London as you know it may seem like the pinnacle of classic beauty and sophistication, but if you delve into the layers of history you will find the seedy underbelly of yesteryear. The
Grim Reapers Tour of London run by
Sandeman's takes you on a hair-raising walk through the dark past of London's East End.
One of the first stops is at London's most haunted building –
The Tower of London. It is here you will learn some of the fascinating and intriguing history of the castle, such as the reasons why ravens are kept on the grounds, a superstition that continues to this very day. Keep your eyes peeled for the ghost of Queen Anne Boelyn, beheaded in 1538 for the act of treason against her husband King Henry VIII, as she's been said to roam around the castle grounds, along with some other famous spectres.
The tour will take you past some former execution sights which, if you didn't know better, you would simply walk past without a second thought. You will also learn about the devastation of the Plague and walk over the unmarked graves of thousands of victims, right near the fashionable Old Spitalfields Markets. Your guide is likely to have some harrowing accompanying tales and descriptions to make you squirm!
Of course, what would a tour of the dark side of the East End be without a mention of the notorious
Jack the Ripper? The unidentified serial killer has been linked to murders that typically involved the abdominal mutilations of female prostitutes in the Whitechapel area. Recreate the scene in your mind as you hear of the horrible crimes this man committed and learn the different theories and suspects of the killings.
Finally, visit the site of London's first psychiatric hospital and hear of the atrocious manner in which the patients were treated. It's incredible to think that a weekend outing could include paying admission to the hospital just to see what the patients were doing. Thankfully we've come a long way from those days.
If you find this sort of history creepy but intriguing, then the Grim Reapers Tour is definitely for you. It runs every day and no booking is necessary. Simply turn up at the sundial opposite the exit of Tower Hill tube station at 6pm and look for your friendly guide who will be wearing a red t-shirt.
