Serial Killer: I visited London's gruesome new exhibition and there are some things I can't unsee

Set underground in the capital’s famous graffitied Leake Street tunnel, the Waterloo hidden spot gives off all the eerie vibes you’d imagine a serial killer themed exhibition to have.  

Just a short walk from the busy Southbank area, the tunnel which has previously hosted a few Banksy works in its time is now set to become known to true crime fans for its latest display.

Serial Killer: The Exhibition, invites London locals and visitors to explore the history behind the serial killing phenomenon, and show scientific truth of how real criminal minds work.

Starting off with a brief introduction to the phenomenon, you soon walk into a room dedicated to London’s most notorious figure, Jack The Ripper. Come on, you can’t have a serial killer display based in the capital without mentioning its most prolific murderer. 

Remaining unidentified to this day, the section details his spree in Whitechapel in the 19th century and includes a rather gruesome recreation of the scene in which one of his victims Mary Jane Kelly was found after her attack.

Get the latest headlines, straight to your inbox, with LondonWorld’s free emails.

From there you guide yourself around the display’s seven rooms as you learn more about some of the other most infamous serial killers in history including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer as well as some you may not have heard of.

As well as displaying artefacts that once belonged to the figures including Dennis Nilsen’s glasses the exhibition has also recreated some of the grisly lairs such as Jeffrey Dahmer’s kitchen. 

Throughout there are also sections focused on movies inspired by serial killers, UK based cases and cyber murders who found their victims online as well as the forensics behind linking the figures to their crimes.

If the exhibits hadn’t made you already feel on edge the loud sudden noises of trains passing through Waterloo station above, the dimly lit display is also soundtracked by a tense score.

With over 1000 original artefacts on display, there is so much to read and explore as you make your way around. I think I was there for almost two hours when I visited.

There are even a few quizzes you can take to test your knowledge and see if you are a psychopath - I was relieved to learn I was rated 5% less psychopathic than the average person.

Rounding off the exhibition is a set of four virtual reality experiences including one which transports you back into cobbled streets of 19th century London during Jack The Ripper’s reign of terror.

When exploring the exhibition I found it interesting how many serial killers I hadn’t actually heard of. I wouldn’t consider myself a real true crime fan, but I’m familiar with some of the more infamous figures like Manson and Dahmer. 

Although some of the gruesome re-enactments across the display had me feeling a bit uneasy. In particular I don’t think I can un-see the Jack The Ripper scene at the start.

Those wanting to visit the display for themselves can book tickets via Serial Killer: The Exhibition’s ticket partner Fever which start from £21.