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59-431: The London Dungeon is a tourist attraction / haunted attraction along London 's South Bank , England , which recreates various gory and macabre historical events in a gallows humour style. It uses a mixture of live actors, special effects and rides. The London Dungeon was opened in 1974 by Annabel Geddes. The attraction was originally a wax exhibition of the horrifying history, consisting of themed tableaux under

118-521: A car boot sale in nearby Pimlico. The sale Items on offer included an “array of torture and surgical equipment, severed limbs, false eyeballs, plague doctor's potions & a severed head”. The original venue was redeveloped by Network Rail . The London Dungeon is one of six Dungeons in the UK. There are also a number of related attractions around the world. In its changing years, the London Dungeon has been

177-504: A dim light from the inner courtyard. The gallows were constructed outside a door in Newgate Street for public viewing. Dense crowds of thousands of spectators could pack the streets to see these events, and in 1807 dozens died at a public execution when part of the crowd of 40,000 spectators collapsed into a crowd crush . In November 1835 James Pratt and John Smith were the last two men to be executed for sodomy . Michael Barrett

236-644: A free-fall drop into darkness. The new ride replaced the Blood and Guts Café . In 2008, there were changes to the Jack the Ripper segment, which included a new ending scene in the Ten Bells pub. In 2009 came Surgery - Blood and Guts , which focused on gore and anatomy and used audience interaction. Bloody Mary: Killer Queen opened in 2010 in place of the Fire of London segment, and selected

295-460: A half century later, in 1431, city administrators met to discuss other potential areas of reform. Proposed regulations included separating freemen and freewomen into the north and south chambers, respectively, and keeping the rest of the prisoners in underground holding cells. Good prisoners who had not been accused of serious crimes would be allowed to use the chapel and recreation rooms at no additional fees. Meanwhile, debtors whose burden did not meet

354-586: A management buy out, led by Nick Varney . Merlin rebranded the Dungeon more as an interactive horror attraction, less historically-accurate and based around bad taste humour. In 2013, the London Dungeon moved from its premises of 39 years in Tooley Street , to County Hall , South Bank , to be grouped with other Merlin-owned attractions such as the London Eye . The new building was designed by architect Ralph Knott and

413-458: A minimum threshold would not be required to wear shackles. Prison officials were barred from selling food, charcoal, and candles. The prison was supposed to have yearly inspections, but whether they actually occurred is unknown. Other reforms attempted to reduce the waiting time between jail deliveries to the Old Bailey , with the aim of reducing suffering, but these efforts had little effect. Over

472-399: A new ransacked village scene, at the start of the ride, and the finale included a lift into the unknown, followed by a turntable and a backwards drop. The original story at the top of the drop was of an executioner with an axe, but this was later changed to a firing squad, that shot, just as guests plunged backwards. 2000 saw the re-introduction of the Fire of London segment, which simulated

531-562: A price. These keepers in turn were permitted to exact payment directly from the inmates, making the position one of the most profitable in London. Inevitably, often the system offered incentives for the keepers to exhibit cruelty to the prisoners, charging them for everything from entering the gaol to having their chains both put on and taken off. They often began inflicting punishment on prisoners before their sentences even began. Guards, whose incomes partially depended on extorting their wards, charged

590-466: A prison cell used to house St. Oliver Plunkett in 1681 is on display at St Peter's Church in Drogheda , Ireland (which also displays his head). The phrase "[as] black as Newgate's knocker" is a Cockney reference to the door knocker on the front of the prison. A record of executions conducted at the prison, together with commentary, was published as The Newgate Calendar . The prison appears in

649-473: A public hanging. The original London Dungeon opened in 1974 as a gory horror exhibition through dark British history, operating as a free-flow walkthrough attraction, themed to torture and sin. It was expanded in the 1980s and 90s with several elaborate animated walkthrough attractions, such as the Great Fire of London and Jack The Ripper . In 1997, by which time the Dungeon was managed by Vardon Attractions,

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708-421: A random audience member to be publicly burned as a "heretic" using smoke effects. Vengeance 5D opened in 2011, an interactive seated shooter ride, themed to a séance. The ride was constructed in areas of the original Jack the Ripper attraction, which was significantly shortened to accommodate the new ride. Vengeance lasted only one season. The last Tooley Street tour took place on 31 January 2013, and contained

767-481: A reasonable admission charge or even for free, others may be of low quality and overprice their goods and services (such as admission, food, and souvenirs) in order to profit excessively from tourists. Such places are commonly known as tourist traps . Within cities, rides on boats and sightseeing buses are sometimes popular. Novelty attractions are oddities such as the " biggest ball of twine " in Cawker City, Kansas ,

826-480: A simple boat ride, largely through darkness. 2006 saw the arrival of a Sweeney Todd segment. The attraction used surround sound and sensory effects to simulate an encounter with the titular character, before visitors' chairs were suddenly tilted backwards as a shock effect. Another ride segment was added in 2007, Extremis - Drop Ride to Doom , based on the hangings at Newgate gallows. Guests were raised 20 feet to meet an animatronic judge, priest and hangman before

885-732: A supposed UFO crash site near Roswell, New Mexico and the alleged Loch Ness monster sightings in Scotland . Ethnic communities may become tourist attractions, such as Chinatowns in the United States and the black British neighborhood of Brixton in London , England. Tourists also look for special local culinary experiences such as street kitchens in Asian metropolises or the coffeehouse culture in Central Europe . In particular, cultural property and

944-662: Is a good example of a region marketed and branded as a place for tourists to visit, mainly known for its Châteaux of the Loire valley . A tropical island resort is an island or archipelago that depends on tourism as its source of revenue. The Bahamas in the Caribbean , Bali in Indonesia , Phuket in Thailand , Hawaii in the United States , Fiji in the Pacific, and Santorini and Ibiza in

1003-602: Is marketed or markets itself as a place for tourists to visit". It may contain one or more tourist attractions and possibly some "tourist traps". Fátima town, for example, is a popular tourist destination in Portugal . Siem Reap town is a popular tourist destination in Cambodia , mainly owing to its proximity to the Angkor temples. The Loire valley , the third tourist destination in France ,

1062-477: Is not enough to prevent destruction, robbery and looting. The founding president of Blue Shield International Karl von Habsburg summed it up with the words: “Without the local community and without the local participants, that would be completely impossible”. Newgate Prison Newgate Prison was a prison at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey, just inside the City of London , England, originally at

1121-603: The Black Museum at New Scotland Yard on the prison's closure. Other famous prisoners at Newgate include: The Central Criminal Court – known as the Old Bailey after the street on which it stands – now stands upon the Newgate Prison site. The original iron gate leading to the gallows was used for decades in an alleyway in Buffalo, New York . It is currently housed in that city at Canisius University . The original door from

1180-634: The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota , or Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska , where old cars serve in the place of stones in a replica of Stonehenge . Novelty attractions are not limited to the American Midwest, but are part of Midwestern culture . A tourist destination is a city, town, or other area that is significantly dependent on revenues from tourism, or "a country, state, region, city, or town which

1239-411: The "stone hall" whereas common felons were taken to the "stone hold". The dungeons were dirty and unlit, so depraved that physicians would not enter. The conditions did not improve with time. Prisoners who could afford to purchase alcohol from the prisoner-run drinking cellar by the main entrance to Newgate remained perpetually drunk. There were lice everywhere, and jailers left the prisoners chained to

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1298-502: The Master's side for those could afford to pay for their own food and accommodations, the Common side for those who were too poor, and a Press Yard for special prisoners. The king often used Newgate as a holding place for heretics, traitors, and rebellious subjects brought to London for trial. The prison housed both male and female felons and debtors. Prisoners were separated into wards by sex. By

1357-466: The Mediterranean are examples of popular island resorts. France , the United States , and Spain were the three most popular international destinations in 2017. The total number of international travelers arriving in those countries was about 234 million, contributing 8.9%, 7.7%, and 14.9%, respectively, to the total GDP of those countries. Although some years back, Africa was lean on tourism,

1416-509: The Ripper and Sweeney Todd . The Dungeon's shows are staged on theatrical sets with special effects. The show incorporates events such as the Black Death and the Gunpowder Plot , and includes characters such as "The Torturer", "The Plague Doctor", and "The Judge". Guests are encouraged to participate in the shows. The experience also includes a "drop ride to doom", a free-fall ride staged as

1475-722: The Tooley Street arches. Early characters included Boudica , Mary Tudor and Thomas Becket and had scenes from the Norman Conquest . From the late 1980s to mid 90s, it evolved to feature walkthrough theatrical shows, such as the Great Fire of London and Jack the Ripper, during which time it was owned by the Kunick Leisure Group. It was acquired by Vardon Attractions in 1992, which later became Merlin Entertainments through

1534-472: The United States, owners and marketers of attractions advertise tourist attractions on billboards along the sides of highways and roadways, especially in remote areas. Tourist attractions often distribute free promotional brochures to be displayed in rest areas , information centers, fast food restaurants, and motel rooms or lobbies. While some tourist attractions provide visitors a memorable experience for

1593-421: The author's personal assessments. Sometimes it is particularly emphasized that this particular tourist attraction has not yet been in the focus of the international tourism industry. Some of the sights are internationally known or target the national or local market. Some attractions are reserved for the local population or are rarely advertised because the main traffic routes and main airports are too far away. In

1652-615: The burning streets of 17th-century London and featured a spinning trommel with smoke effects. Under Merlin Entertainments, increasingly actor-led segments were added during the 2000s, such as the Labyrinth of the Lost mirror maze and the Great Plague . In 2004, the Judgement Day boat ride was altered and renamed to Traitor - Boat Ride to Hell , removing the original effects and scenes to become

1711-465: The centuries, Newgate was used for a number of purposes including imprisoning people awaiting execution, although it was not always secure: burglar Jack Sheppard twice escaped from the prison before he went to the gallows at Tyburn in 1724. Prison chaplain Paul Lorrain achieved some fame in the early 18th century for his sometimes dubious publication of Confessions of the condemned. In 1783,

1770-903: The city. The " Rough Guide to Britain" describes it as best enjoyed by "young teenagers and the credulous". Tourist attraction Places of natural beauty such as beaches , tropical island resorts , national parks , mountains , deserts and forests , are examples of traditional tourist attractions which people may visit. Cultural tourist attractions can include historical places, sites of significant historic event , monuments , ancient temples , zoos , aquaria , museums and art galleries , botanical gardens , buildings and structures (such as forts , castles , libraries , former prisons , skyscrapers , bridges ), theme parks and carnivals , living history museums , public art ( sculptures , statues , murals ), ethnic enclave communities, historic trains and cultural events. Factory tours, industrial heritage, creative art and crafts workshops are

1829-510: The construction of prisons, where the accused would stay while royal judges debated their innocence or guilt and subsequent punishment. In 1188, Newgate was the first institution established to meet that purpose. Also around this time, the Sheriffs of London were given jurisdiction in Middlesex , as well as in the City of London . A few decades later in 1236, in an effort to significantly enlarge

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1888-484: The continent is currently regarded as the second fastest growing tourism region with over 67 million tourists visits to Africa in 2018. Ethiopia , with a growth rate of 48.6% in 2018, is at the top of the list of African tourist centers. Other tourist locations in Africa include Cape Town, South Africa , Giza Necropolis , Egypt , The Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya , Victoria Falls , Zimbabwe and Zambia . From

1947-466: The destination and contribute to the overall experience of the trip. The ultimate primary purpose of attractions is to attract the customer's attention so that they can come to a specific location and explore the various attractions on vacation. In the travel and tourism industry, attractions therefore play a particularly important role as this attracts tourists from all over the world. Tourist attractions are also created to capitalize on legends such as

2006-563: The event of war, many tourist attractions are a special goal in order to cause lasting damage to the enemy or to finance the war. International attempts are therefore made to protect and preserve these economic and cultural foundations of a community, city or country. There is intensive cooperation between the United Nations , UNESCO and Blue Shield International on the protection of cultural goods and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, cooperation between organizations and state authorities

2065-538: The following sections: The Labyrinth of the Lost; The Great Plague; Surgery: Blood and Guts; The Torture Chamber; The Courtroom; Bedlam; Traitor: Boat Ride to Hell; Sweeney Todd; Vengeance 5D; Jack the Ripper; Bloody Mary: Killer Queen; Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom. The new County Hall Dungeon features some of the attractions repurposed from the Tooley Street Dungeon, not including Bloody Mary and Vengeance 5D. When it departed its first home, many props were sold at

2124-656: The individual places of the UNESCO World Heritage Site have developed into tourist attractions. If too many tourists frequent individual places, this can lead to environmental pollution and resistance from the local population, such as in Barcelona or Venice. With regard to this whole subject, there are already lists of destinations that are not recommended to tourists. There are innumerable lists and reviews of tourist attractions. Visitor statistics, cultural significance, beauty or age are used and these always reflect

2183-512: The list of things that prison guards were not allowed to do serve as a better indication of the conditions in Newgate than the list of things that they were allowed to do. Gaolers were not allowed to take alms intended for prisoners. They could not monopolize the sale of food, charge excessive fees for beds, or demand fees for bringing prisoners to the Old Bailey . In 1393, new regulation was added to prevent gaolers from charging for lamps or beds. Not

2242-445: The majority of the attraction was completely redesigned as a batched walkthrough rather than a free-flow exhibit. This saw the arrival of Judgment Day , a water dark ride that began with visitors entering a mock trial to be sentenced to death, then boarding a boat through Traitor's Gate to their execution. The boat ride itself was a masterpiece in design in a crowded space. Many of the original horror tableaux were refurbished as part of

2301-410: The men's quarters to reach one – officials added a separate tower and chamber for female prisoners in 1406. Some Londoners bequeathed their estates to repair the prison. The building was collapsing and decaying, and many prisoners were dying from the close quarters, overcrowding, rampant disease, and bad sanitary conditions. Indeed, one year, 22 prisoners died from " gaol fever ". The situation in Newgate

2360-434: The mid-15th century, Newgate could accommodate roughly 300 prisoners. Though the prisoners lived in separate quarters, they mixed freely with each other and visitors to the prison. The prison was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, and was rebuilt in 1672 by Sir Christopher Wren . In 1752, a windmill was built on top of the prison by Stephen Hales in an effort to provide ventilation. In 1769, construction

2419-461: The object of cultural niches like industrial tourism and creative tourism. Many tourist attractions are also landmarks . But sports events such as a soccer game, Formula 1 race or sailing regatta can also attract tourists. Tourists' expectations when visiting a particular place are related to several features of the chosen destination: culture, architecture, gastronomy, infrastructure, landscape, events, shopping, etc. These features attract people to

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2478-516: The primary motivations for a region to promote itself as a tourism destination is the expected economic benefit. According to the World Tourism Organization , 698 million people travelled to a foreign country in 2000, spending more than US$ 478 billion. International tourism receipts combined with passenger transport currently total more than US$ 575 billion – making tourism the world's number one export earner. Tourist attractions can: In

2537-482: The prison, the king converted one of the Newgate turrets, which still functioned as a main gate into the city, into an extension of the prison. The addition included new dungeons and adjacent buildings, which would remain unaltered for roughly two centuries. By the 15th century, however, Newgate was in need of repair. Following pressure from reformers who learned that the women's quarters were too small and did not contain their own latrines – obliging women to walk through

2596-487: The prison. For much of its history, a succession of criminal courtrooms were attached to the prison, commonly referred to as the "Old Bailey". The present Old Bailey (officially, Central Criminal Court) now occupies much of the site of the prison. In the 12th century, Henry II instituted legal reforms that gave the Crown more control over the administration of justice. As part of his Assize of Clarendon of 1166, he required

2655-485: The prisoners for food, bedding, and to be released from their shackles. To earn additional money, guards blackmailed and tortured prisoners. Among the most notorious Keepers in the Middle Ages were the 14th-century gaolers Edmund Lorimer, who was infamous for charging inmates four times the legal limit for the removal of irons, and Hugh De Croydon, who was eventually convicted of blackmailing prisoners in his care. Indeed,

2714-532: The site of Newgate , a gate in the Roman London Wall . Built in the 12th century and demolished in 1904, the prison was extended and rebuilt many times, and remained in use for over 700 years, from 1188 to 1902. In the late 18th century, executions by hanging were moved here from the Tyburn gallows. These took place on the public street in front of the prison, drawing crowds until 1868, when they were moved into

2773-510: The site of London's gallows was moved from Tyburn to Newgate. Public executions outside the prison – by this time, London's main prison – continued to draw large crowds. It was also possible to visit the prison by obtaining a permit from the Lord Mayor of the City of London or a sheriff . The condemned were kept in narrow, sombre cells separated from Newgate Street by a thick wall and received only

2832-420: The sky and roofed with iron mesh (thus also known as Birdcage Walk). The bodies of the executed criminals were then buried beneath its flagstones. Until the 20th century, future British executioners were trained at Newgate. One of the last was John Ellis , who began training in 1901. In total – publicly or otherwise – 1,169 people were executed at the prison. Death masks of several of them were transferred to

2891-490: The subject of mixed response by visitors and leisure critics. In 1988, the attraction received much publicised appraisal from the then Lord Mayor of London Sir Greville Spratt for its dramatic depiction of the Great Fire of London . The original Great Fire attraction doubled attendance to the Dungeon upon opening. By contrast, in 2009, Rick Steves described the London Dungeon as "just a highly advertised, overpriced haunted house" and an "amateurish attraction" in his book on

2950-401: The tourism industry supply perspective, a destination is usually defined by a geo-political boundary, and destination marketing is most commonly funded by governments. From the traveler perspective, a destination might be perceived quite differently. Tourism generates substantial economic benefits for both host countries and tourists' home countries. Especially in developing countries, one of

3009-446: The wall to languish and starve. From 1315 to 1316, 62 deaths in Newgate were under investigation by the coroner, and prisoners were always desperate to leave the prison. The cruel treatment from guards did nothing to help the unfortunate prisoners. According to medieval statute, the prison was to be managed by two annually elected sheriffs , who in turn would sublet the administration of the prison to private "gaolers", or "keepers", for

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3068-465: Was a rise in street robberies. As such, the punishment for drawing out a dagger was 15 days in Newgate; injuring someone meant 40 days in the prison. Upon their arrival in Newgate, prisoners were chained and led to the appropriate dungeon for their crime. Those who had been sentenced to death stayed in a cellar beneath the keeper's house, essentially an open sewer lined with chains and shackles to encourage submission. Otherwise, common debtors were sent to

3127-566: Was begun by the King's Master Mason, John Deval , to enlarge the prison and add a new 'Old Bailey' sessions house. Parliament granted £50,000 (~£9.3 million in 2020 terms) towards the cost, and the City of London provided land measuring 1,600 feet (500 m) by 50 feet (15 m). The work followed the designs of George Dance the Younger . The new prison was constructed to an architecture terrible design intended to discourage law-breaking. The building

3186-430: Was demolished in 1903. All manner of criminals stayed at Newgate. Some committed acts of petty crime and theft, breaking and entering homes or committing highway robberies, while others performed serious crimes such as rapes and murders. The number of prisoners in Newgate for specific types of crime often grew and fell, reflecting public anxieties of the time. For example, towards the tail end of Edward I 's reign, there

3245-481: Was estimated at £30,000 (~£5.6 million in 2020 terms). Dance's new prison was finally completed in 1782. During the early 19th century, the prison attracted the attention of the social reformer Elizabeth Fry . She was particularly concerned at the conditions in which female prisoners (and their children) were held. After she presented evidence to the House of Commons improvements were made. The prison closed in 1902, and

3304-568: Was influenced by Baroque-style art. It is located directly opposite the Houses of Parliament – the same buildings Guy Fawkes tried to blow up with gunpowder in 1605. The move brought the opportunity to reinvigorate the Dungeon; the rebuild took an entire year and a budget of £20 million. The London Dungeon features 19 shows, 20 actors and 2 rides. Visitors are taken on a journey through 1000 years of London's history where they meet actors performing as some of London's most infamous characters, including Jack

3363-502: Was laid out around a central courtyard, and was divided into two sections: a "Common" area for poor prisoners and a "State area" for those able to afford more comfortable accommodation. Construction of the second Newgate Prison was almost finished when it was stormed by a mob during the Gordon riots in June 1780. The building was gutted by fire, and the walls were badly damaged; the cost of repairs

3422-417: Was so dire that in 1419, city officials temporarily shut down the prison. The executors of the will of Lord Mayor Dick Whittington were granted a licence to renovate the prison in 1422. The gate and gaol were pulled down and rebuilt. There was a new central hall for meals, a new chapel, and the creation of additional chambers and basement cells with no light or ventilation. There were three main wards:

3481-537: Was the last man to be hanged in public outside Newgate Prison (and the last person to be publicly executed in Great Britain) on 26 May 1868. From 1868, public executions were discontinued and executions were carried out on gallows inside Newgate, initially using the same mobile gallows in the Chapel Yard, but later in a shed built near the same spot. Dead Man's Walk was a long stone-flagged passageway, partly open to

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