The weather is cooler, the leaves are turning red and pumpkins have suddenly started sprouting in large numbers on every supermarket shelf.
All the signs are here, it can only mean one thing: Halloween is calling.
Big business in the US, the ghoulish holiday has become a major part of our social calendars too, not least if you have kids keen to don fancy dress before a night of apple bobbing and trick-or-treating.
From Disney heroes to Marvel-ous characters and everything in-between, this is our edit of the best children’s costumes to give them a thrill this Halloween.
See the best of the bunch below.
Disney Costumes
If nothing but their favourite Disney character will do, head straight over to the Disney Store. It
The online shop is stacked with the best fancy dress costumes around, from Toy Story to Maleficent and Frozen as well as the classics like Cinderella, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.
All the legends are there - the most difficult part is decideding what to pick.
Shop the collection or Shop by character
Kids’ Harry Potter Dress Up
Name a child more magic than Harry Potter? Get your little witches and wizards ready for the Hogwarts Halloween Ball in this charming unisex Harry Potter costume, which comes with a cloak (emblazoned with a Gryffindor patch, naturally) as well as a wand, fake round spectacles and a Hogwarts book cover.
The best bit is they can keep their school uniform on under the outfit, so it's likely you'll already have these bits and pieces to hand. Add biodegradable glitter around their eyes for extra sparkle.
Available for ages 3 - 12.
From £18 | M&S | Buy it now
Find more enchanting Harry Potter costumes and accessories at Amazon
Kids’ Spider-Man Dress Up
There's no need to scour the web for the ultimate superhero outfit when we've done the legwork for you. Head over to M&S to pick up this awesome Spider-Man outfit which comes complete with a 'muscles' padded suit and a Spidey mask. Velcro fastenings means getting in and out of the piece will be a breeze.
Available in sizes suitable for ages 3 - 8.
From £18 | M&S | Buy it now
Addams Family Wednesday Costume
An officially licensed costume, Wednesday Addams is a popular choice for Halloween antics. This set not only comes with the dress but a long black wig too. Just add talcum powder to achieve her deathly pale pallor. Available in three sizes and suitable for kids aged 4 - 9.
£21.99 | Smiffy's | Buy it now
Find more Addams Family costumes, including Cousin IT, on Amazon
Tu Disney Cruella Red Dress & Wig
Arguably one of Disney's most stylish villains, Cruella de Vil is a great choice for fancy dress - for kids and adults alike.
This costume in an online exclusive from Tu at Sainsbury's and comes with a red dress complete with a Dalmation-esque collar as well as a black and white wig.
Available for ages 3 - 10.
£15 | Argos | Buy it now
Ghostbusters Halloween Fancy Dress Costume
While other kids dress up as ghouls, ghosts and monsters, kit out your kid as one of the Ghostbusters to vanquish all things supernatural.
Made from 100 per cent polyester, this all-in-one outfit comes with a suit detailed with stitching to mimic overalls and the iconic Ghostbusters logo as well as an inflatable Proton Pack so they’ll really look the part.
Perfect for girls and boys aged 5 - 12 years.
From £15 | ASDA | Buy it now
Cinder Witch Costume
Witches are a quintessential Halloween look, for all ages. But not all witches are bad apples, as proven by this good witch’s outfit which comes with cheerful pink and black striped tights and colourful celestial motifs on the dress and hat.
£18.99 | Smiffy's | Buy it now
Find more witchy outfits and accessories at Fancy Dress
Boy's Deluxe Ringmaster Costume
Have your little one run rings around the competition in this rather smart ringmaster costume from fancy dress purveyors Smiffy's.
It's a top to toe look, comprising the distinctive red jacket, faux shirt, trouser and a jacket.
Available for children aged 7 – 12.
£21.99 | Smiffy's | Buy it now
See a similar girl’s ringmaster costume from Argos here
Disney Toy Story Jessie Fancy Dress Costume
If your little one is wild about Disney Pixar's Toy Story, Halloween is the perfect chance to dress them as one of the film's iconic characters.
This Jessie cowgirl outfit comes in sizes suitable for most 2 - 8 year-olds and includes a glam Western tiered dress as well as a red hat complete with her distinctive red plait. Just add freckles and cowboy boots to complete the look.
From £14 | ASDA | Buy it now
Halloween Bat Lenticular Fancy Dress Costume
Whether they're at a party or settling down to a scary movie with their trick-or-treat loot, your child will feel Halloween-ready dressed in this bat costume that comes with wings and a friendly bat face on the chest.
Available in sizes suitable for babies agead 12-24 months as well as kids up to six years-old.
From £9 | ASDA | Buy it now
See all kid’s Halloween fancy dress at ASDA
Tu Halloween Multicoloured Skeleton Costume
Get your little one prepped for the Halloween fiesta in this colourful Day of the Dead-inspired outfit. The colourful mask means you won't have to daub their sensitive skin with face paint while the skull and roses patterns skirt fits the Mexican theme perfectly.
£12 | Argos | Buy it now
Shop all Halloween children's costumes and accessories at Argos
Transformers Optimus Prime Deluxe - Child Costume
Halloween is prime time for your children's on-screen fantasies to be realised. If your little one is into the Transformers series, they'll be thrilled with this impressive Optimus Prime outfit, which comes with a padded armour all-in-one as well as a mask.
Available in three sizes: Small for ages 3-4, Medium for 5-6, and Large 7-8 years.
£21.19 | Very | Buy it now *On sale from £24.99
