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Well how can I start this review? I think we all thought that the London Bridge Experience and Tombs would grow but this year their Phobophobia event was massive. Upon our arrival we were faced with a queue line that stretched around the corner with both young and old dressed for Halloween with witches hats, scary snow whites and all sorts of other characters. The London Bridge team had all their staff out in full force up and down the queue line including a rather sinister clown on stilts and other dark characters playing and having fun with those waiting. We even got some nice free sweets. Thanks guys!
As we went into the upstairs area which they normally use for the history section of the bridge we were faced with a number of live animals including snakes, spiders, rats and other creepy crawlies. Some people within our group were just freaked out at the site of these alone but many of us got to touch at least one of the animals. Only negative to this was that the rat weed on me!
As we went through upstairs we finally got to the top of the tombs with the noise of a heart beating, set a rather interesting scene. The only downside to this area was that we had to wait about twenty minutes before we got into the Tombs. It seemed too long but at least it was warmer than outside.
When finally called, we bravely started to venture down the stairs and into the Tombs. The first area was dressed like a building site with creatures jumping out from us at every angle; they certainly seemed to be on the game. We were faced by creatures dressed in all manner of costumes from clowns to camouflaged monsters.
We then continued into a grave scene, the atmosphere was so repressive and scary. It felt like they’ve beefed up the sound system from when I last visited as the room was vibrating with sound effects and audio. The set had also been upgraded and there seemed to be a lot more things going on in this area. We were greeted by what I can only describe as a witch doctor who threatened to sew my mouth shut, I know some people I’d like to do that to, no more said I think!
We went through into a room filled with spiders and cobwebs, this room had completely changed with hundred of fake spiders hanging down various shapes and sizes. This room looked really good certainly one girl in my group dropped out at this point I was in debate as well. We then squeeze through their claustrophobia section to enter out into a room with loads of roots and other items hanging from the ceiling. There was a scarer hidden in this area that kept on whispering in our ears, for love or money I couldn’t see them, I sure I’m not blind normally. After the experience I got chatting and was told that they had a special suit made to help the person blend into the scenery down there, really freaky.
The next phobia we were up for was the fear of dolls; we went into a room which had hundreds of dolls around the room in various states of distress from missing arms, eyes and more. Sitting in the corner was one of the scarers on a chair with a dolls mask on, half the group didn’t take notice as they blended into the surroundings so well until they started to move. This scarer was really freaky both in movement and vision, really made us jump. The other great scare in this room was a dwarf dressed in a doll costume that was initially leaning up against the wall but then started chasing after us. This was something new to us and we didn’t know whether to laugh or scream.
The next area was certainly for those non cat lovers with the noises of cats going through blenders and surrounded by cat skins this room was certainly creepy. The room smelt too, just like cat wee, so the scene was set for the crazy cat lady that chased us out with a carpet beater!
The next room was great it was filled with balloons, bright colours and great lighting effects and loads of clowns. We were chased by one of those clowns that you expect to pull a sawn off shot gun out on you. They had all sorts of clowns from the classical IT character to bubbles the clown from your 8th birthday party. It amazed me as a man in my group screamed like something I’ve not heard before and just bolted, we guess his phobia was clowns.
Finally we enter the famous butchers room filled floor to ceiling with bodies and animal carcases. It’s a shame that the event didn’t have a new finale to tie in with the story (fear of chainsaws seems a bit tenuous!) however we all got a good scare when the chainsaw guy came out from a small side room holding the chainsaw over his head and chasing us out with great speed. This was absolutely great. The chainsaw man was really enjoying himself and you could tell this not just by the smile on his face but with how much he was getting into the role.
Overall this was a really good event a lot of the people in our group really enjoyed it. In fact so much so that we are planning our return trip for next year already!
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