The London Dungeon

The London Dungeon is a museum about the history of the legal system and punishments of criminals in London. All of this is done by, in my eyes, really great exhibits. The London Dungeon uses a lot of modern techniques, like displaying a movie on a statue which gives you the idea the person is standing life in front of you.

You experience the humiliations and fears just like the people who were condemned to death have undergone. You can see and 'feel' the terror reigns of King Henry VIII and the French Revolution, the horrors of the torture chamber. The tools and equipment used for torturing and punishment are displayed and you are explained how they were operated. One of the great things in this part of the museum is the exhibit of the guillotine. The moment the 'criminal' is beheaded, all lights are turned off and water is sprayed over the audience as if it was blood.

One of the exhibits shows a beggar who has been thrown in a prison cell. This is most likely because he stole something like a bread. The poor man had his legs, arms and head strapped in some sort of torture instruments. Another exhibit shows stakes with the heads of beheaded people stuck on them. It becomes quite clear throughout the museum that a beheading was an attraction in those days. You can hardly believe that people could (and sometimes still can) be so cruel to others.

In the next part of the museum, you have to appear in front of a judge somewhere in the 17th century. You are sentenced to death and taken by boat over the river to the place where you will be executed. A lot of effort has been done to create an atmosphere that resembles the city in this century. Facades of houses have been build and very realistic puppets of inhabitants are made.

After this ride, you 'arrive' in the city around the time the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper was shocking the world with his brutal murders. A complete decor is build to show you what the city looked like in this period of time.

The museum really gives you an enormous amount of background information about how they dealt with criminals during the previous centuries. Although it is a very good museum for both adults and children. However, it might be a bit to frightening for little children.

Go to the website of the London Dungeon for more information.

If you plan to visit this museum and several other museums, attractions and / or historical buildings you might be interested in the London Pass, offering you free access to over 60 museums, attractions and historical buildings.