includes a 4D flying bus driven by Donkey, a visit to Shrek’s swamp, and a chance to rescue Pinocchio. Plus there are play stations for Kung Pu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon.
Book Shrek’s Adventure! tickets on London Theatre.
Up at The O2
Halloween is the perfect time to summon your courage and try something bold – and what could be more adventurous than climbing London's iconic O2? You'll find yourself 52 metres above ground level, enjoying unbelievable city views, and you can choose between daytime, sunset or (for extra spooky points) twilight climbs.
Book Up at The O2 tickets on London Theatre.
Roller coaster ride
If you’re looking for a different kind of scare this Halloween, one that comes with twists, turns and terrifying drops, then head to one of our outstanding white-knuckle theme parks.
Alton Towers has heart-pounding roller coasters like Wicker Man and Oblivion; Legoland boasts Flight of the Sky Lion and Fire & Ice Freefall; and Thorpe Park tests your courage with The Swarm, Saw The Ride, Tidal Wave, and Rumba Rapids.
Book Alton Towers tickets on London Theatre.
Book Legoland tickets on London Theatre.
Book Thorpe Park tickets on London Theatre.
Photo credit: The Phantom of the Opera (photo courtesy of production).
Originally published on