Halloween Theme Parks Near London: Our Top Picks for 2026
- Tracy Tristram
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
Halloween at the theme parks is a bit of a thing in our house. While the “let’s put a pumpkin on the doorstep and watch Hocus Pocus” sort of thing is also fangtastic, we absolutely LOVE a proper theme park Halloween-style. Rides in the dark, jump scares, drinks that look like potions, and a lost voice the next day from screaming. And because we’ve been lucky enough to try the big Halloween events at the theme parks around London ourselves the past few years running, so this isn't us Googling a list of Halloween events and telling you that they look good. We KNOW they're good. Because we’ve actually been to them.
So, if you're wondering which theme park Halloween event is worth your precious October weekends, here’s our very honest London for Kidz take.
The one for the big kids, teenagers and anyone who thinks being genuinely scared is a brilliant way to spend an evening.
Let's start with the obvious one. Thorpe Park doesn't really do cute Halloween. It does FEAR.
And in 2026, Fright Nights is celebrating 25 years, with the park once again turning into a considerably less welcoming place after dark.
The big news this year is Tenement, a brand-new pitch-black scare maze where you're navigating an abandoned building with a failing shared light. Yes, pitch black. Yes, that sounds absolutely horrible. Yes, we're intrigued.
Returning scare mazes include Trailers, DeadBeat, Stitches and Survival Games, alongside scare zones, live entertainment and the chance to ride some of Thorpe Park's biggest coasters in the dark.
And honestly, that's one of our favourite things about Fright Nights. You can spend the day throwing yourself around on Hyperia, Stealth, THE SWARM and SAW – The Ride, and then watch the entire atmosphere change as darkness falls. It's basically two theme park experiences in one.
Our London for Kidz verdict
Go here if your children are older and genuinely enjoy being scared.
Thorpe Park recommends the scare attractions for ages 13+, with Survival Games rated 15, so this isn't the Halloween trip we'd pick for little ones. But for teenagers? Absolutely. There is something brilliant about watching a normally confident teenager suddenly decide they would quite like to hold your hand.
Fright Nights takes place on selected dates from 2 October to 1 November 2026, with tickets currently from £39pp. Scare maze access is an additional purchase, so check exactly what you're booking before you get to the checkout.
London for Kidz tip: Book early! This is a sell out for good reason every year.
The one we'd pick for a proper family Halloween day out.
If Thorpe Park is Halloween after dark with the volume turned up, Chessington is its considerably more family-friendly cousin. And we love it.
Howl'o'ween is all about bringing Halloween into the theme park without making the smaller members of the family hide behind Mum every time something moves. There are Halloween characters, shows, tricks, treats and plenty of spooky goings-on around the park, while you still get all the usual Chessington rides and attractions.
And that's what makes Chessington such a good shout for families with children of different ages.
One minute you're wandering around the zoo, the next you're on a ride, and then suddenly you've got a Halloween character appearing from somewhere you definitely weren't expecting.
It's spooky.
But it's fun spooky, rather than “I hate you for bringing me here” spooky.
Our London for Kidz verdict
If you've got younger children, this is probably our pick.
It's Halloween without having to worry that you've accidentally traumatised your seven-year-old for life. Howl'o'ween runs on selected dates from 3–4 October, 10–11 October and 17 October–1 November 2026, with day tickets currently from £34pp.
And because it's Chessington, you also get the animals. All the wins.
The one for little monsters who aren't quite ready for proper scares.
If your idea of Halloween involves dressing the kids up, collecting treats, meeting characters and generally having a ridiculously fun day rather than being chased through a dark tunnel by an axe murderer, LEGOLAND is your friend. Brick or Treat is very firmly on the family-friendly side of Halloween.
Expect spooky LEGO models, Halloween entertainment, characters, music, rides and plenty of opportunities for the children to get into the Halloween spirit without anyone needing to sleep with the bedroom light on afterwards.
And let's be honest, there is something particularly brilliant about Halloween at LEGOLAND.
Everything is just... cheerful.
Even the skeletons.
Even the monsters.
Even the pumpkins.
It's basically Halloween for people who like their fear served with a side of LEGO.
Our London for Kidz verdict
Brilliant for younger children and families who want Halloween fun rather than Halloween fright It's also a good option if you've got children who love dressing up because there are plenty of opportunities to embrace the whole “I am absolutely not taking this costume off” situation.
Brick or Treat takes place on 10–11 October and 17 October–1 November 2026, with tickets currently from £37 per person.
And then there's Alton Towers...
OK, so obviously Alton Towers isn't around London, but we're giving it an honorary London for Kidz mention because we make the pilgrimage every year and LOVE IT. It's become a tradition.
Mr 14 from the Junior London for Kidz team and I head north for Alton Towers Scarefest and, quite frankly, it's epic.
If your family loves theme parks and genuinely enjoys Halloween, we'd absolutely put this on your radar. Scarefest manages to combine the things we love most about a theme park Halloween: the atmosphere, the rides, the scare mazes, the entertainment and that slightly surreal feeling of walking around a theme park in the dark wondering whether the person behind you is a fellow visitor or something considerably more sinister.
For 2026, the scare maze line-up includes Altonville Mine Tours: Tiny's Revenge, COMPOUND, Edge of the Forest and Final Exhibit, with additional experiences including Amigos in the Afterlife and Trick O' Treat Town. There's also a new Dine with the Dead experience for guests aged 14+.
And yes, Mr 14 is now at precisely the age where Scarefest is about as good as it gets. Scarefest takes place on selected dates from 26–27 September, 2–4 October, 9–11 October and 16 October–1 November 2026.
So... which Halloween theme park should you choose?
This is where we stop pretending there's one winner. Because there isn't. It really depends on who you're taking.
If you've got younger children
LEGOLAND Brick or Treat or Chessington Howl'o'ween.
LEGOLAND is the gentler option, while Chessington gives you a bit more of that proper theme park Halloween atmosphere.
If you've got teenagers
Thorpe Park Fright Nights.
Especially if they enjoy being scared and want something that feels considerably more grown-up.
If you're serious about Halloween
Alton Towers Scarefest.
Yes, it's further away.
Yes, it's a trek.
Yes, we still do it every year.
That probably tells you everything you need to know.
And if you're asking what we'd do?
Well...
We'd probably do all of them. Because we have never met a theme park Halloween event we didn't want to investigate. And after trying all of these ourselves, that's exactly why we wanted to put this guide together.
These aren't just Halloween events we've found on the internet. These are places we've actually been, photographed, ridden, eaten our way around and, in some cases, screamed our way through. So if you're planning your October weekends, these are the ones we'd recommend putting on your list.
Just don't blame us when the children start asking if you can go again next weekend.
More Halloween ideas?
We're adding more Halloween events and things to do across London and beyond to London for Kidz throughout September and October, so keep checking back for our latest recommendations. And yes, we will probably be somewhere in a theme park again.
Top image: Photography London for Kidz taken at Thorpe Park
