During the Victorian era, London was a very different type of city from what it is today. The dimly lit streets and foggy atmosphere left many parts of the city in total darkness, and terror reigned during 1888 when Jack the Ripper roamed the streets. Today, the gory and compelling tale of the Ripper brings many visitors to Whitechapel to try to uncover what happened back then and understand the dark history of the city. The unsolved case has interested so many people over the years, even when the Ripper carried out his gruesome crimes. This is why many people enjoy our Jack the Ripper tour that takes you through the streets of Whitechapel to the infamous locations of the Ripper’s crimes and places linked to him and his victims. However, it’s hard to uncover the story when the city has changed dramatically since this time. We use expert Ripperologists and Ripper-Vision to transport you back to 1888 Whitechapel, as well as visiting the historic places that are still standing today!
One of the places we take you to on our tour is the Ten Bells pub in London. It sits on the corner of Commercial Street at the intersection with Fournier Street and has become infamous for its connections with the killing. This has attracted many visitors due to them. It’s a great spot to discuss your theories and try to find out who the killer was. This pub has a cosy yet chilling atmosphere that immerses you further into the story, and is somewhere you can have a drink if you join our pub tour.
The History of the Ten Bells Pub in London
The Ten Bells pub in London dates back more than two centuries. Historical records suggest that there has been a pub on the corner of Commercial Street at least as early as the 1740s, and possibly even before that, too. However, the building that’s still standing today is from the Victorian era, when the Ripper carried out his gruesome crimes. When this pub first opened, it was actually called the Eight Bells pub, as it’s named after the number of bells that the Christ Church had at the time, which sits opposite the pub.
The church later added two more bells, so the pub was renamed to the Ten Bells, which it’s still called today. Over the years, this has become a popular gathering place for local residents and workers living in and around Spitalfields. During the time of the Ripper, the surrounding area of this pub was bustling, so the Ten Bells was an important social meet-up place for locals to drink and enjoy time with friends.
The Connection of the Ten Bells Pub to Jack the Ripper
Now known by many as the Jack the Ripper Ten Bells pub due to its strong connections to the killer, this pub is more than just a social gathering location. It’s a place for many enthusiasts to connect to the dark history and learn more about the mysterious Ripper and his crimes. On our tour, it’s a place to try to crack the mystery of this unsolved case with friends and strangers by trying to find his identity. Although this pub is a prime spot in our pub tour and for all enthusiasts wanting to learn more about the Ripper, it was a very different place in the gruesome Autumn of 1888.
The main connection between the Ten Bells and the Ripper is his unfortunate victims. Many of them are believed to have spent a lot of time in this pub shortly before their deaths. Newspaper reports and historical accounts have shown that Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly may have visited the pub in the days or hours before the Ripper murdered them. In fact, Elizabeth Stride was reportedly asked to leave the pub earlier in 1888 due to being intoxicated, while Annie Chapman was reportedly there around 5 am on the morning of her death before she was lured outside by a hideous-looking man wearing a skull cap. Alongside this, Mary Kelly was reportedly seen drinking there the night before she was murdered.
Another connection of the pub to the Ripper is the discovery of Mary Kelly’s body. She reportedly left the Ten Bells on the 9th November 1888 before becoming Jack the Ripper’s final victim. Her body was found the next morning on the opposite side of the road from the pub, which puts the Ten Bells in very close proximity to his last documented crime.
Why Visit the Ten Bells Pub in London on the Jack the Ripper Tour?
Visiting the Ten Bells pub in London on our Jack the Ripper tour allows you to step back in time and immerse yourself in the Whitechapel of 1888. Even though it was refurbished back in 2010, the pub has tried to maintain its original style of décor that was there at the time of the Ripper. This means that the bar is in the centre of the room, exactly where it would have been in 1888. So, making this pub stop during our tour instantly transports you back in time to the chilling, dark days of the Ripper and helps you become totally immersed in the details of his crimes. Even with its dark history, the pub is still a cosy and relaxing place to learn more about the crimes and come up with theories to try to solve the case.
This Victorian-esque restoration means that the Ten Bells is well worth a visit on our pub tour. You can discuss theories and unwind with a drink, or even join in with our quizzes to win a prize before moving on to the next stop.
Why Our Tour Stops at the Ten Bells Pub in London?
Our tour stops at the pub, the Ten Bells in London, due to its close connections to the unsolved case of Jack the Ripper. It’s a place we go to on our pub tours to enjoy a drink, learn more about the details of the case and even partake in a fun quiz to test your Ripper knowledge. The relaxing atmosphere, paired with the chilling details that link the pub so closely to the Ripper, is perfect for socialising and coming up with theories as to who you think the killer was. Our Ripperologists will also spend time delving into every fact of the pub and the crimes that happened nearby to help you understand exactly what happened during 1888.
The Ten Bells Pub in London, for our Jack the Ripper Tour, isn’t the only spot we visit during the pub tour. We also visit other pubs closely linked to the crimes and the unfortunate victims of the case. You can also learn more about the White Heart, The Bell, The Kings Stores, The Duke of Wellington and The Princess Alice.
Book Our Pub Tour and Visit the Jack the Ripper Ten Bells Pub
Book our exciting pub tour to visit the Jack the Ripper Ten Bells pub and learn more about the chilling details of the gruesome crimes. Our tour is led by expert Ripperologists who know the case inside and out to give you all the true facts. This is paired with our Ripper-Vision technology that shows you real images of London in 1888 to immerse yourself in the story and transport you back in time to the foggy, dark streets of Whitechapel in 1888.
Our pub tour runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7pm and numbers are limited so please contact us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!
