Things To Do In London This Weekend 31 Oct – 3 Nov Halloween Special
Hell is coming to the capital
London is celebrating all things that go bump in the night this weekend, with spooky Halloween events taking place all over the capital.
Whether you prefer to ring in All Hallows’ Eve with a bottle of tequila and tacos or belt out Eighties classics as the mother of all karaoke nights with your pals while dressed as a zombie, there’s sure to be enough terrifying parties filled with music, food and tipples to raise even the dead from their slumbers.
The only problem is choosing which ghoulish shindig to attend. After all, you don't want to waste investing all that time and effort into your celebrity-inspired Halloween costume or creepy doll eyeliner on just any fiesta.
Here are out top picks of things to do in London for Halloween this weekend:
THE FREAKIN’ FABULOUS ONE: Casamigos Day Of The Dead Party
WHAT: If scaling an 801ft building and dancing the night away dressed as a pumpkin on the 32nd floor of one of London’s most famous landmarks gives you goosebumps, it’s time you head on down to London Bridge this weekend. Oblix at the Shard is hosting yet another unforgettable late-night Day of the Dead Mexican party on Friday in partnership with tequila brand Casamigos. Mummies, Merlins and Medusas best start practicing their dance moves as the night will involve gloriously gruesome House and Funk music, courtesy of DJ Tony, until 3am, as well as Day of the Dead-themed face paint and immersive skull head performers.
WEAR: Whip out your favourite lace, rose and floral-covered fabrics this All Hallows’ Eve to dress up as senorita muerta, voodoo dudes and your old trusty skeleton. Oh, and don’t forget your calaveras-inspired make-up!
WHEN: Fri 1 Nov; £25
WHERE: Oblix, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
THE DEVILISH CHEESY ONE: Halloween Massaoke | Dead Icons
WHAT: Those wearing wigs, hats and bouffant hair do’s might want to keep a spare box of bobby pins in their bumbags this weekend as there’s going to be a hell of a lot of head banging at this Spooktacular party. Dead icons is the theme of the night on Friday, paying homage to music legends including Kurt Cobain, Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse. The lyrics of Halloween classic tunes such as Ghostbusters and the Addams Family will be played on a big screen in front of the crowd, with tracks mixed with pop regulars from the likes of Queen and Dizzee Rascal to Rihanna and the Spice Girls. This is going to be a belter.
WEAR: Pay tribute to the late greats of the Hall of Fame of music, whether that’s a bright orange quiff in honour of David Bowie or your favourite Lennon-inspired sunglasses and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band jacket.
WHEN: Fri 1 Nov; £20 (table for four + pitcher)
WHERE: Boxpark Wembley, 18 Olympic Way, Wembley HA9 0JT
THE ‘DANCE TIL YOU’RE DEAD’ ONE: Bunga’s Fright Night
WHAT: You’ll have to watch out for a fair few murders on the dancefloor at this ghoulish night of frivolity where guests are invited to make their way past demons and ghosts alike to dance with the devil until dawn. During the night, Battesea’s famous dance-on-tables venue will be serving Halloween partygoers metro pizzas and bubbling Bacardi concoctions, as well as some seriously horror-inducing Eighties karaoke.
WEAR: Your spookiest attire, whether that’s Wednesday Adams-inspired all black ensembles, a ringmaster’s top and tails or (fake) blood-smeared doctor’s scrubs.
WHEN: Thurs 31 Oct – Fri 1 Nov; Free
WHERE: Bunga Bunga Battersea, 37 Battersea Bridge Rd, Battersea, London SW11 3B
THE FOODIE ONE: Day Of The Dead Brunch
WHAT: The W Hotel is inviting Londoners to seek refuge from what they’re calling a ‘global outbreak’ of who knows what and tuck into a Halloween-inspired brunch in the confines of their safe space, naturally. Halloween celebrators will sit down to an afternoon brunch (1pm-4pm) consisting of a main dish, an unlimited pancake and waffle station and 90 minutes of bottomless Frosé & Prosecco. Later in the day, you’ll be able to hit the afterparty (4pm-7pm) and dance your fears away.
WEAR: Trousers that have some give. I mean, we’re talking unlimited pancakes, need we say more?
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov; £20 (afterparty), £75 (brunch and afterparty)
WHERE: W Hotel, Leicester Square, 10 Wardour St, London W1D 6QF
THE CURIOUS ONE: Crime Scene Live
WHAT: For murder mystery lovers, you now have the chance to become a crime scene investigator solving a ‘killing’ that’s taken place right inside the Natural History Museum. A priceless gem has been stolen from the famous London location and two bodies have been found. With a killer on the loose, it’s your responsibility to gather the evidence, analyse the fact and carry out experiments to find justice. With a team of fellow investigators, you will analyse fingerprints with real-life police officers and learn about the tiny animals used to determine time of death of victims (yes, really).
WEAR: Sleuths are asked to dress ‘appropriately’ for the job (think comfy, loose-fitting clothes) and trousers and flat shoes.
WHEN: 1 Nov, £59
WHERE: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
THE TOPSY TURVY TIPSY ONE: Ultimate Day of the Dead Fiesta with Don Julio Tequila
WHAT: To celebrate Mexico’s national holiday, Día de los Muertos, Don Julio is teaming up with fine dining restaurant MNKY HSE for a bespoke Halloween-inspired menu that will tickle your taste buds all night long. Food on offer during the feast include roasted prawn tacos, a piñata filled with a selection of petit fours and chicken fajitas with a complimentary cocktail by the tequila brand before a DJ will invite you to hit the dance floor until 4am. Guests will also have the chance to have their faces painted so they can finally resemble La Catrina - the famous Day of the Dead skeleton icon - and receive a skull-shaped mug to take home.
WEAR: There’s a prize for the best Halloween costume so get out those flower crowns, stat!
WHEN: Sat 2 Nov
WHERE: MNKY HSE, 10 Dover St, Mayfair, London W1S 4LQ
THE MYSTICAL MUSIC ONE: Gothic Opera
WHAT: Normally we’d avoid a building called ‘Asylum Chapel’ aptly located on Asylum Road at all costs but this Sunday, we’re willing to make an exception. Taking inspiration from Gothic fiction comes the Gothic Opera’s performance of Der Vampyr – an epic production composed by Beethoven’s pupil Heinrich Marschner. Based on a vampire story, this spine-chilling piece details the story of a Vampire Master, Lord Ruthven and the tale of sacrificing three virgin brides during a witches’ sabbath. This is the stuff of nightmares.
WEAR: Black floor-length gowns, black veils, black elbow-length gloves. The more gothic, the better.
WHEN: 3 Nov, £15.68
WHERE: Asylum Chapel, Asylum Road, London, SE15 2SQ
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
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