5 Halloween walks and activities in London‘s most haunted borough
London is rich with tales of ghosts and ghouls, and now its most haunted borough has been revealed.
According to analysis by insurance firm Alan Boswell Group, Kensington and Chelsea is officially the capital’s spookiest neighbourhood.
With ten reports of paranormal activity, 11 cemeteries and more than 400 houses built more than a century ago, it definitely has an eerie vibe about it.
Not to mention, Kensington and Chelsea is going all out for Halloween this year, with late-night museum exhibitions, haunted walks and ghost stories.
So if you’re wondering where to spend your Samhain, this boujee borough might just be the spot. Here’s what you can do.
Why do we love being scared?
Halloween is a lovely time of year — just the right mix of cosy and spooky. But why do we love the thrill of the fright?
According to Niloufar Esmaeilpour, a registered clinical counsellor, approved supervisor and founder at Lotus Therapy and Counselling Centre, it’s all down to neuroscience.
Essentially, the brain processes fear in the same way it processes excitement.
‘In a controlled environment, for example, watching a horror movie or engaging in some thrilling activity, our amygdala will be activated; this is the part of the brain that generally detects threats,’ she tells Metro.
This releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol into the system, triggering the ‘fight or flight’ response.
However, Niloufar adds, ‘because we know that actual danger does not exist, the prefrontal cortex of the brain regulates this fear and enables us, if we choose to, to enjoy the experience rather than being consumed by it.’
This triggers the release of dopamine – the pleasure hormone – which can keep us coming back for more.
Wander around the Halloween-themed farmer’s market — free
Kensington High Street’s farmer’s market runs every Sunday from 10am.
This week (Sunday 27), from 11am until 2pm, there’ll be a pop-up Halloween edition on Jubilee Square, where you’ll get to see (and shop) Halloween-themed arts and crafts, and enjoy spooky entertainment galore.
Sounds like a lovely autumn date if you ask us — window shopping or otherwise.
Take a stroll around the hauntingly beautiful Brompton Cemetery — free
This Grade I listed cemetery is great for a history-infused stroll.
The final resting place for many notable figures – including suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst – and a recently restored chapel, this 39-acre graveyard is a good place to take a peaceful approach to All Hallow’s Eve.
Take a haunted walk down Church Street — free
If you want to experience an actual haunted walk, head to Church Street on Halloween night, from 4pm to 7pm.
There’ll be ghostly decorations, seasonal lights and a few friendly frights, apparently, meaning you can take the kids.
Check out the World of Tim Burton at the Design Museum — from £20
Opening this week is the final leg of the decades-long World of Tim Burton exhibition, which is showing in the UK for the first and last time.
The exhibition is being held at the Design Museum, with tickets starting at £20 for adults (and lower prices for concessions).
It’s running until April, but we’d say go in October. What better way to celebrate than diving into the mind of creator of Halloween Town himself?
Gawp at the crazy Halloween decorations — free
Kensington and Chelsea is home to some of the city’s most extravagant houses, and things get even more enticing around Halloween.
This borough is known for its residents’ fabulous Halloween decorations, particularly around Holland Park and The Boltons. This is a great place for trick or treating if you have little ones, or a spooky twilight walk if you don’t.
Listen to ghost stories in Chelsea Physic Garden — £25
Halloween is rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. In the past, communities gathered to share folklore, ghost stories and ancient wisdom.
This year, you can get all of that and a cup of mulled cider in London’s botanical garden, where three storytellers will tell their very best tales as the sun begins to set.
Tickets cost £25, and the event runs from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday 31 October.