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My son and I just returned from London where we spent 9 days and nights in The Old City. During that time we took 3 Ripper walks. The first Ripper walk met at the Tower Hill Tube Station, right by our hotel. The female guide, whose name was unpronounceable, was nice, but I was able to spot many inaccuracies in her narrative: she only got one of the victims' age right! I think what bothered me most about this tour was the attempt to whitewash the fact that the victims were prostitutes. The spin she put on it was invariably that due to the misogyny of the day, these women were all "temporary prostitutes" and "all were in regular work at the times of their deaths!" At that I laughed out loud. I can understand not wishing to speak ill of the dead, but come on! We can argue Sexism in the Victorian Age all you like, but the plain fact remains that these women engaged in prostitution to provide for the basic necessities of life. Another whopper she told was the "if you were widowed, you were considered a prostitute." You were?? By whom?? At first I really thought she was just taking the piss, but she was dead serious. Also, "if you were divorced you were automatically considered a prostitute." What??? I won't say what well-known author runs this tour, but it rhymes with "bungalow." And we barely visited any of the real sites, save for Mitre Square! Not recommended.
The next tour, run by Richard Jones, was far superior! We not only went to as many of the actual sites as possible, but the guide, author Philip Hutchinson, was amazing! Knowledgeable as well as hilarious, Philip's knowledge of the Ripper was encyclopedic. He held your attention for every second, and we were really bummed when the tour was over. But my son and I spoke to Philip afterwards and he was very generous with his time. I would highly recommend this tour over the one that meets at Tower Hill! We were so impressed we booked a second tour with the same company, hoping to get Philip again. But, alas, it was not to be. John, our guide for the second tour, was very knowledgeable as well, but was much more serious than Philip, and lacked the same energy. It was still a great tour, and seeing all the sites for a third time really burned the experience in our memories.
I was previously prepared to accept the fact that a few of the actual murder sites either no longer existed, or had been altered severely over time; yet, when we walked past The White Hart Pub (where George Chapman lived) and entered that alley, the atmosphere of 1888 Victorian London was palpable in the air! And on Fournier Street, right by The Ten Bells and Christ Church, it's literally like stepping back in time. No wonder it is the filming location of many historical dramas.
If you haven't been on a Ripper Walk, I suggest checking it out. Nothing like being at or near the scene of the crime to give the mystery added perspective.
ADMINS: If you feel I have posted this in the wrong place, please feel free to move it to where you see fit. I chose "Scene of The Crimes" for obvious reasons, but as this is really an opinion piece, I can see if it needs re-classification. Thanks!
The next tour, run by Richard Jones, was far superior! We not only went to as many of the actual sites as possible, but the guide, author Philip Hutchinson, was amazing! Knowledgeable as well as hilarious, Philip's knowledge of the Ripper was encyclopedic. He held your attention for every second, and we were really bummed when the tour was over. But my son and I spoke to Philip afterwards and he was very generous with his time. I would highly recommend this tour over the one that meets at Tower Hill! We were so impressed we booked a second tour with the same company, hoping to get Philip again. But, alas, it was not to be. John, our guide for the second tour, was very knowledgeable as well, but was much more serious than Philip, and lacked the same energy. It was still a great tour, and seeing all the sites for a third time really burned the experience in our memories.
I was previously prepared to accept the fact that a few of the actual murder sites either no longer existed, or had been altered severely over time; yet, when we walked past The White Hart Pub (where George Chapman lived) and entered that alley, the atmosphere of 1888 Victorian London was palpable in the air! And on Fournier Street, right by The Ten Bells and Christ Church, it's literally like stepping back in time. No wonder it is the filming location of many historical dramas.
If you haven't been on a Ripper Walk, I suggest checking it out. Nothing like being at or near the scene of the crime to give the mystery added perspective.
ADMINS: If you feel I have posted this in the wrong place, please feel free to move it to where you see fit. I chose "Scene of The Crimes" for obvious reasons, but as this is really an opinion piece, I can see if it needs re-classification. Thanks!
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