London Dungeons for an 8 year old?

[Sometimeswinning]

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

@Sometimeswinning Why do you think horror is a good thing for young dc? Do they watch the awful news pictures shown on the 10pm news? Do they like this sort of thing or are you putting your likes on them? I’ve never introduced my dc to horror, other than a Beefeater talk at the Tower of London. Who actually needs to be frightened as a child? There’s so much more to London than expensive horror tickets. We preferred a show.

Definitely not. I was scared at 13

No way, I went at 13 and it was really unpleasant, we all panicked and there wasn't an easy way out. Eventually some random man took pity on us and had to be quite stern to get us out.

when I was a TA we took year 6 there on a school trip which I don’t think would happen these days! I didn’t realise you could leave part way through so made all my group do the whole thing! I loved it and was really into Jack the Ripper at the time so loved when he appeared right in front of me!

Took mine at 12 and she had nightmares afterwards ☹️
Went back at 14 and she loved it.

I go to shows. I go to museums. Going to London is not a one off treat for us.

My children have naturally gravitated towards horror. They’ve most probably picked it up off me and school have a lot to answer for. Youngest would want to come with us so I thought I’d check with people who have an actual experience of it. Either we all go or none of us go. From the posters who have answered that question (helpfully) we will not be going.

I have seen a free walking tour of Jack the Ripper though 🧐

Pretty sure I went at around 8 and was fine. I just about remember it!

Some children love to be scared, there wouldn’t be such things as ghost trains and haunted house at theme parks and fairs if they didn’t. It’s why Tim Burton stuff is so popular with children.

they’ve changed it, it a far shorter experience and not as scary at all. Bit jumpy but it’s not like it was.

We took our 6 year old 🤦🏻‍♀️ we had no idea what it entailed. I felt so embarrassed and ashamed as it was terrifying. He lasted till the end though and it didn’t affect him afterwards at all. But no, I wouldn’t recommend it at all for young kids.

I have seen a free walking tour of Jack the Ripper though

To my eternal shame I once went, at the request, of a visiting American friend on a paying walking tour of Jack the Ripper and have regretted it ever since.

Imagine if tour companies in Yorkshire were running Peter Sutcliffe tours.

A few years' ago I was working in Fournier Street, Spitalfields, for four weeks - as I used to head to the tube around 20.00 there would be a group of tourists on a ripper walk gathered at the end of the street and it reminded me every single night of how stupid I'd been.

Maybe 10 or 11. I guess it depends on your child!

No chance. My mum took my 13 year old niece and she wet the bed that night. Far too scary.

It’s not as good as it used to be when it was over by the tower of London.
but age wise i’d say 12- they’ll have been exposed to more horrors in year 7 😅

@Sometimeswinning The school is to blame for horror? Do they execute dc? No child is born liking horror. We didn’t watch it, have books on it or think it was remotely suitable. As a result they had no opportunity to choose anything to do with horror. Yours have obviously had unsuitable options presented but school? I cannot see any link between school and the London Dungeons. It all sounds unhealthy to me.

Shrek Adventure is in the same location and a similar concept - but way more age appropriate! I also enjoyed as an adult - but we went years ago when it first opened so not sure what it’s like now.

The whole concept is nasty. Making entertainment out of serial killers, torture and suffering. Sweeney Todd is fictional, but the rest all really happened, and still goes on in the world today.

Its horrible. Tourist trash and nasty .

I think it's more for teens tbh. I went a few years ago and the strobe lighting and people jumping at me in the dark was almost a Tena moment! Unlikely to repeat a visit

I guess I'm the minority here, but I don't think the dungeon is scary at all. It's a fun exhibition. My kids loved it. I would explain that everything inside is played out by actors, just so they know there aren't real dangers mulling about.

Yes. Tourist trash sums it up!

Honestly if you want to read into it this much then start your own thread. It was a throw away comment based on the plague topic and some poems my daughter is doing for her GCSE’s next year. I take it back. All I wanted was a query answered. Not everything needs debating.

If it helps you’re right. It’s too late for my three. Well done on your choices.

What's the big deal? Jack the ripper was over 125 years ago and no one knew who he actually was.

Nobody alive today actually lived through it unlike the Yorkshire ripped

I wouldn’t go at all personally as I find it grotesque that they use the violent murder of real women as entertainment. Feel the same about the ‘Jack the Ripper’ tours you can do. In any case 8 is definitely too young.

Hmm. Tricky one. Would you not watch anything historical where women were abused or murdered?

I do think the lens of time makes a difference.