Europe’s biggest scare-maze is open in the capital. But what lurks in the dark at the London Tombs? Dan Morgan finds out.

Just outside London Bridge station, past the altogether more jubilant catacomb of curiosity that is Shunt, lie the London Tombs. Recently voted the scariest attraction in London and reportedly the biggest scare-maze in Europe (but really, how many are there?), the London Tombs is kicking off the summer by introducing American werewolves to their horror tour for Independence Day weekend.

After a brief introduction and the mention of a special appearance from a caged and ‘perfectly safe’ werewolf, our amusingly hokey guide takes us on a bare bones tour of historical London. Walkie talkie reports of the beast’s escape are suppressed by our nervous host before the lights go out and things really start taking a turn for the worse. From here on out, the bemused group of journos that have gathered for this preview are funnelled through twisting tunnels full of dangling rubber heads, tortured screams and zombie actors. It’s hard to begrudge the performances – the dozen-odd cast all make convincing undead. Throaty snarls, air-starved heavy breathing and jerky, tensed movements all complement the prosthetics and make-up that aid the performance.

This marriage of sound and visuals is unsurprisingly the central focus for scares but other senses are not left out in the cold. One of the best scares to be had derives from bumping into things in the dim light, particularly other people as you confuse fellow victims for zombies and work off each other’s screams. It’s nothing if not cathartic. Unpleasant odours are seemingly filtered into certain areas too, heightening the discomfort and furthering the feeling of claustrophobia within the underground tombs. It would be misleading to say that, after 20 or 30 minutes of people jumping out at you, the scares don’t get a tad repetitious. However, there are some neat touches.

Firstly, the sheer density of the maze serves to disorient you as it constantly double-backs and winds round itself. As a result, you can often glimpse what awaits you and hear people’s reactions to areas you have not yet reached. With countless objects perfect for concealed zombies to spring from, you are constantly kept on guard with the knowledge that no direction is a safe zone. The highlight has to be a tight crevice between inflatable walls that pretty much sums up the claustrophobic atmosphere the Tombs aims to deliver, as you squeeze through the gap, avoiding hands that grab for you. It’s a great shame that there aren’t more moments like this; say a tunnel of some kind or split paths to break up the group.

You may have noticed that the werewolf has been missing from the bulk of this and that’s because his presence is the biggest disappointment, amounting to little more than a hairy zombie. A werewolf certainly doesn’t make the experience any worse but when he’s only around between 3rd & 5th July, it just makes you aware of his presence as a gimmick to pull in punters who will think of the classic 1981 film or as a fun and timely distraction for traveling Americans.

Nonetheless, this is a good laugh and when coupled with The London Bridge Experience, pretty good value for a city attraction. Just make sure you go with a bunch of scaredy mates to get the most out of it.

Where:
2 – 4 Tooley Street
London Bridge
London SE1 2PF

When:
Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm
Sat & Sun 10am – 6pm

How Much:
Adults: £16.95
Students / OAPs : £13.95
Child: £12.95

Website:
www.thelondonbridgeexperience.com