Last-minute Halloween in London on Saturday 31 October: free trick or treat trails, the Tower’s ghosts, a pumpkin patch, Kew after dark and where to go tonight.
Halloween in London today: things you can still do on 31 October
The short version: it’s Halloween on a Saturday, so you have the whole day. In the morning and afternoon, try the free Covent Garden trick or treat trail, the ghosts at the Tower of London or the pumpkin patch in Parsons Green. From 4pm, Kew Gardens’ after-dark trail opens. In the evening, Penge has the best trick or treating in London, and the bars and clubs take over from there.
Everything below is on today, Saturday 31 October 2026, and most of it still has space or needs no booking. We’ve put the free things first, then the paid ones, then the grown-up options, with times and tips so you can plan the day around where you are.
Halloween in London today at a glance
| When | What | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.30am to 4pm | Ghosts and storytelling at the Tower | Tower of London | Included in admission |
| 10am to 7pm | Pick-your-own pumpkins | Parsons Green, Fulham | £6 a person, under-2s free |
| 11am to 5pm | Trick or treat trail | Covent Garden and Seven Dials | Free, register online |
| All day | Halloween trail | High Street Kensington | Free |
| From 4pm | Halloween at Kew after dark | Kew Gardens | From £16.75 off-peak |
| Early evening | Trick or treating with local shops | Penge, south-east London | Free |
| All day | Christmas market and ice rink open | Leicester Square | Free to walk in |
| Evening | Halloween parties | All over London | Free to £50+ |
Free Halloween things to do today
Covent Garden trick or treat trail
Covent Garden and Seven Dials run a family trick or treat trail today, from 11am to 5pm. Shops along the way hand out treats, and the trail finishes at a Halloween base in The Phoenix Garden, with games, photo spots and a Monster Mash dance party. It’s free, but you register in advance through the Covent Garden website, so do that before you set off. Covent Garden and Leicester Square stations are both a few minutes’ walk away.
Trick or treating in Penge
For proper trick or treating, Penge in south-east London is the best bet. Around 20 local businesses hand out sweets to children in costume in the early evening. It’s a friendly, local event rather than a big production, which is exactly why families like it. Penge East and Penge West stations are both a short walk away.
High Street Kensington Halloween trail
The free trail along High Street Kensington runs until the end of today. It’s smaller than Covent Garden’s, but quieter, and you can pair it with a walk through Kensington Gardens. High Street Kensington station is right there.
Leicester Square’s first Christmas day
Not Halloween, but worth knowing: Leicester Square’s Christmas market and ice rink both open today, the first of the season. If you’re in the West End for the Covent Garden trail, it’s a five-minute walk. More in our Christmas markets and ice skating guides.
Paid Halloween activities with space today
Halloween at the Tower of London
The Tower’s Halloween programme runs daily until Sunday, from 10.30am to 4pm, and it’s included in the normal admission ticket. Costumed performers play the Tower’s ghosts, including a poet, a pirate, a queen, an astronomer and a bear, with sound effects to match. There are “ghost gatherings” at the Haunted Forge at 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.45pm. It’s pitched as fun rather than frightening, so it suits younger children. Tower Hill is the nearest station.
The London Pumpkin Patch, Parsons Green
Fulham’s pop-up pumpkin patch is open from 10am to 7pm until Sunday. Entry is £6 a person, and under-2s go free. You can pick your own pumpkin, and there are autumn photo spots and a sheltered area with hot drinks. A separate Trick-or-Treat Lane for children aged three and over costs extra. Parsons Green station on the District line is next to the green.
Halloween at Kew
Kew Gardens’ after-dark Halloween trail runs until Sunday 1 November. From 25 October it opens earlier, at 4pm, which makes it much easier with younger children. Off-peak tickets start at £16.75 for adults. Entry is by timed slot, so book online before you go, and wrap up warm. Kew Gardens station is on the District line and the Overground.
One family event that’s already full: the Day of the Dead festival at the Horniman Museum is sold out.
Halloween tonight for grown-ups
Halloween falls on a Saturday, so tonight is the biggest night of the season. Our Halloween parties in London guide covers the big ones, from warehouse events to cheap pub parties, with prices. A few tips if you’re heading out:
- Book ahead where you can. Popular nights put prices up as tickets sell
- Many pubs run free Halloween parties tonight. Check your local’s social media
- The Tube is busy late on a Saturday. Check TfL for engineering works before you travel
- Keep costumes practical if you’re using public transport
Planning the rest of the weekend
Sunday 1 November is the last day for Kew, the Tower and the pumpkin patch. Richmond holds its family fireworks on Sunday, and the main Bonfire Night displays are the following weekend. See our London fireworks guide and the full Halloween weekend guide. For the week ahead, see things to do in London from 2 to 8 November.
Tips for Halloween in London with kids
- Go early. Trails and the Tower are calmer before midday
- Bring a bag for treats, and a torch for the evening
- Dress for the weather. A costume over a warm layer is better than a cold child
- Agree a meeting point in crowded places like Covent Garden
- Sunset today is just before 4.40pm, so evening plans start earlier than you’d think
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in London on Halloween?
Free trick or treat trails in Covent Garden and Kensington, trick or treating in Penge, Halloween at the Tower of London, the Parsons Green pumpkin patch and Kew’s after-dark trail, plus parties in the evening.
Where is the best trick or treating in London?
Penge in south-east London, where around 20 local businesses hand out sweets in the early evening, and the Covent Garden trail from 11am to 5pm.
Are there free Halloween events in London today?
Yes. The Covent Garden and Seven Dials trail, the High Street Kensington trail and Penge’s trick or treating are free.
Is Halloween at the Tower of London included in the ticket?
Yes. It’s included in normal admission and runs from 10.30am to 4pm until 1 November.
Sources
- Historic Royal Palaces: Halloween at the Tower of London
- Covent Garden: Halloween in Covent Garden
- Time Out: free things to do October half term 2026
- Globetotting: October half term in London 2026
- Day Out With The Kids: London Pumpkin Patch
- Hammersmith and Fulham Council: London Pumpkin Patch
Last checked: 31 October 2026. Times and availability can change on the day, so check each event before you set off. Image: Miwok, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
