– This post was written by Liam McGarry –
The Jack the Ripper murders have long fascinated amateur and professional sleuths, as well as those with a macabre sense of intrigue. The spate of bloody killings, which blighted London’s East End for three uneasy months in 1888, remains one of the world’s most famous criminal mysteries. The horror of the crimes has seen the Victorian-London murder investigation maintain notoriety around the globe almost 150 years after the fact.
Of course, you already know all this. That’s why you’re looking for a Jack the Ripper tour in the first place! These spooky tours will help you crack the case with the help of some expert Ripperologists. From street-dwelling rogues to rarified royalty, everyone is a suspect in your hunt for London’s most notorious killer. So be on your guard – the game’s afoot!
If all this talk of the Big Smoke gets you in the mood for some planning, check out some of our other Ripp-roaring blogs about what to do in London.
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Jack the Ripper Tour: A Walk Worth Investigating
Duration: 2 hours
Price: £10
Opt for a tour led by a team of passionate Ripperologists, with a wealth of published books and TV productions to their names. Walk where the Ripper stalked all those years ago, and reconstruct the murders as you visit the crime-scenes more than a hundred years later.
It’s dubbed “the thinking person’s tour”, so don’t be afraid to pose questions: You’ll likely never have the chance to grill anyone as well-versed on the subject again.
Bus Tour, Tower of London, & Jack the Ripper Tour
Duration: 2 hours
Price: Free when purchased with London tour
This tour is ideal if the Ripper murders are more of a passing interest than a morbid fascination. See the city sights via a hop-on hop-off bus ride and ogle the Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London.
This capital jaunt also includes a Thames cruise, plus an option to sign up for the free Jack the Ripper tour (and a couple of others, if you chicken out).
The Jack The Ripper Tour with Ripper Vision
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Price: £25
Explore the murder locations with the aid of Ripper Vision. Handheld projectors transport you back to the gaslit streets the Ripper and his victims would have known. See original case material, including gruesome images from the murder scenes, all projected onto the walls in front of you.
The tour ends at the Ten Bells pub – a favored haunt of two Ripper victims – where you and your new investigative friends can debate the facts and theories over a pint.
Ripping Yarns – Jack the Ripper Tours
Duration: 2 hours
Price: £10 adults, £8 juniors
All of Ripping Yarns’ guides are current Yeomen Warders at the Tower of London, which gives this tour a certain charm.
Drawing on 25 years’ experience leading Ripper tours, your professional guides will usher you through the narrow streets of Whitechapel for a two-hour tour that delves into the killings of Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly.
Wonders of London Tour
Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
Price: Pay what you want
While none of the tours listed glorify or sensationalize London’s “Autumn of Terror”, the folk at Wonders of London aim to respectfully tell the story by shining a light on the killer’s victims, and their lives in one of the city’s poorest areas.
Pay as much or as little as you can afford, but bear in mind your knowledgeable guides are professionals and have a least one mouth to feed.
Strawberry Tours
Duration: 2 hours
Price: Pay what you want
This pay-what-you-can tour prides itself on being informative, respectful, and engaging in its storytelling. Hear about the victims’ plight as you roam the East End with a guide who’ll point out notable locations amongst the hubbub of modern-day London. Debate theories, ask questions, and don’t forget to tip if you can!
Editor’s note: These tours have become quite popular over the years. Due to some less-than-reputable companies piggybacking on the success of the better tours, local residents and businesses have had to deal with their share of noise and nuisance. Remember to be respectful of your surroundings as you explore.
Exploring the city doesn’t have to empty your wallet. There’s plenty of cultural freebies, if you know where to look. Check out nine fun things to do in London without spending a penny!
