London: Go under the bridge
LONDON — As you enter the dark, creepy confines of London’s newest scary attraction, The London Bridge Experience & London Tombs, an overly excited man named Brownlow is there to greet you.
Brownlow, a ghostly servant who can’t seem to stand still, eagerly begins the tour into the storied history of one of the city’s most famous bridges. He then passes his duties on to a visitor to lead the group as he cleverly stays behind. On a recent weekday, I was reluctantly chosen for this honor.
Into the dark hallways, I herded my anxious group through ominous exhibits where characters in yesteryear clothing delved into the violent, bloody events that occurred at the bridge. Since its original design in 53 A.D., the bridge has been rebuilt several times.
The "experience" is the first portion of the attraction, followed by the underground "tombs" exhibit where actual skeletons believed to be the remains of plague victims had been found during recent construction work near the bridge.
Before venturing to the tombs, whose contents have already been exhumed, visitors have a somewhat educational experience. At one stop, visitors can lift a replica Roman shield and helmet. In 410 A.D., the Anglo-Saxons took control of the country from the Romans who dubbed it "Britannia."
The tour then comes across a sinister woman with a screechy voice who educates visitors how to properly display the heads of criminals, once a crime-prevention method used at the bridge. The skull of William Wallace, the rebellious Scotsman played by Mel Gibson in the movie "Braveheart," is presumed to be the first displayed at the bridge.
In another room, a wall painting of Robert McCulloch, an American tycoon who purchased the last London Bridge and shipped it block by block to Lake Havasu, Ariz., came alive as he told people of the haunted incidents with his London Bridge. He also warned of what lurks in the London Tombs below.
And here comes the turning point for some people. Should I enter the underground lair or duck out at one of the emergency exits? Everyone in my group bravely took the stairs down to the haunted labyrinth, disguised as a construction site
While putting on construction helmets and reflective vests, a video of a newscast sensationalized ghost sightings at the site. The Web site even claims that a group of paranormal investigators entered the site and vanished without a trace. Why would they let people continue to enter the "haunted" site? Money is my guess.
Anyway, with a deep gulp of air and a last ditch attempt for courage, enter the maze of strobe lights, costumed characters and animatronics ready to jump out at you. I could explain what they do, but where’s the fun in that?
Whether you’re keen or terrified of the dark side, the attraction can be amusing or startling. The tombs were similar to haunted houses commonly found in the States. The first part was more educational with a morbid twist and audience participation. Still, the decorations, eerie music and characters are worth a fright when out in London.
Those manly or daring types who swear not to be afraid of the dark should try the attraction’s new feature called Fear of the Dark, now running until early November. From 7 p.m. to midnight, the already dim lights within the tombs are turned off during the tour.
Getting there
Location: 2-4 Tooley St., London Bridge, London SE1 2PF
Admission: Tickets can be purchased online and depending on the time can range from 9.99 to 14.95 pounds for adults and 9.99 to 10.95 for children younger than 14. All tickets bought online are subject to a 95 pence booking fee. At the door, expect to pay 5 pounds more per ticket. The London Tombs’ new feature called Fear of the Dark is open from 7 p.m. to midnight and costs 10 pounds.
What to see: A haunted house with an educational tour, audience participation and costumed characters waiting to jump out at you.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
Web site: www.thelondonbridgeexperience.com
