World Zombie Day: London — free zombie walk

Saturday 10 October 2026 · 12pm–7pm · Central London · FREE registration

World Zombie Day: London brings a family-friendly, dog-friendly zombie walk into central London, raising money for The Dead Good Club. The meeting point is confidential, so registration is essential; the event is free with an optional pay-what-you-can donation and £5 suggested. Costumes are encouraged but optional, under-18s need a parent or guardian, and real or replica weapons are not permitted.

Step-free routes are planned for wheelchairs and pushchairs, although public-road obstructions can require alternative routes. Specific arrangements can be discussed with the organiser.

Read the full Clarissa’s Corner guide: World Zombie Day London 2026 →

Halloween 2026 in London & the South East: Scare Events, Days Out & Tickets

Whether you want full-on screams, a beautifully spooky night out, a family day with costumes and treats, or something fun to make at home, this is my growing 2026 guide to Halloween in London and the South East. I’m also pulling older Clarissa’s Corner Halloween makes, recipes and past visits back into one place so spooky season has a proper home rather than a collection of posts scattered through the archive.

Last checked: 16 September 2026. Always check the organiser’s latest information before travelling, especially for times, age guidance and accessibility.

For big scares: Tulleys Shocktober Fest

Tulleys Farm near Crawley is the big one for proper scare-season fans. Its 2026 Shocktober Fest is on sale, with two new attractions and a brand-new show announced for the season. This is a thrill-focused evening rather than a little-kids’ pumpkin patch, so do check the event’s own age guidance before booking.

See Shocktober Fest at Tulleys Farm

Useful to know: Tulleys says most events are wheelchair accessible; Shocktober Fest has an accessible ride with ramps to the Haunted Hayride, and it offers a free carer ticket for eligible visitors. Check the full access information with the venue when booking.

Harry Potter, wizarding worlds & dark magic

NOX at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

NOX brings an after-hours Dark Arts experience to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London on 29, 30 and 31 October 2026, with roaming Death Eaters, lantern-lit areas, Halloween atmosphere and late-night access to the Studio Tour. I’ve visited the Studio Tour several times, so this seasonal guide will also link into my wider Harry Potter Studio Tour coverage as that archive grows.

Read next: NOX at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: Dark Arts Halloween 2026.

Hexmoor Wizarding Prison

For something original rather than officially connected to Harry Potter, Hexmoor Wizarding Prison in Shoreditch offers an immersive fantasy-prison experience with live actors, theatrical sets and magical cocktails or mocktails. It fits perfectly into a wider wizarding and immersive-London content trail without pretending to be part of the Wizarding World.

Coming next: a full Hexmoor Wizarding Prison guide is still being prepared, so I’m keeping this mention here without sending readers to an unfinished page.

Fever Halloween picks

Halloween at Kew

For atmospheric rather than extreme, Halloween at Kew is an illuminated after-dark trail through Kew Gardens. It runs from 16 October to 1 November 2026, lasts around 1–1.5 hours and welcomes all ages. Expect spooky characters, fire performers, food stops and a gorgeous autumn-night setting.

Book Halloween at Kew with Fever

Peppa Pig Halloween London Sightseeing Bus Tour

A lovely family option for little ones: this 90-minute London sightseeing bus tour combines a Halloween afternoon tea, Peppa sing-alongs, London landmarks and a best-dressed family prize. It departs from Temple and is for ages 2+.

See Peppa Pig Halloween Bus Tour tickets

Halloween theatre & live entertainment

Halloween does not have to mean a scare attraction. Theatre and live entertainment can be a brilliant way to build a spooky-season day or night out too. Churchill Theatre Bromley already has Halloween-flavoured activity in its October 2026 programme, including Stage Fright – A Halloween Special, Tarot Nice To Meet You and half-term events.

See what’s on at Churchill Theatre Bromley in October 2026.

For darker theatre and horror beyond Halloween itself, head to the Horror Events hub, where conventions, screenings, immersive events and spooky live experiences can sit together year-round.

Horrible Histories Halloween at Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle, Kent | 17 October–1 November 2026

Horrible Histories is bringing Silly Ghosts and Ghastly History to Leeds Castle for October half-term. The family-friendly trail mixes royal ghosts, witchcraft accusations, old superstitions and gruesome history with live performers and challenges around the Castle grounds. Leeds Castle describes it as intriguing rather than frightening, so it is aimed at families rather than being a full scare attraction.

The Halloween experience is included with daytime Leeds Castle admission. An optional trail booklet costs extra and includes a gold coin prize per booklet.

Clarissa’s Corner history: if your family already loves Horrible Histories, read our Terrible Tudors review and our Terrible Thames boat tour review.

Merlin days out: family-friendly favourites

If you’re planning a half-term day out, Merlin has some brilliant London and South East attractions to choose from, including the London Dungeon, SEA LIFE London, Shrek’s Adventure! London, the London Eye, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park and LEGOLAND Windsor. Seasonal Halloween programmes vary by attraction, so I’ll only add specific event details here once they are confirmed for 2026.

For a big adults-only Halloween night: The Neon Church at One Marylebone

29, 30 & 31 October 2026 · One Marylebone · 10.30pm–4.30am

Perplex London and MTRNM are bringing The Neon Church to One Marylebone for three late-night Halloween events. The newly announced 2026 dates are 29, 30 and 31 October, with the event running from 10.30pm until 4.30am.

Tickets: presale starts at 12 noon on Wednesday 16 September, so this is one to register for now if a theatrical Halloween club night sounds more your thing than a scare maze. Accessibility information for the 2026 event has not yet been confirmed by the organiser, so I am not making assumptions based on the venue alone.

Register/check The Neon Church Halloween tickets →

Pick the right kind of spooky

• For teens and adults who want screams: Tulleys Shocktober Fest.
• For a magical after-dark family walk: Halloween at Kew.
• For wizarding and fantasy fans: NOX or Hexmoor, depending on whether you want official Harry Potter filmmaking magic or an original immersive fantasy experience.
• For younger children: Peppa Pig’s Halloween bus tour, or a Merlin attraction once its seasonal programme is confirmed.
• For theatre lovers: check October venue guides and the Horror Events hub for darker live shows.
• For a flexible half-term day: compare attraction dates, travel and age or height requirements before booking.

31 Nights of Halloween: movie watchlist

I’m also building a printable October movie watchlist for spooky season, with a family-friendly Little Monsters track and an After Dark horror and thriller track for grown-ups. The plan is to make it a free sign-up download once the email delivery setup has been tested properly.

Until then, browse Chill & Thrill for horror, thrillers and darker screen picks.

Halloween at home: baking, makes & family activities

Spooky season does not have to mean expensive tickets. Some of the best archive finds are the silly things we made at home, and I’m bringing those back into the Halloween section rather than leaving them buried in old categories.

• Spider Cupcakes – Halloween — an old family baking attempt with sweets, yoghurt and plenty of spooky fun.
• Spookysenses Num Noms — including Crispy M Mallow Brains for a gloriously retro Halloween treat.
• Autumn Fall Bucket List — pumpkins, autumn activities and seasonal ideas from the archive.

As the creative section grows, this will also be the home for Halloween Cricut makes, decorations, pumpkin ideas, kids’ activities and anything else we make rather than buy.

From the Clarissa’s Corner Halloween archive

Halloween days out have been part of Clarissa’s Corner for years. One of our earlier adventures was SlimeFest at The Boiler Room in Guildford — a messy, sciencey monster-party kind of day with glow-in-the-dark slime and a disco.

There’s also our old Face Your Fears week post, preserved as a past experience and historical record rather than being presented as a current 2026 event.

A Gentler October Half-Term Idea — Down House, Bromley

Worm Weekend: 24–25 October 2026 · 10am–3pm

If your family wants a half-term day out without the scares, Charles Darwin’s Down House in Downe is running a hands-on Worm Weekend. Children can learn about Darwin’s earthworm experiments, identify worms and try worm sampling in the gardens. The activity is included with normal admission; advance booking currently saves 15% and English Heritage members enter free.

Down House confirms wheelchair access, a lift to the first floor, wheelchair loans, accessible toilets, an adult changing area, two Blue Badge bays, Braille guides and audio-tour transcripts. The Sandwalk and some outdoor areas have uneven ground, so check the current access information if terrain is important to your visit.

Check Worm Weekend with English Heritage → · More Bromley days out →

Kent Family Halloween & Autumn Finds

Emmetts Garden Autumn Festival — Sevenoaks

9 October–1 November 2026

Emmetts Garden’s Autumn Festival brings together an outdoor family trail, makers, music, talks, workshops and Halloween activity. The programme includes Witching the Wild Year with Zoë Howe on 16 October, an evening exploring autumn folklore and the turning of the year; a meteorite-handling event on 18 October; and Spooky Woodcraft from 29 October to 1 November.

Witching the Wild Year is £15 and takes place from 6.30pm–7.30pm. Spooky Woodcraft is £8 plus normal admission, is aimed at ages 8+ and has limited bookable places. See the full Emmetts Garden Autumn Festival programme.

Chartwell — We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt

3 October–1 November 2026 · included with normal admission

This outdoor family trail is particularly aimed at younger children, with eight activity stops through the garden and woodland. Practical warning: the National Trust advises that the route includes slopes, steps and uneven terrain, may be difficult for standard pushchairs and can become muddy in wet weather. Blue Badge parking and accessible toilets are available.

Check the official Chartwell Ghost Hunt trail details.

Scotney Castle — Monsters around the Moat

17 October–1 November 2026 · £3.50 trail plus normal admission

Scotney Castle’s Halloween trail uses the historic estate setting for riddles, clues and challenges, with options designed for different ages. If you are driving, the National Trust asks visitors to pre-book parking to guarantee a space. Non-member parking is currently £4.50; National Trust members and Blue Badge holders park free.

Confirmed access facilities include accessible parking and toilets, with manual wheelchairs and powered mobility scooters available. The estate also contains slopes, steps and uneven surfaces, so check the current access information for the parts of the property you want to visit.

Check Monsters around the Moat · Face Your Fears 2026 · Heritage Open Days & Kent heritage

More Kent & Canterbury Family Halloween Finds

The Beaney, Canterbury — Fright at the Museum: Tudor Traitors

3 October–1 November 2026 · closed Mondays · £6 per trail · Spooky Day 31 October

The Beaney’s family Halloween trail mixes Tudor history, alchemy and museum puzzles. Families uncover a fictional secret group of Tudor alchemists trying to create gold, complete the trail, receive a participation prize and can enter the competition. Everyone is welcome, with the museum saying it is especially popular with children aged around 5–10. If the Tudor theme is the bit that hooks them, our Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors review is a natural follow-on.

SEND/access: SEND Family Backpacks, sensory Halloween resources, a symbol version of the trail, free ear defenders, a visual story, step-free access via Best Lane, lift access, accessible toilets and a ground-floor Changing Places facility are all confirmed. Backpacks can be collected from the Visitor Information Centre, Atrium or Explorers & Collectors gallery.

Official Tudor Traitors details · The Beaney SEND and accessibility information

Trosley Country Park — Superhero Showdown Trail

17 October–1 November 2026 · 10am–2pm · £3 per trail · parking charges also apply

Families collect a pencil and clue sheet from the café, follow the clues around the park and return for a small completion prize. Trosley itself has disabled parking, an accessible toilet, accessible visitor-centre/café access, an accessible swing and an easy-access yellow route with no steps.

Trail-specific accessibility unconfirmed: Kent County Council also describes the 1.5-mile Trosley Trail as flat for most of the route and suitable for walkers, buggies and wheelchair users subject to seasonal conditions, but the organiser has not confirmed that the Superhero Showdown uses that route. Clarissa’s Corner therefore is not describing the event trail itself as wheelchair accessible.

Official Superhero Showdown details · Trosley accessibility information

Stanhill Farm, Wilmington — Pumpkin Patch 2026 Watch

2026 return confirmed for October · exact dates, prices and tickets still TBC

Stanhill Farm in Wilmington, Dartford has confirmed that its Pumpkin Patch will open in October 2026, but has not yet published the exact dates, prices or ticket details. It stays on the watchlist rather than being presented as a fully bookable event. Older 2025 dates and prices should not be used for 2026.

Check Stanhill Farm for the 2026 Pumpkin Patch update.

Greenwich Halloween 2026 — Local Picks

FREE HALF-TERM FIND: National Maritime Museum — 24 October–1 November

For a gentler October half-term option, the National Maritime Museum has a free, drop-in family programme with crafts and storytelling themed around myths, legends, bugs and creepy crawlies. No separate activity booking is required.

See the Greenwich free family guide for the full details and verified access information →

Spooky Circus at Woolwich Works — 31 October

AirCraft Circus brings aerial silks, hoop, straps, quad trapeze, contortion and a fiery finale to Woolwich Works on Halloween night. Doors open at 7pm, the show starts at 8pm and standard advance tickets are currently £15 plus a £2.50 booking fee. All ages are welcome, with children accompanied by an adult.

Old Royal Naval College Halloween — 31 October

Greenwich has two very different Halloween-night choices at the Old Royal Naval College: Docklands Sinfonia’s Halloween Film Music LIVE! in the Chapel from 6.30pm–7.45pm, recommended for ages 5+, or the Murder Mystery Halloween Edition in Admiral’s House from 7pm–10pm, recommended for ages 16+. The timings overlap, so choose the one that best fits your group.

FREE FIND: Park It in the Market Halloween Special — 29 October

Thursday 29 October 2026, 7.30pm–10pm · FREE. Greenwich Market brings together vintage cars and bikes, live music, DJs, stalls, street food, Halloween décor and fancy dress. All ages are welcome. Check the official Greenwich Market listing →

If Halloween isn’t your thing… Christmas is coming

Not everyone wants ghosts, pumpkins and people jumping out of dark corners at them. If you’re already mentally skipping ahead to fairy lights, panto and festive theatre, the Christmas side of Clarissa’s Corner is growing too.

• Sleeping Beauty at Churchill Theatre Bromley 2026 — Vernon Kay, panto dates and ticket information.
• What’s On at Churchill Theatre Bromley – December 2026 — festive theatre and family entertainment.
• Festive Theatre Round-Up 2025 — useful archive inspiration while the 2026 festive guide is being built.

Head straight to the Christmas & Pantomime Guide 2026 for festive theatre, pantomimes, markets and seasonal days out across London and the South East.

More Halloween plans are coming

I’m building this into a proper seasonal corner with local pumpkin patches, family trails, fright nights, theatre, baking, movie nights, creative makes and the best new London and South East experiences. Older posts will stay clearly labelled as archive content, while new 2026 guides will carry the current dates, tickets and practical details.