As evenings grow darker, a maze of little streets in the East End become even more atmospheric and it becomes very easy to imagine Jack the Ripper haunting these streets.
Jack the Ripper walks are among the most popular of all evening guided walks in London, attracting people staying most probably in some affordable serviced Apartments Central London and who wants to know more about this murderer who captured the imagination of Victorian London. Even to this day, people worldwide debate and come up with suggestions as his identity.
Jack the Ripper was never captured. No one for sure knows just who he was. Suggestions have included the Duke of Clarence who was Queen Victoria’s grandchild; a Polish immigrant, a barber and a doctor.
For the police it was a difficult task. They had to cope with policing a maze of little streets and alleyways in an area known for its violence and crime in an age when there was no DNA or forensic science.
Book a stay at the Presidential Apartments Kensington and go on the walk to discover the story of Jack the Ripper and his victims. He began his reign of terror in 1888 and was initially known as the Whitechapel murderer. Later this was changed to Jack the Ripper. There were five possibly 11 victims in total, most of which were horribly mutilated. Newspapers thrived on the story giving it lots of publicity. Examples of these accounts and copies of original photographs of the Victorian surroundings are shown during the walks, making it even easier to build up a picture of this labyrinthine area and the murders.
Among the places visited include the Ten Bells pub where many of Jack’s victims had a drink before meeting their murderer. Stroll down Whitechapel High Street and enter the dark surroundings of Gunthorpe Street where Martha Tabram walked with her killer, and see the building where one of the suspects worked as a barber. There is even the former Convent where the Ripper’s final victim desperately sought sanctuary, just before she was murdered directly opposite the building. You can see the doorway in Goulston street where the killer left his only clue – a doorway that is now the entrance to a Fish and Chip shop.
So where can you find these walks? There are numerous guided walks that last around two to three hours taking you around the numerous crime scenes and other places associated with the events. Each walk is led by an expert guide, who can really bring the story to life. In addition, you can book a stay in any of the 4-star self catering apartments London that can offer a luxury base for your trip to London.
Typical tours include:
