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Halloween in London 2008
 
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Halloween is the spookiest day of the year when ghouls, ghosts and blood-sucking bats come out to play - especially in the capital. Instead of hiding at home, lights out, hoping the trick-or-treaters won’t notice you’re in, head out to one of London's terrifying attractions or knee-trembling events and scare yourself silly.
  London Ghost Festival
 London Dungeon and various venues Friday 24th October 2008 - Saturday 1st November 2008 Only the brave will sign up for London's first ever 'Ghost Festival'. A week of frightening events across the city brings out the ghosts and spirits lurking behind the city's most haunted locations. 'Carry on Screaming' at the London Dungeon is already sold out however there are plenty more spooky goings-on including an evening of ghost stories at the Dickens Museum and ghost walks at both Smithfields and Highgate. The week-long fright fest culminates in four spine tingling events on the most haunted night of all, Friday 31st October. On that evening you can choose from free theatrical hauntings at Shoe Lane Library in The City or a ghostly boat trip organised by the Canal Museum which passes under the dark Islington Tunnel - scary enough until you hear that it's supposed to be haunted. Woooah! See the London Paranormal website for details. Venue: London Dungeon and various venues Address: 28-34 Tooley Street, SE1 2SZ Date: Friday 24th October - Saturday 1st November 2008 Time: Various Pricing: Various, some free, prices from £5-£60 Nearest Station: London Bridge Tube/Rail London Ghost Festival - Information  Halloween Ball at Charlton House
Charlton House, SE7 8RE Friday 31st October 2008 The darkened halls of Charlton House are said to be haunted by the ghost of Sir William Langhorne, a former resident whose presence can still be felt today. This paranormal activity makes the Jacobean mansion house the ideal location for a Halloween Ball - see if you can spot the real ghouls and ghosts from the fancy dress ones. Held in aid of Terence Higgins Trust, the evening includes a cocktail reception, supper in the Long Gallery and dancing beyond the witching hour. But watch out for that Sir William - he had an eye for the ladies, marrying a 17-year-old girl at the grand old age of eighty. Venue: Charlton House Address: Charlton Road, SE7 8RE Phone: 020 8856 3951 Date: Friday 31st October 2008 Time: Doors 19:30 Pricing: £30 Nearest Station: North Greenwich Tube Halloween Ball at Charlton House - Information  A Danse Macabre - Hendricks Halloween Ball
Parker McMillan, 47 Chiswell Street, EC1Y 4SB Friday 31st October 2008 With Halloween falling on a Friday this year the flamboyant folks at the Last Tuesday Society are making it a night to get dressed up. With the dress code defined as 'The Beautiful and The Damned' you can expect decay and decadence as well as a night of drinking, dancing, DJs and, erm, erotic life drawing. The line-up on the decks includes turns by Russell Taylor, Penny Metal, Dickon Edwards with guest appearances from David TG of Torture Garden and Matthew Stone of The WowWow Collective. Live entertainment includes performances by The House of Illness, Simon Warner armed with magic lantern and silhouette apparatus, and opera singer Helen Noir. Gore and glamour guaranteed. Venue: Parker McMillan Address: 47 Chiswell Street, EC1Y 4SB Phone: 08444 771 000 Date: Friday 31st October 2008 Time: 10pm-4am Pricing: £10 (1 Early Birds ticket), £40 (5 Early Birds tickets) Nearest Station: Moorgate Tube / Barbican Tube A Danse Macabre - Hendricks Halloween Ball - Information  ATP Release The Bats 2008
The Forum, 9-14 Highgate Road, NW5 1NX Thursday 30th & Friday 31st October 2008 Tickets for the Halloween night of Release the Bats have already sold out so the kind people at All Tomorrow's Parties have added an extra night on Thursday 30th October. The line-up is the same for both nights and includes a live performance by Lightning Bolt who'll be taking their show to the floor of The Forum. Appearances by Shellac, Les Savy Fav and Pissed Jeans follow, plus a DJ appearance by Andy Weatherall. If you're already a fan of All Tomorrow's Parties you'll know that dressing up is all part of the experience. Take the bands' names as your costume inspiration and you'll be in for a top night out. FULL LINE-UP: SHELLAC LES SAVY FAV OM WOODEN SHJIPS PISSED JEANS LIGHTNING BOLT + DJ ANDY WEATHERALL Venue: The Forum Address: 9-14 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, NW5 1NX Phone: 0871 230 0010 Date: Thursday 30th & Friday 31st October 2008 Time: 6.30pm-2.00am Pricing: £22.50 plus booking fee Nearest Station: Kentish Town Tube ATP Release The Bats 2008 - Information  Potty Mouth Disco's Dead Heroes Halloween Spectacular
Bloomsbury Ballroom, WC1B 4DA 31st October 2008 Not for the faint hearted - or the demure - Potty Mouth Disco's Halloween special sees Foals headlining the DJ line-up. Brought to you by The Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner DJ's and held in the art deco Bloomsbury Ballroom, you can expect a night of music, dancing and dressing up as your dead hero. Their irreverant sense of humour and love of sewer-like language means you get a mix of face painting, rude fairy cakes and spot prizes awarded for the most creative profanities. Live music from Transformer, a huge corpse wedding, visuals by Warp Films and a graffiti swear wall promise to make this a Halloween night out to remember. Venue: Bloomsbury Ballroom Address: Victoria House, 37-63 Bloomsbury Square, WC1B 4DA Phone: 08444 77 1000 Date: 31st October 2008 Time: 9pm-4am Pricing: £10 (In advance), £13 (On the door) Nearest Station: Holborn Tube Potty Mouth Disco's Dead Heroes Halloween Spectacular - Information  The Blood and Tears Halloween Walk
Barbican Tube, Aldersgate Street, EC1A 4JA Friday 31st October 2008 Halloween night is officially the spookiest night of the year when trick-or-treaters go door to door and wicked witches walk the streets. If the fear of bumping into a blood soaked vampire doesn't leave you in a cold sweat then a night time walk around London's scariest spots may well appeal. Led by Declan McHugh, a former professional actor and expert on the darker side of the city, you'll learn about the serial killers, grave-robbers and execution sites around town. To see Declan on Sky's 'Most Haunted', from a show aired last month, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=515MN7s8cqQ. His Halloween night walk is hugely popular so there are two (7pm and 9.45pm), both meet at Barbican Tube station. Booking is essential and can be done online through LondonTown.com on by calling 020 7437 4370. Please quote the reference number: CS 63411 when you book. NOTE: The walk is not suitable for under 12s. Please turn up on time. Venue: Barbican Tube Address: Aldersgate Street, EC1A 4JA Phone: 020 7437 4370 Date: Friday 31st October 2008 Time: 7pm-9pm or 9.45pm-11.45pm Pricing: £7 (Standard), £5.50 (LondonTown.com discount price) Nearest Station: Barbican Tube Blood and Tears Halloween Walk - Book  Hampton Court Palace Ghost Tours
Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8 9AU From Friday 31st October 2008 The oldest surviving Tudor palace in England and home to generations of the royal family has some spooky stories to tell. Hampton Court Palace hosts weekly ghost tours for both adults and families starting on the scariest night of the year, Halloween. The adult tours, for anyone aged over 12 years, take place from 7pm when darkness falls. After 31st October these Ghost Tours take place every Sunday until 1st March 2009. For families, there are special Kids' Ghost Tours aimed at children eight and above, which start at 5pm, also beginning on Halloween. For both tours, the long-since-departed former residents of Hampton Court Palace are brought back to life through a convincing collection of character actors who retell the stories of long dead kings and queens. Places are limited so booking in advance is essential. Venue: Hampton Court Palace Address: East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU Phone: 0844 482 7795 Date: Friday 31st October 2008 and every Sunday thereafter until 1st March 2009 Time: Kids' Ghost Tours 5pm, Adult Ghost Tours 7pm Pricing: Kids' Ghost Tours £12.50 (ticket price includes free ghost investigators booklet); Ghost Tours £25 (ticket price includes light refreshments) Nearest Station: Hampton Court Rail Hampton Court Palace Ghost Tours - Information Hampton Court Palace Kids' Ghost Tours - Information  Family Ghost Tour at Ham House
Ham House, TW10 7RS Monday 20th October 2008 Tap tap tap tap. The ghost of the Duchess of Lauderdale still stalks the corridors of Ham House with her silver-tipped cane, over three centuries since her death. Though taking place before Halloween itself, you can join the National Trust guides for this spooky tour, talking you through the mysteries and histories of this grand 17th-century Stuart mansion. Legend has it that the Duchess murdered her first husband so she could marry John Maitland, First Duke of Lauderdale. Keep your eyes peeled for the phantom dog that appears randomly about the estate too. Ghosts aside, the house is an excellent example of Stuart opulence and boasts an important collection of textiles, furniture and paintings. NB: No stiletto heels allowed in the house. Not suitable for children. Booking essential. Wrap up warm as it can get chilly inside the house. Venue: Ham House Address: Ham Street, TW10 7RS Phone: 0871 527 1887 Date: Monday 20th October 2008 Time: Gates Open 11am, Tour midday-1pm Pricing: £10 (Adults), £8 (Children up to 16) Nearest Station: Richmond Tube / Rail Family Ghost Tour at Ham House - Information  Fright Nights at Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park, Staines Road, KT16 8PN Monday 13th October 2008 - Sunday 2nd November 2008 Thorpe Park cranks up the thrill factor for a series of Halloween-themed late nights. Designed to appeal to young adults and families with teenagers, adrenalin junkies can rocket down stomach-churning rides in the pitch black - with the park staying open until 10pm. There's a grotesque line-up of peculiar performances in the Circus of Horrors' 'Apocalypse' show. New for 2008, is a secret attraction on Neptune's Beach, add to that the Se7en, Hellgate and The Asylum mazes and you have plenty to scare the goosebumps out of you. With this grisly concoction of freakish entertainment, it promises to be a whole heap of Halloween fun. Regular trains run direct from Waterloo to Staines, journey time is approximately 30-40 minutes and a shuttle bus operates from Staines to the park, leaving every half hour. Pre-booking essential. Late night attractions not suitable for under 12s. Venue: Thorpe Park Address: Staines Road, Chertsey, KT16 8PN Phone: 0870 444 4466 Date: Monday 13th October 2008 - Sunday 2nd November 2008 Time: 13th to 16th Oct & 20th to 23rd Oct 10am-8pm | 24th Oct to 2nd Nov 10am-10pm Pricing: In Advance £24 (Adults), £16 (Under 12s) | On the Gate £33 (Adults), £21 (Under 12s) Nearest Station: Staines Rail Fright Nights at Thorpe Park - Information  Halloween at London Dungeon
London Dungeon, 28-34 Tooley Street, SE1 2SZ Saturday 18th October - Sunday 2nd November 2008 For Halloween the London Dungeon is pulling out all the stops and going for not one but two Guinness Book of World Record attempts. One is for the most painted faces in an hour and - put your earplugs in for this one - the world's loudest individual scream. The fright fest continues for two weeks during which all of the horrors of the dungeon come specially dressed up for the occasion with creepy crawlies, rats, giant cobwebs and carved pumpkin heads scattered throughout. Visitors can expect an adventure into the depths of evil - and there's the Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom to take you there, fast. Enter the world of Jack the Ripper, feel the heat of the Great Fire of London and take the Boat Ride to Hell. On the super spooky Halloween day and night booking is advisable. Venue: London Dungeon Address: 28-34 Tooley Street, SE1 2SZ Phone: 020 7403 7221 Date: Saturday 18th October - Sunday 2nd November 2008 Time: 31st October Guinness Book of World Record Attempts - Painted Faces 12pm-1pm, Loudest Scream 1.30pm-3pm | General Opening Hours 9.30am-10pm Pricing: £20.95 (Adults), £15.95 (Children), £18.95 (Students & OAPs) Nearest Station: London Bridge Tube / Rail Halloween at London Dungeon - Information  Haunted London Pubs
Various Venues There are numerous drinking dens in the city which lay claim to being haunted. Some of the more convincing ones are backed up with reports of flying objects, beer bottles being knocked from people's hands (nothing to do with the amount of alcohol consumed, of course) and the sounds of chairs rattling. Three of the most popular are The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead, the Grenadier in Belgravia and the Morpeth Arms in Westminster. Each has their own spooky story to tell. The Spaniards - ideal for alcoholic refreshment after a weekend tramp on Hampstead Heath- lays (a possibly far-fetched) claim to sightings of Dick Turpin's ghost and even gets a mention in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. A grenadier reportedly still frequents the place where he was killed by his fellow soldiers after cheating at cards. And the ghostly presence of prisoners incarcerated at Millbank can still be felt at the nearby Morpeth Arms, connected to the prison via underground tunnels where escaping convicts are thought to have died. Treat yourself to a triple measure of spirits this Halloween.  Jack the Ripper and the East End
Museum in Docklands, West India Quay, E14 4AL Until Sunday 2nd November 2008 He's one of London's most infamously murky characters yet no one actually knows for sure who Jack the Ripper was. A spate of murders in and around Whitechapel in the 1880s were attributed to this unidentified 'Jack', making a visit to this exhibition a suitably gruesome family outing for Halloween. The bloody murders - more than a dozen, all targeting prostitutes and all bearing the same hallmarks - marked a time when the slums of the late-Victorian East End were not a place to be wandering around after dark. Documents including police files and photographs, media coverage, letters from the public and supposedly from the Ripper himself are displayed at this Museum in Docklands exhibition, helping to give some grounding to the urban myths and stories that have perpetuated over the years. Venue: Museum in Docklands Address: No 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, E14 4AL Phone: 0870 444 3851 Date: Until Sunday 2nd November 2008 Time: Mon to Sun 10am-6pm Pricing: £7 (Adults), £5 (Concs) Nearest Station: West India Quay DLR / Canary Wharf Tube Jack the Ripper and the East End - Information  Happy Halloween! at the ICA
Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), SW1Y 5AH 31st October 2008 Performance meets art, horror films border on the ridiculous and a highly camp disco takes over the bar at the ICA on Halloween night. With entry to ICA exhibitions now free you can see installations from Ear Cinema, a collective of animators, artists, sound technicians and performers. Listen up for sound-art from the group's director Wajid Yaseen. Cinema showings rank up the gore with films like Korean thriller / comedy 'A Bloody Aria', seventies Brit horror 'Theatre of Blood' and creepy Japanese film 'Ring' - watch it if you dare. Meanwhile Triple Penny - made up of Ma Butcher of Gay Bingo and Marc WithaC of NYC Downlow - tempt thrill seekers to the bar from 8pm till late hosting a frightening night of disco, dressing up and dancing. The best fancy dresser gets a magnum of champagne. Venue: Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) Address: 12 Carlton House Terrace, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH Phone: 020 7930 3647 Date: 31st October 2008 Time: 6.15pm-midnight Pricing: Various | Exhibitions Free | Cinema & Theatre £8 (Adults), £7 (Concs), £6 (ICA Members) Nearest Station: Charing Cross Tube / Rail Happy Halloween! at the ICA - Information
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