Jack the Ripper Tour

There are many Jack the Ripper tours in London but I took the London Walks tour with the expert Ripperologist Donald Rumbelow as it's the one everyone told me I had to try.

It was winter and there was a full moon the night I did the tour which certainly added to the atmosphere!

The London Walks Jack the Ripper Walk was devised by Donald Rumbelow. He also frequently guides the walk. (You can see his schedule on the London Walks website).

Donald Rumbelow has been a City of London Police Sergeant, the curator of the City of London Police Black Museum (which is open by appointment only). He was also the Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association. Now, he is one of the most-respected authors on the subject of Jack the Ripper and the associated murders, and is the person film and television companies consult on the subject.

There was an enormous group of walkers at Tower Hill tube station which was surprising as it was a very cold Sunday night in November but it seems the lure of this freakish tale will always be strong.

At 7.30pm, Donald announced there were two Guides available and the other Guide's group would leave first. A few people went over to the other Guide but it was clear most of us wanted to be in Donald's group. And as more late-comers joined there were 40-50 of us by the end.

Donald brings a step stool to stand on so he can always be seen by the group and he made a real effort to ensure we could all hear him.

There is always time left to ask questions at each stop and Donald had no trouble answering them all. He is entertaining while dealing with a gruesome subject.

The tour seems rather scripted but that's not surprising as certain information is going to be covered at each location, every night. I felt there was just the right amount of humor to make this shocking subject more manageable.

Where to Drink After The Tour
We must have met five other Jack the Ripper tours (other companies and independent Guides) and we often stopped at the same locations. As all tours seem to end near the Ten Bell Pub I'd recommend not going there and instead go to the Golden Heart Pub, one minute away.

The Jack the Ripper walk happens every night (except 24 and 25 December) at 7.30pm, and at 3pm on Saturdays. The meeting point is outside Tower Hill tube station. The walk takes about two hours.

Use Journey Planner to plan your route by public transport.

You do not need to book in advance, simply turn up and pay cash to the Guide who you will recognise as they always carry London Walks booklets.

All London Walks walks are the same price. (Under £10 in 2010.) Check latest prices on their website.

London Walks websites: www.walks.com | www.jacktheripperwalk.com

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.