Happy Halloween!

Our friends at Time Out have put together some fabulously spooky ideas for Halloween that they’re are happy for us to share with you.

We hope you’re feeling brave – here are a few of their fave’s:

Time Out says:

What spookier place to spend Halloween than a Gothic-revival chapel? And what more chilling film to watch in said chapel than Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’, the horror-thriller which haunts our showers with screeching strings and chef’s knives? This film screening at the Union Chapel will be accompanied by a live performance of the classic score to make the whole thing even more terrifying, so better soothe those nerves with a creepy cocktail, or distract from the atmosphere with some fancy dress. The brave may like to stay for The Bates Motel Ball after the film. Discounts for members are available, and all proceeds will go towards the redevelopment of the chapel’s toilets, which apparently are ‘rather frightening’ themselves. Booking recommended.

 

Time Out says:

Explore Richmond Park in the dark for a thorough spooking this Halloween. Meet your horse-drawn carriage at Sheen Gate and embark on an hour-long tour, during which your guide will tell you all about the history of the park, the ghosts that haunt the grounds and a Victorian murder that was only solved in 2010. Tucked up under blankets with a glass of sloe gin in hand (both included with your ticket), guests will also hear all about the gnarled Shrew Ash, an ancient tree that was once thought to cure ailments with the help of a congregation of witches.

 

Time Out says:

Sure, London can still be pretty grim at times – we regularly see pigeons pecking at chicken bones, which is nearly cannibalism – but our city’s history is crawling with disease, crime, poverty and more dead bodies than there were graves. A growing population and some pretty horrible medical conditions led to more death than London was ready for in the 1850s. The problem became so out of hand that corpses were stored beneath streets and stations before being carted out be buried in Surrey on the London Necropolis Railway. Venture into the caverns below Waterloo which are rumoured to be the remains of The Necropolis Station for an immersive historical tour that’s as gory as any Halloween fan could hope for.

 

Time Out says:

Mexico had spooky down way before we started carving pumpkins. Their Dia de los Muertos celebrations have been happening for around 3,000 years, and the day is devoted to remembering loved ones who have died and sending prayers to those you have recently lost. This event, brought to London by the Embassy of Mexico, will include an exhibition of pieces by contemporary artists, a tribute to those lost in World War I, daily screenings of 1984 cult classic ‘Under the Volcano’ and Jose Cuervo tequila masterclasses. Children can decorate sugar skulls, make a skeleton, paint masks and learn about papel picado in a series of free workshops (register in advance for a place).

 

Time Out says:

Back in the fourteenth century half of London’s population was wiped out by the Black Death, and 1665 saw 100,000 people killed by the Great Plague of London. The city is still peppered with traces of the terrible disease and its consequences, and this two-hour walking tour will guide you past plague pits, through ancient streets, into churches and round historical locations, meeting characters from the past along the way. Your guides will share terrible tales and give an insight into the ways Londoners dealt with the contagious disaster. No booking required.

Read their full Top Ten list here