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