self strolling through atmospheric old streets lined with 18th century houses that were once slum dwellings but which now change hands for in excess of ?1 million ($1.8 million)! You can enjoy some of the finest ethnic food in the metropolis and then dip down a dismal looking alleyway to step into a traditional local pub or boozer frequented by cockney “characters” who seem trapped in a time warp. That is why exploring on your oIt has been estimated that close on 1 million people take part in Jack the Ripper related tours in any one year in London. Interest in Jack the Ripper is increasing as are the tours that take visitors around the murder sites.

Virtually all the tours that venture into Jack the Ripper’s London are led by guides, some of whom are excellent, and some of whom are downright awful. Some of the tours limit the number of participants and ask you to book in advance. The majority advertise that there is no need to book and encourage you to “just turn up.” When you do so you simply hand over your money to the guide and off you go. The downside of the latter approach is that the companies are unable to predict how many people will take them at their word and “just turn up.” Thus the reality of this approach is that most of the tours have become vastly oversubscribed cattle drives that often consist of 200 to 300 people being taken round by just one guide.

As a result of these unsightly scrums there has been a growing trend in recent years for people to set out on their own and explore the streets of Jack the Ripper’s London independently. This approach has the benefit of being able to go at your own pace and in the company of those you choose as your companions. But it also has its downside in that certain streets in the East End are dangerous to venture in to and one wrong turn as you seek out this or that site can provide the intrepid explorer with a genuinely hair raising experience that was neither intended nor anticipated.

Yet the streets of the East End can be both fascinating and magical to discover and they really do have an awful lot to offer the independent wanderer. You can find yourself strolling through atmospheric old streets lined with 18th century houses that were once slum dwellings but which now change hands for in excess of ?1 million ($1.8 million)! You can enjoy some of the finest ethnic food in the metropolis and then dip down a dismal looking alleyway to step into a traditional local pub or boozer frequented by cockney “characters” who seem trapped in a time warp. That is why exploring on your ow

ts and ask you to book in advance. The majority advertise that there is no need to book and encourage you to “just turn up.” When you do so you simply hand over your money to the guide and off you go. The downside of the latter approach is that the companies are unable to predict how many people will take them at their word and “just turn up.” Thus the reality of this approach is that most of the tours have become vastly oversubscribed cattle drives that often consist of 200 to 300 people being taken round by just one guide.

As a result of these unsightly scrums there has been a growing trend in recent years for people to set out on their own and explore the streets of Jack the Ripper’s London independently. This approach has the benefit of being able to go at your own pace and in the company of those you choose as your companions. But it also has its downside in that certain streets in the East End are dangerous to venture in to and one wrong turn as you seek out this or that site can provide the intrepid explorer with a genuinely hair raising experience that was neither intended nor anticipated.

Yet the streets of the East End can be both fascinating and magical to discover and they really do have an awful lot to offer the independent wanderer. You can find yourself strolling through atmospheric old streets lined with 18th century houses that were once slum dwellings but which now change hands for in excess of ?1 million ($1.8 million)! You can enjoy some of the finest ethnic food in the metropolis and then dip down a dismal looking alleyway to step into a traditional local pub or boozer frequented by cockney “characters” who seem trapped in a time warp. That is why exploring on your o

bscribed cattle drives that often consist of 200 to 300 people being taken round by just one guide.

As a result of these unsightly scrums there has been a growing trend in recent years for people to set out on their own and explore the streets of Jack the Ripper’s London independently. This approach has the benefit of being able to go at your own pace and in the company of those you choose as your companions. But it also has its downside in that certain streets in the East End are dangerous to venture in to and one wrong turn as you seek out this or that site can provide the intrepid explorer with a genuinely hair raising experience that was neither intended nor anticipated.

Yet the streets of the East End can be both fascinating and magical to discover and they really do have an awful lot to offer the independent wanderer. You can find yourself strolling through atmospheric old streets lined with 18th century houses that were once slum dwellings but which now change hands for in excess of ?1 million ($1.8 million)! You can enjoy some of the finest ethnic food in the metropolis and then dip down a dismal looking alleyway to step into a traditional local pub or boozer frequented by cockney “characters” who seem trapped in a time warp. That is why exploring on your o

s its downside in that certain streets in the East End are dangerous to venture in to and one wrong turn as you seek out this or that site can provide the intrepid explorer with a genuinely hair raising experience that was neither intended nor anticipated.

Yet the streets of the East End can be both fascinating and magical to discover and they really do have an awful lot to offer the independent wanderer. You can find yourself strolling through atmospheric old streets lined with 18th century houses that were once slum dwellings but which now change hands for in excess of ?1 million ($1.8 million)! You can enjoy some of the finest ethnic food in the metropolis and then dip down a dismal looking alleyway to step into a traditional local pub or boozer frequented by cockney “characters” who seem trapped in a time warp. That is why exploring on your o

self strolling through atmospheric old streets lined with 18th century houses that were once slum dwellings but which now change hands for in excess of ?1 million ($1.8 million)! You can enjoy some of the finest ethnic food in the metropolis and then dip down a dismal looking alleyway to step into a traditional local pub or boozer frequented by cockney “characters” who seem trapped in a time warp. That is why exploring on your own is such a great and memorable experience. But if you are going to do so then it is wise to take as many safety precautions as possible to ensure that your journey isn’t rudely interrupted by any modern day members of London’s criminal fraternity.

Perhaps the first rule to independent exploring is to research your route well in advance and know exactly where you will be going and what streets you will be walking through. It might be worth checking your route with one of the local police stations. They should be able to advise on which streets it is not particularly advisable to venture in to.

The good news is that, on the whole, the area where Jack the Ripper struck is probably no more dangerous (today at least!!) than any other part of London. Most of the streets are busy and most of the people you encounter are law abiding citizens. However, just like all big cities there are those who are simply intent on spoiling things for you, so before you set out it’s worth ensuring that all valuables – purses, cameras etc. are kept under your full supervision. Don’t for example wander round with an open back pack that just invites those of a criminal persuasion to avail themselves of your largesse.

Also, be aware of your surroundings at all times and try and look like you belong. Nothing screams TOURIST more than standing in the middle of the pavement poring over a map wondering where to head to next. I personally have wandered about the streets of Jack the Ripper’s London at all times of the day and night for almost 30 years and the worst I have encountered have been the trucks and taxis whose drivers seem to see driving half on the pavement (side walk) half on the road as some right of p