Halloween in London: 3 top spooky events

Get your ghoul on this weekend with some of the capital’s creepy offerings.

1. Alice Cooper: Welcome 2 My Nightmare Movies, £13 (concs £9.75 & members get £1.50 off)

On 28th October, this famously theatrical rocker will walk the ‘black carpet’ to the BFI Southbank and discuss the effect that film has had on his song-writing, performances and life. Alice will present chosen a range of film clips to illustrate his talk before putting questions to the audience. The night includes some special guests and freakish performers, and finally a screening of the classic horror film, Halloween.

When: Fri 28 Oct, 6.30pm
Where: NFT1, BFI, Southbank (nearest tube Waterloo)
Web: bfi.org.uk
Box office: 020 7928 3232

 

2. Belle Epoque Party: Halloween Special, £20

Step into a spell-binding world of absinthe-tinged fantasy, daring dancers and vampish drama with the Belle Epoque’s seasonal party this weekend. The music hall venue will be draped in velvet and the organisers encourage costumes as elaborate as you dare… Men should look ‘devilishly dashing’ and ladies, you are asked to ‘reach into your inner desires’. Ooooh. Expect a lavish night of cocktails, enchantment and trapeze artists throwing shapes above you.

When: Sat 29 Oct, 8pm-2am
Where: The Grand Hall, Euston Road, London, WC1
Web: belleepoqueparty.com

 

3. You Make A Cake Halloween Parties, £28 each for groups of age 5+, £35 each age 5+ if attending a workshop

Children (and adults) will love these fun workshops and group baking sessions. You Make A Cake provide all ingredients and utensils, so all you need to do is turn up, follow some simples steps, give your kids a major sugar-overload and come away with 12 delicious cakes. Classes and workshops to help you create creepy cakes are currently being run in the build up to Halloween.

Parties for groups last about 90 mins and workshops attended by individuals last for about two hours. Under-8s must be accompanied by an adult.

When: Until Sun 29 Oct
Where: You Make A Cake, 10 Bellevue Road, London, SW17 7EG
Web: youmakeacake.com

Summer fun

EggMag’s top ideas for a splendid couple of sunny (we hope) months

Hackney City Farm and Frizzante Cafe
This sweet little city farm keeps a few animals (pigs, goats, donkey and more) and hosts a number of sustainable living and craft-based activities like pottery, food growing, upholstery and beekeeping. Head down there for a relaxed afternoon and make sure you finish up at the cafe, Frizzante. Serving up seasonal and home-made Italian food, they also have live music on Thursday evenings. Find more info here.

Cool Camping’s Escape Routes
Our favourite campsite reviewers have created a new book, mapping out 60 wonderful cycle journeys to take around the UK. So pick a weekend, dust off that saddle and get that tent down from the loft… Buy the book here.

Pootle about the Thames on a canoe
Yes, you heard me right! Hiring a traditional wooden canoe and rowing about the Thames will get you acquainted with the famous river’s less built-up stretches. Try Thames Canoes, which offers three different routes of either one or two days long. Stop for pub lunches, do some bird-watching and generally enjoy being out of town. Prices start from £75 for one day.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

29-31 July: Vintage at Southbank, London
Get your retro glad-rags on for this three-day knees up brought to you by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway. Celebrating everything vintage, from music to fashion, cinema to art and more, the festival will entertain through all decades from the 20s-80s. Last year’s Vintage at Goodwood was a huge success, so this new London venue for the festival promises to bring an interesting new angle. Head to the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer for free DJ sets, or buy tickets for each day, with an optional evening extra. Tickets start at around £60 per day. You’d be mad to miss this one… Click here for more info.

7 August: The Apple Cart, Victoria Park, London
Pop down to Victoria Park for this exciting, new kind of festival. Not only will there be music from the likes of Saint Etienne, Patrick Wolf and Steve Mason of the Beta Band, but expect comedy from Tim Minchin and Marcus Brigstocke, food from Venn Street Market, an art car boot sale, a whole load of cabaret and some magic fun for the littlies. Tickets are a snip at £29.95 and can be bought here.

17 August: Capital Growth’s ‘Growing Autumn and Winter Vegetables’ course, Regent’s Park, London
Try your hand at growing veg to feed you and yours during the winter months with this beginner/intermediate level session that explains all you need to know on what to sow, when and how. More details here.

25 August: Lexi Cinema & Saab present Neverending Story, Woodland Gardens Pheasantry Welcome, Bushy Park, London
One of the best kid’s films ever made? You better believe it. Re-live your childhood by starlight in this beautiful park. The organisers promise special guests, live music and other surprises along the way. Tickets cost £12.50 and are available here.

27 August: Nigel’s Eco Market, Friend’s Meeting House, Brighton
This little market, brought to us by Nigel’s Eco Store aims to show us just how easy savvy living can be. From organic food to handmade clothes, you can expect a good mix of ideas to green every aspect of your life. Keep your eye on the website for further info.

29 August: Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair, Old Spitalfields Market, London
Vintage fans will love this market full of affordable vintage clothing, home wares and accessories on this Bank Holiday Monday. Now the largest vintage fair of its kind serving 23 cities it has been hailed by the national press as a ‘shopping phenomenon’. Find out more here.

3 September: Artisan Bread-making day, Plumpton Mill, Lewes
As part of the Brighton & Hove Food & Drink Festival, this day-long course will teach you how to make sourdough bread using the mill’s own organic wheat and rye. Also enjoy a delicious seasonal lunch included in the ticket price (£75 each). Click here for more info.