Grim Reaper Tour (plus some)

Steven, Angie, Alex, and I went on a "Grim Reaper Tour" of London last night. (http://www.newlondon-tours.com/daily-tours/grim-reaper-tour.html) It was pretty neat. The fist tour we did during our first week here we got to see a lot more recognisable touristy spots but the story and the history of this tour was a lot more interesting although we did see some pretty cool buildings on this tour as well. Like:

30 St. Mary Axe (aka The Gherkin)

30 St. Mary Axe (aka The Gherkin)

Lloyd's Building

The London Tower

With it being a grim reaper tour the history was about the darker history of London. We stood on a spot were hundreds of people had been beheaded in front of an audience. A plague ditch- one of the built ditches where they would through all those who had died from the plague. Heard about ghosts and beheadings within the London Tower. Visited "Prostitute's Church" where the prostitutes weren't allowed to stand still to try and get clients so they would slowly walk around this church (Saint Botolph's Church.) And we went to a few places that were known to be spots where Jack the Ripper victims were found. Most of them have buildings built over them but one was the same as it was in his time. It is now known as Ripper's Corner. We also went and saw a pub, The Ten Bells, that is the same pub where Jack the Ripper was believed to have scoped out his next victims. They have kept the pub the same (as well as they can.) I failed to get a picture of the pub :(

Fun Fact: There was a man named Lord Simon Fraser who was sentenced to be beheaded. This was to be the last beheading in England so they made all these stadium type seating all over Tower Hill. They wanted to make a real spectacle out of it. Right as the executioner went to chop his head off there was a loud crash. The crash was from one of the seating areas collapsing, actually killing 20 people. Simon Fraser found this extremely funny and could not stop laughing. He laughed all the way until his head was chopped off. They say that when they held his head up he actually still had a grin on his face. This is where the phrase "Laugh your head off" comes from! Who knew right?


ALSO: I almost forgot! How could I?
After the tour I made them come with me to see the photo opp for Platform 9 3/4!! :) They have moved it because J.k. Rowling was a little off on the platform placing in the book. Platforms 9&10 are in separate wings of King's Cross Station.

So instead I found out that they filmed the movie between platforms 4 & 5. So of course I had to go there and take a picture!

This exact place is where they filmed the movie! :)

My little nerd heart.. oh so happy :)