In the late 19th century, a series of heinous murders in London’s hazy and impoverished East End captured the public’s imagination. The serial killer, named Jack the Ripper, was never caught, but the fascination for Jack the Ripper’s unsolved crimes continues unabated. Jack’s gruesome cast of prostitutes was as shocking to Londoners at the time as it is to us today, and the Jack the Ripper tours are one of London’s top attractions.
There are many Jack the Ripper tours, but London Walks have been hailed as the best walking tour company in London by critics at Frommer’s , Time Out , Fodor’s , The New York Times and others.
Guided by experts
On alternate Sundays and Fridays, the London Walks Jack the Ripper Haunts tour is led by Donald Rumbelow, the author of the best-selling book on the subject, »The Complete Jack the Ripper«. Rumbelow has been an expert consultant for many of the major film and television productions on the Ripper for decades. Other guides for the Jack the Ripper Haunts walk include knowledgeable people such as an art historian who also leads tours of the British Museum and a qualified professional guide from the City of London.
Where will you go and what will you learn
Jack the Ripper took his first victim in August 1888 when he slit Polly Nichols’ throat. Prepare for tales of gore and gore in London’s East End as your guide leads you to the murder sites. The walk begins on Tower Hill, on the border between Scotland Yard and the City of London Police, creating a conflict between the two jurisdictions that made it easy for the Ripper to evade capture.
On the hike, you will hear about the victims and learn the details of the Ripper’s gruesome crimes. You will review the evidence to try to find answers to mysteries such as why the inverted letter “V” was carved into Catherine Eddowes’ cheeks and why Annie Chapman’s personal items were neatly arranged at her feet. And find out why the murders ended with the savage disfigurement of Mary Kelly.
After the tour, stop at the old Victorian pub, The Ten Bells, for a steady drink, the same pub where some of the Ripper’s victims are said to have hung out before being killed.
Taking a tour
You do not need to book a tour with London Walks. Pick a hike, like Jack the Ripper Haunts, then simply show up at the designated time and place to meet your guide. The walks are reasonably priced, with discounts for seniors and full-time students. Children under the age of 15 enter free if accompanied by a parent.
Each walk lasts approximately two hours. The Jack the Ripper Haunts tour begins every afternoon at 7:30 AM (except December 24 and 25) at the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand just outside the Tower Hill tube station exit. The walk ends within walking distance of Liverpool and Aldgate East tube stations. On Saturdays, there is an afternoon tour at 3pm (just make sure your guide is wearing the London Walks badge).
