Dark Secrets The Exhibition delights in darkness!

As the veil between worlds thins this season, The Vaults beneath Waterloo Station have become a portal to the unknown. Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition has been curated by Italian producers Italmostre, who set the stage for the macabre here previously with the Serial Killers: The Exhibition. As the doors are now open to the wider public, intrepid visitors can enter 27 immersive themed rooms brimming with more than a thousand artifacts from magic, folklore and the supernatural! 

 

From the outset, visitors are ushered through a corridor of intense red atmospheric lighting before being presented with the large, iconic idol of Pazuzu from the opening of The Exorcist. To the immediate left, an overwhelming behemoth stands tall, an imposing stone Golem and a striking statue of the hermetic Baphomet, eager to assert their presence, leaving their imposing imprint firmly etched in your psyche. 

Winding rooms take you on a journey through curated items and artifacts from the curator's personal collection, Druidic magical items and Shrunken heads from the Shuar tribes of the Amazon, symbolised as war trophies and ritual objects. Europe's largest gathering of cursed dolls, over a hundred specimens that are alleged to whisper tales of possession and misfortune, including The Weeping Doll, whose accounts note its ability to shift its gaze. 

Present is the Malleus Maleficarum, the witch-hunters' guidance-bible, evoking chilling fervour in medieval persecutions! Coupled with a full reproduction of the Codex Gigas, the so-called Devil's Bible, is among the exhibition's book collection. The account of this beautiful, ornate, grand-sized work being scribed by a single monk in a single night, who was possessed by the angel of light. The lure to reach across the rope and turn the pages to explore the artwork within was so extraordinarily tempting. 


 

Whilst his mother may have dubbed him “the beast”, the man who embodied that title, Aleister Crowley. Several items of his magical possessions are being put on display; his ceremonial staff with scribed letters lies as a companion to fragments of the infamous Abbey of Thelema. 

Ebay is full of so-called Dybbuk boxes home to apparent spirits with created stories to make a quick turnover. Dark Secrets will instead be providing harbour to the Dybbuk Box with a Jewish spirit residing inside said to be the direct inspiration for the horror film, The Possession. More modern items feature prominently too, the jacket worn by Jimi Hendrix tied to the “27 Club” and a collection of ill-fated sports memorabilia, like England's cursed 1966 World Cup jersey. 

The curators took great delight in guiding Norie Miles and me on a personal tour of the exhibits before the press event began. This intimate exploration offered firsthand insights into the purpose of each item in the vast collection and the intention behind every room. We revelled in their vivid explanations of the Knights Templar and Voodoo artifacts, uncovering layers of history and mystery. 

 

We were soon joined by the charismatic Professor Matteo Borrini, who brought the history of Tarot to life with wonderful explanations of the cards’ origins. He graciously accepted our invitation to join the ASSAP Seriously Strange Conference in 2026. 





As the curators finalised preparations for the incoming guests, Matteo welcomed us to witness the setup for the Victorian Seance—a centrepiece event for the gathered press. Before a rapt audience, we watched in awe as the masterful illusionist entranced the crowd (quite literally, in one unforgettable case). The performance not only showcased the artistry of illusions but also shed light on how Victorian con artists exploited these techniques to scam the unwary. Matteo's commentary served as a cautionary tale for those who might dwell in such deceptive behaviours today. 

 

Italmostre looks to build on the success following the Serial Killer Exhibition, which is now touring across European venues that drew more than 120,000 macabre-loving visitors through its doors last year. The Vaults provide an atmosphere within the subterranean halls that really bring this new dark spectacle to life. Whether drawn by curiosity or ritual resonance, the occult flame burns bright in 2025. Opening on the closing day of the Harvest Moon. The Dark Secrets: Esoteric Exhibition is set to run until 2026, closing at the end of May.

Certainly will ignite fresh covens of conversation-or perhaps a few guarded glances from the shadows. 

 

Location: 

The Vaults, Leake Street, London. SE1 7NN

Dates: 

11th October 2025 - 31st May 2026

Opening Hours:

Wednesday and Thursday: 12noon - 730pm
Friday and Saturday: 12noon - 930pm
Sunday: 12noon - 730pm

Duration is approximately 90minutes.

https://www.darksecretsexhibition.com/london