Spikesgirl Posted October 13, 2006 #1 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I did a search and came up with nothing about the Jack the Ripper walks. I know that they are available, but I would like to actually 'chat' with someone who has been on one. We will have a 14 year old with us and I'm wondering if it might be too intense...or is that even possible for a child of the 21st century? Any info would be helpful. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post Captain Posted October 13, 2006 #2 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Hello Charlie, Have you looked at http://www.walks.com/ ? I haven't done any of these, so can't offer a personal opinion. However, Donald Rumbelow, who conducts many of the Ripper walks for this outfit, is a legitimate criminologist of international repute. (Aside: He contributed to a book I helped edit back in the early 1990s, published by a major university press.) I would imagine that his commentary of necessity would be have to deal with the details of the Ripper's crimes but, at the same time, would not be gratuitously grusome or sensationalized. (A fine line there, I know.) If you feel this might be too intense for a 14-year-old, London Walks offers lots of other guided walks that you & yours would certainly enjoy. (Another aside: The actor Edward Petherbridge, who played Lord Peter Wimsey on TV, used to lead some of the walks. I'm not sure if he still does, but many of the guides are actors or authors who are well-known in Britain if not in the U.S.) My wife & I took a nighttime ghost walk in York several years ago. It was thoroughly entertaining & atmospheric; a bit spooky, but not in a cheap or cheesy sort of way. Cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Post Captain Posted October 13, 2006 #3 Share Posted October 13, 2006 The actor Edward Petherbridge, who played Lord Peter Wimsey on TV, used to lead some of the walks. I'm not sure if he still does, but many of the guides are actors or authors who are well-known in Britain if not in the U.S. Ah yes. I've just checked the Guides page, & Petherbridge is still on their roster. (Part of the fun of this list is trying to figure out who these people are--in most cases, only first names are given, but many of the descriptions lead you to think that you really should know these people! -- Could that "Judy" be Dame Judy Dench? Could that "Hugh" be Hugh Laurie? Could that "Kate" be Kate Winslet? Well, nobody quite that famous; but you just might recognize someone's face or voice...) http://www.walks.com/Homepage/The_Guides/default.aspx#55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickwolf Posted October 13, 2006 #4 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I am going to do Donald Rumbelow's Ripper walk on Sunday 19th November and will report back if no one else has given you the information by then. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whogo Posted October 13, 2006 #5 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I would have allowed my children to go when they were 14, had they been interested. I took the Ripper Walk in March of 2002. It is a little gruesome. Some of the wounds were to the victim's privates. The walks can be extremely popular, with more than 100 in attendance. Rumbelow handles the crowds well, sometimes splitting the group with another guide. London Walks walks have been an important part of my visits to London. The Ripper walk is well done, but not one of my favorites. There are too many walkers, most of the buildings involved are long gone, and I am not much interested in the murders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikesgirl Posted October 14, 2006 Author #6 Share Posted October 14, 2006 I was a little afraid that no one would have even heard of this. yea, just a little green when it comes to London. I'm not too worried about it being so gruesome as I am it being gratuitous ugly. Thanks for the warning, Whogo. Some times guides love to haul out the blood and guts and spread it around - metophorically speaking, of course. As long as they stick to the facts, that should be okay. I've been interested in this case since I was a small child and to actually walk the streets and hear the facts from an expert will be a secret fulfillment of mine Nickwolf - i would love to hear your comments. We don't leave until next summer, so there's time, but I like to check thigns out ahead of time. post Captain - what can I say, you went above and beyond. My DH loves Lord Peter, so we might have to taKe a tour just for that reason alone. Thanks ever so! Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondhopper Posted October 18, 2006 #7 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Took the walk a year ago, each guide is different (I've taken several of the walks - all were fun) and will try to tailor the talk to the crowd, if you have a concern speak to the guide and ask to have some of it toned down and they will within reason. The Ripper walks are at night and we took it on a foggy and rainy night - added to the experience! Enjoy, I think a 14 year old could handle everything mentioned on our tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikesgirl Posted October 18, 2006 Author #8 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Thanks, Pondhopper, from what I'm hearing from other folks, I think she'll be okay too. I just had concerns because the last thing I wanted was for her to go home and tell her mom and dad we did this frightening thing that she wanted nothing to do with. Of course, she doesn't know anything about Jack the Ripper, but neither did her mom, so I'm hoping they'll do a little reading before hand. Again, thanks for the response! Every bit of info helps me make a better decision. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkjretired Posted October 27, 2006 #9 Share Posted October 27, 2006 about a year ago. It was excellent, very informative and well worth the money. When you do it make sure you get the right tour as there are people who show up and try and rip you off. (no pun intended) Wear a hat, I was christened by a pigeon under one of the rail bridges, not pleasant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickwolf Posted November 20, 2006 #10 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Ok, as promised I am going to report on the "Ripper walk" done by London Walks. We went last night and, even though Tower Hill tube station (the start point) was closed due to engineering works, I estimate 150+ people turned up. Donald met everyone and took the money and then once it was the due start time announced that there would be 2 guides (himself and Molly). I reckon about 100 people went with Donald and about 50, including myself and my wife, went with Molly. I spoke to Molly and she reported that they routinely have 2 guides for the Sunday walk as it was now normal to get the numbers we saw. As for the walk itself and it's suitability for younger people - it is a hard one to call but Molly's descriptions of the attacks were fairly graphic although not in any way gratuitous. You need to understand that this is not a subject of a Sherlock Holmes novel, or similar, but horrendous murders of prostitutes and then even more horrendous mutilation of the bodies for sexual gratification. If that statement would make your daughter uncomfortable you perhaps should consider a different walk. Having said all that I thoroughly enjoyed the walk and found it a fascinating insight into the murders and the lives of poor people in Victorian London. By the way I did 3 walks with London walks this weekend, The Ripper Walk as described above, The Camden Town Walk and The Greenwich Walk. I don't want to hijack the thread but if anyone wants to know about the others let me know. Nick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globaliser Posted November 21, 2006 #11 Share Posted November 21, 2006 If you do do the Ripper walk, beware of men who look like this. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikesgirl Posted November 21, 2006 Author #12 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Thanks for the head ups! I will definitely steer clear of anyone fitting that description! Interesting article as well. Thanks for sending it along. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyfredsblondecruiser Posted November 30, 2006 #13 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Thank you Nickwolf I think we would enjoy this walk. I would also like to hear about the other walks you took. Happy Sailing, Joy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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