Ollēdi's Guide to Halloween in London: Frightfully Good Fun for Little Monsters

This year Halloween lands on a Saturday at the very end of half term, which means the whole week leading up to it is up for grabs. Whether your little ones love a gentle, giggly kind of spooky or your older children are begging for a proper fright, London has plenty to keep them busy.

We have rounded up trails, parties, craft workshops, holiday camps and shows running from now until early November, with suggested ages for each. Booking ahead is wise for most of them, so check the details with each venue before you go.

Spooky trails and tours

Come Halloween, even London's landmarks get into costume. A trail or tour is a lovely way to see a more mysterious side of the city together.

Kew Gardens. Halloween at Kew runs until Sunday 1 November and is suitable for all ages, making it an easy pick for families with children spread across different age groups.

A Halloween tea bus. Pre-schoolers and younger children (ages 2 to 8) can hop aboard a Peppa Pig Halloween Tea Bus Tour, which sets off from Temple and runs until 1 November.

Trick or treating in Covent Garden. On Halloween itself, Saturday 31 October, Covent Garden hosts a Trick or Treat Trail at The Phoenix Garden for under-16s. A good option for families who want the trick or treat experience in a central, organised setting.

Spooky walks in Highgate. Also on 31 October, Lauderdale House in Highgate is running Spooky Halloween Walks for ages 3 and up.

Nature, with a twist. On Thursday 29 October, Brompton Cemetery in West Brompton hosts a Nature Roadshow with a scavenger trail, open to all ages.

For teens who want a real fright. Curse of the Mummy at the London Dungeon on the South Bank runs until 1 November and is recommended for ages 12 and up only. Definitely one for older thrill-seekers.

Halloween parties

Parties already bring together so much that children love, from dancing and games to treats. At Halloween they get to enjoy all of it while dressed as their favourite character, so dig out the costume box.

For babies and toddlers. Curiouser Family Club in NW3 is holding a Halloween party for under-6s on Saturday 24 October.

Day of the Dead at the Horniman. On Saturday 31 October, the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill celebrates with a Day of the Dead Family Festival for all ages, a different take on the season.

Dancing it out. If your family's idea of a party involves a dance floor, there are two raves on Sunday 1 November. Supa Dupa Fly hosts a Family Halloween Rave for under-12s at UNDER W10, while Raver Tots brings its Halloween Party to Boxpark Wembley for all ages. A fun way to wear the costumes one last time.

Crafts, lanterns and creative workshops

For creative children, making something with their own hands might just be the best Halloween treat of all.

Lantern carving in Brixton. On Sunday 25 October, the Brixton Windmill Centre is hosting lantern carving and other activities for ages 5 and up.

Music and art for little monsters. The Friendly Monster Mash Art and Music Workshop at The Conservatoire in Blackheath on Monday 26 October is designed for ages 3 to 5.

Half term crafts in Chelsea. Chelsea Physic Garden runs family crafts for 5 to 11 year olds until Wednesday 28 October.

Creepy creatures. On Tuesday 27 October, London College of Fashion hosts Creepy Creatures at the Story Centre in Stratford, for ages 3 and up.

A canal-side open day. Also on 27 October, the London Canal Museum near King's Cross holds a Halloween Family Open Day for all ages.

Discovery days in Hyde Park. The Royal Parks are running Hair Raising Halloween Discovery Days in Hyde Park from 27 to 29 October, for ages 3 to 11.

Halloween holiday camps

With Halloween rounding off the half term break, there is plenty of time for a themed holiday camp beforehand, which is handy for working parents too.

Music with a spooky twist. The Strings Club's Spooktacular music camps run across London from 26 to 30 October for ages 4 to 11. Children can try guitar, violin or ukulele alongside arts and crafts, games and time outdoors, with a Monster Mash singalong, spooky mask making, Halloween-inspired composing and a game of Zombie Kickball. The week ends with a Grand Concert, and you can book a single day or the full week.

Coding and more. Blueshift Education is running Halloween-themed coding and other activities for ages 5 to 14 until 30 October, at various locations including Colville Primary in Notting Hill.

A school of magic. In South Kensington, Douce France's School of Magic welcomes 3 to 11 year olds until 30 October.

Slime and potions. Twinkle Stars in Forest Hill is mixing up slime, potions and spooky treats for 4 to 10 year olds from 26 to 29 October.

Putting on a show. At artsdepot in North Finchley on Friday 30 October, children aged 6 to 11 can create and star in their own spooky show.

Spooky (and not so spooky) shows

Scary stories are great fun, and they can also give children a safe space to face their real worries. Stages across London are serving up spooky tales this Halloween, along with a few gentler options for those who prefer playful over petrifying.

A magic lantern show. The Florence Nightingale Museum near Waterloo hosts a Victorian Halloween Magic Lantern Show on Monday 26 October, suitable for all ages.

FRANKY at the Lyric. Lyric Hammersmith presents FRANKY from 27 to 31 October, for ages 3 and up.

Haunted house tales. On Thursday 29 October, the Charles Dickens Museum in Bloomsbury hosts Tales from the Haunted House for ages 7 and up. Fitting, in the former home of a writer who loved a good ghost story.

For the very youngest. Boppin' Bunnies' Halloween Hoots at Sky Bar in SE9 is aimed at under-5s and takes place on Halloween itself, Saturday 31 October.

A West End finale. If the celebrations need to stretch a little further, West End Musical Halloween comes to the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue on Monday 2 November, for ages 6 and up.

Not spooky at all: a space trail at the Science Museum

For anyone who has had their fill of ghosts and ghouls, the Science Museum in South Kensington, already a firm favourite for hands-on family days out, has a new Pokémon Space Trail on until Sunday 3 January. Children can wander through nine galleries, learning about space and what Pokémon can teach us about the universe. Families who play Pokémon GO can also join a digital treasure hunt around the museum, where young trainers might find a special Astronaut Pikachu among the prizes. A brilliant option for a rainy half term day.

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