Best family Halloween events to take the kids to in 2024
From Alton Towers and London Zoo to local pumpkin patches, there are a tonne of family-friendly Halloween events going on this year.
Autumn has well and truly arrived and with it, the start of spooky season.
As a parent, Halloween can be a little hard to navigate, as you want your child to experience all the thrills and fun of the holiday without getting too scared.
Luckily, the UK has plenty of family-orientated Halloween events, from pumpkin patches and film screenings, to themed mazes and tours.
As a general rule, the best places for family Halloween events are the theme parks like LEGOLAND and Chessington, as they always know how to toe the line between scary and exciting. There's also historic sites like Warwick Castle and popular attractions like London Zoo, which put on a whole host of kid-friendly frights.
Below, you'll find a huge selection of Halloween events, suitable for kids of all ages. For a closer look at some of the events, here's how to get Warwick Castle Halloween tickets, and the best family escape rooms.
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Best family Halloween events at a glance
- Pumpkin Patch At Hobbledown Heath, from £5.20
- Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle, from £6.10
- Family potion making at Chelsea Physic Garden, from £10
- Hocus Pocus outdoor cinema, from £11.32
- Halloween at Kew, from £12
- Scared Shrekless at Shrek's Adventure, from £19
- Howl'o'ween at Chessington, from £22
- The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle, from £22
- Boo at the Zoo, from £27
- Hocus Pocus in concert, from £28.70
- Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND, from £29
- Scarefest at Alton Towers, from £37
- Discover the Dark Arts at Harry Potter Studios, from £119
Best family-friendly Halloween events you have to visit in 2024
Scared Shrekless at Shrek's Adventure
Southbank, London
Recommended for: 6+
Shrek's Adventure is getting spooky this autumn half-term, you can expect tricks, treats and more farts than ever at the immersive exhibition.
Scared Shrekless at Shrek's Adventure | from £19 at See Tickets
Howl'o'ween at Chessington World of Adventures
Kingston upon Thames, Greater London
Recommended for: all ages
Howl'o'ween is back at Chessington! With scare mazes, shows and rides running until dusk, it's ideal for immersing your child in the magical world of witches and werewolves.
Howl'o'ween at Chessington | from £22 at Chessington
The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle, Warwick
Recommended for: All ages (The Castle Dungeon 10+)
The Haunted Castle at Warwick is packed with spooky schools and educational, but fun talks for children, plus mazes and the interactive Haunted Dungeon.
The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle | from £22 at Warwick Castle
Boo at the Zoo
Regent's Park, London
Recommended for: 3+
Boo at the Zoo has highlights including the Extinct Species Graveyard, the Pumpkin Patch and the chance to make your own spooky animal masks.
Boo at the Zoo | from £27 at London Zoo
Halloween at Kew
Richmond, Greater London
Recommended for: 4+
Wind your way through the haunted woods at Kew Gardens, teeming with cobwebs, ghouls, witches, and beastly bats. Then, once you get to the end you can reward yourself with a sweet hot chocolate, or a hot toddy for the adults!
Halloween at Kew | from £12 at See Tickets
Hocus Pocus in concert
Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London
Film rating: PG-13
Family film Hocus Pocus is coming to Hammersmith's Eventim Apollo on 30th October. The beloved witchy classic will be shown on the big screen while an orchestra plays the soundtrack live.
Or, for a slightly quieter feel, you can see the film at an outdoor cinema.
- Hocus Pocus in concert | from £28.70 at Ticketmaster
- Hocus Pocus outdoor cinema | from £11.32 at National Trust, Basingstoke, Hampshire
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND
Windsor, Berkshire
Recommended for: 3+
Brick or Treat! LEGOLAND's Halloween celebrations include rides and live shows, from the fangtastic Monster Street to the thrilling Monster Jam Show and the Haunted House Party.
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND | from £29 at LEGOLAND
Scarefest at Alton Towers
Alton, Stoke-on-Trent
Recommended for all ages
Alton Towers Scarefest is a highlight of the Halloween calendar. For the youngest kids, you have the Monster Ball at CBeebies Land, plus you can hear stories from the spooky friends who roam around the park. Then there are rides at dusk, scare mazes, the new Dia de los Muertos celebrations, and the Compound scare maze.
Scarefest at Alton Towers | from £37 at Alton Towers
Discover the Dark Arts at Harry Potter Studios
Leavsden, Greater London
Recommended for: 4+
Harry Potter Studios is holding its Dark Arts exhibition this Halloween, highlighting the evilest parts of the franchise, from the Slytherin common room to Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Discover the Dark Arts at Harry Potter Studios | from £119 at Virgin Experience Days
Pumpkin Patch At Hobbledown Heath
Hounslow, London
Recommended for: 2+
You can't have Halloween without pumpkin picking. Well, if you're in London why not pop down to Hobbledown Heath and check out their huge selection of Jack O'Lanterns.
Pumpkin Patch At Hobbledown Heath | from £5.20 at Fever
Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle
Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
Recommended for: 5+
Bodiam Castle is holding its annual Spell Quest, where your young witch or wizard can take a spellbinding tour from Midnight the mischievous bat and unlock their magical potential. You'll learn the secrets of the castle and maybe pick up a magical prize at the end.
Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle | from £6.10 at National Trust
Chelsea Physic Garden
Chelsea Physic Garden, London
Recommended for: 5+
Chelsea Physic Garden is running a series of family workshops including potion making, cookie decorating and a Halloween costume party.
- Family potion making at Chelsea Physic Garden | from £10 at See Tickets
- Family costume party at Chelsea Physic Garden | from £10 at See Tickets
- Family cookie decorating at Chelsea Physic Garden | from £15 at See Tickets
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