10 Unusual and Spooky Things to Do in London

I am hopeless with horror films. Not adorably nervous, either. I mean genuinely incapable of watching one without spending the next week checking behind doors and regarding every shadow as a murderer with excellent timing.

This has always been slightly inconvenient because I love Halloween. I like the pumpkins, the stories, the excuse to explore somewhere strange and the fact that London becomes even more theatrical than usual. I simply prefer my scares with a little history and atmosphere—not somebody leaping at me with a chainsaw.

I first wrote this guide in 2015, after growing up in a family that considered Halloween an American import. We eventually persuaded my dad to let us carve a pumpkin, make soup and alarm the neighbours in improvised costumes. London later introduced me to a much broader version of Halloween: medical museums, cemeteries, ghost stories and houses that feel as though their occupants have only just left.

These unusual and spooky things to do in London work throughout the year, although they are particularly atmospheric in autumn. I have deliberately left out temporary Halloween events because they change annually. Check every venue’s official website before travelling.

1. Meet the Hunterian Museum’s unsettling collection

The Hunterian Museum was one of the strongest ideas in my original guide, and it remains a fascinating place for anyone whose curiosity is stronger than their squeamishness. Its displays explore the history of surgery and anatomy through specimens, instruments and medical objects.

This is not a haunted-house attraction. The human material deserves respect, and the museum asks visitors not to publish close-up photographs of human remains. Entry is free, although advance booking is recommended. If jars and anatomical specimens make you faint, perhaps admire Lincoln’s Inn Fields instead and pretend this section never happened.

2. Climb into the Old Operating Theatre

Hidden in the roof of an old church near London Bridge, the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret is wonderfully peculiar. The timber operating theatre predates modern anaesthesia, while the herb garret tells the story of medicines prepared for St Thomas’ Hospital.

The building does most of the atmospheric work without plastic skeletons or recorded screaming. Be aware that the traditional entrance involves a narrow spiral staircase; check the museum’s current accessibility information before visiting. Pair it with Borough Market or a walk beside the Thames so your day contains something less medically alarming.

3. Remember London’s outcasts at Crossbones

Crossbones Garden of Remembrance occupies part of a former paupers’ burial ground in Southwark. Its gates, ribbons and handmade memorials honour people who were pushed to the edges of society, including the women remembered locally as the Winchester Geese.

It is moving rather than frightening, and it should be treated as a memorial—not a Halloween prop. Volunteer opening means access can vary, but you can still see the decorated gates when the garden is closed. From here, continue towards Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market or the riverside. My historical Thames walk offers another way to explore this part of London.

4. Explore Highgate Cemetery

Highgate Cemetery is the obvious choice, but obvious does not mean disappointing. Ivy, weathered angels and elaborate Victorian monuments make it one of London’s most atmospheric landscapes. It is also a working cemetery, so quiet curiosity is welcome; staging a dramatic séance for social media is not.

The East and West sides have different access arrangements, and some visits or tours require booking. Use the official Highgate Cemetery website for current tickets, tours and accessibility details. Give yourself time to explore Highgate village afterwards rather than treating the cemetery as a quick photograph.

5. Take a proper London ghost walk

A good ghost walk is really a history tour wearing a black cloak. The best guides use documented events, architecture and old London folklore to make familiar streets feel different after dark. The worst simply shout behind you and call it theatre.

My original guide included the Ghosts, Gaslight and Guinness walk. Tour names and schedules can change, so browse the current London Walks programme rather than relying on a decade-old timetable. Choose a route that suits your tolerance for gore, supernatural stories and pub stops, and wear shoes that can cope with old paving and British weather.

6. Enter Dennis Severs’ House in silence

Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields is not conventionally scary. It is stranger than that. The rooms are staged as though an imaginary family has just stepped away: beds remain unmade, food appears unfinished and fires crackle in the dimness.

Silent visits heighten every sound and smell, turning the house into a piece of immersive theatre. It rewards visitors who enjoy atmosphere and imagination more than neat labels. The historic building has stairs, uneven floors and access restrictions, and photography is not permitted, so read the practical information carefully before booking.

7. Browse the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities in Hackney is what might happen if an eccentric collector filled every available surface and then opened a cocktail bar upstairs. Its cabinets mix natural history, art, folklore and objects that resist polite classification.

It is small, dense and decidedly not designed for visitors seeking a restrained museum experience. Book ahead if it is central to your plans and check age restrictions for younger visitors. Adults can follow the museum with a drink in the Absinthe Parlour, although I take no responsibility for decisions made after the absinthe arrives.

8. Visit the City of London Cemetery

The City of London Cemetery and Crematorium appeared in my original itinerary and remains worth considering if you enjoy social history, memorial architecture and quieter places. It is far less theatrical than Highgate and considerably farther from the central attractions, but that also means it feels like a genuine landscape rather than a set.

Remember that it is an active cemetery where people may be attending funerals or visiting graves. Check the City of London’s official information, behave respectfully and do not build a tightly timed central-London itinerary around it.

9. Discover heroic deaths in Postman’s Park

Postman’s Park looks like a small, peaceful patch of green near St Paul’s Cathedral. Beneath its covered gallery, however, the Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice records ordinary people who died while trying to save others. The ceramic plaques are brief, specific and often devastating.

This is not a supernatural attraction, but it is one of London’s most affecting hidden memorials and free to visit during the park’s opening hours. Combine it with St Paul’s, Smithfield or the Barbican. For getting between these scattered corners of the city without upsetting half the commuter population, see my London Underground etiquette guide.

10. Go underground at the London Mithraeum

The London Mithraeum is not spooky in the traditional sense, but descending beneath the modern City to the remains of a Roman temple is deliciously atmospheric. Light and sound help suggest how the sanctuary may once have felt without pretending the ruins are something they are not.

General admission has traditionally been free but timed entry arrangements can change, so reserve through the official London Mithraeum website. It pairs neatly with Postman’s Park, St Paul’s and a walk through the City.

Planning your spooky London weekend

Book the small venues first

Dennis Severs’ House, cemetery tours and small museums can have limited capacity. Reserve your essential experience before arranging the rest of the day. Halloween week is particularly busy, while visiting in November or winter can give you much the same atmosphere with fewer plastic cobwebs.

Check content and access warnings

Medical specimens, human remains, death and disturbing histories feature in several places above. They will not suit every adult and may be inappropriate for some children. Historic buildings also involve stairs, uneven floors and restricted access. Read each venue’s guidance rather than assuming an old London building will behave like a modern gallery.

Group places by area

London is much larger than it looks when viewed hopefully on a phone screen. Combine Southwark stops together, keep City attractions together and give Highgate its own half-day. If you want to soften all the gloom with something more cheerful, my guide to romantic things to do in London contains gardens, views and cocktails without a single anatomical specimen.

Spooky Things to Do in London: FAQs

What are the best unusual Halloween attractions in London?

The Hunterian Museum, Old Operating Theatre, Crossbones Garden, Highgate Cemetery, Dennis Severs’ House and Viktor Wynd Museum provide unusual atmosphere without relying on temporary scare mazes.

Are there free spooky places to visit in London?

The Hunterian Museum has free admission, while Crossbones and Postman’s Park can also be visited without an admission charge. Booking or opening arrangements may still apply.

Is Highgate Cemetery suitable for children?

That depends on the child and the chosen visit. It is a working cemetery rather than a Halloween attraction, and families should check current tour rules, accessibility and content before booking.

Do I need to book London ghost tours in advance?

Advance booking is sensible around weekends and Halloween. Confirm the meeting point, finishing location, duration and age guidance directly with the operator.

Can I follow this itinerary at any time of year?

Yes. The main places in this guide are permanent attractions or historic sites rather than annual Halloween events. Autumn adds atmosphere, but winter can be equally effective.