A free Halloween market is taking over the South Bank this Sunday

London’s Halloween plans do not have to begin with an expensive party ticket. A free-entry market at Between the Bridges will bring independent makers, seasonal gifts and a creative workshop to the South Bank on Sunday 25 October 2026. For anyone after an afternoon out rather than a late-night costume marathon, this is a different way into the spooky season.

SoLo Craft Fair’s Halloween Market runs from midday until 5pm, with 60 independent brands taking part. The organiser promises autumnal and Halloween gifts, a free workshop between midday and 3pm, and a treasure hunt with a small prize for completing the clues. The entrance is beside the carousel, between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge.

Arrive before the workshop finishes

That earlier workshop finish is the detail to remember. Arriving towards the end of the market may still leave time to browse, but it will not leave time for an activity scheduled to finish at 3pm. If making something is your main reason for going, aim for the first part of the afternoon.

Entry is free; purchases, food and drinks are separate. Treat this as a chance to explore independent work at your own pace rather than an all-inclusive event. A modest spending limit agreed before arriving can help keep an inexpensive outing inexpensive, particularly when several stalls catch your eye.

A Sunday soundtrack by the river

The venue’s wider Sunday programme provides a musical reason to linger. Its Sunday Sessions listing describes a free soundtrack of Balearic music, soul and R&B. Between the Bridges also combines street food and bars with both open-air and covered spaces, so the market can form one part of an afternoon rather than the only stop.

Not every event at the venue that day is part of the free programme. Samba London presents Gamadinho from 6pm on 25 October as a separately listed event with advance tickets. Check the individual listing if that is what you want to attend; being at the market earlier does not establish admission to a different performance.

The practical appeal is the mix: browse the stalls, choose something to eat if you wish, then decide whether to stay for the soundtrack or continue along the river. There is no need to squeeze shopping, a workshop and an evening performance into one visit. Pick the part that fits your budget and the people coming with you.

Do not confuse the market with Halloween night

There is another date worth keeping separate. Between the Bridges’ Halloween Fest takes place on Saturday 31 October, from 4pm until midnight. Its programme includes Guilty Pleasures DJs, Drag Emo Karaoke, a Madonna-versus-Britney tribute battle and a costume parade, with Elektra Fence hosting. These are tribute performances, not appearances by Madonna or Britney Spears.

Although that party is advertised as free entry, the organiser’s page currently says its tickets are sold out and offers a waiting list. That is not the same event as Sunday’s market. Check the latest official availability rather than assuming that the word free means you can turn up and enter any session.

Practical details before you go

For the Sunday visit, the venue says bags are searched and anything larger than a standard rucksack is not allowed. It has no cloakroom and does not accept cash. Those details are useful if you are combining the outing with travel or a larger shopping trip: leave bulky luggage elsewhere and bring an appropriate payment method for venue purchases.

Its published policy also restricts outside food and drink, with an exception for sealed water bottles up to 500ml, while reusable water bottles are permitted and drinking water is available at the bars. If you have a particular access or dietary requirement, check with the venue before travelling rather than relying on a general event description.

Our suggestion is to make a simple plan: arrive early enough for the workshop if it interests you, leave room for browsing, and keep the evening optional. The most useful Halloween discovery might be a handmade gift, a new maker or a song you had forgotten you loved — without having to commit to a whole night out.

Sources: Official Halloween Market listing; venue programme; Halloween Fest ticket update; venue FAQs. Details checked on 23 October 2026.