The nights are drawing in, the air carries a bite, and the city begins to flicker with candlelight and cobwebs — Halloween is upon us. No longer just the domain of trick-or-treaters, October has become a season of immersive experiences, twilight trails, and after-dark indulgences for all ages. This year, London and beyond is offering everything from haunted heritage adventures to karaoke-fuelled parties, sushi-making for little monsters, and even showstopping bakes for the ultimate Halloween tablescape.
Here, ARCADIA curates the most captivating ways to embrace the season.
Dark Arts at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: A Spellbinding Halloween
This spooky season, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will once again be cloaked in darkness as the much-loved Dark Arts feature makes its dramatic return. Running for nearly two months, it offers Harry Potter fans the ultimate immersion into the darker side of the wizarding world.
Across the Tour, Dementors cast shadows over the Forbidden Forest, while in the Creatures Workshop visitors can watch demonstrations revealing how these terrifying beings were crafted for the films. The much-anticipated Death Eater procession also returns — with duels choreographed by Paul Harris, the very wizarding wand master behind The Order of the Phoenix. Aspiring witches and wizards can test their own skills in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, while the Art Department pulls back the curtain on how the darker side of the films was brought to life.
Other highlights include a behind-the-scenes look at the destruction of Ollivander’s wand shop in The Half-Blood Prince, and a chance to cast a Patronus Charm in the Forbidden Forest. Throughout the Studio Tour, visitors will spot the sinister Dark Mark glowing unexpectedly, with clues tucked into the Activity Passport for eagle-eyed fans.
The spellbinding journey culminates in the Great Hall, resplendent with over 100 hand-carved pumpkins floating above the long Hogwarts house tables, each one brought to life by the Studio Tour’s Prop Making Department. Beneath them, a festive Halloween feast of glistening red apples and colourful lollipops awaits a scene as enchanting as it is eerie.
For those seeking a deeper thrill, the after-hours ‘NOX’ events return, running on 29th, 30th, and 31st October for visitors aged 16+. These late-night explorations of the Studio Tour, set under the cover of darkness, have become so popular that an additional evening has been added for 2025.
Inclusive Experiences
Importantly, the Studio Tour continues to offer Relaxed Tours for visitors with autism and sensory sensitivities. On these early-morning sessions, visitor numbers are reduced, sound levels are lowered, and lighting is softened. Families also have access to sensory support bags, ear defenders, and quiet spaces, ensuring that the magic of Dark Arts remains accessible to all.
12th September – 9th November 2025
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Leavesden
Tickets: from £56 at wbstudiotour.co.uk
Halloween at Kenwood: A Gothic Adventure in North London
Kenwood House, with its sweeping lawns and neoclassical grandeur, is enchanting in daylight. But this October, as dusk falls, its grounds will transform into a spine-tingling illuminated trail where history meets haunting. Expect the thunder of the Headless Horseman, a Highway Woman demanding “your money or your life!”, witches brewing potions in the shadows, and a moonlit graveyard whispering its secrets.
Children (and dogs) are warmly encouraged to come in costume, and there are sweet rewards at the end of the trail — from marshmallows toasted over open flames to Trick-or-Treat pizzas — making this as much about family fun as eerie encounters.
17th October – 2nd November 2025
Kenwood, Hampstead Ln, London NW3 7JR
Tickets: From £14 at HalloweenAtKenwood.co.uk
Blenheim Palace: Haunted Heritage and Autumnal Magic
Few settings rival Blenheim Palace for autumnal grandeur. This year, its gardens will host a hauntingly beautiful Halloween trail alive with towering skeletons, medieval dungeons, cursed tombs, and pagan ritual sites bathed in firelight.
After dark, the palace grounds become a theatre of ghostly projections and atmospheric soundscapes. For those who prefer their frights with finesse, there’s a Halloween Afternoon Tea served beneath Blenheim’s baroque ceilings proof that Halloween can be every bit as elegant as it is eerie.
23rd October – 2nd November 2025
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1UL
Tickets: Via Blenheim Palace
Sticks’n’Sushi: Little Monsters in the Kitchen
For families seeking something beyond the sugar rush, Sticks’n’Sushi is hosting Halloween masterclasses for aspiring mini-chefs. Children aged 8–12 can craft Pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern Onigiri, kappa maki, and nigiri, guided by expert sushi chefs.
Each session includes a goody bag brimming with Halloween treats, so young participants can continue their culinary magic long after the class ends. Costumes are welcomed, naturally.
Dates & Locations:
- Chelsea – Saturday 25th October
- Richmond – Sunday 26th October
- Cambridge – Sunday 26th October
Tickets: £40 per child at Sticks’n’Sushi
Arcadia Recommends : Halloween at Home
Halloween has blossomed into the new autumn party season, a time for candlelit dinners, artfully curated tablescapes, and after-dark gatherings that lean into theatricality. This year, two names stand out for transforming at-home celebrations into something truly spellbinding.
First, Lola’s Halloween Collection, available from 15th October to 2nd November 2025, brings drama straight to the table with jet-black ribbons and ruffles cakes, ghostly cupcakes, and vegan bakes topped with dark chocolate skulls and eerie sugar bats. These confections are designed not only to taste extraordinary but to steal the spotlight — centrepieces that demand a photograph before the first slice is taken. Pre-orders open from 29th September, and they’re likely to disappear as quickly as they arrive.
Meanwhile, Lush’s 2025 Halloween Collection turns the bathroom into a self-care sanctuary with a wicked twist. From the Monster Mashup bath bombs, where you can pair monster heads with headless bubble bars, to the viral Monster Octopus shower jelly and the Mr Pumpkin Face cleanser, the collection invites you to carve out moments of indulgence amid the chaos of the season. It’s Halloween for the senses — ethical, handmade, and irresistibly fun.
And for those who want to set the scene, a spooky movie marathon by candlelight or an afternoon spent crafting paper ghosts and cobweb garlands will add the final touches to a Halloween at home that feels as considered as any grand event.
