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Original poster

London Dungeons for an 8 year old?

112 replies

Sometimeswinning · 01/08/2025 19:20

I’ve never been. 8 year old is pretty tough and handled Jurassic park rebirth this weekend. Will it be ok?

OP posts:
ipredictariot5 · 01/08/2025 22:17

Mine had a panic attack had to be escorted out and it ruined the whole trip

menopausalmare · 01/08/2025 22:14

I wouldn't. I think there's an age restriction ( check website).

RubySquid · 01/08/2025 22:08

AragornsManlyStubble · 01/08/2025 20:04

Though reading the thread I feel mine is an anomaly. 😂

He had had a thorough conservation before hand with older DD who has very fond memories of going at around the same age and also made it through with no fear. Remembers clearly me being put on trial as a witch!

My kids are weird.

Both my niece and DGS enjoyed it they were 9and 7 at the time

Mrscharlieeeee · 01/08/2025 22:03

Not done the London one but I’ve done the York one and absolutely crapped myself. My youngest is 8 and he’s seen jaws, all the Jurassic movies and I honestly don’t think I’d take him to the York dungeon until he’s about 13.

herbalteabag · 01/08/2025 21:52

Vintagefair · 01/08/2025 21:33

I found it so gruesome. Organs being ripped out, rats eating people chained to the Thames foreshore - all in life size models.

Until I read this thread I imagined I was the only one ever to stumble out, eyes down through the Ikea type maze. I was 24.

I don't remember the rats eating people and I only went a couple of years ago, perhaps it's different now. Or the leg getting sawn off mentioned earlier. There are two places which I found really scary and the rest isn't that bad, some parts are funny. It's not good if you don't like pitch black. The first time I went two youngish kids were there and they seemed fine and less scared than me! I took mine at 13 and 14 though. I would have taken them a bit younger.

herbalteabag · 01/08/2025 21:48

PickledMuffin · 01/08/2025 21:07

they must have changed it from when i went with my Dad 30 odd years ago! i don’t remember it being that scary! does Jack the Ripper still jump out at you?

Yes!

AutumnLover1989 · 01/08/2025 21:35

I wouldn't. It's not just the scare aspect but all the talk of torture and cutting off men's bits isn't really appropriate. I'd say 12 and up.

Vintagefair · 01/08/2025 21:33

I found it so gruesome. Organs being ripped out, rats eating people chained to the Thames foreshore - all in life size models.

Until I read this thread I imagined I was the only one ever to stumble out, eyes down through the Ikea type maze. I was 24.

BusySittingDown · 01/08/2025 21:32

MoonriseKingdom · 01/08/2025 21:07

I wonder if it is more scary than the other ones? We went to the Blackpool dungeon with my 8 and 10 year old recently . They had a brilliant time. There was a bit with strobe lighting which made it feel like there was a ghost in the room but they weren’t scared by it. They saw their dad tortured which they found hilarious! There was a court bit with some rather risqué jokes that went over their heads. Overall it was all pretty good fun.

I don't think it's scarier, I'm not sure. We went to the Alton Towers one a few years later when the girls were 10 and 14 (as I said in my pp they were 4 and 8 when we did the London one). It was very similar to the London one. My youngest was fine again but she just doesn't scare as easily as my oldest ha ha!

BusySittingDown · 01/08/2025 21:27

PickledMuffin · 01/08/2025 21:07

they must have changed it from when i went with my Dad 30 odd years ago! i don’t remember it being that scary! does Jack the Ripper still jump out at you?

Dunno, we almost got to Jack The Ripper but had to leave at the part where

[SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN]

the prostitute was talking about other prostitutes being ripped open. We had to leave as the 8 year old was whimpering too much. So we'd almost got to the end. 😂

PickledMuffin · 01/08/2025 21:07

they must have changed it from when i went with my Dad 30 odd years ago! i don’t remember it being that scary! does Jack the Ripper still jump out at you?

MoonriseKingdom · 01/08/2025 21:07

I wonder if it is more scary than the other ones? We went to the Blackpool dungeon with my 8 and 10 year old recently . They had a brilliant time. There was a bit with strobe lighting which made it feel like there was a ghost in the room but they weren’t scared by it. They saw their dad tortured which they found hilarious! There was a court bit with some rather risqué jokes that went over their heads. Overall it was all pretty good fun.

Lucyintheskywithdiamonnds · 01/08/2025 21:06

Until last month I thought London dungeons were real dungeons that were used in days of yore (lived in London for 25yrs). But someone told me they’re literally like a fun fair types situation, all made up with a few examples. Glad I’ve never been! Just a tourist thing to make money. Like madam tussauds. Never been there either.

Pollqueen · 01/08/2025 21:00

thornbury · 01/08/2025 19:26

I mistakenly took two 7 year olds, we had to leave before the end, which was tricky because its like going round ikea and everyone is in costume so I had to approach a zombie and try and have a rational conversation about finding the exit.

Sorry, but that's really funny

Barney16 · 01/08/2025 20:57

All my children cried hysterically and we had to leave. No refunds 😞

cadburyegg · 01/08/2025 20:55

YABU. When I went a few years ago I got locked in a cage 🤣

Quite a few older (12+) kids had to be taken out before the experience finished. I wouldn’t take my 10 year old.

BusySittingDown · 01/08/2025 20:08

We went years ago with the DC, then 4 and 8. Had no idea what to expect, asked the guy at the ticket office if we could take children in, he said yes, fine. Thought it mustn't be bad.

4 year old was fine, 8 year old absolutely terrified! We had to leave through the chicken exits in the end. I think that the only reason that the 4 year old was fine was because it went completely over her head.

So, no. I wouldn't take an 8 year old unless you know for a fact that they really don't scare easily.

AragornsManlyStubble · 01/08/2025 20:04

Though reading the thread I feel mine is an anomaly. 😂

He had had a thorough conservation before hand with older DD who has very fond memories of going at around the same age and also made it through with no fear. Remembers clearly me being put on trial as a witch!

My kids are weird.

AragornsManlyStubble · 01/08/2025 20:00

I went a couple of months ago with my seven year old, he was fine. Found the jump scares fun.

Original poster
Sometimeswinning · 01/08/2025 19:38

Thankyou everyone! I will not go with her. For a family day it’s £139 and neither me or dh will want to leave but I think one of us will definitely have to. Crossed off the list!

OP posts:
Cablescablescables · 01/08/2025 19:37

Omg NO!!!! I had to be escorted out when I was a teenager (ok ok I was 23) and having a full blown panic attack, sobbing hysterically on some poor bloke I didn’t know as they had separated us from our family to enhance the fear!! I needed a very stiff drink at 10am to calm me down, 20 years on and I’m still traumatised!

Wrongthings · 01/08/2025 19:36

Nope. I still remember the sound effects of sawing someone’s leg off from a visit aged 10 - 40 years ago!

Original poster
Sometimeswinning · 01/08/2025 19:36

Pricelessadvice · 01/08/2025 19:35

I didn’t find it bad at all and would have said it was fine for an 8 year old. Maybe I’m misremembering it 😅

Think you’re me! 😂

OP posts:
Pricelessadvice · 01/08/2025 19:35

I didn’t find it bad at all and would have said it was fine for an 8 year old. Maybe I’m misremembering it 😅

ClaraPowell · 01/08/2025 19:34

My 8 year old pleaded to be taken there and was traumatised, so I’d say no.