TravelValue: England: UK

Monday, February 19, 2018

"Flexibility" Is The Key To Air Power And A Charlotte House Core Value

Charlotte House Hotel

78 London Road

Peterborough PE2 9BP

United Kingdom

Phone number +44 1733 315870

Website: charlottehousehotel.com

Prices: ££££

Kudos to the owner/manager for her flexibility! Usually an expert and thorough logistician (after all, it was my military career field for 20 years), I somehow screwed the pooch on this reservation, booking this hotel for the day AFTER our scheduled arrival. I contacted the property that morning with my tail between my legs and, low and behold, they changed our reservation to that night without a cancellation (aka dumb ass) charge.

We arrived late after visiting friends I had not seen in 20 years just 20 miles south in Huntingdon and left early the next morning, so we did not have time to enjoy the hotel. Parking is in the rear, so take the street immediately north of the hotel (Park Street), then left again on Woodbine Street behind the hotel. If arriving after dark, you might see the slightly obscured "Charlotte House Car Park" sign on the fence adjacent to the property if you look hard enough (see photos below).

Rear of Hotel

A two-story Victorian building on the outskirts of town and less than a mile from the impressive Peterborough Cathedral (burial place of Catherine of Aragon and former resting place of Mary Queen of Scots), the feel is eclectic and somewhat modern, but warm, inviting and slightly charming The room was a tad odd with three steps down into the room from the entry, but it was large with an en suite bathroom, TV with cable, kettle with coffee/tea/milk/sugar, a comfy full size bed, and decent Wi-Fi. We slept well.

At £49.50 ($70.40), we kept the price under my preferred $75 limit and it included a delicious full English breakfast ... now that is a definitie TravelValue ... HOOAH!

CombatCritic Gives Charlotte House Hotel 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

London, England: Jack The Ripper Tour - Worth It Or Not?

Jack the Ripper Tour

77 Whitechapel High Street

London E1 7PE, United Kingdom

Aldgate Underground Station - Exit 3

Phone number +44 7803 067544

Website: thejacktherippertour.com

Prices: ££££

The infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper, got his name from a letter sent to the police, supposedly, by the killer himself.

"Dear Boss" Letter *

"The canonical five", as the Ripper's victims have come to be known, were Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly, prostitutes on London's East End and slaughtered, even dissected, on the streets between August 31st and November 9th 1888.

Annie Chapman Morgue Photo *

The Jack the Ripper tour starts just a few blocks away from the first murder scene at exit 3 of the Aldgate East Station (77 Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX - just west of Brick Lane and next to the Whitechapel Gallery). Note that there are at least three exits, hence "exit 3", so make sure you are at the right one at the appointed time or they will leave without you. We took the 7:30PM tour and the fee was £10 ($13.25) each. You need to book online at the website above.

CLICK HERE TO READ AN ASSOCIATED ARTICLE BY A FRIEND WHO ACCOMPANIED US ON THE TOUR

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the Jack the Ripper case, although impersonal, taking us on a 2-hour whirlwind tour (walking from site to site at a very brisk pace - if you are older, disabled, or have small children, this tour will be difficult for you) through the East End.

Street, Reportedly, Where "Diagon Alley" in "Harry Potter" Was Filmed *

The areas is much more modern and upscale now than it was at the turn of the century with a 50/50 mix of quaint Victorian buildings and recent eyesores.

We visited a few of the crime scenes, but many were torn down long ago or "too far away" to visit during our two hour marathon. Honestly, you could read the history on Wikipedia and map out a walking tour of the area yourself on Google Maps. I did it for you in about 15 minutes (CLICK HERE FOR WALKING ROUTE) using information from Wikipedia on "Jack the Ripper" and "Whitechapel Murders" and the route, which is much longer than the one we took, takes less than an hour on foot.

Walking Tour Route - Google Maps

10 Bells Pub - Where Two of the Victims Drank Prior To Their Murders

Christ Church, Spitalfields

Dormitory Where One Of The Victims Slept

Crime Scene Photo - Murder Scene *

Crime Scene - Present Day

Crime Scene - Early 1900s *

13 Millers Court - Site of Mary Kelly's Murder *

The tour would have been much more interesting and worthwhile had they used some theatrics, period costume(s), and playacting with a character or two, Jack the Ripper knife-in-hand and a bloody victim or two, along the way to provide some excitement. Our guide did have a handheld device from which some of the images you see (*) were projected onto walls and ceilings along the route, making it a little more realistic and gruesome.

Coroner's Sketch - Mary Kelly *

Catherine Eddowes Morgue Photo *

Message Written on Wall by Killer aka "Goulston Street graffito" *

Mary Kelly Crime Scene Photo *

For £10, it was interesting and I got a good workout in, so I cannot complain too much. If you take the tour, either this one, one of the others available or a self-guided tour (recommended), I suggest you do it during the day if you want better photos or at night if you prefer more realism and a dramatic feel.

Suspect #1 - The American Doctor *

1888 Eyewitness Drawing - Suspect #2 *

Modern Composite Drawing of "Jack the Ripper" From Eyewitness Accounts (Several Murders)

CombatCritic Gives The Jack The Ripper Tour 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Continue Mission"

TravelValue: England

Monday, February 19, 2018

"Flexibility" Is The Key To Air Power And A Charlotte House Core Value

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

London, England: Jack The Ripper Tour - Worth It Or Not?