13 of the best things to do in London this Halloween :-: Metro
METRO
You’ve got two weeks until Halloween, and unless you want to spend it sitting at home and being menaced by the local youth, you’d better start making plans.
Fortunately, London is positively awash with spooky goings-on, from classic horror movie screenings to late-night monster balls (and ball pits), and we’ve rounded up the best.
Here are 13 of the best events to book tickets to this Halloween – all that’s left for you to do is decide what to wear.
Magic, mind reading and seance
Enter the wood-panelled drawing room of the luxury Sheraton Park Lane Hotel for an intimate evening of old school magic and mind reading – complete with a Victorian seance.
Arrive early for a ghoulish cocktail or two in the Palm Court bar before experiencing The Magic Hour show with award-winning magician Sonic.
When: Tuesday October 31, tickets from £29.50 in advance. Save 25% with the code ‘spiritmagic’.
Psychedelic circus party
Indie shopping and restaurant village Pop Brixton is hosting a psychedelic dark circus party, complete with a full line-up of gypsy and electro swing stars, including Voodoo Love Orchestra and Opsa Balksan Band, to keep the party pumping late into the night.
When: Saturday October 28, entry free before 5pm, £5 thereafter in advance or £10 on the door.
Devilish dinner party
Gorge like a, er, gorgon at the aptly named Dead Dolls House on Islington’s Upper Street, which is kicking off the Halloween weekend with a devilishly delightful dinner party.
The sharing-style feast includes devilled eggs, beer and miso lamb ribs and candy apples, and your ticket includes a welcome drink, too.
When: Friday October 27, tickets £40 in advance.
Spooky ball pit
Ballie Ballerson, Shoreditch’s world-famous adults-only ball pit, is having a Halloween makeover from October 24 to 31.
The official, ahem, ball is on Saturday 28th: expect eerie beats from DJ Bowler of Amnesia Ibiza and Ministry of Sound, Halloween-themed cocktails (hello pumpkin-tinis!), costume competitions and, obviously, lots and lots of balls.
When: Saturday October 28, tickets £28pp in advance, normal prices every other day. Entry to the bar is free.
Jack the Ripper tour with a twist
Discount Suit Company is capitalising on its East End location with a grisly ‘Ripper and Tipple’ tour, combining its award-winning cocktails with an exclusive tour around Jack the Ripper’s infamous hunting ground.
Tickets include a hot toddy upon arrival, a 90 minute tour and a choice of Halloween cocktail to steady the nerves back at the bar.
When: Tuesday October 31, tickets £20pp in advance.
Halloween hot dogs
For one night only, luxury hot dog and champagne bar Bubbledogs is hosting a one-off fancy dress party at the Hoxton Arches.
Expect Halloween hot dog specials – think edible crickets and spiders – and, of course, plenty of champagne.
Tickets include a hot dog and two glasses of bubbles.
When: Tuesday October 31, £29 in advance.
Cheese treats for kids
If you can’t face trick-or-treating this year, take the kids down to Marylebone’s La Fromagerie, which is hosting a Halloween-themed cupcake and cookie-decorating workshop.
Sweet treats will be boxed up to take home, and fancy dress is very much encouraged.
When: Friday October 27, £20 in advance per child.
Scary movie(s)
Independent movie theatre Backyard Cinema is kicking off its winter season with a week of Halloween classics, including The Addams Family, The Witchesand The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
There are snuggly beanbags, blankets and in-auditorium bar, so all you need to take is someone to grab hold of in the scary bits.
When: Saturday October 28 to Tuesday October 31, advance tickets from £17pp.
Theatrical ball
Exclusive members’ club Century is collaborating with A Curious Invitation this Halloween and opening its doors to the public for Once Upon A Midnight Dreary, an immersive theatrical Halloween ball in homage to Edgar Allan Poe.
Guests can explore four floors and Soho’s biggest roof terrace to find butterfly-mounting workshops, life (death?) drawing and a macabre rooftop cabaret.
When: Saturday October 28, £20 in advance.
Fancy dress club night
If all you want out of Halloween is the chance to groove to the Monster Mash until the wee hours, Halloween at the Clapham Grand promises to be the biggest bash in South London.
This year, it’s paying homage to the finest and freakiest horror movies of all time. Fancy dress essential.
When: Saturday October 28, tickets free in advance.
More: Food
Horrible history walking tour
Who knew that Deptford was such a treasure trove of grisly history?
You will, if you get yourself booked on the Discover Deptford Halloween Special, a free guided tour of one of London’s most secretly spooky areas.
Finish up at Deptford Market Yard for street food and cocktails.
When: Saturday October 28, free in advance.
Witching life drawing
For the artistically inclined, Shoreditch institution The Book Club is hosting a Hocus Pocus-themed life-drawing class in collaboration with Art Macabre, followed by a full screening of the Halloween classic and themed cocktails at the bar.
If you’re still not ready to go to bed after that, stay for drinking and dancing into the Witching Hour and beyond.
When: Saturday October 28, £15 in advance, £20 on the door. Club night only: £5 in advance, £6 on the door.
Fluffy treat
And if you prefer to do something this Halloween that doesn’t involve anything even remotely spooky, nab yourself a free slot at Guinness World Records’ Fluffytorium, a pop-up petting zoo featuring some of the world’s fluffiest cats and dogs to celebrate the launch of their new book, Amazing Animals.
To apply for tickets, contact [email protected].
Emily Gibson is a food and lifestyle blogger at Curious London. Follow her on Twitter @CuriouslyEmily.
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