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Halloween 2022

Must Visit Museums this Halloween (Part 4) – Grant Museum of Zoology

Must-Visit Museums this Halloween (Part 4) – Grant Museum of Zoology

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Grant Museum of Zoology  has around 68,000 zoological specimens – including the world’s rarest skeleton: the quagga – dodo bones and fossils, creatures of the deep sea, a collection of preserved brains, and much more. Let’s explore!

Watch video tour here.

 

Extinct Species, Preserved Animals and Rare Skeletons

 

Grant Museum of Zoology

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy was established in 1827. Since the following year, the museum has been continuously used by students at University College London (UCL). The Grant Museum of Zoology first opened to the public in 1996.

The old-fashioned museum is packed with skeletons, preserved animals in jars, skulls, mystic creatures from the deep sea and remains of species now extinct, such as bones of Dodo that went extinct in the 17thcentury; a skeleton of a quagga which was a type of zebra or an egg from an Elephant Bird. Elephant Birds were hunted to extinction in the 1700s.

 

 

Preserved Sea Creatures at Grant Museum of Zoology

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

There is a different section dedicated to animals in jars. For example, monsters from the deep sea, such as Three-Toothed Pufferfish or Wolf Fish.

There is a jar full of moles – and it’s a mystery who and why made that jar -; and ‘jars of assorted specimens’, such as lizards and terrapins.

 

 A Collection of Brains

 

A Collection of Brains at Grant Museum of Zoology

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

The brain collection is originally from the anatomical and pathological collection of Kings College London’s School of Medicine, and it consists of mammal brains (except from a single turtle), preserved in alcohol. The brains were collected from Africa, Asia, South America, Australia, and Europe. Among others, the collection consists of a brain of a dog, a monkey, a gibbon, a rabbit, and an infant tiger.

 Fossils

 

Pterosaurs Fossil at Grant Museum of Zoology

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Grant Museum of Zoology is proud to have a number of well-reserved fossils of long extinct dinosaurs, such as Ichthyosaur, a marine reptile lived 250-90 million years ago or Pterosaur, a flying dinosaur we all know from Jurassic Park and Jurassic World blockbusters.

 

The Micrarium

 

The Micrarium at Grant Museum of Zoology

Photo: Urban Adventurer

The Micrarium is a back-lit corner displaying over 2,000 of the tiniest microscopic specimens, all in just 2.52 square metres. The slides mostly show whole tiny animals but there are bits of bigger animals, too, for example mammoth hair.

 

Practical Info

 

Address

Rockefeller Building, 21 University St, London WC1E 6DE

 

Ticket Price

FREE – no booking required

 

Opening Times

 Tuesday – Friday 1pm-5pm

Saturday 11am-5pm

 

 

Ready for your next adventure? It’s still not too late to visit some of the spooky museums before Halloween. Jack the Ripper Museum, The Old Operating Theatre Museum or Museum of Curiosity. 

Must Visit Museums this Halloween (Part 3) – Museum of Curiosities

Must-Visit Museums this Halloween (Part 3) – Museum of Curiosities

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Peek through the open door and you’ll see a surreal world full of creepy creatures, skeletons, and odd art, many of which might be disturbing to some. And this was just the absinthe bar connected to The Victor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & UnNatural History

The real museum is under the bar in the basement and is even more bizarre.

 

Watch video here.

 

Welcome to the Wunderkammer

 

Oddity - Museum of Curiosities

Photo: urban Adventurer

 

A narrow cast iron staircase leads to the basement to Museums of Curiosities. You descend to a rabbit hole where nothing makes a lot of sense; to a different world which is bizarre and sometimes even scarry but wakes up your curiosity and makes you wanting to discover more.

The space is small and narrow but is loaded with so many oddities that, if you really want to see everything, you could spend hours down there.

 

Occult Cabinet, Fairies, Dead Pets, Tribal Art and More

 

Preserved Animals at Museum of Curiosities

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

Museum of Curiosities is divided into multiply sections, such as ‘Cabinet of Monsters’ that includes preserved animals in jars, while ‘Fairies, Mermaids & Giants’ section includes mummified fairies, the legbone of an Irish Giant, preserved remains of a mermen and more. ‘Magick & the Occult’ section includes a fully functioning Occult Temple, a jar of moles (yes, you read it right), Woodoo artefacts from West Africa, and an occult cabinet, just to name a few.

 

Mareman at Museum of Curiosities

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

There are countless of other sections and artefacts to discover, including erotic-themed paintings, artworks and photos, mummified pets, a large collection of butterflies, creatures of the deep sea and human hair, including Elvis Presley’s hair, the hair of a Titanic survivor and an 18th-century human scalp.

 

Absinthe Parlour & Cocktail Bar

 

Absinthe Cockatil at Musuem of Curiosities

Photo: Urban Adventurer

  

I would highly recommend not to leave the museum without trying one of their absinthe cocktails at their absinthe parlour. Museum of Curiosities’ absinthe parlour has the largest collection of traditionally made absinthes.

 

Museum of Curiosities Absinthe Parlour

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

Order an absinthe fountain, sip one of their absinthe cocktails or bring home a bottled absinthe or tasting set from the bottle shop.

 

Interested in occultism and occult cocktails?

 

Then you might want to take a look around the museum’s mini shop, where absinthe glasses & spoons, books, – such as a signed copy of ‘A Grimoire of Occult Cocktails & Drinking Rituals’ – artefacts, prints and more are available to purchase.

Find their online shop here.

 

Practical Info

NOTE: Due to the adult nature of some of the exhibits (dead people, erotica) under 18s are only allowed before 5pm and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

 

Address

Victoria Buildings, 11 Mare St, London E8 4RP

 

Ticket Price

Admission includes a free cup of tea on request

 

Admission is £10

Concessions – £6

Locals living within walking distance with proof of address may buy £6 tickets on the door

 

Tuesday discount

Discounted tickets are £5 on Tuesdays (walk-in only)

OR

£2.50 on Tuesdays (walk-in only) IF you order a drink at the bar

 

 

Opening Times 

Tuesday – Friday 15:00-23:00

Saturday 12:00 – 23:00

Sunday 12:00-22:00

 

 

 

 

Ready for your next adventure? Do you think you could solve the hundred-year mystery around the identity of Jack the Ripper? Visit Jack the Ripper Museum.

Must Visit Museum This Halloween – Jack the Ripper Museum

Must-Visit Museums This Halloween (Part 1) – Jack the Ripper Museum

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Jack the Ripper is one of the most famous serial killers in the world who is believed to have killed eleven women in Whitechapel, London between 1888 and 1891. Despite of the fact that he sent multiply hand-written letters to the police and newspapers, the grisly murderer’s identity is still a mystery after 100 years. Jack the Ripper Museum is displaying original artefacts and recreate crime scenes.

 

Watch mini video tour here.

 

Jack the Ripper Museum

 

Jack the Ripper Museum London

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

The mysterious murderer inspired countless of books, movies, and theories, trying to solve the Ripper’s case, however, it still remained unsolved even today.

Jack the Ripper Museum is located on Cable Street which location does actually have connection with the Ripper’s third victim, Elizabeth Stride: her body was taken to St George-in-the East Mortuary off Cable Street.

 

 

Original Artefacts and Recreations of the Crime Scenes

 

The From Hell Letter - Jack the Ripper Museum London

The original “From Hell” letter believed to have been hand-written by The Ripper

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

The museum is a 6-floor Victorian building packed with never-seen-before original artefacts, such as the famous original “From Hell” letter, written by the Ripper and sent to George Lusk, the president of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee on the 16th October 1888. Along with the letter The Ripper sent a three-inch cardboard box that contained a half human kidney that is believed to once have belonged to Catherine Eddowes, the fourth victim of the Ripper.

 

 

Original Artifacts at Jack the Ripper Musuem London

Original artefacts: whistle and handcuffs PC Watkins was carrying on the night of discovering Catharine Eddowes’ body

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

The museum provides detailed exhibits of the Ripper-related crime scenes, the investigation, the recreation of The Ripper’s final victim, Mary Kelly’s bedroom, the recreation of how Jack the Ripper’s sitting room would have looked, original newspaper cut-outs and more.

 

 

Disturbing Original Photos of the Victims’ Dead Bodies

 

Jack the Ripper Museum Basement

The most disturbing room within Jack the Ripper Museum

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

Jack the Ripper Museum is not for everyone. In the basement, there are original photographs of the victims’ dead bodies and an authentic autopsy table. This room is the most disturbing among of all, so if you don’t want to see the photos, simply skip the basement, and start your tour on the first floor.

(The restroom is also in the basement, but none of the photos are visible from the outside of the exhibition room and there is also a warning sign on the door.)

 

 

Everything to Know about the Ripper

 

 Recreation of Mary Kelly's Room at Jack the Ripper Museum London

Recreation of The Ripper’s final victim,  Mary Kelly’s bedroom

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

Although, some of the rooms and artefacts might be disturbing to some of us, Jack the Ripper Museum is designed to educate their visitors by giving information of the history of women in the 19th century and how life was in the East End of London during the Victorian times.

As Jack the Ripper’s victims were all appeared to be prostitutes, the museum gives a detailed description on how difficult life was for those living in poverty during the Victorian era.

Walking through the museum feels like visitors was really strolling on the streets of the Victorian London: sounds and smells help visitors time travelling to the 19th-century Whitechapel under the dim lights.

 

 

Highlights of Jack the Ripper Museum

 

The Original From Hell Letter at Jack the Ripper Museum London

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

  • The original “From Hell” letter believed to have been hand-written by The Ripper
  • The original whistle, handcuffs, truncheon and notebook PC Watkins carried during the night when he discovered Catharine Eddowes’ body on Mitre Square at 1.44am on 30th September 1888
  • Original newspaper articles about the crimes
  • The recreation of The Ripper’s final victim, Mary Kelly’s bedroom

 

Lock of Mary Kelly's Hair at Jack the Ripper Musuem London

A lock of Mary Kelly’s hair

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

  • Lock of hair of The Ripper’s final victim, Mary Kelly (find it on the wall in the Ripper’s sitting room)
  • Original photos and illustrations of the victims
  • Recreated scenes with life size wax figures
  • Jack the Ripper’s sitting room as it would have looked like based on the beliefs of his identity
  • Victorian style props

 

Shop Jack the Ripper Museum

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

If you enjoyed your visit, don’t forget to purchase some souvenir in the shop to support this extraordinary museum.

 

Who do you think The Ripper was?

 

Practical Info

 

Address

12 Cable St, Aldgate, London E1 8JG

 

Ticket Price 

Museum Entrance Only £10

Guided Walk Only £10

Museum Entrance AND Guided Walk £16

 

 

Opening Times 

Open 7 days a week

Doors open 10:00am

Last entry 5:30pm

 

 

Ready for your next adventure? Our ‘must visit museums this Halloween’ continues. Our next destination will be The Old Operating Theatre.