Charles Buttle
Hidden beneath Waterloo Station lies Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition, an immersive showcase of the cursed, the macabre and the forbidden. Spanning multiple rooms within The Vaults, the exhibition offers an experience that weaves together the supernatural and the historical through a vast collection of objects and stories. So whether you’re a lifelong horror enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this exhibition is bound to have something for you.
Uncovering the Secrets
Curated and produced by Italmostre — the Italian cultural organisation behind several acclaimed international exhibitions — Dark Secrets dives into centuries of occult history, superstition and spiritual belief. The exhibition explores how faith, fear, and folklore have shaped human culture, not just through fiction but across diverse real-world practices and rituals.
Spanning 1,200 square metres of subterranean tunnels, the exhibition brings together over 1,000 items, several of which have never been displayed to the public.
“For us, it was about introducing people to other belief systems and stories,” said Professor Matteo Borrini, a forensic anthropologist.
“Understanding and knowing what’s around us through history is important, as now more than ever, in an inclusive, multicultural society, understanding is the key.”
“One thing that struck my mind is how ignorance actually creates monsters,” he added. “When we don’t know, we become afraid — and that’s why we want to introduce these topics.”
Before the exhibition opened to the public, members of the press were invited to take part in an exclusive Victorian-style séance led by Borrini. Held in a dimly lit room, deep inside The Vaults, the session set the tone for what the exhibition would hold: an entertaining, atmospheric and educational dive into ritual. Though not part of the exhibition itself, it offered a glimpse into the stories and practices that underpin many of the artefacts on display.
Inside the Exhibition
While the eerie atmosphere of the exhibition is undeniable — a collection of dark rooms where the soft sound of cello music drifts beneath the rumble of passing trains — it’s the artefacts themselves that form the beating heart of Dark Secrets. Among the objects on display are Europe’s largest collection of cursed dolls, Aleister Crowley’s ceremonial staff and a 1620 edition of the Malleus Maleficarum.
What’s striking about the exhibition is how it resists leaning into spectacle. Nothing feels theatrical for the sake of performance; instead, it offers a measured, immersive look into objects and belief systems that have defined centuries of fear and fascination. Spanning across 27 themed rooms, the exhibition moves through a wide range of subjects — from Satanism, curses in sport and entertainment to ritual murders and extreme cults. Through this breadth of topics, the exhibition aims to give visitors a deeper understanding of the stories, fears and rituals that have threaded through human history and still echo today.
Alongside the physical displays, several interactive elements are designed to deepen the experience, such as digital esoteric quizzes and QR codes that lead to audio guides and expanded information. A VR experience further pulls visitors into these hidden histories, creating a layered encounter.
Why It Resonates
What Dark Secrets captures so effectively is how these stories are never just distant echoes of the past — they’re living ideas that continue to linger in how we share them, build beliefs, and make sense of the unknown. By presenting these objects without theatricality, the exhibition doesn’t ask visitors to believe in curses or rituals, but to understand the human stories that built them. London feels like the perfect city to host an exhibition like this — a place where history and myth often overlap at every corner, it creates a fitting backdrop for a collection that examines the beliefs and fears we carry through time.
Whether you’re drawn to the thrill of the macabre, curious about history, or simply looking for something a little different, Dark Secrets offers an experience unlike anything else currently in London. It’s a rare chance to stand face to face with objects that have carried centuries of stories — some unsettling, others quietly human. The exhibition manages to be both educational and deeply atmospheric, making it just as compelling for horror enthusiasts as it is for sceptics and history lovers alike.
Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition runs from 11 October 2025 to 31 May 2026 at The Vaults in Waterloo, London. The exhibition is open Wednesday to Sunday, with extended evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays. Visitors can expect to spend around 90 minutes exploring the 27 themed rooms, interactive installations, and rare artefacts. Tickets and further details are available through their website.
Final Thoughts
Whether you go to satisfy your curiosity, feed a love of the macabre, or simply to understand the stories that once lived in the shadows, Dark Secrets offers a rare opportunity to step closer to the things we fear and see them for what they truly are. Hidden beneath the city, it’s a quiet reminder that history doesn’t just live in books; sometimes, it’s closer than we think, just waiting to be uncovered.
