🎃What to do in London at Halloween 2025?

As autumn rolls in and the nights draw in earlier, London transforms into one big playground for all things eerie, magical and delightfully spooky. Whether you're after hair-raising thrills, family friendly fun, or something artsy to warm your hands (and heart), here are some of the best things you can do in London this Halloween, plus how Art Play London in Shoreditch can help you craft a memorable one.

Top Halloween Events Around the City

Here are a few highlights for Halloween 2025 in London to get you in the mood:

• Halloween at Kew Gardens – From 17 October to 2 November, Kew lights up with a spooky light trail, haunted woods, giant spiders, witches, eerie installations and seasonal treats.

• The London Dungeon’s Dracula event – For those who like their scares served with history, the London Dungeon is boosting its creepy atmosphere and special shows around this season.

• Halloween Lates at the Science Museum – On 31 October, adults can roam exhibits after dark, enjoy a different vibe than daytime, plus themed installations and late-evening fun.

These are just a few, but the city offers walking ghost tours, haunted houses, family events, plus themed theatre and screenings.

ArtPlay London: Workshops to Try in Shoreditch / Spitalfields

If you’re keen to make something this Halloween (instead of just watching or being spooked), ArtPlay London has some brilliant hands-on workshops, especially in their Shoreditch / Spitalfields locations:

Pumpkin Carving Workshop

ArtPlay runs a Private Pumpkin Carving Workshop (based in Spitalfields / Shoreditch) that lasts about 1 hour 30 mins, priced at £35. They provide everything - pumpkins, tools, inspiration - and a resident artist guides you, whether you're a total beginner or want to get fancy. It’s a fun way to decorate your home for Halloween, make something bespoke, and perhaps get a bit messy in the best creative way.

👉 Link to book or check schedules for Art Play's Pumpkin Carving Workshop >>

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Spooky Vibe and Paint

Fancy sipping something warming while painting something moody or Halloween-inspired? ArtPlay also runs Sip and Paint workshops. They’re relaxed, social, and let you combine a drink, music / ambience and your own creativity. Great for getting into that witchy, autumnal mental space.

👉 Link to book or check schedules for Art Play's Spooky Vibe and Paint >>

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Terrarium Making

For something more unusual, Art Play’s Terrarium Making workshop is perfect. Think miniature haunted worlds: moss, stones, tiny figurines, eerie seasonal touches. Whether you picture a ghostly garden, witch’s forest, miniature graveyard or something entirely your own, this makes a great keepsake. These little worlds are fun to make, and they look atmospheric in your home for weeks after.

👉 Link to book or check schedules for Art Play's Spooky Terrarium Making >>

How to Plan a Great Halloween Day / Night Using These Ideas

Here are some suggestions for putting together a full Halloween-day itinerary combining big city events and Art Play workshops:

• 1 PM Head to Kew Gardens in the earlier part of the evening for the light trail, or perhaps a ghost tour or a creepy exhibit at one of London’s museums.

• 5 PM Book in a workshop at ArtPlay (pumpkin carving, terrariums, sip & paint) to slow things down and get hands-on. Perfect for warming up, especially if the weather’s damp or chilly.

• 7 PM Have an early spooky dinner or drinks in Shoreditch (lots of restaurants, bars get festive). Then pick a show, haunted walk, or London Dungeon event to round off the night.

• 9 PM If you're still up for more, nightlife in London around Halloween can be wild - Art Play's Vibe n Paint, clubs, themed parties, maybe a film screening under the stars or on rooftops.

Tips & Things to Know

• Book early: Workshops, haunted walks, and big events sell out quickly in October. If you’ve got your eye on something particular (especially ArtPlay workshops), secure your spot in advance.

• Check timing & transport: Nights get darker early; if you’re doing evening events, check the last tubes / buses or whether you’ll need to grab a taxi home.

• Dress for the weather: Layers are key. Costume pieces are fun, but make sure you’ve got something warm and waterproof just in case.

• Balance scary and fun: If going with kids, mix the gentler stuff (like pumpkin carving or Kew Gardens) with spookier options so it doesn’t get overwhelming. If you’re going adult style, maybe push into more daring events or parties.

Why an Art-and-Craft Halloween Makes a Difference

There’s something magical about creating something with your own hands: carving out shapes, designing light patterns, arranging moss and figurines. It’s tactile, immersive—and it slows down the rush of the season.

Workshops like those at Art Play (in Shoreditch / Spitalfields) offer the chance:

• to escape screens and mass commercial scare attractions for a few hours;

• to take something away with you as a memory or decoration;

• to share a more intimate creative space with friends, family or even as a solo treat.