‘It helps foster a sense of community’: Britons on rising popularity of Halloween

Spending on Halloween in the UK is forecast to be £776m this year. Photograph: James Marsh/Rex/Shutterstock

As Halloween approaches, the UK is preparing for some of its biggest celebrations yet. Consumer spending for the event is forecast to be £776m this year, says the price comparison site Finder, up from YouGov’s estimates of about £12m in 2001.

The UK has gradually warmed to modern Halloween customs over the years, with many preferring it to Guy Fawkes Night. A 2023 YouGov survey found 45% of 18- to 24-year-olds preferred Halloween, 40% favoured Guy Fawkes Night and 15% were undecided.