A splendid companion
for rambles in London!, July 1, 2000
Even for those who don't
believe in ghosts! It's a good idea to have some sort of a quest when you
travel, whether it be the search for the driest pub cider or the
quintessential Wren spire. Without some such unifying theme, travel can
become a pointless round of obligatory tourist stops. Hunting hauntings is
an excellent quest because it inevitably involves two of the main joys of
travel in England--history and atmosphere. I have spent four fascinating
vacations in England seeking the most haunted site in the Isles and the
ultimate English garden--with liberal dashes of theatre and museums for
variety-and still I have only scratched the surface of each subject.
"Walking Haunted London" was a wonderful addition to my most recent trip. I
took the entire Chiswick walk (backwards) and did portions of the Old City,
City of the Dead, Westminster, and Covent Garden walks. All creepily
enjoyable! Not only are the walks well-described and the ghosts' stories
enthusiastically recounted, but the book gives good hints about other
important matters, such as cosy pubs and interesting historical sites on or
near the routes. (By the way, I understand that Richard Jones also guides
the "Original Psychic Ghost Walk" in London many nights of the year. I
haven't taken this walking tour myself, but if his storytelling skills match
his storywriting skills, it's probably great. If interested, check the
TimeOut listings when in town.)
Well Written and
Very Atmospheric, June 22, 2003
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Reviewer:
Thomas McNaulty from San Diego. CA. USA |
I really enjoyed reading
this book and following the routes. Richard Jones is a compelling
storyteller and his eyes for direction and detail is excellent. I
purchased the book prior to my recent vacation in London and read it
cover to cover on the plane over. The first route I followed was the
Jack the Ripper Walk and I found it spinechilling. Whitechapel seems as
eerie and crime-ridden now as it did back in 1888. I took Jones's
suggestion and purchased the A-Z of jack the Ripper before setting out
and so was well prepared with the additional information required. I
found the Tower of London walk a superbly laid out route around the old
fortress. It kept me well away from the crowds and in some of the towers
I was totally alone (at least I hope I was.)The text captured perfectly
the ambience of each section of the tower's towers. |
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way
through eerie and, in many cases, long-forgotten parts of England's capital
city. From Deadman's Walk and the Screamng Wood to Dick Turpin and Jack the
Ripper, professional tour guide and ghost hunter Richard Jones leaves no haunted
house or lost soul unmentioned. Join him on a journey through shadowed
alleyways, sleepy pubs and the darkest recesses of London's historic homes. This
book presents atmospheric illustrations and route maps along with full details
of transport, opening times and the moments when ghosts are most likely to
appear.