Phobophobia is the fear of fears! The London Bridge Experience & Tombs holds it’s annual adult only Halloween spectacular over the course of 10 days from Saturday 22nd – Monday 31st October with evening shows 18.00 through until 22.00 for strictly over 16s. For family friendly shows, they are running daily during this period from 10.30 until 17.00. This year, the theme is ‘The Ventriloquist Nightmare!’ I was invited to go to the opening night hosted by Attraction Tix , where you can get amazing ticket offers for all sorts of things to see and do as a family. I was far to scared to go as I don’t like the dark, so I sent my special correspondent, one of my sister in laws to go and check it out. She embraces the dark and the strange and can often be found at ghost hunts and paranormal events. In fact she’d only just been to the London Bridge Experience not long ago before it had been transformed into the Phobophobia show.
This Halloween, enter into the Nightmare of the Ventriloquist, where the puppets are out to play and want you to join in on their games, but be aware as these puppets don’t have strings to hold them back on catching you! Live actors are used to bring the show to life and it’s not for those of a nervous disposition (me).
Here is my sister in law’s experience from her night when someone else is pulling the strings, mwa ha ha ha….
We were greeted at the door and signed in to get our name badges and groups. The waitresses dressed as dolls carried trays of wine and beers through the crowd and the function room was lit up brightly with disco lights and music. Around the room, there were pumpkin heads full of treats. The reptile company held pythons and corn snakes which seemed really friendly, not that I was going to hold one!! At the end of the room was a photo booth with masks, costumes and props including a severed head and a chainsaw.
After mingling with the other guests enjoying the complimentary drinks and treats, there was a small speech, thanking us all for coming and several thank yous to those involved in creation of the event.
Group 1 was called and their experience was to begin. We were in group 9 and the build-up of excitement was intense. Group 9… we were called to the shop area at the top of the stairs. The starting groups were begging to return, all pale faced and shocked. We were then greeted by the manager. It was then the 1st casualty of the evening, a lady from the group in front had freaked at the first room and had to come back. This just made the excitement build we were taken to meet the mad doctor in the doorway, who guided us into the experience
Walking into what is normally the London Bridge Experience I was amazed at the transformation having only been at the venue 3 weeks before. Puppets hung from the ceiling and body parts on the tables, walking through the corridors full of neon ropes like spiders web, a tunnel of lights that made your head spin, not knowing what was round the next corner. Heads on ropes hung from the ceilings above. Mannequins all standing in a row, then one moves right in your face! Drapes covering the original scenery with mad and strange characters jumping out at every opportunity…then we arrived at the Tombs area.
Walking through we were told to go in a line and hold the person in front’s shoulders. It was a dark maze of pathways skeletons (of possibly previous guests that never escaped!) Screams could be heard in the distance of the groups in front. Clowns from HELL jumped out at us looking purely terrifying! Then came the squeeze, large inflated walls where you had to push through, very claustrophobic! More screams in front. We arrive at the circus area with red and white plastic drapes through a maze of tunnels. A clown with a high powered air gun blew straight in our faces, the cold air popping loudly. Around the corner another squeeze tunnel!
Arriving into the doll room, full of freaky dolls, including a live one rocking with madness on the floor. TVs splashed with blood through a horror household and another clown with his victim lying dead. Through the tunnels all made out with wooden boxes you could smell the petrol, and the fear! Coming to the end we met a clown with a chainsaw; limbs hung from the ceiling surrounding the large meat cutting table, he lunged at the group trying to pick off his victim – screams filled the room and we rushed to the exit and up the stairs… he placed the motor of the chainsaw against the stairs so the whole thing vibrated!
Arriving upstairs we managed to take our 1st breath of safety. We were reeling from such a crazy experience.
I’m not even sure of the exact path of the night, my sense of direction and memory was severely distorted by the time I left!
I totally recommend you check this place out for yourself open 22nd 31st October 6-11pm (Family shows available 10am – 5pm)
So the Phobophobia ventriloquist nightmare got her seal of approval in the scare stakes, let me know if you’re brave enough to go and how you got on!
Thank you for reading - if you enjoyed this content, please consider buying me a coffee here or browse my Amazon wishlist I really appreciate your support and it helps to keep the site running and for my time 🙂