London Dungeon (London Dungeon)

Member Name: Krystles

Product:	London Dungeon
Date:	28/03/09 (369 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Has some vaguely entertaining/educational exhibits.

Disadvantages: Overpriced and poorly organised.

How to get there: The London Dungeon is close to London Bridge tube station on the Jubilee Line. This station is also serviced by many buses. Check ww.tfl.gov.uk for the best travel options for where you are coming from.

Booking tickets: This can be done on-line with a debit/credit card. You are emailed a confirmation page which can be printed and presented in exchange for entry.

My husband and I visited the Dungeons as it had quite good reviews from people on here, but unfortunately found it to be a big disappointment. I booked the tickets through a website at a so-called discount price, which it clearly wasn't. Surely advertising discount tickets that are regular priced is just dishonest and should be illegal. The tickets were booked as a so-called Fast-track ticket. Caught the tube there, which was nice and convenient, and walked to the Dungeons to find a massive queue for the Fast-track line. We had to wait over an hour in this line despite having paid for supposedly fast entry. This is despite being given a time to arrive at. Surely if you know it is busy then you organise it so the very people who are paying you money aren't being annoyed by the experience. I'd compare it to paying a ticket for a movie at 5pm and having to wait in a line to be let in at 6.30pm, you wouldn't do it and what's more it wouldn't happen. We tried to get our money back rather than wait but the staff were unfriendly and unhelpful. Once inside (with more queuing) the exhibits ranged from mildly entertaining to just plain dull. For a place that bills itself as being scary, it wasn't really. Having people jump out at you and shout at you gets a little tedious after a while. I'm someone who is usually quite easily scared, I don't watch scary movies for this reason as they can leave me with nightmares, this let me wondering what was the point??

After an eternity waiting you finally get in, give the bored looking attendant your internet confirmation before joining another queue. There is an opportunity to have a scary photo taken, available at a reasonable price I'm sure, but skipped this as had already spent enough time waiting. You enter the dungeons and go into:

The Labyrinth of the Lost which is described as "One way in....but is there a way out? Darkness claws its way in from all sides, mirrored walls reflect sinister figures, tunnel after tunnel but no escape. Time is running out, panic sets in, fear of the unknown rages inside you. Will you find a way out of this endless hell? Only the brave will survive, only the clever will prosper! Step inside the Labyrinth of the Lost if you dare!" This, in actuality, is a hall of mirrors in the dark. This was an ok exhibit, though you do find your way out quite quickly, so the effect of disorientation you are supposed to feel only kicks in just as you are leaving.

Some of the other exhibits do have some educational value as they provide some background information. Actors are often used to attempt to provide an authenticity to the exhibits by providing costumed characters to represent people of the time and provide information. This works to varying degrees, some of the people are obviously West End rejects with little performing ability, but some are quite good. The more educational exhibits include:

a) Great Fire of London - "The Great Fire of London rampaged through the city of London turning everything in its wake to cinders. Travel back to 1666 and experience the burning reality of the fire that left 200, 000 people destitute." This has some good effects and information, but is offered better in other museums in the city.

b) Jack the Ripper - "The 1880's were a dangerous time for women to walk alone in London. A prolific killer frequented the dark alleys and quiet streets, preying on London's prostitutes" This is one of the more interesting and informative exhibits and I would have lked this to have gone on longer or been allowed more time to look at displays.

c) Sweeney Todd - "In need of a hair cut? Like it or not you're going to have one....Sweeney Todd style and there's always a pie if you're feeling hungry!" The build up was quite good, the actor gave you some good information on the background of the story, but the exhibit itself which involved blowing air on the back of your neck combined with a swishing blade sound was underwhelming.

There are two rides in the Dungeon:

Boat Ride to Hell - "Are you afraid of the dark? Are you petrified of drowning? Do you hate the feeling of falling backwards? Face your fears with the Traitor, Boat Ride to Hell at The London Dungeon!" This has a slight rollercoaster feel to it, but lacks any real exhilaration.

Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom - "You have been tried and sentenced, now you must accept your fate and let the hangman guide you to the end. A final rush of adrenaline as you plummet into the dark depths to embrace your doom!" This ride finishes the dungeon experience. The ride lifts you up and then suddenly drops you, which is supposed to simulate your head being chopped off or something equally tenuous. It was actually scary though because they drop you in complete darkness.

Overall we left very disappointed and a little more wary of visiting lame touristy attractions. Each visit to the dungeon is as part of a group, so you can only stay as long as the group's time allows you to. This is supposed to be about 1-1.5hrs.

Summary: I wouldn't waste my money or time on this one.