Dungeons, London or York?
 

Hello, this is my first time posting anything. Let me start by saying that I have spent lots of time lately reading posts, this site is great! We, husband, kids and myself are going to England next year. It will be their first time, I've been several times.

I'd like to know if there's much difference between the London Dungeon and the York Dungeon. We'll be staying in both London, York and a small town in Yorkshire. The kids want to go to either of the Dungeons, and I doubt we'll need to go to both. Wanted to get opinions on which is better. Thanks to all for your advice!

DEFINITELY do a search (I know everybody says that!!!) here for that London Dungeon thing...I haven't personally been and it makes sense that the kids would love it but, as I recall, some people thought it was/is a big rip-off. Hopefully you'll hear from others with more first-hand information than my own.

Have never been to either but a friend took her son and his friend to the London dungeon and they were not at all impressed: they were 12 and 13 and said it was really only for little kids- their most repeatable remark was "too stoopid".

I live in London and have yet to meet a family that liked their visit to the London dungeons. There are so many great things to do in London! Don't waste time and money on this one!

HI
I went to the London D. a few years ago with kids who were about 6 and 9 at the time, and two other adults. Not one of us was impressed, except by the high price of admission.
It's not a genuine dungeon, just a theme-park kind of attraction.

However, in the Viaduct Tavern opposite the Old Bailey (courthouse) there is/was a genuine cell from the infamous Newgate Prison. You might want to confirm that it's still available for viewing.

This attraction is mentioned in many threads - and the concensus is 95% negative and about 5% positive (not an exaggeration). Save your money.

If the kids absolutely INSIST - take them to the one in York -- you can wait outside soaking up some of the atmosphere and then go on your merry way when they come out . . . .

I've been to the London Dungeon and like others was not very thrilled, especially with the heavy admission fee. But if i were a kid of say 13 or under i would have loved it. York Dungeon would be similar i suspect; lots of special effects meant to be scary. I'd say let the kids do it if they want - i've often seen bored kids in tow in Europe because they only see cultural things - some Kitsch is OK. And if they don't go they'll always wonder what it was.

Every single one of our nephews, nieces and godchildren has said they wanted to go to the London Dungeon.

All of them felt that both they and we had been ripped off when they saw the reality. Even the most unthinking of them admitted afterwards that they preferred the British Museum or some other place they'd been dragged into to humour us.

Spend more time in a real ruined castle. Their imagination will be able to excite them a great deal more than this micro theme park.

PalQ: If you notice above, several children between age 6 and 13 were also unimpressed. Have friends who have taken kids (3 families, 7 kids) to the one in London and not one enjoyed it -- well one did like it a little bit but groused the whole time that it took time away from spending more time at thr Tower.

I took 5 9 and 10 year old boys to the London dungeon- definitely thumbs down. They loved Warick Castle and the "train museum" in York.

We thought the dungeon at Berkeley Castle was the best of the lot.

It seems universal and i guess i would spend that money better elsewhere for the kids. I do wonder how the London Dungeon can stay in business with such universal thumbs down?

because it is in all the guidebooks, and like any tourist trap they only need to get each tourist once

Exactly, Elaine. Enough publicity in the right places and geared toward the right target will sell almost any sort of b.s. one can imagine.

We went to the LD a couple of years ago, two adults and a 17 year old, and we left laughing at how silly we were to plunk down so much money for so much nothing. I've seen halloween "haunted houses" run by the local Kiwanis club that were much better, seriously.

In fact, I would go so far as to say it is the worst attraction I've seen anywhere without exception. We all agreed that we wouldn't return if admission were FREE...

If you've seen the queues I see at the London Dungeon most lunchtimes when I pass, you'll see they have no trouble staying in business and making a decent profit. This is especially the case during school holidays where the queues stretch right up the street for some way. The wait sometimes must be at least 2 hours as the queue seems to move slowly.

I would say to a tourist definitely give it a miss as you have only a limited time here. Although when I went I found it was mildly fun but there are hundreds of better ways to spend your time and money in London.