Very interesting - see the old operating theatre, diseased lungs and brains in jars, crazy medical…read moreimplements. Definitely insightful. To get into the place you have to climb up a very steep, claustrophobic winding staircase which would be impossible for some people.

I love, and I mean LOVE, a medical history museum! Because…read morefolks...they aren't all well-known, but they aren't unusual to find. And you should definitely seek one out, if there is one in a city you are visiting. They tend to be small, but also the most interactive types of educational museums spaces. The Old Operating Theatre and Herb Garret is not open everyday (unlike what Yelp says), which makes sense for the size and type of place. Despite it's location near Borough Market and the large London Bridge metro station, it seems it is small enough...far enough off the main drag...and with the smallest little sign indicating it's location...that it has weekend-only hours. Sort of....long weekend....Thursday - Sunday 10:30am -5pm. These are the days and hours as they appear on google AND the museum's own website. So be aware. The actual museum is in the attic of the building that houses it, and requires an ability to go up several stories worth of a very narrow spiral staircase. It is not accessible, and there are no toilet facilities on site. So be aware. I appreciate the stair-traffic-control they do, with alternating red and green lights on the top and bottom so you know when you can go in whatever direction without a mid-spiral traffic jam. Upon paying for entrance, you get a scratch card with a person's illustration on it, and you scratch off a series of information bits as you go through the museum and see their icon. Love it! And there are different ones, so if you have a couple people in a group, you'll learn about different people! There is a children's area with coloring pages and interactive parts... It is all really just....so cool. You should go and experience it, if you have the physical capacity to get yourself to the entrance. I don't want to spill too much of what you will see there....but loads of history along with historical medical instruments, an operating theater, and other various medical-adjacent and old time-y pharmaceutical-y things...it's...fantastic. Well worth your time and money and some fun souvenirs, should you be in to that as well. Highly recommend!

I had been seeing signs and flyers for this all over London and being a super fan of all things…read morehorror, I knew I had to go. The first part was a dramatic story telling in a few different rooms. The rooms were hot so be prepared. The actors talk about all the gory details of what happened down there and it was definitely entertaining. The second part is the horror walkthrough. If you are easily scared, they do give you an option to leave at that point. The walkthrough is tight. They have you put your hands on the person in front of you (conga line style) which was weird at first but it wound up being fun. It's deff like a maze down there and we ended up in a dead end a few different times but it was still a fun time and a bit creepy but I would have loved some more pop outs. Overall it's a fun time if you're looking for something to do!

Hmmmm. On paper this sounds like a fascinating tour, and the doorway entry seems very inviting…read more We're offered a dramatic interpretation of the violent and colorful past of the London Bridge. The first half of the tour took our group through various times in history, meeting characters who freely shared the gory details of their life on the bridge. The second half is a spooky maze, with no historical context. It's walking through spiderwebs, near pitch black areas with the occasional spirit jumping out to startle us... all while requiring us to keep our hands on the shoulders of the guest in front of us... like a paranoid conga line. Overall more sideshow, than show. We were so strapped for time, I wish we had skipped this attraction to spend more time at any number of other historical sights including the very close Tower Bridge.

I love this little spot on the Southbank between HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge. It's a modern day…read moreamphitheatre where they host a lot of independent events. I've been to the London Penguin Walk: Where we broke the world record for the number of people in penguin suits. Water Stories: a photography exhibition and most recently The Globes Complete Walk of Shakespeare films. Such a lovely place to have events.

The Scoop is a unique space: a little amphitheatre basically carved into the sidewalk. They…read moreroutinely put on free theatre, and that's what drew me here. Right now they are playing a 4.5-hour long adaptation of Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung" cycle. The original is a very intense, 15-hour-long German operatic epic that is performed over four nights. This is a much more digestible and family-friendly version of that, and it was done very well -- good writing, pacing, acting, production, all the more impressive because it's outdoor theatre where you inherently have less control of the environment. It's a very well-designed space. Acoustically, its below-street-level placement is an advantage because most of the noise from the street is drowned out, but it's not a very loud area anyway because there are no pubs/bars/restaurants in the immediate vicinity - you'll just occasionally be interrupted by an airplane overhead. The theatre can accommodate quite a lot of people, but the seats are stacked high enough as they go back, so that your view is never obscured by the person in front of you. They let you bring food and drinks (just no glass bottles) into the theatre, so pack a picnic and a few beers! It's not protected at all from the elements though, so if it rains you're kind of screwed. Also, at night it gets chilly, so bring a blanket and layers to put on.

Whirl-y-Gig is an old skool styled night of such pure raving heavenliness I almost wept with joy…read more It is so rare to be in a nightlife environment in this city where people refer to each other as being part of a community. Whirl-y-Gig is without doubt, the friendliest, most happy group of ravers I have ever been part of in London. The age mix is a bizarre range of 16-70yr old's, all there for the same thing, to wear bright tribal clothing, party to the early hours and be happy. Boy were people happy! The music is hard and bass-ccentric which is great for that vibrational buzz. The décor has an ethereal feel, resplendent with projections, drapes and black lights, enabling the vibrant neon everyone was wearing to glow. In the chill out room, there is a stall selling CD's and clothing, a fresh food stall selling tea, coffee, toast and all manner of goodness. Of course there is a bar with booze and a remarkably talented face painter to give you that warrior look. I honestly struggle to relay just how fun Whirl-y-Gig is. The night starts slow, but as the clock strikes twelve the atmosphere escalates to hedonistic levels. If you've the stamina, you want to make it to 5am for the legendary 'Parachute.' Oh joy! If you've ever heard yourself say, "Clubbing isn't what it used to be," do yourself a favour and give Whirly a try. The good ol' days are back!

Whirl-y-gig has it all up their proverbial sleeve…read more Soft curves created by swathes of fabric adorn the walls, incense corkscrews through the air and 60's light installations keep the eyes occupied. Whirly is out of the ordinary, insanely uplifting and great to escape to in an otherwise unforgiving city. Tribal tunes, drum & bass and hard house music beat through the space, keeping everyone bouncing until the early hours of the morning. Whirl-y-gig truly draws a mixed crowd, all ages, shapes and sizes don tribal inspired and brightly coloured gear, prepared for black lights and experiencing the vibe. The nicest thing about the night was being constantly welcomed to my first whirly, a true community of people who look forward to a night sharing drinking, dance and even drumming. Like nothing I've ever experienced, I look forward to becoming a regular patron of Whirl-y-gigs out of this world events, truly a night to remember.

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.

The London Glassblowing Workshop offers one-day introductory glassblowing lessons once or twice a…read moremonth. It's a great day, you learn and make a lot (I made 2 paperweights, a dish and a vase). They really help you to make pieces in the styles and colours that you want, and there's only 2 students per instructor. Next door is the Peter Layton glass gallery, for inspiration.

This place is exceedingly interesting. You can pop in and watch pull a lump of molten glass on a…read morestick out of a furnace and then watch them blow and roll it into all manner of glass ornaments and vases. If you are exceedingly well heeled, you can buy them too. Prices are just a little shy of the 'if you have to ask...' range.

The owners of the White Cube gallery have taken the "white cube" theory of hanging art on white…read morewalls literally. This is the third gallery of this name, after Hoxton Square (unfortunately closed) and Masons Yard in Mayfair. The sheer size of this converted warehouse is impressive in its own right, and I particularly love the 9x9x9 cubic space at its heart - a true white cube! The artists represented by this renowned gallery for contemporary art are just as impressive, and exhibitions are of museum quality. Anthony Gormley was particularly breathtaking, and I'm glad I caught Theaster Gates before it closed yesterday. Unlike many commercial galleries, the White Cube opens on Sundays and provides a perfect excuse for a stroll down Bermondsey Street.

Great gallery with much to see and admire from all the latest upcoming artists and talent. You can…read morefind this fascinating venue heavily tucked away in the backstreet of Bermondsey, in South-East London. Guess what, apparently the White Cube (the name of this museum) is not the place to be if you have any respect for a contemplative feminine counterpoint. However, I'm touring the locality to emulsify the magnificent steakhouse in harmony with mediumistic, medieval origin. Love the science! Sponsored by National Trust! Either way, it is holiday season imposing with sensuous abstract painting, enough to keep your pants moist on a hot summer day - just like Perrier Natural Sparkling Mineral Water getting up close with the competition. We all know by now that abstract art opines with characteristic trenchancy like a widely used pitman master doing communal cooking.

We visited Immersive Gamebox today and we played the Alien Aptitude game experience! We had so much…read morefun. It is located very close to Southwark Tube Station and to Nando's. We checked in and our greeter was fantastic! They also have plenty of lockers to store belongings in. The waiting area is nice too and there is a wide choice of drinks available. The box that we played in was fantastic and the screens were excellent and really interactive. There are four different games included in the Alien Aptitude experience and every single game was so fun to play! Each game was so thoughtfully designed . The rules for each game was explained clearly and presented in a way that wasn't overwhelming. We had such a great time and the time goes so quickly! The gif at the end is so fun to make as well! Thank you so much to Immersive Gamebox for giving us an A+ experience and we cannot wait to return for many more happy memories. I would highly recommend visiting Immersive Gamebox.

So much fun! Had to add a little gaming fun to counter all the history my children were…read moreexperiencing on our trip to London from California. A couple of items... my children 14 & 10. Like all other pre-teens and teens, they love to game. I joined them during the gaming session, which was about 1.5 hrs for both games, Tetris and Squid Games! Note that you will be moving around your space quickly. Jumping, stepping forward, backward, side to side, and toucing the walls as you play. You will get thirsty. No problem! They offer drink order and delivery to the room where you have a shelf to keep your drinks. Personal items: You can not keep on the floor or room with you. They will get in the way. No worries. They provide free lockers. It has been 2 days, and we are still talking about the fun we had there. Tried to get another trip in but may miss out. However, I learned there is one in Los Angeles, Ca. Will absolutely make the drive up from San Diego, Ca, (~2 hours) to play again! Thanks for the amazing family memories!

I was able to attend a series of lectures at the Unicorn Theatre and found it was one of the better…read morevenues in London. Let's face it, there are only a few things needed for a professional location. You want good comfortable seating, a good sound system (rare these days it seems), internet access, a decent temperature, and a location that allows everyone room to stay comfortable and mingle easily. Yep, the Unicorn Theatre ticks all those boxes.

We have seen many productions over the years here which the family have enjoyed immensely.The…read moreproductions here are always unique and stimualting.We are looking forward to their Christmas production "Baddies the Musical". The Unicorn Theatre For Young People produces and commisions plays for young people from 2-21 years of age.It's artisitic director is the inspired Puni Morell who came from the National Theatre. This December Unicorn is celebrating ten years in it's custom-built, RIBA Award-winning building on Tooley Street. The founder of the Unicorn Caryl Jenner believed that theatre for young people should be non-compromising and of the very highest quality her vision lives on at the Unicorn.