Suspicious about the Ripper Walk I took...

[Suzi]

He he brilliant isn't it Anna!!.....Right.. where were we emlodik??....

Suzi

[Monty]

I have no doubt I would find his tour both entertaining and frustrating. Sure many of us could probably find entertainment value in it - I can see the funny side of it.
But the problem is the people who takes this man's tour and who have no previous experience of the Ripper, and therefore become totally misled by all the errors and fairytales. And then people like Philip are forced to go in and correct all that nonsense and clean up among the factual garbage being spread by people like him and other tour guides who dont know what they're talking about.

All the best

Apparently Phil uses one of my phrases...I should bloody charge !

I was opposite the Night refuge sometime last year, just on one of my wanders when I noted a group approaching from Commercial Street end. The Tour guide started spewing about the group being on the exact spot where Mary Kelly was last seen alive.

A voice (mine) rises from the back. "No she wasnt".

The guide continues..." She was found ripped open in a room was roughly where that car is now (pointing to a car in the car park)".

The voice returns..."thats wrong too".

Tour guide..."do you wish to join the group Sir?"

The voice..."how much?"

Tour guide..."£7"

The Voice..."£7?!!!. Tell you what, gimmie a tenner and you have a deal"

Tour Guide..."No Sir, you pay me"

The voice departed, laughing hysterically.

Monty

[Mike Covell]

Sounds like fun Monty!!

"Tis true, Mary Kelly was killed in the back of the Red Ford Escort I tells ya!"

[Red Zeppelin]

When I was in London this spring, I naturally booked myself a Jack the Ripper walk,

Personally, I don't understand why people do that. There is plenty of detailed information available in books and on the net to be able to do a Ripper Walk without paying for an organised tour. Surely it's much more atmospheric and 'meaningful' (if we can call it that) to do it on your own or with just a friend or two rather than follow a group of people with a demonstrative tour guide? Isn't the point kind of 'lost' when doing an organised tour?

I guess I can understand if some people are worried about walking the dark streets of Whitechapel at night but other than that reason............???

[Bulldog]

Personally, I don't understand why people do that. There is plenty of detailed information available in books and on the net to be able to do a Ripper Walk without paying for an organised tour. Surely it's much more atmospheric and 'meaningful' (if we can call it that) to do it on your own or with just a friend or two rather than follow a group of people with a demonstrative tour guide? Isn't the point kind of 'lost' when doing an organised tour?

I guess I can understand if some people are worried about walking the dark streets of Whitechapel at night but other than that reason............???

London is a great tourist attraction, and Jack the Ripper is an indelible part of the city's history. Everyone has heard of him. Most tourists, however, simply aren't interested enough to spend countless hours researching JtR in books or on the net. The Ripper walks fill their need to a 'T'.

Ripper walks are not only informative (at least Don Rumbelow's walks and Discovery Tour [Philip Hutchinson] walks), they are entertaining and also a lot of fun. And that's why people take them. I would suggest that you try taking one too. You'll be glad that you did.

Bulldog

[Glenn Lauritz Andersson]

Personally, I don't understand why people do that. There is plenty of detailed information available in books and on the net to be able to do a Ripper Walk without paying for an organised tour. Surely it's much more atmospheric and 'meaningful' (if we can call it that) to do it on your own or with just a friend or two rather than follow a group of people with a demonstrative tour guide? Isn't the point kind of 'lost' when doing an organised tour?

In a way I can agree with you, and as for myself I am more comfortable with walking on my own instead of walking around with a herd of sheep.

However, the first time I went to the East End area I started out with going on a Ripper tour to get some kind of geographical overview, and I found it to be a great help when I later went out on my own expeditions. It's an approach I can recommend, because even with a map it can be confusing and difficult the first time to find your way.

All the best

[Ravenstone]

I went on a Ripper walk about 6-7 years ago. I missed the Donald Rumbelow walk (although he was kind enough to sign his book for me - I'd taken it along to lend to my friend, who didn't know anything about the Ripper). Our guide was a little dapper chap, who was a Beefeater at the Tower during the day.

Haven't a clue what his name was, or what the name of the tour was. I do remember it cost a fiver.

I can't even remember who he named as the Ripper at the end of it, but when we went to the pub with him afterwards, he did say that he changes the suspect every night. Which struck me as rather cheeky!

[The Grave Maurice]

I think that, even with the benefit of some preparatory reading and research, most people with only a passing interest in the Whitechapel murders would have a hard time locating the specific sites. The corner in Mitre Square is fairly easy, but all the others---except, maybe, Nichols---can be hard to pinpoint. Much better, at least the first time, to do a tour with someone like Don or Philip.

[Glenn Lauritz Andersson]

Absolutely, Maurice. I agree with that.

All the best

[Bulldog]

Also, if there were no Ripper walks, then some very nice people like Philip Hutchinson and Don Rumbelow would have to work for a living. (Oops - sorry Guys).

Bulldog

[Mike Covell]

I studied maps, books, and more maps, even carried "Jtr's LTAN" and still got lost!! I passed the "White Hart" three times! Bucks Row and Mitre Square were easy to find, but as I had spent the earlier parts of the day researching, there was little light left so I left, but vowed I would return...

[Glenn Lauritz Andersson]

Mike,

I can ssure you, you're not the only one.
Last time I was there I ended up on Wentworth Street four times the same night. I don't what it is with the geographical directions i East End, but if I ddn't know better I would be convinced of that I was in some kind of Bermuda Triangle area.

And then there are those who say that the killer didn't need to be local or to possess local knowledge.

All the best

[Sam Flynn]

I don't what it is with the geographical directions i East End, but if I ddn't know better I would be convinced of that I was in some kind of Bermuda Triangle area.

You should have been there in the LVP, Glenn - it must have been five times worse before all the demolitions, road-widening schemes and other "improvements" that have happened since!

[Lyn]

(In reply to KatBradshaw's "oh, good God") Oh yes!! that's another of his pseudonyms!

Sorry, I've only just run across this thread. But, Suzi, that did make me laugh

[Justin]

Rumbelow's well-known complaint is worth mentioning again; London Walks (and Phil) aside, the quacks will hoard many dozens of people into populated streets. Aside from their inaccuracy and lack of context, they do a loud and ghoulish carnival act, passing around corpse photographs near children. It's no wonder the locals have little patience -- I recall seeing at least one of these fools in a costume...