By: Alexa Hoffman
For anyone wondering, yes—London does celebrate Halloween. It’s a bit weird how I found out.
I had first realized because I started seeing decorations in a lot of the main shopping stores. For instance, there’s a store called Flying Tiger which is basically the U.K. version of 5 Below, and they had so many Halloween decorations before it was even October. Likewise, many department stores had Halloween decorations and then Christmas decorations right next to it in the first week of October. I think that’s the earliest I’ve ever seen Christmas things out.
Anyways, I found out through a Top Shop employee that London apparently goes all out for Halloween! Unfortunately, they do not trick-or-treat, which is the best part about Halloween. However, they do have a pretty big parade down Oxford Street, which is pretty much central London. It’s nice because that’s just like what we do at home in Toms River, NJ. The Top Shop employee, who sadly didn’t tell me her name, said that many people that come to watch the parade are dressed up in crazy costumes.
That whole day in London is quite fun, too. London also hosts events such as the London Dungeons which is a scary walk-through haunted dungeon in South Bank, London. I was told it’s a very tourist thing to do. Thorpe Park, which is the U.K.’s version of Six Flags, additionally has Fright Nights in October similar to Fright Fest. So far London’s Halloween celebrations seem to be quite similar to those in the US.
I definitely am excited to see London first-hand the day of and all the people in costume. I don’t really know what I’m going to be for Halloween this year, though.
sarawhitmanythoughts 