Test your bravery at the London Dungeon
Do you dare visit the London Dungeon, and explore the most macabre and grisly parts of the capital’s history?
Highlights
- Go on the treacherous Tyrant Boat Ride
- Visit the terrifying Torture Chamber
- Escape from the rats and filth of Newgate Prison
Tickets & Prices
Delve into London’s grim history with a thrilling and immersive journey through The London Dungeon. Experience the city’s dark past brought to life through gripping storytelling and cutting-edge special effects.
- Entry Ticket – Step back in time and immerse yourself in London’s dark history with over 10 live shows, featuring infamous figures like Jack the Ripper and Sweeney Todd. Brace yourself for the heart-stopping Drop Dead ride.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Drinks in the tavern are not included but are available for purchase.
- The attraction may not be suitable for young children or those of a nervous disposition due to dark themes and sudden scares.
- Booking in advance is recommended to secure your desired entry time.
- Check height restrictions for the Drop Dead ride to ensure eligibility.
What to see and do
Some of the numerous highlights you’ll encounter during your London Dungeon experience include:
Meet frightening historical figures
Getting face to face with some of the grisliest criminals of London’s past, such as Sweeney Todd, Guy Fawkes and, of course, Jack the Ripper.
Go on the Tyrant’s boat ride
Follow in the footsteps of one of Henry VIII’s many victims, by going on a boat ride to the Tower of London to meet your fate – just as political prisoners did during his reign of terror.
Learn about London’s Great Plague
Stepping back in time to perhaps the most frightening and deadly era in which to live in London – the time of the Black Death.
Feel the horror of Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror
Walk the same dark alleys where the bloodthirsty Jack The Ripper once preyed on his hapless victims.
Abandon all hope as you enter the torture chamber
Taking a spine-chilling stroll past the grisly torture chamber – not for the faint-hearted!
Experience the nerve-wracking ‘Drop Dead’ Drop Ride
Get your photo taken during the ‘Sudden Drop’! This ride plummets you eight metres into the pits of darkness.
Make merry in a Victorian pub
Once you’ve finished exploring the Dungeon’s, there is an atmospheric Tavern which awaits you at the end of your adventure. Have a few drinks at this 19th-century Victorian pub and meet some East-end Victorian characters, such as the loud landlady and landlord. Gather round the ‘old joanna’ for an authentic pub singalong. Play some card games – but watch out for card sharps and listen to spooky stories as you sit at the tables.
Did you know: (3 interesting facts!)
- In 2011, workers at the museum were surprised to discover that one of the skeletons on display at the original London Dungeon was a genuine human skeleton, not a model as they assumed. The human remains were on display since the popular attraction first opened in 1975.
- The London Dungeon uses professionally trained and highly skilled make-up artists to design the wounds, bruises, and blisters to look authentically gruesome whenever a new personality is brought into the famous attraction.
- The London Dungeon doesn’t contain any spiritual characters as many believe. Elements of the tour are regularly updated and refreshed, but you won’t see a ghost. You might sit in on a spooky séance, but the London Dungeon is all about the truth.
History
- 1974 – The London Dungeon first opened under the railway arches of Tooley Street, near London Bridge. It was originally a waxwork exhibition of gory history with models of Boadicea and Thomas a Becket.
- 1990s – The exhibition was owned by the Kunick Leisure Group. It evolved to feature walkthrough theatrical shows, such as Jack the Ripper and the Great Fire of London.
- 1992 – The London Dungeon attraction was acquired by Vardon Attractions (later Merlin Entertainments) headed by Nick Varney. The Dungeon was rebranded as an interactive horror attraction.
- 2013 – The London Dungeon moved to the County Hall South Bank. When it departed its first home, many props (model rats, axes, instruments of torture) were sold at a car boot sale in nearby Pimlico.
- The new building was designed by architect Ralph Knott and was influenced by Baroque-style art. It is located directly opposite the Houses of Parliament – the same buildings Guy Fawkes tried to blow up with gunpowder in 1605.
- The move brought the opportunity to reinvigorate the Dungeon and lots of new and exciting things to do. Rebuilding the house of horrors took an entire year and a horrifying budget of £20 million.
Facilities and accessibility
The London Dungeon has toilets and baby changing facilities. There are members of staff who are First Aid-trained on site.
Wheelchair Accessibility
There is limited access for wheelchair users – one person using a wheelchair is permitted to enter per hour. Booking in advance is advisable.
Other mobility impairments
The London Dungeon is a 90 to 110-minute walking experience, and guests will need to stand for most of it.
Priority seating cannot be guaranteed.
For people with autism and other neuro-diverse conditions:
The London Dungeon is not a scare attraction or a horror maze. It is a highly sensory experience with dark spaces, loud noises, flashing/strobe lights, pungent smells and jump scares.
Staff can identify the Hidden Disabilities sunflower lanyard and ear defenders are available. Please seek help from a member of the team at any point during the tour if you feel the need.
Suitability
The London Dungeon is suitable for children over the age of 12, but this is at the discretion of the parent or guardian.
An adult must accompany children under 16.
The Tyrant Boat Ride and the Drop Dead Drop Ride are not advisable for pregnant women.
International visitors
The tours are run only in English to cater to the needs of the vast majority of international visitors.
Audio guides are not available.