[title]
There’s a distinct chill in London’s air right now. We’re not talking about the drop in temperature. The veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is thinning and ghosts are roaming the streets – All Hallow’s Eve is just around the corner.
Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, Halloween is just a great excuse to have terrifyingly good time. You get to carve faces into pumpkins, scare yourself silly watching horror movies and spend a night out pretending to be a zombie, vampire or one of the odd-looking Norman guys from the Bayeux Tapestry. Often, the cost of Halloween plans alone is enough to send a chill down your spine. But there are in fact a whole heap of spooky events that you can attend for free this year.
Kids, film fanatics, party people, creative types, there’s something for everyone. Here’s all the best stuff you can do in London this Halloween without parting with a single penny.
The best free Halloween events in London 2026
1. Mystery Film Screening at Theatreship
Every week, Canary Wharf’s non-profit cinema Theatreship (which is on board a literal ship) hosts a free mystery screening. And on October 31, it’s putting on a Halloween special. Normally, attendees know absolutely nothing about the movie before it begins. This time, at least, you know that it’ll have a spooky edge. When you order drinks ahead of curtains up, you will get a chance to guess the film you’re about to see. The first person to guess correctly gets their round on the house.
Theatreship, South Quay, E14 9SH. Sat Oct 31, 5pm-7.30pm. Free. Book your ticket here.
2. Pumpkin Carving at Big Penny Social
Fancy yourself an expert pumpkin carver? Put that to the test at Big Penny Social this Halloween. Big Penny will supply the pumpkins, which punters can start chiseling away at from 4pm (adults only after 10pm). Everyone who takes part gets a free pint of house beer, and there’s a £100 bar tab up for grabs for best-looking gourd of the day.
Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, E17 6AL. Thurs Oct 29, 4pm-10pm. Free entry.
3. Not A Phase Emo Market
There’ll be more than 30 traders stationed at Signature Brew in Walthamstow on Sunday selling all sorts of spooky stuff. Expect macabre clothing, alternative art, gothic jewellery, haunting home decor and more, as well as a soundtrack of non-stop pop punk and emo, ghoulish treats, a tooth gem stand and beers on tap to get you in the mood for All Hallows’ Eve. Entry is free but, of course, come prepared to spend a little cash in case you see something that takes your fancy.
Signature Brew, E17 5QJ. Sun Oct 25, 1pm-6pm. Book here.
4. Halloween Festival at Vauxhall City Farm
Beware the terrifying beasts at Vauxhall City Farm, they may want cuddles. At the farm’s Halloween fest, you’ll get to hang out with the resident alpaca, sheep, goats and chickens, follow a spooky trail of weird creatures, navigate a giant spiders web and take part on a pumpkin flinging challenge. There’ll also be a load of arts and crafts to get stuck into, a free film screening, and a witchy talk on the magical power of herbs.
Vauxhall City Farm, 165 Tyers Street, SE11 5HS. Oct 27-Nov 1. Free entry (some activities ticketed).
5. Halloween Happenings on High Street Kensington
A Halloween trail will take over High Street Kensington from October 24 to October 31, complete with ghoulishly themed workshops, seasonal treats and (child-friendly) scary surprises. On Halloween itself, Holland Park will transform into a theatrical playground of spooky characters, immersive installations and interactive games and live entertainment after the sun goes down. Plus, there’ll be the chance to take part in the capital's best trick-or-treating, with the neighbourhood’s houses once again putting on their legendary Halloween displays.
High Street Kensington Tube Station, W8. Oct 24-31. Free.
6. Pumpkin Painting at the Royal Parks
Don’t just carve your pumpkin this year – use it as a big orange canvas! Two of London’s Royal Parks are putting on free pumpkin painting sessions for kids in the lead-up to trick-or-treating night. Wear fancy dress for the occasion, and there’ll also be a Halloween treat up for grabs. Sessions take place at Regent’s Bar & Kitchen, The Regent’s Park and Pavilion Café, Greenwich Park on October 29, 30 and 31. Sessions will take place at 10am and 2pm on 29 and 30 October, and at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm on October 31.
Various locations. Oct 29-31. Free.
7. Halloween Party at the Lord Napier Star
Hackney’s Lord Napier knows what makes a proper Halloween bash. Its got tarot reading. It’s got apple bobbing. It’s got a costume party. Add to all that DJ sets from Sassy Wylie and Normski, and themed cocktails made with Black Tears Spiced Rum and you’ve got a deadly night out sorted. You might also get to go home with fun free merch.
The Lord Napier Star, 25 White Post Ln, E9 5ER. Oct 31, 9pm-3am. Free entry.
8. Spooking Tooting Halloween Ghostly Guided Walks
There are plenty of horrifying ghost walks going in in central London throughout the year, but for a one-off nights of scares, head southwest to dive into Tooting’s surprisingly dark and gruesome past. Led by local Geoff Simmons, the tour promises hair-raising tales about despicable Mr Drouet, the Acid Bath Murderer, the haunting of the Granada Bingo Hall, the Knifeman of St George's Hospital, the Misery Line Maniac, the 'blood diamonds' of Salvador Alley and the ‘dastardly plot’ hatched by The Icing Sugar Seven.
Tooting Broadway Underground station, SW17 0SU. Sat Oct 31, 6pm-8pm. Book here.
9. Thriller Flash Mob at The Yards
Covent Garden shopping district The Yards is taking inspiration from Latin America’s Día de los Muertos festivities for its Halloween offering, which includes a free interactive trail themed around Mexico’s colourful calavera skull tradition. Visitors can pick up a ‘passport’ from the Fair Shot Cafe, before setting off on an expedition around the area to find six calavera characters, earning about more about the Mexican festival. But that’s not all. Be sure to head down to The Yards on Friday October 30 from 6pm to witness a ‘Thriller’ flash mob, where 20 professional dancers will be performing around the neighbourhood, dressed in spooky costumes and elaborate face paint, in a memorable start to the ‘Halloweekend’.
The Yards Covent Garden, WC2E 9AB. Sat Oct 24-Tue Nov 3; Fri Oct 30.
10. The Sidings Halloween Takeover
Hop on your broomstick and fly over to Waterloo on October 31, for a whole days’ worth of free activities for the whole family at local retail park The Sidings. Expect creepy crafts, face painting and entertainment in the form of roaming creepy characters and live performances from One School of Performing Arts Academy. Fancy dress is encouraged, and there’ll even be a special FX makeup artist on hand to complete your spooky get-up with some disconcertingly realistic gore (for the grown-ups only, lest they cause any nightmares!)
Waterloo Station, SE1 7BH. Sat Oct 31.
ICYMI: 5 free things to do with kids this October half-term.
Plus: A barnstorming ‘Star Wars’-in-concert weekender is coming to the Royal Albert Hall in 2027.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.