London: Crime & Punishment Jack the Ripper Walking Tour

Step into the streets of Whitechapel and examine one of history's most notorious series of murders through the eyes of a former Scotland Yard detective.

This is not simply a hunt for the identity of Jack the Ripper. Instead, you'll explore the Whitechapel murders as an investigation, looking at the victims, the crime scenes, the evidence and the extraordinary challenges faced by the police officers trying to catch a killer in 1888.

Walk through the streets where these events actually unfolded and discover the Whitechapel that the victims knew. Explore the poverty, overcrowded lodging houses, immigration and social conditions that shaped everyday life in London's East End.

Along the way, examine key locations connected with the murders, including the site of Annie Chapman's murder at Hanbury Street, Goulston Street and the controversial graffito, and Mitre Square, scene of Catherine Eddowes' murder during the so called “Double Event”. You'll also discover the stories of other women whose deaths became connected with the wider Whitechapel murder investigation.

Your guide spent almost 30 years with the Metropolitan Police, including service as a Scotland Yard detective investigating serious crime. Drawing on that experience, you'll consider how detectives approached the investigation in 1888 and how the same crime scenes, witnesses and evidence might be handled by a modern murder investigation team.

Explore eyewitness testimony, forensic limitations, police procedures and some of the evidence that has fuelled more than a century of speculation. Suspects and theories are discussed where they help us understand the investigation, but this tour does not pretend to reveal the identity of Jack the Ripper.

Above all, this is the story of real people and real crimes. Separate fact from mythology, consider the evidence for yourself and discover why, nearly 140 years later, the Whitechapel murders remain one of the most compelling unsolved investigations in criminal history.

Know before you go

• Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable footwear.
• The route can be accessible to wheelchair users, although some sections require the use of dropped kerbs and navigating typical London pavements and road crossings. Please contact us before booking if you have particular accessibility requirements.
• The tour discusses real murders and includes details of violent crime that some guests may find disturbing. Historical photographs and other supporting material may also be shown.
• There are regular stops throughout the tour while the guide discusses locations, evidence and the investigation.
• This is an outdoor walking tour covering approximately 1.8 miles (3 km) through Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Aldgate. The route is predominantly flat and takes place on public streets and pavements.