Come and join me, Ulrike, on my tour through Whitechapel to discover the other side of the Jack the Ripper story. And no, this isn’t just another London Jack the Ripper Tour. Those Whitechapel murders – this Jack the Ripper crime scene, that Jack the Ripper chamber of horrors – that’s the background; this Jack the Ripper Walk shines a different light on what happened in the East End of London in the autumn of 1888.
There are no murders without victims, and before they were victims, “the Five” were women with lives more difficult than we can imagine.
I am going to introduce you to these five women. I’m not going to talk about their deaths. I’m going to talk about their lives. The tragic turns and decisions in their lives that led them to “the prototype of hell” – Whitechapel and Spitalfields in the 1880s.
Jack London called the Victorian East End of London the Abyss, the pit of hell, once you fell in, there was no way out. It was an area of squalor and destitution at an unimaginable level.
Come with me and meet Polly…
And Annie…
And Elizabeth…
And Kate…
And Mary Jane…
See where they existed. The streets and alleyways they knew.
Where things closed in on them. See and imagine what it felt like to be lost, forgotten, out at the edge – on the very margin of the richest society on eath. Where despair was writ in the very fabric of their surroundings. And imagine how brave they must have been trying to keep it at bay. Their lives mirrored those of millions of other Victorian women. Let’s give them a face, a voice and let us not define them only by their deaths.
Alison Lindley –
We went on the Women of the Abyss, the Victims of Jack the Ripper walk this morning with Ulrike who was the perfect tour guide – warm, extremely knowledgeable and genuinely interested in the subject. This walk is different from the usual Jack the Ripper tours as it focuses purely on the women’s lives, there are no conspiracy theories and it offers an amazing insight into life in the Victorian East End. I would thoroughly recommend Ulrike’s tour.
Anne Singleton –
What a wonderful way to learn about the lives of the victims of Jack the Ripper and the other impoverished people living in the East End during Victorian times. Ulrike speaks with such passion and empathy for the people, particularly the five women who were said to be the victims. She shares so much information about living conditions of the East Enders living in poverty and I won’t forget the origins of the word “hungover”. For anyone who wants to learn from a walk, I would really recommend booking this one which takes you from the City, down streets and alleys, past Petticoat Lane and Brick Lane and back to the City. Thank you Ulrike.
Jenny Anderson –
Ulrike is a great teller of stories, and she made it easy to imagine the Whitechapel of the late 19th century and the dreadful lives of the people there. The story of Jack the Ripper is well known, but the lives of his victims are not and it is very refreshing to have their story told instead of his. Her enthusiasm and depth of knowledge made the tour very interesting and informative, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about London in that era.
Brian Altchuler –
I enjoyed this walk. It was interesting/fascinating to hear about the lives of the Ripper’s victims. As Ulrike highlighted, it was too easy/too simplistic to label them as simply prostitutes and therefore, in some way, to hold them responsible for their fate. Whilst much of the area has of course changed over time, Ulrike pointed out spots where the murders took place or had some other association with the victims. The walk passes through the City and into the East End, including parts of Brick Lane i.e the character of the surroundings can change quickly.
Ulrike was clear, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the subject and answered questions along the way.
As the talk proceeded based on where we were, rather than each victim sequentially, I did get lost once or twice in terms of who we were talking about.
I would recommend the walk to others.
Rachel Hurst –
A fascinating insight into the lives of the women that were murdered to by Jack the Ripper. A far more interesting story than that of the murderer. Thought provoking and sad. Ulrike our guide was so knowledgeable and an expert on the subject. Highly recommend this walk.
Jon Burr –
I would make an argument that THIS is the definitive London Walks JTR walk! Spoiler alert – we don’t know who he was, he was a monster, whoever he was, period. What Women of the Abyss will give you is the true feel of Victorian Whitechapel on a human level. Ulrike reveals not the tragedy in the lives of the victims of the infamous murders, but the joys in their lives as well. The struggles of “The Five” are relatable even today, and we owe it to not just their memory but for all those who fell victim to addiction, violence, and exploitation in Victorian London. In 1888 London, a shocking number of people were one bad break away from finding them in the vulnerable place that Polly, Annie, Kate, Elizabeth, and Mary Jane found themselves, and that bad break often landed them in the dark streeets of Whitechapel. Annie had once been relatively middle class, Elizabeth had run a cafe, Mary Jane gave shelter to women who were scared about the murders – the stories of these women are fascinating and dynamic. The London Walks Ripper tour is the only one to take if you’re inclined to hear about the murders, and it does indeed give good context for Women of the Abyss if you know little of the details of the crimes. But if these are the stories you want to hear, please attend this walk – I promise that you will leave with a thoughtful, well-researched perspective on the sad events in East London in 1888. Thank you Ulrike!
Anne Jensen –
An engaging and thought-provoking walking tour! Women of the Abyss offers a refreshing and important perspective by shifting the focus away from Jack the Ripper and instead telling the stories of the women whose lives are so often overshadowed. There were no sensational or graphic details — only respectful, human storytelling that brought their experiences and the realities of Victorian London to life.
The tour was both fascinating and highly informative, giving a deeper understanding of the social history of the time and the circumstances these women lived in. Ulrike was an excellent guide — knowledgeable, insightful, and clearly passionate about sharing these stories with respect.
A meaningful and memorable experience that I highly recommend.
Irene –
This is my second London walk with Ulrike who is an engaging guide. As well as providing a different and original perspective on an already well known story Ulrike also highlights the changing history of the area from the arrival of the Huguenots until today. Her explanation of the social conditions of the time and focus on the womens’ individual stories make this walk both moving and educational. I highly recommend.
Joie Warnock –
This walking tour was a highlight of my visit to London – Ulrike illuminates the lives of the five women, their humanity and dignity in a very powerful way. I highly recommend this tour!
Sophie Darras –
I cannot recommend Ulrike’s Women of the Abyss walking tour highly enough. I loved it because it shifts the narrative away from the Ripper and towards the lives, circumstances and social history of the victims. Ulrike dives deep into the social and economic conditions in Victorian East London, providing a richer understanding than typical Ripper tours. Last but not least, Ulrike tells the women’s stories in a thoughtful, factual, and compassionate way. There’s only one Jack the Ripper related tour you should do and it is this one!