If you thought Iâd suffer from heat deprivation in Londonâs chilly Autumn after a year spent in the sun-drenched Coogee Beach, you are mistaken. I am making the most of what the UK Capital has to offer and damn, thereâs no shortage of events on this side of the pond. Hereâs a round-up of events you need to look out for this Autumn.
Harry Potter, A History of Magic Exhibition at The British Library â from October 20
As a Potterhead and a fan of any British Library exhibition to this date, A History of Magic Seems unmissable: rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the British Libraryâs collection, showcasing the folklore and magic at the heart of the Harry Potter saga.
The exhibit celebrates the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopherâs Stone â feel old yet?
Blade Hairclub Halloween Hairclubbing Night â Saturday 28 OctoberÂ
Considering how appalling my blow-dry skills are, booking in with a friend to get the Halloween look at Blade Hairclub in Soho sounds like the right way to kick off my Halloween weekend.
To get the party started, Blade will be playing tunes from classics such as Beetlejuice, Nightmare before Christmas and Screaming Jay Hawkins. iPads are also positioned at each station enabling scary film fanatics to immerse themselves in some of the best horror films that Netflix can provide, including It Follows, Babadook, Hush and Paranormal Activity.
But no Hairclubbing sesh is complete without cocktails, which will be Halloween-themed for the occasion:
Poisoned Apple â VSOP Calvados, Elderflower Liqueur, fresh pressed apple, apple juice, lemon juice, Abbottâs Bitters;
Devilâs Blade â Rittenhouse Rye, Campari, Ancho Reyes Red Chile Liqueur, Orange bitters;
The Pumpkin King â Organic Vodka, Maple Syrup, Pumpkin Puree, Vanilla, Black Walnut bitters.
All Hallowâs Eve by Lamplight at the Tower Hamlets Cemetery â Saturday 28 OctoberÂ
This year, Iâve decided Iâm going to have at least one DYI Halloween night and instead of going to fancy events in very little clothing, I will actually do something spooky. Enter Cemetery Clubâs lamp-lit tour of the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, set to celebrate the lives of the quarter of a million people buried there, from heroes to villains, locals and mavericks. The tour will be an occasion to explore the Victorian customs associated with Hallowmas, and taste authentic Soul Cakes, made from a recipe from the time of old Queen Vic herself.
Tours on Saturday 28 and Tuesday 31st, either at 6:30 or 8 PM;
U SUCK Halloween Special at The Old Blue Last â Saturday 28 October
My DYI night will be followed by by a dance and a sing-along to the best break-up bangerZZZ and pop kiss-offs at The Old Blue Last. Itâs on the same night as the Cemetery Tour so I might end up wearing at least something Halloweeny. Whether youâve been dumped by a satanic being (havenât we all), ghosted by a moron or just wanna have some fun, this looks like the place.
Saturday October 28th, 10pm-4am;
Fancy dress strongly encouraged;
Halloween Movie Ball at The Grand, Clapham â Saturday 28 OctoberÂ
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For all of you South Londoners out there, The Grand in Clapham will throw a part paying homage to the finest and freakiest Horror Movies of all time to the sound of party favourites. The event includes photo booths, make-overs, balloon drops, prizes for the best dressed and more confetti than you can think of. Fancy dress: compulsory.
Eat Blood-Injected Charcoal Balls at Old Street Station
Thereâs no Halloween without creepy food options but this year I wanted to go a bit more left-field than your average pumpkin stuff⌠so why not try charcoal activated cheese balls filled with âspicy bloodâ?
On Tuesday 31st October, Brazilian Chef Rita will make a a special batch of Brazilian cheese balls Halloween set to taste like a âmelted-cheese infernoâ. Brazilian Cheese Balls are the go-to snack in Latin America. Theyâre gluten-free, made with Cassava and cheese and are crunchy outside and cloud-like inside.
This time however, Chef Rita will be blending this dark and detoxifying twist with the original recipe, the cheese balls will be served with a Syringe, filled with your choice of sweet or spicy blood (donât worry, itâs only jam and Sriracha sauce). You can inject the balls with blood, spill it all over for a gory look or pour it in your mouth as Halloween make up. The choice is yours.
The pop-up is near the stall in front of the ticket hall at Old Street Underground Station;
A portion of 6 blood-injected charcoal balls costs ÂŁ5;
Opening times:Â 7.30am to 7pm, open until late on Halloween;
You can try a less devilish version until the 26th of November, the day the pop-up closes.
Junkyard Golf Club Day of the Dead with El Jimador â Tuesday 31 October
Right, so the 31st is a Tuesday which sucks a bit, but at least Junkyard Golf Club in Brick Lane is teaming up with el Jimador to transform its crazy golf labyrinth into a Day of the Dead scare fiesta complete with actors, magicians and circus performers, cocktails and, well⌠golf. A round is just £9.50 including booking fee which is great if, like me, you are going just for shits and giggles and plan to be kicked out due to how appalling your golfing skills are.
Performers on the line up include jugglers, unicyclists, LED hoopers and The Magic Ball Man, who caused a storm last year with a hypnotic video that racked up over 22 million views on Facebook.
Junkyard Golf London at The Old Truman Brewery, from 7 to 10 PM;
Skylight Launches Its Rooftop Skating and Fondue Nights in Tobacco Dock â Thursday 2 November
Ever since it launched in the summer, news about Skylight has been giving me a huge FOMO. I thought Iâd have to wait until Summer to check it out, but luckily, Tobacco Dockâs rooftop is relaunching as a top Winter destination on Thursday 2 November, complete with seasonal drinks, fondue, street food AND Londonâs first rooftop ice rink.
A £10 skating ticket gets you 45 on the ice rink, while you can play ice hockey for £3. The cheese fondue will start at £14.95 per person with tables available to book in advance and ladies and gentlemen, Skylight will also offer delicious chocolate fondue at £9.95 per person.
Who am I kidding, this is where I break my leg. I know this. Cocktails and ice skating will never be a good match for someone as clumsy as I am, but with its unobstructed views of some of Londonâs most iconic buildings, Skylight is one of those venues you just canât miss out on.
Thursday & Friday 5pm â 11pm;
Saturday & Sunday â 12pm â 11pm.
Christmess in Southwark, Launching on 15 November
We all know talking about Christmas is forbidden before December first, so you will excuse me for writing about Christmess instead, run by Slap Ya Papa and Marbles & Ware.
Launching on 15th November for a six-week run, Christmess is set in Victorian London â and at The Hunter Penrose to be precise, a barely touched warehouse in the heart of Borough Market.
The immersive event includes live entertainment brought to you by Santaâs little helpers, green fairies, St Nicholas and all the Christmas peepz with a twist. Food is left in the capable hands of Slap Ya Papa, who will cook up a 12-dish soulful lunch or dinner made of platters of Cajun roasted turkey and candied yams.
Open throughout the day, the downstairs area will be a workshop filled with creations by independent makers. Craftspeople from across the capital will be making and selling an abundant trove of stocking fillers and makers will also be offering present making classes such as a Floral Wreath weaving and Beeswax candle making.
Tickets: ÂŁ55 per person;
Feasts: Wednesday â Sunday, 6.30pm â 11.30pm.
Museum of Witchcraft Opening â 2 November
Cornwallâs most magical Museum comes to London with an exhibition made of scary photographs of haunted objects from The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic by Sara Hannant and Simon Costin. Iâm looking forward to seeing all the magical objects on display, including a Witch Mirror, a waxen curse poppet, spells and charms and items from a Black Magicians altar.
The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic has the largest and most remarkable collection of witchcraft-related objects and books in the world, focusing on this misunderstood aspect of British folk culture.
The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History
November 3rd 2017 â 28th Febuary 2018.
Jazz Before Jazz Was Jazz, Two Temple Place â Sunday 12 November
Arts education charity The Arts Society and my favourite London band, Kansas Smittyâs, are teaming up to tell the story of the way jazz became Jazz, starting from the slave songs of American plantations, African polyrhythms, and the European classical tradition.
Made of talks, interactive workshops, Smittyâs signature juleps, Deep South inspired street food and performances by the Kansas Smittyâs House Band, this event comes as a prequel to The Age of Jazz, an exhibition produced by The Arts Society and the Bulldog Trust, which opens at Two Temple Place in January 2018. The exhibition will kick off a year of celebrations for The Arts Society which marks its 50th anniversary next year.
Autumn Events To Watch Out For If you thought I'd suffer from heat deprivation in London's chilly Autumn after a year spent in the sun-drenched Coogee Beach, you are mistaken.
