Family events for Halloween

The Vampire Academy at London Eye, Oct 25-31

Young ticket holders visiting the London Eye on the South Bank during half term week are invited to check out the Vampire Academy near to the Eye. Here they can get crafty with Halloween themes, and meet Dr. Acula (3-7pm daily).
www.londoneye.com

Halloween Big Draw at Victoria Park, Oct 26

The Community Park Rangers at east London’s favourite park mark the end of Big Draw week with a Halloween-themed art session for children. A chance to create a Halloween Art Attack collage out of recycled materials, draw a colourful Chalk 'n' Walk mural on the pathway and design a Halloween mask. 1-4pm.
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

Alchemy and Wizardry in Epping Forest, Oct 29

This drop-in event at Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge in Epping Forest gives families a chance to find out more about the ancient obsession with alchemy. Make your own wizard’s hat and wand while you’re here or dress up to come along. 2-5pm.
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
 

Halloween Costume workshop at Greenwich Market, Oct 29-31

Families with children (6+) can come along and create the costume of their choice – witch, Dracula, goblin, evil fairy, good fairy or zombie. All materials are recycled and supplied for free. There is also face-painting to complete the look, and the chance to do scary cupcake decorating. The sessions are organised by two of the market’s stores – Miss Libby Rose and Ms Cupcake. 11am-5pm
www.shopgreenwich.co.uk

Halloween Spectacle at St James’ Park SW1, Oct 31

As part of St James’ Park food fare and farmers’ market there will be children’s activities like face-painting, a ‘Pumpkin Village’, a chance to make bats, hats and spiders, and to enter the scariest pumpkin competition. 11am-7pm (Ghosts and Legends guided walk, 6-7pm).
www.royalparks.org.uk

Special Spooky Tour at Kew, Oct 29-31

The Halloween Kew Explorer trip includes strange tales of odd goings-on at the gardens in its spooky past. Tours are hourly each day, 11.30am-3.30pm.
www.kew.org
 

Miss Horniman’s Halloween Gathering, Oct 30

Two twilight tours reveal some ghoulish pumpkins in the gardens of the Horniman Museum. Visitors are invited to bring their own torches and get prepared to be spooked at the tales they hear. Suitable for families with children 5+. 5.30-6.15pm and 6.45-7.30pm.
www.horniman.ac.uk

Halloween Experience 2010, Oct 30, 31

The London Canal Museum (set on Battlebridge Basin, off the Regent’s Canal, tucked behind King’s Cross), is situated in a perfectly spooky part of town – filled with canalside intrigues from bygone times. Take a canalboat trip through Islington Tunnel, guided by an onboard friendly witch, and expect a few surprises to pop out of the darkness… At the museum itself hear ghost stories and join in themed activities.
www.canalmuseum.org.uk

Halloween at the Queen’s House, Oct 31

This daytime event at the Queen’s House (part of National Maritime Museum, Greenwich) invites children of all ages to dress up, concoct spells, and mix magic potions. There are ‘flying lessons’ and prizes for the best costumes. Halloween Skies at the Planetarium will be showing all through half term week.
www.nmm.ac.uk
 

Halloween Crafts at Eltham Palace, Oct 31

Go on a ghostly tour at this elegant old house and get stuck into family craft activities. There is a small prize for the best children’s costume so dress up before you go. 10am-4pm.
www.english-heritage.org.uk