17 Last-Minute Halloween Ideas for Students in the UK

Halloween arrives quickly during autumn term. These ideas help international students celebrate without spending much time or money.

Simple costume wins

1. Classic vampire: Black coat, red scarf, and DIY cardboard fangs.
2. Academic wizard: Borrow your gown, add a scarf, and carry old textbooks.
3. Football superfan: Team scarf, face paint, and a printed player number.
4. Detective-on-a-budget: Long coat, notebook, magnifying app on your phone.
5. Emoji face: Yellow card with your favourite emoji, paired with plain clothes.
6. Rainy-day Brit: Umbrella, raincoat, wellies—perfect for UK weather jokes.

Decorations you can make in an hour

7. Paper bats and ghosts: Cut shapes from black or white paper and tape to walls.
8. Jar lanterns: Paint old jars orange, add LED candles, and draw pumpkin faces.
9. Door spiderweb: Use white string or tape to criss-cross your flat entrance.
10. Haunted playlist: Compile UK artists (e.g., Florence + The Machine) with classic spooky tracks.

Food and drink ideas

11. Pumpkin soup shortcut: Use canned pumpkin, vegetable stock, and cream; serve with crusty bread.
12. Toffee apple slices: Budget-friendly alternative to whole apples—just slice, dip, and chill.
13. Spooky noodles: Add black soy sauce and boiled eggs with olive “eyeballs.”
14. Zero-alcohol punch: Cranberry juice, orange slices, ginger ale—ideal for mixed-age student groups.

Fast games and activities

15. Costume catwalk: Ask flatmates to vote on “most creative under £10.”
16. Two-line ghost stories: Each guest writes a two-line scare; funniest or scariest wins.
17. Campus trick-or-treat walk: Visit decorated college buildings or join the students’ union night tour.

Stay safe while celebrating

• Check transport: Book taxis or know late-night bus routes before heading out.
• Respect accommodation rules: Use LED candles instead of open flames in halls.
• Keep cultural sensitivity: Not everyone marks Halloween—invite friends but avoid pressuring attendance.

Where to find last-minute deals

• Pound stores and charity shops: Ideal for accessories and props.
• Students’ union shops: Often sell themed face paint and decorations at student prices.
• Online next-day delivery: Look for eco-friendly options and reuse items for future events.

Enjoying Halloween in the UK is about creativity and community, not cost. With these quick ideas, international students can join the festivities, make new friends, and still focus on mid-term assignments.

48-hour prep plan

• 48 hours before: Ask flatmates who will attend, order any one-day-delivery items, and agree a quiet time to respect neighbours.
• 24 hours before: Prep snacks, queue your playlist, and schedule a shared taxi or bus route for anyone leaving after midnight.
• On the day: Set out a water and snack station, assign one person to greet guests, and share a quick safety note in the group chat.

Budget tracker and cleanup rota

• Budget cap: Set a limit of ┬ú8-┬ú10 per person and track spend in a shared note (costume, decorations, food, transport).
• Reusable box: Keep face paint, tape, and LED candles in one box so you can reuse them for winter events.
• 15-minute cleanup: Time-box tidying immediately after the party; separate trash/recycling and wipe surfaces to avoid deposit deductions.