Traverse through hundreds of years of dark British history at the London Dungeon, where shows and rides such as Sweeney Todd, Jack the Ripper, Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot and the Torture Chamber are likely to give you the chills. A tour of this well-coordinated experience might be the scariest 90 minutes of your life.
Entering the London Dungeon
When you enter the attraction, show your London Dungeon tickets at the entrance and join the queue. Queues can last 10-45 minutes depending on the attendance. People enter the attraction in groups of 30 to 40 people and sit through a brief introduction asking them to leave modern gadgets behind and travel back in time.
The first two rides, the Descent and the Tyrant Boat Ride go by pretty quickly with large mannequins on the side to give you a taste of what’s to come. Visitors then meet the executioner from the Tower of London who tells tales of heads on spikes.
Then comes a dark tunnel where visitors learn about Guy Fawkes and his plot to blow up the Parliament in 1605. Discover what pain and punishment meant in the 1600s as you meet the torturer in the Torture Chambers.
The rest of the shows and rides continue as you hear horror stories from the Black Plague and the Great Fire of London and sit at the Ten Bells to hear about Jack the Ripper and his victims. The Courtroom and the Drop Dead: Drop Ride mark the end of your horror experience.
Since all the shows are dark, scary and sometimes noisy, it is not recommended for those below the age of 12 or those that scare easily.
What you cannot miss at the London Dungeon
The Tyrant Boat Ride -
Take this ominous boat ride, the same one that Henry VIII’s traitors took. Designed to mimic the horrifying experience of being escorted to the Tower of London for execution, the boat ride tells the story of Anne Boleyn and her fellow traitors. The ride is bound to make a splash!
Jack the Ripper -
Hear tales of Jack the Ripper, one of the most notorious serial killers in Britain, as you settle down at the Ten Bells Pub. The show replicates the pub where many of his victims once enjoyed a hearty meal or drink while Mrs. Waldren, the landlady, tells jaw-dropping horror stories.
Sweeney Todd -
Learn about the fictional demon barber and get much more than the haircut you bargained for. Meet his friend Mrs. Lovvett, who runs a pie shop next door and has a special interest in fresh meat.
Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot -
In a dark rat-infested tunnel, you learn about Guy Fawkes and his insane plot in a rather mind-blowing way. The provincial English Catholics group wants to rebel against King James I by blowing up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament.
The Torture Chamber -
Meet the Torturer at the Tower of London’s Torture Chamber. Home to prisoners that are incarcerated and tortured, this chamber is bound to give anyone goosebumps as you learn about some very unique torture methods and tools. Learn how barbaric humans really were.
Escape from Newgate Prison -
Learn about a prison that held the worst of British society for 700 years before being closed down in 1902. Newgate held prisoners of all kinds from petty criminals to murderers. This thrilling show permeates a sense of uneasiness among spectators but makes it hard to look away.
Drop Dead: Drop Ride -
Maybe going to the Gallows is far better than languishing at Newgate. Learn about the ‘Long Drop’ - method of execution using a noose and what happens after. Take the optional Drop Dead ride to experience the gut-wrenching feeling of a vertical freefall.
