HAVE A CRACKLING HALLOWEEN, THIS OCTOBER 2019

It’s going to be a Lit London Affair!

While the rustling of the leaves makes silent, yet eerie sounds in the chilly, October winds; the time of year is upon us, where everyone welcomes the famed night of supernatural happenings.  With the spirit of Halloween lingering in the air, the world welcomes this beloved festival with fervor and vigor. Garnering an archetypal status; Halloween has different interpretations across cultures today. No matter how many versions or adaptations may appear, one thing is for sure; everyone loves a good scare. Whether it be any traditional practice or folklore; it is the best opportunity for an eventful time out with friends and family.  It has become a phenomenon worldwide; the entire month of October is dedicated to various festivals and celebratory events to commemorate the dead. The essence of Halloween approaching gives a lurking feeling inside.

Shadows mutter, mist replies; darkness purrs as midnight sighs.

Rusty Fischer

 The Harbinger of Halloween and Modern Adaptations

Though many disparities lie in the true origins of the day; they may be verified, if one was indeed an expert of the occult, historical cultures, and religious practices over eons.  Some generally accepted backgrounds in history give us the general direction from where Halloween came. Scottish, Irish, and Celtic references claim rights to the origins of the holiday; marking the end of the summer harvest. 31^st of October has become a symbol worldwide, which is celebrated with various respects across multiple nations. Ireland revives the tradition every year with a nine-day festival, commemorating ancient tombs and castles. Bran’s castle in Romania is a monument to Vlad the Impaler; the man whose atrocities made it the home and birth ground of the notorious Dracula.  The United States has several haunts that have become legends over the years, particularly New Orleans; the motherland of Voodoo. Mexico is where the Day of the Dead is most revered Book your Cheap flights to New Orleans with us.  The Catholic Church remembers it as All Saints and Souls day to recall those who have departed. Paris has its catacombs, while the Tower of London has its grim history.

Diverse beliefs lead to different practices, but certain things stick with time and evolve according to popular culture. The concept of praying for dead souls, and doing good deeds for the poor, passed forward with time. Pop revolution leads to carving jack-o-lanterns to keep evil spirits at bay, and trick-or-treating children, with meticulously made costumes. Today’s Halloween is a gala, unparalleled and cherished, particularly by the passionate youth.  Numerous events happening across the globe turn the entire month of October into a festival, and the party never stops!

Hangouts in London 2019

Ghouls and ghosts, living and dead, all have the same question; where is the next Halloween soiree? What does London have to offer this October? We, at Travelhouseuk, have the compiled an extensive lineup for the most dazzling, bone-chilling, mysterious, nights of horrors, for you to take your pick. These places are guaranteed to give you the heebie-jeebies and ensure you have a spooktacular time!

 Family Fun for Everyone

What better time to dress up in your favourite costume to spend some quality time with family, or visit the mystical worlds of those characters that inspire you. If your little ones want chills this October, these are the most festive outlets to visit:

• Dark Arts at the Warner Brothers Studio: You can enter the pumpkin-lit Great-Hall, battle a holographic death eater, test your wands skills, and relive the final battle. Do all this while dressing the part. What a truly magical way to spend Halloween!
• Family Halloween Rave: A little dance party that all can enjoy; Hoxton Square Bar and kitchen, provides vast dance floors. Don’t miss out on the face-painting, UV lights, and confetti blasts!
• Wicked the Musical: A little more family-oriented than scary, the show is a unique retelling of the Wizard of Oz. The longest-running musical in London’s theatre scene; it’s a must-visit this Halloween.
• Pumpkin Quiz Trail: Visit the pumpkin farms with your kids to select and carve your lantern for Halloween. The Battersea Park Zoo provides individual pumpkin quiz sheets, hidden animals, and prizes for a fun time for kids. Boo at the Zoo offers face painting and craft opportunities.
• Halloween Party: Kenley Memorial Halls hosts a dress-up gig with DJ Woolie. Get unlimited drinks and a hot dog while enjoying the event.

Over 18 Outlets

The most hip clubbing spots are all prepped and peppered up to showcase Halloween flavours. So get your spook on, and have a fang-tastic night out with friends or that special someone. These are sure to be frightfully fun:

• I love Reggaeton: Providing the ultimate Latin party experience; DJ squads, CO2 jets, lasers, special effects, and sound system; they’ve got it all. Can you imagine a Halloween party with artists like J Balvin, Ozuna, Daddy Yankee, Maluma, Shakira, Bad Bunny, and so many more; all under one roof?
• Halloween Ball at the Mansion: The best costume wins a flight to NYC, 3 DJs, an art room, a VIP area, and two social lounges; this is the place to be on Oct 26^th.
• The Spooky Ball pit on 28^th Oct: themed cocktails, DJ Bowler and Ministry of Sound, beats, and costume competitions.
• Halloween Party 90’s vs. 00’s: A treat for the Millennials! Gather at Portland Street on Oct 31^st, dressed as your favorite 90’s character and party all night.
• Stranger Things Halloween Party: If you’re a fan of the show, don’t miss DJ Yoda and his 80’s vibes; not to mention the mysterious ‘hypnotising audio-visual show.’
• We are Halloween FSTVL: For a vampires vs. zombies battle, drop in at the Hainault forest on Oct 26^th and enjoy a lit forest party.
• Kiss Haunted House Party: Enter the Wembley arena on Oct 25^th for a roadshow of musical stars like Sean Paul, Jax Jones, Anne Marie, Liam Payne, and Stormzy.
• The Halloween Rave: Hosted by the Ministry of Sound on Oct 31^st; it will be the loudest costume themed party of the year.

Cinema Screenings and Haunts

Diabolical mad-men, red-herrings, jump-scares, monsters, and more; all these make for a great horror movie experience. Halloween would be incomplete without revisiting the old fabled tales and films that have given us nightmares.

• Jack the Ripper Tours: Images of wall projections take you back into the annals of history to explore Victorian London. You can even retrace the steps of the infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Clapham Grand will show this classic with ghoulish décor, cocktails, and a haunted 25ft theatre screen. What’s more; it’s free!
• Prince Charles Cinema: A horror movie fiesta awaits all those who visit here. Marathons of classics, teen horrors, gore, and modern genre’s; all are specially designated on different dates.
• Masonic temple In Andaz Hotel: Take a chance at a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s famed Psycho, with unlimited popcorn. Halloween night will surely be a suspense-filled thriller; if spent here!
• Haunted Theatres: Take a tour with author Richard Jones, expert of the macabre, into all the nooks and crannies of London. The Covent Garden Station, haunted courts, the oldest theatre, murder sites, and headless ghosts; there is plenty he will show and tell you about London.

Trembling Tours and Menacing Museums

How can one possibly miss the thrilling history and mystery that lies behind a good story? After all, horror stories are what bring us the love of Halloween. A creepy experience isn’t complete without a trip on the tour bus to the scariest places in London or to ancient, crumbling architectures with a dark past.

• Madame Tussauds: The famous stars recreated in waxworks are all dressed up for Halloween scares, so take your kids there for a little prickle. Solve a Sherlock Holmes mystery to make it more interesting.
• Friday Night by the London Bar Bus: You can find London’s best kept, sinister secrets, costumes, and drinks here. This 18+ hair-raising tour will tell you about the Piccadilly Circus vampires, the haunting of St. Paul’s, or what lurks in the shadows of London.
• Haunted Castle tours: the immense, old structures of castles are designed to scare the jeepers out of you. You will find turrets, moats, stairs, dungeons, towers, and plenty of maze-like corridors; one could get lost inside for hours. Muncaster, Carlisle, and Warwick come highly recommended this Halloween.
• Tower of London: once a prison, then torture chamber, and execution spot for Anne Boleyn; the white tower will take you and your family deep into the echoes of history. The Ghost bus tours of London are unparalleled.
• Spooktacular Kids Tour: In the true spirit of Halloween, take your kids to visit ghosts of London atop the tour bus; while looking at monuments. Your little monsters can get a history lesson from a whole new perspective.
• Haunted Happenings and Fright Nights: Go ghost hunting in the creepy, old, notorious buildings of London, to experience the source of these gritty tales. Can you handle an overnight stay at a prison? Yikes!
• Warwick Castle tours: Witches, towers, storytelling, trebuchets, knights, and fireballs; all are available for your kid’s entertainment here. Go exploring in the dark, if you don’t have nyctophobia!

Themed Restaurants

A little bit of drama, costume re-enactment, storyline buildup, and hidden-secrets; all are part and parcel of the themed dine outs in London. What’s a meal without a little blood dripping from it, or a tiny spider crawling at the side? The additional décor is what makes the food look exciting and gives you a tingly sensation.

• Pedley Street Station offers a luxurious train experience with immersive storytelling and delicious food by ‘Masterchef the Professionals’ finalist Louisa Ellis. Journey to the Underworld in intrigue and with delightful food.
• Devilish Dinner Party at the Dead Doll’s House features food and delightful items for a grand Halloween feast. Are you ready for devilled eggs, candy apples, drinks, and more?
• La Fromagerie: A fun outlet for kids, this cupcake and cookie-decorating workshop will be a fun experience. The kids can take their baked goods home, and fancy dress is also appreciated.
• The Cursed Voyage of HMS Berners: Themed as Deep Ship Wreck Disco, it invites celebrities this year for the ‘lost at sea’ vibe. You might even win a special gift by Ralph Lauren or Dior.
• Bread Street Kitchen: Gordon Ramsay’s outlet is set to be spangled in cobwebs this Halloween. So, don’t miss your chance to taste the mouthwatering “ween” dishes, dedicated to the occasion.
• Shoreyu Ramen: Offering a spot to take the children for an adorable and intricate taste delight; the restaurant has it all. Try the ghost buns or the witch hat dessert; they’re horrifically delicious!

October invites everyone to plan a scare-fest for others without any hesitation. Everyone loves a good jump; it makes you feel alive. So if you have got your funky groove on, there’s plenty to do around London to have a Happy Halloween indeed!