The UK is old, and everyone knows that old things hold a lot of history – and sometimes it’s spooky! If you are a fan of the macabre, a craver of the twisted, and a lover of all things haunted, then you are in luck. We have a whole host of creepy things to do in London lined up!

We know it’s not officially spooky season, but in the UK, every day can be a little creepy if you look in the right places. From murder and monsters to ghosts and good old gore, here are some of the scariest attractions and activities to get your fix of frights.

Jack the Ripper Walking Tour

Step into Victorian London and walk the streets once stalked by the infamous murderer, Jack the Ripper. The year is 1888, and Whitechapel is plagued with fear. Women have been found dead and brutalised, and a merciless killer is on the loose! Sparking one of the most famous manhunts in history, Jack the Ripper has never formally been identified, making this tour all the creepier and more mysterious. Follow the trail left behind by Jack the Ripper as your knowledgeable and entertaining guide takes you to areas in East London where the victims were found. You will hear captivating theories as to who the killer was, learn about the many victims, and see iconic London sights as well. If you want to play detective in a case that shook London, then this tour is the one for you.

Jack the Ripper Museum

Captivated by the stories of Jack the Ripper? Continue your eerie escapade at the Jack the Ripper Museum. Set across six terrifying floors, you can explore recreated crime scenes, see artefacts, and discover the full story of the police investigation into the killer who terrorised the East End of London in 1888. Step inside the room where Mary Kelly, the final victim, lived and died, and imagine the horrors the police officers endured upon their arrival at the scene. Visit Jack the Ripper’s ‘sitting room’ and gawk at the medical instruments, books, and memorabilia, and if you are feeling brave enough, venture to the morgue, which showcases legitimate autopsy photographs and medical reports. You can also read the famous ‘From Hell’ and ‘Dear Boss’ letters and original newspapers from the time of the murders. The experience is both fascinating and harrowing, as the women killed were found to be ‘down on their luck’ and preyed upon during their darkest times.

The Clink Prison Museum

For those looking to be scared straight, the Clink Prison Museum will do the job! Most old prisons have some type of creepy past, but this one really takes the cake. It is the oldest and most haunted prison in all of Britain, and with 600 years of history, fans of all things torturous and supernatural are in for a treat. You can tour the prison and learn of the crimes that landed the inmates in The Clink, as well as the terrifying stories of prison torture and gruesome punishments inflicted. There have been numerous ghost sightings with reports of a woman playing with chains, glasses randomly smashing, and doors banging shut. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to witness a ghost in the shadows?

The Ghost Bus Tours in London, Edinburgh and York

Now, we don’t think torture and pain are very funny – but with the right comedic timing and trickery, there might just be a sweet spot. Enter, The Ghost Bus Tours. Conveniently – and creepily – located in London, Edinburgh and York, the 1960s midnight black Routemaster is ready to take you on a wild and terrifyingly entertaining ride. Step on board and let your hilarious host unearth the grisly skeletons and ghostly past of your chosen city. You will hear stories of hauntings and maybe even see a ghost on board. The Ghost Bus Tours are run by the Necropolis Bus Company, which first started as a private bus service conveying the deceased, pallbearers, and mourners to their final resting place. You will notice some of the seats are still arranged in ‘railway style’, which means they face each other. This allowed passengers to grieve openly and offer condolences.

London Ghost Tour

For those who want the ghostly side of London unveiled on foot, the London Ghost Tour is the one for you. The old streets of the capital have seen a lot in their time, from chilling crimes and terrifying tales of murder, so it makes sense that a few ghosts are wandering about. Operating after sunset, your tour guide will showcase some of the city’s most famous landmarks and their haunted histories. You can expect to hear spine-tingling anecdotes about St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and a range of other iconic locations.

Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein

Described as somewhere between a museum and an immersive experience, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein is where the famous story of Frankenstein comes to life. Located in a Grade II-listed townhouse in the City of Bath, the multi-sensory museum and escape room is the perfect place to learn about Shelley’s life and the writing of the famous book Frankenstein, and to see an 8-foot monster up close and personal. There is also a creepy walk-through basement experience that is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Chamber of Horrors at Madame Tussauds

True crime fanatics will love the Chamber of Horrors at Madame Tussauds. Historic crime figures are lurking in the dark, and if you are brave enough to venture inside, you will be treated to incredibly realistic wax figures and genuine artefacts. You can see serial killer, Dennis Nilsen’s TV, which he would watch with the bodies of his victims, and John Haigh’s – commonly known as the Acid Bath murderer – suit and shoes, as well as Mary Pearcey’s pram. Mary Pearcey murdered the wife and child of her lover in 1890 and transported the bodies to two different locations in the pram. You can learn about the different crimes committed by each of the featured killers and the impact they had on Britain’s social and criminal history.

What’s your favourite scary attraction? Do you have a haunted house in London that you love to visit, or a torture chamber we missed? Let us know!