Experience London Through a Guided Jack the Ripper Tour
Exploring the dark alleys of London feels like stepping into a real-life detective novel. For visitors looking to delve further into the mystery, nothing beats a Jack the Ripper walking tour. Learning about the unsolved murders attributed to this infamous killer, as you stroll through the original locations, is sure to be a thrilling and memorable experience. In this guide, we’ll cover all the relevant information including where to find tours, tips on choosing one and our recommended pick.
Where to Find Jack the Ripper Tours in London
London is host to a variety of organized Jack the Ripper tours. These range from casual walking tours to bus rides to explore all the sites of this unsettling era. Prices typically vary in accordance with their length and what they include.
Here are some of the most reputable companies offering Jack the Ripper tours in London:
- Shamrocker Adventures:ShamrockerAdventures.com
- London Walks: Walks.com
- Viator by TripAdvisor: Viator.com
- Apple Vacations: AppleVacations.com
- Grayline: Grayline.com
- MacBackpackers: MacBackpackers.com
- GetYourGuide: GetYourGuide.com
It’s important to research tour options beforehand, as they can significantly vary in length, cost, and itinerary. Selecting a tour can also be overwhelming given the range of options available. We’ll discuss choosing criteria further on in this guide, but before that, let’s take a closer look at the history of Jack the Ripper and the locations associated with him, as this will help you to decide which tour option is right for you.
The notorious story of Jack the Ripper in England
The story of Jack the Ripper dates back to the Victorian era and continues to captivate people from all walks of life to this day. Between August and November 1888, five brutal murders shocked London’s East End, all attributed to an unknown assailant dubbed “Jack the Ripper” by British media. The series of murders remain unsolved – and the figure of Ripper continues to fascinate people interested in criminal history around the world due to its mysterious motives and unknown perpetrator, who is still on the loose today.
These five female victims were known as the “Canonical Five” by historians and are considered to be part of one sequence:
- Mary Ann Nichols (fund on 31 August 1888)
- Annie Chapman (found on 8 September 1888)
- Elizabeth Stride (found on 30 September 1888)
- Catherine Eddowes (also found on 30 September 1888)
- Mary Jane Kelly (the final victim, found on 9 November 1888)
The investigation that followed turned up few clues but many suspects, none proven; modern science has done little better than suggest which ones were most likely to be responsible for the grisly slice of criminal history that is still widely studied today. Nowadays organized guided tours take visitors through some of London’s original locations highlighted by Jack the Ripper mystery.
What Will I See on a Jack the Ripper Tour?
Jack the Ripper tours cover many different sites related to the murderer’s victims, suspects and investigators including Whitechapel, Spitalfields and city squares that appear in newspaper articles from 1888 about each murder. Some guides will provide plenty of content about surgery information, autopsy reports and theoretical scenarios of what might have happened during each crime. Many tours also include detailed stories about suspects who were originally pointed out when these series of murders happened back in Victorian London’s criminal underworld.
Most tours will make stops at each victim’s murder sites where you will have plenty of time for photos and questions about locations before you move on. Tours generally last from around two (2) to four (4) hours, depending on which one you choose, but every tour operator will describe exactly how long their tour will last when booking.
Generally, Jack the Ripper bus tours are two (2) hours long, while walking tours are around three (3) or four (4) hours long. The most comprehensive tours last double that time, allowing people plenty of time to experience all details around this captivating story as well as having ample time to soak up photography or explore parts of London that haven’t been touched by tourism yet.
Choosing your Jack the Ripper Tour
When selecting your Jack The Ripper tour it’s important to pay attention to small details such as length, cost, pick-up points and what it includes before you can decide which one is best suited for you. Group sizes vary too, some operators will guarantee smaller groups with more in-depth sessions, while others will guarantee larger groups for a cheaper price and less focus on story details and more general information that can often leave visitors confused or disappointed when they later discover that they missed a key detail related to their tour topic.
Overall we recommend looking for a tour that suits your length preference, comfort level, budget and includes all relevant places associated with the Whitechapel Murders as well as detailed information about suspects and crime scenes crucial for following this legendary story for a truly immersive experience in old Victorian London’s dark side revealed through one genuine walking adventure!
For a high quality experience with an expert guide and tailor made themed events that incorporate literature and music from Victorian times we recommend taking an organized downtown tour from GetYourGuide. It’s an ideal combination for history buffs with an interest in crime scene investigations and storytelling – or simply anyone looking for an entertaining way to explore one of London’s most notorious eras!
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