No one’s got an excuse for staying home this Halloween! With events all over London for the costumed and crazed, everyone is sure to find a party, show or club to satisfy their Halloween horror fix.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
West End
It’s time to put your hands on your hips – and pull your knees in tight – while dressed as your favourite Rocky Horror character. Halloween just isn’t complete without singing along to the Time Warp with Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry and Richard O’Brian in this 1976 classic. And, lads, don’t forget the suspenders.
£15. Oct 28-29
Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BY
Tube: Leicester Square
IN YOUR DREAMS
Your house/event
Halloween is all about dressing up, but there’s no point in doing this half-heartedly. Blackening your eyes or smudging lipstick around your mouth is so amateur. Instead, let this body-painting duo get to work on you, creating stunning designs which will make you the talk of the party. Choose to recreate Night Of The Living Dead on your face, or opt for something more romantic such as vine leaves painted down your body. Book illustrators Bryony Fripp and Madeline Griffiths – who do this at corporate level – and they’ll visit you at home before you brave the streets, or at the event where you intend to wow the crowds.
For more info on the body painting duo, click here.
£30+. All year
SPOOKTACULAR @ THE ROOF GARDENS
Kensington
A 30ft-high flame-thrower, a ‘tower of doom’ and members of the Thriller cast will be adding a touch of style at this exclusive venue for Halloween. Don fancy dress and you’ll get free entry between 9pm-10pm. Then spend the night dancing to the tunes of DJ Sam Londt, drinking cocktails and wandering the spectacular garden.
FREE. Sat, Oct 29
The Roof Gardnes, 99 Kensington High Street, W8 5SA
Tube: High St Kensington
HOLLYWOOD FOREVER
King’s Cross
Dress as your favourite dead movie star (how they’d look now) for a night of thrills. Miguel Migs will be performing a rare UK show in one of five dance rooms.
£20+. Sat, Oct 29
Egg, 200 York Way, N7 9AP
Tube: King’s Cross
TALES OF TERROR
Bank
There’s nothing else quite like a decent ghost story to set the scene for Halloween. As darkness falls, the mischievous storytellers of 40 Winks will be getting together to host a night
of Tales of Terror, aiming to startle, stagger and shock their guests with a selection of the best. Prepare to be taken to a land of fantastical horror, fearful dread and nervous trepidation. The ghostly tales will be served with a Corpse Reviver No2 cocktail with lashings of infused gin and a dash of absinthe. Before you’re sent off to brave the night alone with just a goodie bag for company, you’ll be treated to the melodious sounds of chanteuse Tricity Vogue and her … ukulele. What else?
£25. Mon, Oct 31
The Royal Exchange, EC3V 3LR
Tube: Bank
ALICE COOPER: WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE MOVIES
South Bank
Who better to talk about horror films than Alice Cooper? As part of his Night Of Halloween UK Tour, and celebrating the release of his new album, Welcome 2 My Nightmare, Cooper will be taking to the stage of the BFI Southbank to divulge his passion for the horror movie genre. The rock, punk, metal, goth pioneer will also treat guests to clips from his favourite horror films, including Barbarella to Halloween.
£13+. Fri, Oct 28
Belvedere Road, SE1 8X
Tube: Waterloo/Embankment
MURDER MYSTERY
Clapham
Always fancied yourself a bit of an Inspector Morse? Or a rival for Miss Marple? Well, now’s the time to put your skills to the test at this night of murderously horrific goings on. It kicks off at 7.30pm in the Blue Room, when a bunch of ghoulish characters – from Frankenstein to Dracula – get together. Then (shock! horror!) it all goes dark and … well, you know the drill. Tickets include a three-course meal but must be booked by Oct 27.
£35. Mon, Oct 31
The Avalon, 16 Balham Hill, SW12 9EB
Tube: Clapham South
ANGELS FANCY DRESS
Covent Garden
Chucking a black sack over your head and making holes for eyes doesn’t really cut it on the creative front. If you’re useless with a needle and thread, let the experts get your togs sorted. This store has been running since the 19th century, initially kitting out actors. Today, you’ll find anything from saucy devils to Obi-Wan Kenobi – and every accessory in between. Prices start at £3, and if you want to look the dog’s, you can spend up £200. Be prepared to queue to get in the store at this time of year, or order early online.
Take a peek at the costume store online.
£3+. Open Mon-Sat
119 Shaftesbury Ave, WC2H 8A
Tube: Leicester Square
POTTY MOUTH
Shoreditch
Prepare for your make-up to run as you dance the night away to some face-melting beats. The ‘electro, disko and bad-language’ event kicks of with sets from US DJ Danny Daze, Clive Henry and Martin Dawson at Village Underground. Then continue to throw shapes ‘til the small hours at a secret location. ‘Citing.
For more info about the disco, click here.
£13+. Fri, Oct 28
Village Underground, 54 Holywell St, EC2A 3PQ
Tube: Liverpool St
BELLE EPOQUE
King’s Cross
Step back in time to the hedonistic days of 19th-century Paris for some bohemian randomness. Inspired by the haunts of Toulouse Lautrec and his Impressionist mates, this event boasts bizarre acts, dark circus performers and absinthe-fuelled fun.
Take a peek at the seductive fantasy world of Belle Epoque.
£23. Sat, Oct 29
Grand Hall, Euston Rd, NW1 2DB
Tube: King’s Cross St Pancras
ZOMBIE WALK
Pub Crawl
This is your chance to join the capital’s undead – don’t pretend you haven’t always wanted to – and wander the streets in a rigor mortis paced pub crawl. In case it wasn’t obvious, you have to dress as a zombie.
FREE. Sat, Oct 29
Waxy O’Connors, W1D 6DD
Tube: Leicester Square
THE HORNY HOUSE OF HORROR!
City of London
This is organised by ArtWank, which aims to “stir debate among you dashing modern people about the nature of human sexuality”. Foul nurse Roxy Velvet will be putting on a gratuitous performance after which you can sit back and enjoy films which blur the lines between sex and violence. Definitely not for weaklings.
£8+. Wed, Oct 26
Horse Hospital, Colonnade, WC1N 1JD
Tube: Russell Square
EXTREME SCARE – HUMAN CENTIPEDE
London Bridge
You’ve heard about its cult following, now you have the chance to see The Human Centipede this Halloween. Director Tom Six has teamed up with The London Bridge Experience and London Tombs to recreate horrific scenes from the movie. As part of its PhoboPhobia programme, ‘After Dark Extreme Scare – The Human Centipede’ definitely isn’t for those with a queasy disposition. For those not aware, the film features a mad doctor who kidnaps and mutilates tourists so he can turn them into a human centipede. The sequel has been banned in Britain, having been labelled the “sickest movie of all time”. You’ve been warned.
More info on Photophobia at The London Bridge Experience.
£23. Oct 27-31
2-4 Tooley Street, SE1 2PF
Tube: London Bridge
SIMON DRAKE’S HOUSE OF MAGIC
Secret Location
If you search on Google for the location of the House of Magic, there are only four options in the results – all of which are wrong. Find out for yourself where this permanently themed 4000-sq-ft Victorian mansion is hidden away. For this special evening, watch Simon Drake’s award-winning magic show, tour the Haunted Cellar and have your fortune told by the Whispering Chair. The house – which is bursting with magical paraphernalia and really does have to be seen – is the only one of its kind in the UK.
Take a peek into the House of Magic.
£45+. Thurs, Oct 27
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A DANSE MACABRE
Waterloo
This is one of two Halloween events hosted by The Last Tuesday Society (the other is The Masked Ball the following night). Expect nakedness, a soundtrack from The London Gay Symphony Orchestra and the unexpected. The fancy dress theme is ‘the beautiful and the damned’ and partygoers dress to impress. Head there an hour early to learn how to waltz, swing or pole ‘danse’.
£30+. Fri, Oct 28
The Coronet Theatre, 28 New Kent Road, SE1 6TJ
Tube: Waterloo
