Traveling for most people is all about getting away, having a good time and relieving some stress. And what better way to forget your own troubles than to pay witness to some of the horrific troubles of another time? The London Dungeon (in London, England, naturally) is a tourist attraction that focuses on the grisly and the macabre, mixing in audience participation and a bit of comedy to create a 90 minute journey through some of England’s bloody history.
When it first opened in 1974, the London Dungeon was little more than a museum that detailed the less savory history of England’s capitol city. Over time, it grew to become an attraction that is aimed at entertaining in addition to educating. Now it is more of a museum-theater hybrid, featuring a troupe of actors that interact with visitors and bring them into the horror stories of the past.
London Dungeon is a mostly walking tour and visitors make their way through various sets detailing different aspects of a (mostly) historical London. Tourists will find themselves amongst a plague, complete with dead bodies littering the streets. They will experience the joys of antiquated surgery, the Great Fire of 1666 and the rigors of 18th-century English justice.
One lucky fellow will be pulled out during the torture chamber portion of the tour, placed into a chair and intimidated with various implements of pain. Visitors will also find themselves part of some of the more famous blood-soaked tales of England’s past, including Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, Bloody Mary and, just recently added, Guy Fawkes. In addition to the walking tour, there are also a few rides - the Vengeance 5D Laser Ride, where guests get to shoot ghosts out of the air, and Drop Dead, a drop-tower ride.
If you’re looking to experience something different while in London, then the Dungeon is one to add to your list. It may not be the best attraction for (most) kids, but the younger and older traveler with a taste for the macabre will likely have a blast. For those that don’t happen to be in London, there are a few other “Dungeon” sites run by the same company throughout the U.K. If it sounds like something for you, more information is available about all the sites, attractions and pricing on their web page.
Entrance photo courtesy of C. G. P. Grey via Wikicommons
Plagues and Disease photo courtesy of Helga via Wikicommons
0 comments