How to Get a Halloween Costume in London: 8 Easy Ways for Every Budget
Halloween in London can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be.
You can walk into a specialist fancy-dress shop and come out looking like a vampire, witch, zombie or horror-film character. You can hire something far more elaborate for one night. You can hunt through vintage shops for pieces that don't look like a traditional Halloween costume at all. Or, if you are trying to spend as little as possible, you can create something surprisingly good from clothes and accessories you already own.
And that is probably the best thing about Halloween in London: there isn't one correct way to dress up.
With Halloween falling on Saturday 31 October 2026, there are only a few days left to get everything sorted. That means the best option now depends on whether you want something ready-made, something unique, something cheap or something you can put together at home.
So if you're wondering where to buy a Halloween costume in London, where to hire one, or how to make one without spending much money, here are eight ways to get a good Halloween costume this year.
1. Buy a Ready-Made Costume From a London Fancy-Dress Shop
If you want the easiest option, go to a proper fancy-dress shop.
The advantage of shopping in person is that you can actually see the costume, check the quality, look at different sizes and pick up all the little things you might have forgotten about wigs, masks, make-up, fake blood and props.
One of the biggest options is Costume N Party in Walthamstow. Its current Halloween 2026 collection is in store, with more than 10,000 costumes and accessories, including adult and children's costumes, wigs, masks, make-up and props. The shop is at 286 Chingford Road, E17.
Another useful option is Party Spirit on Holloway Road. The shop currently advertises more than 5,000 costumes, wigs, masks, make-up and party accessories, and has extended its opening hours for the final Halloween week. From 26–31 October, it is scheduled to open from 8am until late, with Halloween Day opening until 11:45pm.
For South London, Fancy Dress Town on Southwark Park Road is another specialist option, while central London has smaller costume and accessory shops worth knowing about.
The benefit of this option is obvious:
You choose it, try to get the right size, buy it and you're ready to go.
If you're shopping this late, however, it is worth checking stock before making a long journey.
2. Hire a Costume Instead of Buying One
If you're only going to wear the costume once, why buy it?
London has a huge costume-hire scene, and this can be a much better option if you want something elaborate.
One of the best-known names is Mad World Fancy Dress on Tabernacle Street near Old Street.
Mad World currently says it has more than 35,000 costumes available to hire and that prices start from £35 for a seven-day hire period. Its collection covers everything from historical costumes and character outfits to themed and theatrical looks. The business has been hiring costumes since 1971.
Its Halloween opening hours are also extended this week, with the London shop open until 8pm from Monday 26 October through Saturday 31 October.
This makes costume hire particularly useful if you want something that looks more impressive than a basic packaged costume but don't want to own it forever.
And there is another advantage.
You can wear it for your Halloween event, return it and you don't have to find somewhere in your wardrobe to store a giant costume for the next 12 months.
Best for: elaborate costumes, themed parties, couples, groups and anyone who only needs the outfit once.
3. Look at Theatrical Costume Hire
If you want something genuinely unusual, London has another option that many visitors don't think about: theatre costume hire.
Visit London currently lists the National Theatre Costume and Props Hire in Brixton, rather than at the National Theatre itself, as one of London's options for unusual fancy-dress costumes and props. Its collection includes costumes, props and armour from past productions.
This is a very different proposition from buying a £20 packaged Halloween costume.
You could potentially find something historical, theatrical or completely unlike what everyone else at the party is wearing.
There are also specialist costume businesses around London, including Costume Studio in Dalston, listed by local London directories among theatrical costume suppliers.
This isn't necessarily the cheapest route, but if your priority is quality and originality, it's worth exploring.
4. Build Your Costume From Vintage or Second-Hand Clothes
Here's one of the best options if you want a costume that doesn't look like a Halloween costume.
Go vintage.
London has an enormous second-hand and vintage clothing scene, so instead of searching for something labelled “Halloween”, look for individual pieces that can become part of a character.
Visit London's current fancy-dress guide specifically recommends Beyond Retro for creating a vintage Halloween look. Its shops include Dalston, King's Cross and Soho, while the Soho store on Argyll Street currently has thousands of vintage clothes and shoes across two floors.
You could find:
A long black coat
An old-fashioned dress
A vintage suit
A strange-looking shirt
A pair of boots
A hat
Old jewellery
A dramatic pair of sunglasses
And suddenly you've got the foundation for a witch, vampire, detective, gothic character, 1920s figure, rock star or completely fictional character.
You also get something you can actually wear again.
That's the big advantage.
Instead of spending money on a costume that lives in a cupboard after Halloween, you've bought clothes that can become part of your normal wardrobe.
5. Make Your Costume at Home for Almost Nothing
If you're on a really tight budget, don't buy a costume at all.
Start with your wardrobe.
Look at what you already have before going shopping.
A black outfit can become the basis for a witch, vampire or gothic character.
An old suit can become a zombie businessman.
A white shirt and dark trousers can become the starting point for a detective or secret-agent character.
An old dress can be transformed with dramatic make-up, fake blood, torn fabric or accessories.
The secret isn't necessarily having great sewing skills.
It's about making the character recognisable.
A normal outfit + good make-up + one strong accessory can often work better than an inexpensive full costume that doesn't fit particularly well.
You can also make simple props at home using cardboard, paper, old clothes and things you already have.
And if you're doing this with children, making the costume together can actually become part of the Halloween fun.
6. Buy Only the Accessories You Need
This is probably the smartest option if you want to spend a small amount of money rather than nothing.
Don't buy the entire costume.
Buy the thing that makes the character work.
For example:
Your own black clothes + vampire cape + fake blood + make-up = vampire.
Or:
Your own clothes + witch hat + make-up + broom = witch.
Or:
Old suit + zombie make-up + fake blood = zombie businessman.
Instead of spending £30–£50 on an entire outfit, you could use clothes you already own and spend your money on the details.
Specialist London shops sell plenty of these finishing touches. Party Spirit, for example, currently stocks wigs, masks, make-up, fake blood, props and other accessories alongside full costumes.
This is also where smaller central London fancy-dress shops can be useful if you suddenly realise you need a wig, mask or prop.
The idea is simple:
Don't pay for clothes you already own. Pay for the transformation.
7. Borrow, Swap or Reuse a Costume
Before spending any money, ask your friends.
Seriously.
There is a good chance somebody you know has a Halloween costume sitting in a cupboard from last year.
Maybe they have a vampire cape.
Maybe someone has a wig.
Maybe someone has a mask.
Maybe somebody bought an elaborate costume for a party and has worn it exactly once.
You can borrow it.
Or organise a costume swap.
Everyone brings something they already have, and everyone creates a new costume from the collection.
You can also mix different people's old costumes together.
A jacket from one friend.
A hat from another.
A wig from somebody else.
Your own clothes.
Suddenly you have a completely different character.
This costs little or nothing and, more importantly, keeps costumes in use instead of buying something new for one night.
If you're going to a Halloween party with a group of friends, this can actually be more fun than everyone buying separate costumes.
8. Do the Last-Minute “Normal Clothes + Make-Up” Costume
And finally, if you're reading this on 30 October and thinking:
“I haven't got a costume.”
Don't panic.
You can still make one.
Start with normal clothes and choose one simple character.
Zombie?
Use everyday clothes and focus on the make-up.
Vampire?
Dark clothes, pale make-up and one or two accessories.
Witch?
Black outfit, dramatic make-up and a hat.
Ghost?
Use simple light-coloured clothing and build the look around the make-up.
The important thing is not to try to create something ridiculously complicated at the last minute.
One strong idea is better than five random Halloween accessories.
And if you're missing one important item, head to a specialist shop and buy just that piece.
This is where the previous methods come together.
You don't necessarily need a complete costume.
You just need enough to make the character obvious.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Get a Halloween Costume?
If you're trying to spend as little as possible, I'd rank the options like this:
£0 - Use What You Already Own
Start with your wardrobe.
You might already have most of what you need.
£0–£10 - Borrow or Swap
Ask friends and family before buying anything.
A costume accessory can completely change an outfit.
£5–£20 - Build Around Accessories
Keep your own clothes and buy one or two things such as a wig, hat, cape, mask or make-up.
£10–£30 - Go Second-Hand
Look for vintage or charity-shop clothing and build something unique from individual pieces.
£30+ - Buy a Complete Costume
This is the easiest option if you don't want to spend time creating something.
From £35 - Hire Something Better
Mad World's current costume-hire prices start at £35 for seven days, although individual costumes can cost more.
So if money is your biggest concern, don't automatically assume that buying a complete Halloween costume is the cheapest answer.
It often isn't.
Where Can You Buy Halloween Costumes in London?
If you want to physically visit a shop, these are some of the options worth knowing.
East London: Costume N Party in Walthamstow has more than 10,000 costumes and accessories.
North London: Party Spirit on Holloway Road has thousands of costumes and accessories and is extending its Halloween opening hours through 31 October.
South London: Fancy Dress Town on Southwark Park Road is another specialist option.
East/Central London: Mad World near Old Street is particularly useful if you want costume hire as well as costumes and accessories to buy.
For vintage: Beyond Retro has London locations including Dalston, King's Cross and Soho.
For something theatrical: National Theatre Costume and Props Hire is in Brixton and offers costumes, props and armour from past productions.
You don't necessarily need to visit a shop that calls itself a “Halloween shop”.
Sometimes a vintage clothing shop, second-hand store or costume-hire business will give you a much better starting point.
A Few Things to Remember Before You Buy
Don't leave costume hire too late. Halloween is one of the busiest periods for costume businesses, and popular outfits can go quickly.
Check availability before travelling. Especially this close to Halloween, don't assume something you saw online is still available in the physical shop.
Try the costume on if you can. Something that looks fantastic online might not fit the way you expect.
Think about London's weather. Halloween can be cold and wet, so if you're going to be outside, think about what you'll actually be comfortable wearing.
Think about the Tube. A giant costume might look hilarious in photographs but can become a nightmare when you're trying to squeeze onto a crowded train.
Check event rules. Some venues may have restrictions on masks, props, weapons or large costume pieces, so check the event's rules before you leave home.
And most importantly, you don't need to spend a lot of money to have a good Halloween costume.
Sometimes an old jacket, clever make-up, one good accessory and a little imagination are enough.
Final Thoughts
Getting a Halloween costume in London doesn't have to mean walking into a shop and spending £50 on something you'll never wear again.
You can buy one.
You can hire one.
You can find vintage pieces.
You can borrow one.
You can swap with friends.
Or you can simply look around your wardrobe and make something yourself.
If you want the easiest option, London's specialist fancy-dress shops have plenty to choose from. If you want something more impressive, costume hire gives you access to a completely different level of outfits. And if you're trying to keep your spending down, your wardrobe might already contain most of what you need.
So before you panic-buy a costume on 30 October, look around your home first.
You might already have the beginnings of something brilliant.
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