Halloween in the United Kingdom

Kids wear spooky costumes and go trick-or-treating. Pic: Prakash

Halloween in the UK blends old British customs with modern, largely-Americanised practices. Expect pumpkins, costumes and trick-or-treating, plus local touches like bonfire connections and community events. It sits somewhere between large-scale US celebrations and the varied, often regional, European traditions.

Halloween Date for 2025

Name Date Day Holiday Type Countries
Halloween 31 Oct Friday Observance All

Are Businesses Closed?

Halloween is not a public holiday. Businesses and Offices are open according to their normal hours.

Are Schools Closed?

Schools in Northern Ireland are closed for the Halloween break. Schools in other areas are generally open unless the day falls in the half term break, and often it does. Check the school holidays calendar for more detail.

What Halloween looks like in the UK

Halloween in the UK is widely observed. Many families carve pumpkins, children dress up and go trick-or-treating, and towns host pumpkin trails, parties and themed markets. Schools often hold costume days and local councils promote family-friendly events.

Historic roots and local flavours

The British celebration mixes modern Halloween with older autumn customs: Samhain echoes, harvest festivals, and Guy Fawkes Night nearby in November. While Guy Fawkes (bonfires and fireworks) is a separate tradition, its timing and communal spirit sometimes shape how communities plan late-October events.

How the UK compares with the United States

Key similarities and differences between the UK and the US:

  • Scale and commercialisation: The US often has larger, highly commercialised Halloween displays, long-standing haunted attractions, and heavy retail promotions; the UK shows growing commercialisation but generally on a smaller scale.
  • Trick-or-treat culture: Door-to-door trick-or-treating is common in both countries, but the US tradition can be more widespread and intense, with entire neighbourhoods participating and heavy evening traffic of costumed children.
  • Community events: Both countries have school parties and local festivals; the UK leans more on community-organised events, village halls and town-centre trails in many areas.
  • Haunt and horror industry: The US has a very large haunted-house and theme-park industry tied to Halloween; the UK has growing haunted events but fewer large-scale commercial haunted attractions overall.
  • Media and pop culture: US films and TV strongly shape Halloween imagery globally; the UK follows that influence while adding home-grown spooky storytelling and local folklore into celebrations.

Common ways Brits celebrate

Popular activities across the UK include:

  • Pumpkin carving and porch displays.
  • Trick-or-treating in participating neighbourhoods.
  • Community pumpkin trails, themed markets and family events.
  • Costume parties at schools, pubs and community centres.
  • Local theatre, ghost walks and heritage-led spooky tours in historic towns and castles.

Our Tips

Here's our tips to make Halloween fun for everybody:

  • Be clear if you are welcoming trick-or-treaters: a lit porch or a sign helps.
  • Respect neighbours who don’t celebrate; check where trick-or-treating is welcome in your street.
  • Offer allergy-safe or non-food treats as options for children with dietary needs.
  • Plan activities for a range of ages — not everyone wants scares; some prefer crafts or costume photo booths.
  • Supervise your kids to keep them safe on street and the driveways. Dark costumes are less visible to the drivers in the evening.