Jack the Ripper is the name given to one of the most notorious criminals in London’s history. The unidentified killer has fuelled the imaginations of many theorists and researchers over the years. His dark characteristics have also made him the quintessential villain, appearing in many fictional works. Now you have the opportunity to learn about the crimes that spurned his infamy, and maybe even try and solve his mystery.
From €21 per person
There are many shared characteristics between Jack the Ripper’s victims and the ways in which they were killed. These women were generally suffocated and sliced at the throat. Their bodies were also mutilated, with organs and body parts sometimes being removed too. This was the case for the first known Ripper victim, Mary Ann Nichols. She was killed on 31 August 1888 on Durward Street in Whitechapel. When she was found, the doctor noted that while the body was mutilated, there was very little blood.
This information led police at the time to believe that their suspect was someone familiar with anatomy. Possibly a doctor or a butcher. The suspicions were supported further on the finding of Annie Chapman. Left dead in the backyard off of Hanbury Street, reports claim that the woman’s womb had been removed.
This was the night that Saucy Jack killed twice. His first victim was Elizabeth Stride on Henriques Street. She was found with blood still running from her neck. It is believed that her murder was interrupted and the killer fled the scene.
Later that night, Catherine Eddowes also met her demise. She was found along Mitre Street, missing her uterus and her left kidney. Nearby Goulston Street also plays a significant role in this night’s events. Here police found a blood-stained piece of Eddowes’ apron. This is seen as one of the most important clues from the whole investigation. In the same location, police also found some graffiti that may or may not have been left by the killer. It will be left up to you to decide its importance.
Finally, the tour will bring you to White’s Row. Here your guide will show you where Mary Jane Kelly, supposedly Jack the Ripper’s final victim, was killed. She was found in her bed, with her body skinned to the bone. Because Kelly was younger than the rest of the Ripper victims, some believe that she may have been murdered by a copycat.
To help you piece the mystery together, your expert guide will provide you with photos and letters connected with the case throughout the tour. They’ll even give you information about the main suspects and why police thought they might be the secret killer. From princes to cotton merchants, it will be up to you to decide who you think the real Jack might be.
