It's spooky season – Here's the scariest West End theatre shows to catch this Halloween
There's more than a few thrillers at the West End this October.
What do we associate with Halloween? Wailing ghosts? Creeping aliens? People dramatically swishing around in cloaks? All of this can be found at the West End!
This October, London's theatre scene is bursting with spooky shows, from mild family frights like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to full-on petrifying plays like Stranger Things The First Shadow.
That's not to mention some of the West End's most classic productions which will definitely put you in the mood for scares, from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera to Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap.
Whether it's plays, musicals or concerts you're after, below you'll find our picks for the best spooky West End shows to see this month. Plus, a few extra shows on tour too.
Best scary theatre shows at a glance
- The Rocky Horror show tour, from £15
- Dracula, from £18
- Inside No.9 Stage/Fright tour, from £20
- The Woman In Black, from £22
- West End Musical Halloween, from £24
- The Mousetrap, from £28
- Ghost Stories, from £30
- The Phantom of the Opera, from £30
- Stranger Things The First Shadow, from £33
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, from £36
Best scary theatre shows to see this Halloween
West End Musical Halloween
- 27th Oct 2025 – Lyric Theatre
Forget Monster Mash, this is a Musical Mash!
For one night only this October, you can see the West End's biggest stars perform in a "freakishly fun" concert dedicated to Halloween. Experience the spookiest songs from the scariest musicals, like Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Beetlejuice and so much more.
- Buy West End Musical Halloween tickets from £24 at LOVE Theatre
- Buy West End Musical Halloween tickets from £25 at London Theatre Direct
Ghost Stories
- Until 8th Nov – Peacock Theatre
Prepare for a night of spine-chilling thrills and unexpected twists. The Olivier Award-nominated show, Ghost Stories, returns to London this Halloween following its first ever full UK tour.
"When Professor Goodman, arch-sceptic out to debunk the paranormal, embarks on an investigation of three apparent hauntings – as recounted by a night-watchman, a teenage boy, and a businessman awaiting his first child – Goodman finds himself at the outer limits of rationality, and fast running out of explanations."
Buy Ghost Stories tickets from £30 at LOVETheatre
It's the Les Misérables 40th anniversary so here's the biggest Les Misérables backstage secrets. Plus we chatted exclusively to Alfie Boe and Killian Donnelly about their Les Mis careers.
Dracula
- Until 11th Oct – Lyric Hammersmith
Turning the classic spook story on its head, this major new adaptation of Bram Stoker’s horror classic uncovers the female voices at the heart of the tale. Prepare to see Mina Harker and her beloved friend Lucy as you've never seen before, because they're done being the victims.
Buy Dracula tickets from £18 at LOVETheatre
Inside No.9 Stage/Fright tour
- Various locations
The sold-out production of Inside No.9 Stage/Fright is now on tour across the UK. The brainchild of TV geniuses Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, this play combines the hilarious, the devastating and the very very frightening moments of the much-loved anthology series into one spine-tingling ride.
Inside No.9 Stage/Fright tour from £20 at ATG Tickets
The Woman in Black
- 8th – 25th Oct – Alexandra Palace Theatre
It's the scariest play there is, The Woman in Black returns to London this October. Susan Hill's iconic story needs just two men and one mysterious veiled figure to scare the soul out of your body.
The Woman In Black from £22 at London Theatre Direct
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
- Ongoing – Phoenix Theatre
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is the perfect treat for fans of the Netflix series.
As a prequel to the show, the play follows Joyce Buyers, Hopper, Bob Newby and the mysterious Henry Creel, before they came the characters we know, love and loathe today. In our review, we gave the show four stars, praising its pitch-perfect performances and terrifying design. In short, it's ideal for Halloween.
- Buy Stranger Things The First Shadow tickets from £30 at LOVETheatre
- Buy Stranger Things The First Shadow tickets from £33 at TodayTix
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Ongoing – Palace Theatre
You should know by now that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a simply spellbinding experience. Running since 2016 at the Palace Theatre, this show follows the wayward son of Harry Potter as he struggles to cope with his father's legacy at Hogwarts.
The play is split into two parts with the total run time at over five hours! But with gut-wrenching performances and jaw-dropping special effects, it's well worth it.
- Buy Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets from £30 at LOVETheatre
- Buy Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets from £36 at TodayTix
The Mousetrap
- Ongoing – St Martin's Theatre
It's the longest-running show in West End history and yet it remains a mystery to this day. Anyone who's been to Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap knows that the ending is a sacred secret, shared by only those who've seen it. Now is your chance to join the club today, and isn't murder mystery just the perfect way to celebrate Halloween?
The Phantom of the Opera
- Ongoing – His Majesty's Theatre
All we ask of you is that you go and see Andrew Lloyd-Webber's classic musical The Phantom of the Opera. The show has been running at His Majesty's Theatre since 1986, making it the second longest-running musical in West End history. It's known for its tragic story, electrifying vocals and of course, the mysterious Phantom.
- Buy The Phantom of the Opera tickets from £30 at LOVE Theatre
- Buy The Phantom of the Opera tickets from £31 at London Theatre Direct
The Rocky Horror show tour
- Various locations
You can't have Halloween without The Rocky Horror Show. Luckily, this cult classic is jumping and stepping all over the UK from now until July 2025. Starring Jason Donovan as the Transylvanian icon himself, Frank-N-Furter, you can find this science fiction/double feature this October at the Grand Opera House in York.
Buy The Rocky Horror show tour tickets from £15 at ATG Tickets
For more of the latest reviews, take a look at our Born With Teeth review and five star The Producers review.
Authors
