The London Dungeon Review

Bottom Line

The London Dungeon calls itself "the world's most chillingly famous horror attraction". It is not popular with Londoners due to the high ticket prices but remains eternally popular with visitors.

Pros

• Excellent actors
• A real laugh!
• Well planned tour
• All about London's history

Cons

• Tickets are too expensive
• Queues are always incredibly long

I went to The London Dungeon last year as I hadn't been for over ten years. I'm now finding myself going back each year as it's so much fun. Visitors to London seem to love it so what's all the fuss about?

Visit Duration:

1.5 hours.

Who Would like The London Dungeon?

The promotional leaflet is right to state "not recommended for those of a nervous disposition or very young children" as some of my friends were really spooked! I've seen toddler's crying uncontrollably but I have also taken a young baby who slept through the whole thing! I didn't notice many couples - most were large parties of teenagers or families.

How to Save Money on London Dungeon Tickets

There are lots of deals to be found so try to avoid paying the full ticket price.

• Check out the great savings from lastminute.com.
• The London Dungeon web site now guarantees to have the cheapest Fast Track tickets.
• Save 20% at Discount Britain by printing a voucher.
• Pick up leaflets from other London attractions or your hotel for money off coupons.
• Book a tour from your hotel that includes entrance to The London Dungeon as group bookings get a better rate.

The Dungeons Experience

From when you walk in off the street, everything is dark - even before you reach the ticket counter. The staff let you enter in groups of about 20 people as there are performances to see on the way, held in small rooms.

The whole 'tour' takes about 1.5 hours and a new groups starts the tour every 7 minutes or so. You are moved on with your group but you are not rushed and I had no idea how long it had taken to go all the way through.

The first room doesn't have actors but is full of exhibits to start getting you scared. There were even live rats (in a display cabinet) - if you'd prefer not to see the rats (some people have phobias) avoid the corner opposite the bubbling cauldron.

From here the 'show' starts and actors tell you stories and interact with their audience. Each actor and his 'set' gives you a glimpse of London history. You will learn about The Great Plague of 1665 and The Great Fire of London in 1666 (which killed off the rats that had carried the plague), as well as Sweeney Todd and Jack The Ripper. I thought the doctor was the funniest as he really got the audience joining in. You might get wet so hide behind the kids!

People were not despondent from waiting in the queue for so long and the actors are mostly great entertainers and seem to enjoy their work.

You'll Laugh!

You might not be expecting this from such a scary attraction, although laughter is a good way to deal with being frightened, but you will laugh so much here. My friends and I were running around screaming like children and we are not teenagers! You get totally wrapped up in the experience (I think the darkness helps) and you can forget to act like a grown-up for a while.

Children in Buggies

Although is not recommended to take young children I took my baby last year and the staff offered a lot of assistance, letting me through routes without stairs and not jumping out on me and my baby! Of course, they still had fun surprising my friends who were screaming with delight.

Looking back there was nothing really special about the Boat Ride To Hell but by then on the tour you'd be frightened of anything! The boat moves around on sliders in the water so it can turned round in the dark and you get quite disorientated. Be prepared for the man who jumps out at you at the end of the ride!

At Sweeney Todd's barber shop you are told to sit right back in your seats, which we all dutifully did, and the lights went out. We listened to a recording and then the chairs all moved!

Labyrinth of the Lost is a maze of mirrors and is fun as it's easy to get lost. Just beware of someone hiding in there!

Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom

This was a new ride for 2007. The build-up is good as the scenario is that you're at Newgate Prison and you're about to be hanged. Twenty people go on the ride together sitting in rows of 10, back to back, with nooses hanging in front of you. You drop about 15 feet and everyone screams. It's hilarious!

That's the end of the tour but do stop to see your photos taken at the start of the tour and as you dropped on the Extremis ride. Then it's on to the souvenir shop.

There is a large souvenir shop at the end of the tour. As you'd expect from an expensive tourist attraction, souvenirs were not cheap. £3.50 will get you a plastic cut-off ear keyring, and a Sweeney Todd's Hot Toddy recipe mug is £4.99. T-shirts for children and adults are £12.99 (2006 prices). In 2007, I bought this delightful toy rat for £6.99.

Where To Have Lunch

There is a cafe next to the souvenir shop, but I wouldn't recommend it as it was expensive and only had a small selection of snacks. Your best move would be to turn right at the main exit, cross over Tooley Street at the traffic lights, and go to Hay's Galleria which has plenty of shops and cafes to choose from. The Horniman pub at the end on the right has a good selection of lunches. Or you could but a picnic lunch at M&S Simply Food (turn left off Tooley Street at More London) and sit by the River Thames.

Conclusion

Would I recommend The London Dungeon? ? I think yes, if you are not paying full price. Just remember to get there early as I saw at least 150 people in the queue before it even had opened and this stretched to the end of the road by lunchtime. And try to pre-book a ticket so you use the Fast Track entrance and get on with the fun and games inside.

(First reviewed July 2006 (3 out of 5 stars), updated October 2007 as I wanted to try the Extremis ride.)