These eerie images show a sinister funeral procession descending on London in the early hours of the morning.
Creepy figures were pictured carrying a coffin past the iconic Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich before ending up on the banks of the Thames overlooking Canary Wharf.
The spooky scenes come as The Nightmare Realm, Ireland’s best-known immersive horror attraction, prepares to land in London for the first time this Halloween.
Pictured before sunrise, the characters were seen stalking past the Cutty Sark with the coffin and “measuring up” members of the public to see whether they would fit inside.
One of The Nightmare Realm’s best-known characters, Molly Mayhem, led the procession, with wild red hair, sinister make-up and theatrical costume.
Other images show the group gathering menacingly around the coffin, before playfully “measuring up” unsuspecting Londoners to see whether they would fit inside.
Opening in Avery Hill, SE9 in October, award-winning The Nightmare Realm will bring its signature mix of immersive horror, live performers and terrifying experiences across the Irish Sea for a limited run in the capital.
Visitors can brave two large-scale immersive horror attractions combining storytelling, live performers and elaborate sets, alongside five experiences, from an exorcism to a Ouija board.
Set within the historic Avery Hill Mansion, The Nightmare Realm has been created specifically for a UK audience, with original characters, environments and scares forming a brand-new story.
Karl O’Connor, Founder and CEO at The Nightmare Realm, said: “We’ve spent 16 years terrifying people in Ireland, and now we’re finally bringing the nightmare across the Irish Sea.
“Making a quiet entrance isn’t quite our style, so what better way to introduce ourselves to London than with a funeral procession past some of the city’s most historic landmarks?
“We’ve created a completely new Nightmare Realm for London and we can’t wait to open the doors.
“We’ve got plenty of surprises waiting inside, the only question is whether Brits will be brave enough to give it a go.”
And while Halloween may still be six weeks away, it appears Brits are already getting into the Halloween spirit, with interest in the annual event ramping up earlier than last year.
Google Trends data1 shows UK search interest in “Halloween” during the first week of September is already 20% higher than the same period last year, while interest in “Halloween event” has surged 70% year-on-year.
And many Brits will also already be making plans for October 31st, with YouGov research2 finding 28% of Halloween planners begin preparing around a month ahead.
There’s also an increasing appetite for more ways to celebrate, the data shows, with one in five Brits (21%) saying they wish there were more Halloween activities available locally.
The Nightmare Realm, set in the historic Grade II-listed Avery Hill Mansion in Greenwich, opens on October 9th and runs until November 1st.
