Trick or treating in London (Holland park) help

[Gymmum82]

I’m hoping someone can help. We are in London over Halloween. My kids are devastated not to be able to go trick or treating at home. I said maybe we can go down there. We’re staying near to Holland Park.
Is anyone local? Does anyone know any neighbourhoods where we’d be able to go out? My concern is it would be all apartments with no front door to knock on and at least where I am no one answers in apartment blocks.

Also where we live you have to have decorations out to show you’re participating in Halloween. We don’t knock on undecorated houses. Is that a thing down there?
I appreciate I’m probably over thinking but the kids were so upset about missing Halloween that I’m trying to come up with a plan before we go

Thank you all so much for your help. I’ve got a great idea of where to head now and I’m sure we’ll have the best time

Just go early enough eg 5 pm otherwise all the treats will be gone
No one will ask where you are from but do dress up the kids and do dress up yourself and do take a bucket

Old age person here. Halloween and trick or treating was unknown here until late 20th century and is an import from the USA. Kids used to celebrate 5th November Guy Fawkes Night and ask 'penny for the guy' before putting a home made 'guy' on top of a bonfire. It was/is a unique British tradition celebrating the foiled attack by said Mr. Fawkes on parliament if memory serves me correctly. Was great fun for everyone.

It this old chestnut again

I'm also old and Halloween was always a thing. Although we went guising

Seconded - I am in my late forties and went trick or treating in SE England as a child.

I'm well old, grew up in London and went trick or treating when I was tiny. The whole street did.

I’d go to Notting Hill. Lots of Americans and they do Halloween very well! It’ll probably be the best trick or treating your kids ever do!

(mine were torn away from west London and have missed it every Halloween since)

As to those of you remembering trick or treating when you were young living in London, I am 75 and lived in Holland Park during the 1950s. There was no trick or treating there then and Notting Hill was a slum run by rogue landlords.

That's a lovely memory to have

There is life outside London thigh.

And Halloween is not an import from USA. We exported there in the first place

Perhaps your children need to have ways of overcoming disappointment and things not going to plan, if they really are devastated about not being able to mark Halloween at home.

Even in my child friendly fairy average London suburb ( not posh at all) it will be one house on a whole street that I'd decorated and does it- in ds primary year I know of one family who does it, as it's not our custom its frequently seen as scary for old people, mean spirited etc

whereas in my part of London (which I grew up in) it’s normal to have loads of houses participating.

It may be generational though I grew up in the 80's in London.

I went trick or treating in London as an 80s kid, must be a location thing.

Go to Philimore gardens. It’s Holland Park/ High Street Kensington. It’s always rammed though so go early around 4.30. House and owners dress up.

Thanks for your concern. They are fine and I’m sure would have gotten over the disappointment very quickly. But there’s absolutely no reason we can’t go trick or treating while we’re away which would make them happy. After all what are holidays for if not happy memories?

Highly recommend St John’s wood close to the station (it’s a little bit of a way from where you’re staying but there are lots of American families there with beautiful mansions that are normally well decorated and it’s super lively there, I’d go from there towards Primrose Hill / Swiss Cottage ish