Jack the Ripper Tour Review
Reviewed by Cate Norris
There is certainly something about the infamous Whitechapel murders which sparks interest among the public, whether it be due to the severity of the crimes committed, their peculiarity, or the fact that they were never solved, this interest does not seem to fade. The extent of this was realised when I arrived at exit four of Aldgate East Underground Station on Sunday evening at 7pm and located my tour guide who was helpfully displaying a ‘Jack the Ripper Tour’ sign. “There’s nobody here yet” I rather foolishly thought, wondering if maybe the drizzle had put people off or if in actual fact, going on the trail of a serial killer was not the best way to spend a Sunday evening, I wracked my brain but couldn’t recall a single conversation I’d ever had with anybody, where a shared interest in Jack the Ripper had been declared – perhaps I was just a bit weird! Before I had chance to panic, I was directed to a rather large group taking over the pavement and quickly realised that I was not alone, furthermore, I was gobsmacked to find that the group varied in age and nationality and I was able to make out Canadian, American and Eastern European accents, which hit home just how huge the interest in Jack the Ripper really is. The tour started with an explanation from our engaging guide, on how the East End of London, which is now home to the Financial District and appears to be a vibrant area of London, was a poverty stricken, deprived and crime fuelled area in Victorian London. This was surprising as a personal belief was that London today would be less safe than it was over 100 years ago, however with the tour incorporating the spots where the Whitechapel murders took place and these including streets that were once known as the most dangerous streets in London, it was a relief to hear that the area had improved somewhat.
The walk was actually very pleasant with cobbled streets and alleyways, and provided an opportunity to see a side of London that appeared to be more real than most tourist attractions. I particularly enjoyed part of the tour which explored Christchurch and the original pub ‘The Ten Bells’ where some of the victims were known to have drank. The tour continued around the location of each crime where photographs were provided to show how buildings would have looked originally as well as photos of the victims including crime scene photographs. All I can say about those, is thank goodness colour photography didn’t come about until later because they were pretty grim in black and white! An interesting contribution to the tour was the presentation of a letter which was written by the person claiming to be responsible for the Whitechapel murders and was signed from Jack the Ripper, hence the name that was given and has since stuck. The tour also incorporated an area where the only piece of evidence was ever found. This was very interesting and sparked lots of questions, all of which our guide was happy to answer and had the knowledge to do so. The tour lasted two hours and was a very manageable walk, bearing in mind that locations are stopped at frequently to discuss their relevance. The tour came to a close at Mitre Square, another location where a victim fell foul to Jack the Ripper. This area was one that I was already familiar with through screen portrayals of the Ripper story. Here ideas and theories for the Ripper’s identity were discussed and when the tour was finished I was relieved that the tour guide offered to direct us to the nearest tube station (Aldgate) as I did not fancy being left in Mitre square, on my own, in the dark!
I would recommend the Jack the Ripper tour, it was thoroughly enjoyable and extremely interesting. Operating every evening, it is a fantastic opportunity to get the most out of a visit to London and explore this fascinating area of the city which holds a unique history.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost £10 per person
For more information or to book tickets online visit www.jack-the-ripper-tour.com.
