The origins of the holiday date back to ancient times. Centuries ago, on this same night, the island celebrated Samhain, the second harvest festival marking the end of the gathering season—one of the most important days of the year for the Celts. Over centuries, ancient pagan and Christian traditions merged, turning the night from October to November into All Saints’ Day celebrations. The essence remained the same: transitioning into winter, connecting with the realm of the departed, and celebrating life, which once again triumphed over death. Every little pub and venue tries to make this night special. Theatres include “scary” plays in their repertoires, large venues plan discos, and even national museums join in.
Big Venues for the Night
Important note! You’re welcomed everywhere in carnival costumes appropriate for the occasion. Children are not allowed at nighttime events; all such events have a strict 18+ age limit. But, children won’t miss out on the spooky evening fun either, more on that below!
The Roxy. A huge club, famous for powerful parties since the 80s, organises a special Halloween Night party. Wild dances, intended by the organisers to ward off any unclean spirits that dare to show up, will feature a variety of music, aptly named – The Total APOPalypse. But before a night full of terror, The Roxy will host the fabulous band The Two Gun Mathilda, a luxurious homage to bands from the 50s and 60s, playing rhythm and blues and soul as if they’ve just flown in from the past.
The O2 Academy Islington. This wonderful venue, beloved by serious musicians, hosts the party A Nightmare In Islington – Halloween. A cosy hall that fits 800 people, equipped with excellent sound and lighting gear, will transform for one night into a horrifying place. Actors in scary costumes will turn the party into an interactive experience, and attendees are strongly encouraged to come in costumes. Expect ghouls, living dead, and the most popular folkloric horror characters – particularly famous following the game and series Fallout.
Eight Embankment. This luxurious venue in the city centre, accommodating over 700 guests, invites you to The Monster Mash, a retro party based on 90s and 00s music. The theatrical party will be attended by Count Dracula and another 500 various vampires and city ghosts, all happening under club classics and the most monstrous examples of pop music from three decades ago.
Theatre
Wicked Apollo Victoria Theatre. A musical about a green-faced witch searching for herself is perfect for the Halloween mood. Moreover, it’s very life-affirming, as befits this holiday. The story traces back to Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz”. The main character, Wicked’s witch Elphaba, is supposed to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, but she finds friendship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, far more interesting. How their friendship and fates unfold in the land of Oz?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Palace Theatre. One cannot overlook this play, logically concluding Rowling’s magical saga. The play is a must-see not only for fans of the Potterverse but also for those eager to dive into themes of magic and wizards. Reminder: children of the grown-up Harry Potter, Malfoy, and Ron Weasley attend Hogwarts school of magic. They have their own story to live through.
Macbeth Harold Pinter Theatre. If you find tickets, buy them without hesitation. The production by director Jamie Lloyd, with an incredible performance by David Tennant as the king, creates a haunting atmosphere filled with Shakespearean play sounds, flashes, and true Halloween gloom. Macbeth-Tennant is one of the most vivid characters of the season, with audiences and critics in awe. The darkness of madness, twilight of magic – and the incredible energy of David Tennant.
With Kids
The Globe Theatre. The Shakespearean venue on the Thames conducts unique terribly scary family workshops on “Macbeth”, interesting for all ages. Ghosts, spirits, and scary events from Shakespeare’s play, plus Shakespeare’s love for all things mysterious – a great reason to explore this play and the Shakespearean “Globe” during Halloween. Be careful with the timing – there are time slots for ages 5-8 and 9-12. And of course, the “Ghosts & Ghouls Family Tour” – about Shakespearean horrors and even the monsters of that time in London. Who will emerge from the Thames and how to protect yourself? Find out on the tour.
Room on the Broom Lyric Theatre. A kind and joyful play for the little ones, staged based on the book by Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. This lively and captivating stage adaptation instantly charms both children and their parents. A kind witch and her familiar, a cat, are enjoying themselves until the witch invites other animals to join them – much to the cat’s dismay. The broom breaks under the weight of this newfound zoo, and that’s when the adventures begin… An interactive play full of songs and laughter subtly teaches children to value friendship.
Street Adventures
Eltham Palace. The unique palace, built during the reign of Henry VIII and owned by loving caretakers until 1942, retains its original setting with all the bathrooms, guest rooms, cabinets, books, and chairs intact – you might expect the owner in a velvet robe to appear around a corridor corner. In this atmosphere of frozen time and in the palace garden, resembling a labyrinth from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”, two events are held: Halloween Half Term and Ghost Tales. The first, as the name suggests, is designed specifically for schoolchildren: searching for pumpkins and various signs of the spooky holiday, they also get to visit the museum. The second event is strictly 16+, a darkness in the palace with storytellers holding ancient lanterns, guiding visitors through the past, narrating stories of ghosts, supernatural phenomena, and the horrors of the palace. Don’t miss this unique story!
Your Favorite Neighbourhood And of course, don’t miss the most exciting event near your home. Almost every London neighbourhood on the eve of Halloween hosts trick-or-treat, during which crowds of children and teenagers walk from one holiday-decorated home to another, and the homeowners gift them with candies and sweets. Ensure your child has a terribly scary costume – and get one for yourself too! When else can you dress up as a witch and roam the city undisturbed? Don’t miss this chance.
