Oakley Court in Windsor was used as a setting in several films, including 1975 cult classic 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. Courtesy Booking.com
Oakley Court in Windsor was used as a setting in several films, including 1975 cult classic 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. Courtesy Booking.com
Oakley Court in Windsor was used as a setting in several films, including 1975 cult classic 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. Courtesy Booking.com
Oakley Court in Windsor was used as a setting in several films, including 1975 cult classic 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. Courtesy Booking.com

From 'Twin Peaks' to 'The Witches': Five horror film locations you can actually stay in, if you dare


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Halloween is just around the corner and, with a lot of the normal revelry on hold this year, it might be a good time to grab the popcorn and settle down to binge on scary movies and horror films.

You might even find some inspiration for your next holiday while you do so. Last year, online travel agency Booking.com found that 38 per cent of Americans were inspired to visit a destination after watching a film or TV show. Travel restrictions remain in place for many countries so a Halloween holiday is probably unlikely, but when travel does resume, you could take inspiration from your favourite scary films and go check them out for yourself.

From a sprawling Gothic country house in England where The Rocky Horror Picture Show was filmed to a mountain-surrounded hotel that set the scene for the mystery-filled Twin Peaks, here are five locations that were previously used as spooky filming sets. Today, they're welcoming overnight guests with everyone welcome to check-in, but can the same be said for checking out?

1. Oregon outpost from 'The Shining'

Timberline Lodge might look familiar to anyone who has seen 'The Shining'. Courtesy Booking.com
Timberline Lodge might look familiar to anyone who has seen 'The Shining'. Courtesy Booking.com

While most people know The Stanley Hotel in Colorado as the place where Stanley Kubrick's The Shining was filmed, the exterior of the hotel was actually shot at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon. That explains why one glance at the luxury ski resort's pitch-roofed facade stirs a sense of familiarity.

The hotel is also the reason that the screen adaptation of Stephen King's novel sets its spooky events in Room 237 while the book documents them in Room 217. Management at the hotel were worried that the film may put future guests off booking any room featured in it and requested it was changed to a number that doesn't exist at the lodge. Interestingly, Room 217 is now the most requested room in the hotel. Located deep within Mount Hood National Forest, the area has the longest skiing season in the United States and is popular with skiers and snowboarders year round. It's also a designated National Historic Landmark, offering travellers rustic rooms, period details and a heated outdoor pool.

2. The mansion from 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'

A peaceful stay is not guaranteed for guests checking in at Oakley Court in leafy Windsor. That's because the Victorian Gothic mansion will likely bring back memories of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Oakley Court features in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' as well as several other British classics. Courtesy Booking.com
Oakley Court features in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' as well as several other British classics. Courtesy Booking.com

Fans of the cult 1975 musical will certainly recognise the Berkshire country house, but it has starred in several other famous films, including The Curse of Frankenstein, The Witches, Theatre of Blood and Vampyres. Set on 13 hectares of land on the banks of the River Thames, the four-star hotel dates back to 1859 and has retained several of its original features, as well as its spooky atmosphere.

Those daring to visit can enjoy an indoor pool, two restaurants, a nine-hole golf course and on-site tennis courts, as well as bike trails and walkways that take in the surrounding countryside.

3. The lodge from 'Twin Peaks', Washington

Embrace the spirit of 'Twin Peaks' at the Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie. Courtesy Booking.com
Embrace the spirit of 'Twin Peaks' at the Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie. Courtesy Booking.com

Anyone who was a fan of the 1990s mystery drama television series Twin Peaks can check in at the Salish Lodge and Spa in Washington's Snoqualmie, which served as The Great Northern fictional hotel in the show. Overlooking the 80-metre-high Snoqualmie Falls, one of Washington state's most popular attractions, the mountain-surrounded lodge was the setting for several of the cult television series' most dark and twisted moments. There's also a shop selling merchandise and memorabilia from the show, and guests can tuck into the famous cherry pie served at the Twin Peak's diner.

Supernatural aside, there's also an award-winning spa, locally sourced, seasonal cuisine and an on-site apiary. Outside, there's no shortage of seasonal skiing, hiking, mountain biking, river rafting and fishing fun to be had.

4. The Hill House from 'The Haunting', Stratford-upon-Avon

Ettington Park Hotel was the filming location for The Hill House in 'The Haunting' and is consistently ranked among Britain's most haunted buildings. Courtesy Booking.com
Ettington Park Hotel was the filming location for The Hill House in 'The Haunting' and is consistently ranked among Britain's most haunted buildings. Courtesy Booking.com

Set within 40 acres of parkland, the four-star Ettington Park Hotel offers luxuriously furnished rooms and an impressive oak room restaurant with an 18th-century ceiling and other historic features.

The River Stour runs through the grounds which, along with the exterior of the neo-Gothic mansion, were the filming location of The Haunting – a 1963 British psychological horror film about a small group of people invited by a scientist to investigate a haunted home. Today, guests can expect friendly service – even dogs are allowed to check-in – but should expect the unexpected as the building is consistently ranked as one of Britain's most haunted houses.

5. The Dolphin Hotel from '1408', New York

The Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan was used as the setting for The Dolphin Hotel in the terrifying '1408'. Courtesy The Roosevelt Hotel / Facebook
The Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan was used as the setting for The Dolphin Hotel in the terrifying '1408'. Courtesy The Roosevelt Hotel / Facebook

Another Stephen King adaptation, 1408 is the tale of a man who checks into The Dolphin Hotel in New York hoping to debunk rumours of paranormal activity. Unsurprisingly, that's not quite what unfolds.

Exterior scenes for the hotel were filmed at The Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan, and the grandiose street entrance is instantly familiar – it's also been the setting for several other films including The Irishman, Maid in Manhattan and Men in Black. The building dates back to 1924 and was named and designed in honour of the President Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt. It's also where the New Year's tradition of singing Auld Lang Syne was first broadcast on American television. If you're planning to recreate the movie and book a stay in room 1408, make sure you don't suffer from triskaidekaphobia – as there is no level 13 in the building so technically that room is located on the 13th floor.

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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Mane points for safe home colouring
  • Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
  • Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
  • When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
  • Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
  • If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

How to register as a donor

1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention

2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants

3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register. 

4) The campaign uses the hashtag  #donate_hope

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Keep it fun and engaging

Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.

“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.

His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.

He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

INFO
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

If you go

Flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.

The stay

Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.

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