Tom Hedley previews the scariest places to celebrate the night of the living dead.
Forget trick or treating, it’s time to do what we Londoners do best – dress up as a bed sheet, get hammered and pass out on the night bus. Disregard those shipments of 18-year olds on the Jubilee Line, fill your hip flask and don your guise – here’s the Rising East guide to Halloween 2014.
Death in the Archives
Indulge yourself in stories of gruesome and mysterious deaths at the National Maritime Museum. Take part in a candlelit tour of the Art and Science Exploration exhibition. Get creative with ‘death drawing sessions’ run by London Drawing and observe live taxidermy sessions. Eek! INFO: Fri 31 October 7pm–9.30pm, tickets £15 www.rmg.co.uk
Tales of Plague
London’s goriest evening ramble boasts two hours of ‘heart stopping’ tales. View famous landmarks from the perspective of plague sufferers. Walks begin at Tower Hill. INFO: Dates vary, walks start 7pm, tickets £9 www.talesofplague.co.uk
Necropolis, London’s Journey of the Dead
Take a trip back in time to London’s largest underground morgue, deep below Waterloo Station. Revisit the Victorian era when Londoners waved goodbye to their dead at Necropolis Station – next stop the fires of hell, AKA Brookwood crematorium. INFO: Dates vary, tickets £15 www.zombieapocalypselondon.co.uk/necropolis
The Halloween Raveyard @ The Vaults
Stay on at Necropolis Station for the creepiest party of the year. Neo-Goth performers Kitty Bang Bang, contortionist Bendita, and resident DJs will reawaken the underground chambers once used as a waiting room for the deceased. Nominated as ‘Best Start Up 2014’, The Vaults are promising a nightmare party. INFO: Dates Vary, Early birds £10, general £15 www.the-vaults.org/#!raveyard/c1vvr
The Mexican Death Disco @ Ican Studios
Mexicans are frighteningly good at this Halloween malarkey. Join top House DJs Chez Damier and Fritz Wentink in celebration of Dia de los Muertos AKA Day of the Dead, with ‘Giant Piñatas’ and ‘spectacular happenings’ throughout the night. Dress to impress: face paint or mask, sombrero and sparklers are all welcome. Chez Damier will be personally rewarding the best costume. INFO: Fri Oct 31, 10pm, tickets £15-£20, Ican Studios, 35 Monier Road, London, E3 2PR
Found Horror Series: George Fitzgerald (Day 1) @ Commercial Road
Party-loving warehouse entrepreneurs Found are hosting London House producer George Fitzgerald who will be weaving his version of thumpingly ghoulish goodness; plus a ‘very special’ guest. It’s your basic warehouse rave, with some added spook. INFO: Fri Oct 31, 9pm, adv tickets £12.50 www.troxy.co.uk
Hot Tub Cinema Halloween
Don’t miss your tub from the former Shoreditch Underground Station with an eerie journey of Halloween classics such as ‘Scream’ and ’28 Days Later’. Steamy. INFO: Dates vary www.hottubcinema.com
Secretsundaze Dead Famous Halloween Party @ Oval Space
Dead Celebs host US Techno and House DJ Ronaldo (not the Portuguese one in shorts), who will be pumping out the beats alongside Afrobeat wizard Romare. All scary dance moves are acceptable for one night only. INFO: Nov 1, 10pm, tickets £19.50 www.ovalspace.co.uk