I waited for a while to write this review as I wanted to parse this experience a little more in my…read moremind. In general, this place was reasonably well designed to tell the Jack the Ripper saga at a level for the casual observer. In other words, for those who want to learn the historical significance of the events on a basic level, it was perfect. I was afraid that it might be overly gimmicky and touristy. And there was some dramatic effect pervasive in the audio guide (extra cost), but it was not overdone. While the museum is housed in the Whitechapel neighborhood where the murders occurred, the structure itself has no documented connection to any of the homicides or murder suspects. The museum is well chosen, however, as it features five floors where they stage scenes relevant to the telling of the Ripper saga. The ground floor was informational, while the next level was set up as one of the first murder scenes where a victim was found. The second floor (third level) was staged as the apartment of one of the prime suspects Walter Sickert. There were actually a period overcoat and derby in that room to try on for a photo op. The third floor was set up to be a likeness of the police station with actual police artifacts from the investigator who was working the case. The top floor was constructed as a shanty apartment from one of the last victims. The basement (last in the tour on the recommended sequence) was a scene from the Ten Bells Tavern which seemed to be a seminal hunting location for the Ripper. The museum was well presented and the audio guide and displays presented the right amount of drama to tell the story without crossing the "hype" border. If you want to leave out most of the drama, you could forgo the audio guide. I thought it was a nice added dimension. But the artifacts and the signage by themselves give a very good basic history of the events associated with the Ripper. The backgrounds of the victims were quite interesting. Likewise fascinating were the identities and backgrounds of the lineup of suspects that had been pegged as possible culprits by various contemporaries as well as scholars and JtR buffs since that time. What particularly interested me was the status of Whitechapel within London's social environment at that time. It was clearly very different from the current standing of the community, which has really only changed in the past 20 or 30 years from what I could glean. This area was clearly rife to present opportunities for a psychopath like the Ripper to find his victims. These unfortunate women were victimized first by society and by their own poor choices before becoming ultimate victims for the Ripper. It was an intriguing dive into London's social history. Because of the iconic and enduring nature of the mystery behind these killings and its inextricable tie to the City of London, this museum is probably worth seeing if you have the time (and I emphasize the word "IF"). Given the number of worthwhile sights in London, I'd be hard pressed to urge most people to prioritize it. This was my fifth or sixth trip to London, and the third in which I've had my wife with me, so we were in a situation where we were on second tier sights, making this one easier to prioritize. We were also staying in Shoreditch. Hence, the proximity was working in our favor as the museum was walkable. On the other hand, if you are a crime buff or a mystery buff in addition to being interested in social and cultural history, you might elevate this sight to a must-see. It is done well enough to be both entertaining and informative.

I didn't take a lot of pictures of this great little museum because that would ruin it for those…read morewho like these types of places. Nice little souvenirs to take home. Museum takes you through the whole Jack the Ripper murders. Mind you it is a three story museum and more information in the basement. Lots to look at, and it brings you closer to what happened.

Very limited play areas. The ground floor consisted of an art area (wooden spoon, color pens and…read moretape), a small slide, climbing structure, and a simulated ship reading nook. The first floor has a boat area, rocket ship, and a outdoors . I believe we paid an extra amount to attend this special event closer to closing time where kids were treated to an additional play area for about 45 minutes. Unsure if entire price was worth it but if you're in the area and it's a rainy day by all means come here.

I don't know what this place is like in person but the online offerings are great and affordable…read more So many interesting lectures and talks. I hope there are more coming ondemand so I can catch up on what was missed. Enjoyed the 4 week magic class.

Viktor Wynd is a freak…read more And I say that in the kindest most honest way possible. The erotic novel, "An Enema for Emilia" is displayed in one of the many display cases found deep below the bar via a golden winding staircase. This sounds like both a dream and a nightmare, and it is. The Last Tuesday Society is a dark taxidermy lab in which you pay to learn how to stuff your favorite animal/pet. I'm coming back to stuff a crow. Seriously. The drinks are yummy and unique and the service is well above par. I enjoyed perusing the museum while trying to find the oddest most offensive thing. Sebastian Horsley in the throws of passion with a limbless lady was up there. Definitely worth visiting if you're a freak. And I am most definitely a freak, so it was right up my alley.

A unique exhibitions on explore the future of our cities It…read moreis operated and owed by Siemens The Crystal has over eight zones of unique exhibition on exploring the future of the world and our cities and also seeks not only to showcase ideas and technology but also to stimulate discovery. Catering to both groups and individuals, the experience can be personalised to meet specific areas of interest. Through interactive, films, animations and installations you can explore a range of issues including water, transport, city design and management, energy, environment, buildings and lighting, safety and security and healthcare. Entrance is free. Yepppee.

From the owner: Welcome to the Crystal, a sustainable cities initiative by Siemens. The Crystal in London is home…read moreto the world's largest exhibition on the future of cities, as well as one of the world's most sustainable buildings and events venues. The Crystal sets the benchmark for sustainable building design. It is the only building in the world to achieve the highest certification in both the BREEAM and LEED schemes, as well as many other accreditations. Siemens technologies throughout the building ensure the highest energy efficiency and CO2 standards are met.

I was killing time but I'm glad I went to this free museum that was geared towards the younger…read moreaudience. I saw a lot of toys and games I used to play with when I was a kid and it was quite nostalgic. I did have to put on my patience hat because there are kids running around, yelling everywhere but I came here expecting that. My favorite was the horse that was used in War Horse, the live performance.

One of the best museums I've seen in the world. It's tremendous we can spend probably a week here…read moreand get lost with all the beautiful pieces. Wonderful assortment of China and sculptures and artwork rugs and fashion and furniture from all over the world. Really a tremendous museum and it's free entrance! Open until 530 or six.

The Royal London Museum doesn't sensationalize that it contains Joseph Merrick's , aka The Elephant…read moreMan's, skeleton. He is tucked into a corner of a display case not in direct view coming in. I learned much before I finally faced Mr. Merrick's skeleton. In the display cases are surgical implements used before the advent of anesthesia or painkillers. (You'll find that It was important to work fast before the patient died of blood), and prominent busts of Florence Nightingale and other medical superstars of their era. If you are squirmish about human anatomy and its afflictions please skip this paragraph. You don't need to have taken anatomy to observe that Mr Merrick's right leg bore most the weight of his body. The right leg bones are quite thick and his left leg is pitiably reduced in size. Besides growths on his head and skeleton he had a severe scoliosis (curvature) of the spine that would have compressed his internal organs. This fact was emphasized in the ending of the fine movie The Elephant Man (1980) starring John Hurt as Joseph Merrick with a supporting cast with Anthony Hopkins, John Gielgud and Anne Bancroft. Movie spoiler alert, Joseph Merrick commits suicide by laying prone. This is a small museum that won't need much more than a half hour- an hour if you are an ardent reader of everything displayed. You can exit into the historic hospital's medical school library with soaring shelves of books. The medical students are deep into their studies -on computers that are surrounded by centuries of science and anatomy books.

Peter and I came to the medical Museum to check out some…read morevintage medical instruments. It was a lot smaller than I thought that it would be but still really cool. I wanted to check out the elephant man Bones and skull.

Definitely worth a visit, possibly despite and maybe because it retains a fairly amateur feel to…read moreit. There isn't that much to see, a lot of what there is is geared to giving schoolchildren a feel for what life was like way back then. Staffed a lot by volunteers, if you are luck you will get one old enough to remember schools not too dissimilar from this who will be prepared to chat (if you let him)

London Ragged Schools were for the city's poorest families and provided children with basic…read moreeducation, meals and work. The London Ragged School Museum is a modern-day realisation of this aspect of East-End Victorian life, drawing from the work of Dr Barnado, in the form of including a typical school classroom and a dining room. There are historical re-enactments and workshops so a good place to take children during the school holidays. Check the times before you go- they have school bookings all the time, but are only open to the public on wednesdays and thursdays. You can also hire the venue out for partie.

We had a free day in Greenwich and decided to visit the National Maritime Museum. As with most of…read morethe museums in the London area, this was a FREE attraction. The museum has plenty to offer - BOTH for adults and for kids. There are a number of kid-centric areas and exhibits to entertain the younger set. We spent about 2 hours in the museum and could have easily spent 2 more hours. There are a lot of exhibits - both educational and histroic in nature. The staff is great - pleasant, helpful and very knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the National Maritime Museum.

The Maritime Museum was one of our stops while on our trip; it's free to enter and offers a number…read moreof historical exhibit pieces to browse. We had gone around the time they opened and had the opportunity to explore without many others around. All and all, it took us maybe 2 or so hours to walk around. There are many employees around the museum who are happy to answer questions and chat with you. This is worth a stop if you have time, but it is a bit further out from the other sites in London.