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Sensory Guide

The London Dungeon is a highly sensory experience with dark spaces, loud noises, flashing/strobe lights, pungent smells and jump scares.

We recognise this total immersion may be difficult for people who are Neurodivergent or have additional sensory needs.

To help you be prepared for the experience, we have put together the following sensory journey which describes each different area of the attraction:

Please note that some areas of the attraction will be themed differently depending on the season/time of year. For more details please get in touch with our guest experience team ahead of your visit: LDguestexperience@merlinentertainments.biz

The London Dungeon is a highly sensory experience with dark spaces, loud noises, flashing/strobe lights, pungent smells and jump scares. There is low lighting throughout the attraction with some tight spaces and narrow corridors. Throughout the tour, audience participation is incorporated in each show to immerse guests in London’s gruesome past. Staff are trained to select guests at random, so if you do not wish to participate, please let them know and they will move on to pick someone else. Please note, staff are trained to recognise the Hidden Disabilities sunflower lanyard here at the London Dungeon and we have ear defenders should you or your fellow guests need them. Please talk to a member of staff at any point during the tour should you require any assistance.

Should you wish to enter the London Dungeon but later feel that you need to leave, please just speak to a member of staff or an Actor and they will assist – you are welcome to take some time backstage and re-join the tour when you are ready, or a manager will be called to facilitate your exit.

We recognise this total immersion may be difficult for people who are neurodivergent or have additional sensory needs. To help you be prepared for the experience, we have put together the following sensory journey which describes each different area of the attraction.

Here you will enter and show or purchase your tickets. It can get quite busy in this area and sometimes there might be a queue to get in. If you need assistance at any point when queuing, then please speak to a member of the team.

See: Security scanner, Staff, guests, queueing chains, low lighting, barrels & skeletons, ticket machines, tills
Hear: Background music, security scanner beeping, loud noises in the sound track to jump scare, staff & guests
Touch: Glass, ticket machine screens, wooden counter, chains
Smell: Food smells from outside, general attraction smells
Feel: Pavement flooring

Here you will have the chance to get your photo taken before heading into the depths of the Dungeon. If you wish to skip this part then please speak to a member of the team.

See: Staff, guests, stocks, an axe, camera flashes, green screen, Dungeon theming
Hear: Background music, camera clicking, guests, sound effects, staff
Touch: An axe, wooden stocks, wooden door, photo card given by staff
Smell: General attraction smells.
Feel: Pavement/cobbled flooring

Once you pass the photo point you will find the toilets including a disabled access toilet. These are the only toilets of the tour.

See: Dark theming and low lighting, entrance to toilets; male, female, and accessible toilets (red emergency cord), mirrors, hand dryers, sinks, staff and guests.
Hear: Sound effects, character voices, background music, guests, hand dryers.
Touch: Doors, handles, soap, taps, wooden signs.
Smell: Cleaning products.
Feel: Pavement/cobbled flooring.

Here you will see the monk/nun character and await your time to enter into the depths of the Dungeon. In peak times this area can get quite busy, please speak to a member of the team should you need assistance.

See: Props, monk / Nun character, theming, low lighting, wooden gate
Hear: Monk / Nun character talking, background music, loud sound effects, guests.
Touch: Walls, wooden gate
Smell: N/A
See: Mannequins
Feel: Cobbled flooring

Here you will hear the rules of the tour as you meet our resident Lift Jester as you begin your descent into the Dungeon via our lift. If you do not wish to use the lift then please speak to a member of the team who can take you down an alternative route.

See: Cogs, the Jester, wooden walls, lift doors, small stage
Hear: Mechanical sounds, jester, other guests
Feel: Pavement flooring
Smell: N/A

Here you will begin your descent into the depths of the Dungeon. If you do not wish to use the lift please speak to a member of the team who can take you an alternative route.

See: Wooden walls, jester, strobe lighting, chains
Hear: Voice overs, mechanical sounds, jester talking
Feel: Wooden walls, floor shaking, wooden flooring and vibrations
Smell: General attraction smells

Experience the full force of Henry VIII's wrath in an altogether darker and scarier experience on the Tyrant Boat Ride where you'll meet your fate. There are ride restrictions in place please speak to a member of the team if you have any questions or would like to bypass the ride.

See: Boats, water, model, axes, barrels, projection, fog, heads, guests, staff member in costume, low lighting and moments of complete darkness
Hear: Sound effects, mechanics, voice over, background music, staff member explaining the rules, staff member giving instructions
Feel: water spray, motion of the boat, air cannons, wooden flooring at dockside, wooden seats, smoke/haze
Smell: Damp, sewage type smell

This is where you will exit the boat ride. Now you're in The Tower of London where you'll meet the Tower Warden and find out what kind of traitor you are… and how you’ll be executed!

See: Boats, water, model heads, wooden set, tower warden character, stage, wooden dock
Hear: Tower warden talking about their job, crow sound effects, cannon firing
Feel: Haze, spongy floor, wooden boat
Smell: Water, damp smell

The Gun Powder plot is nearly afoot and there are traitors everywhere… A servant to one of the central conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot wants to rock the foundations of this country, ridding ourselves once and for all of King James and his Government! Will you help them?

See: Barrels, conspirator character, wooden door, candles
Hear: Talking, banging, cannon firing, guest screaming
Feel: Cobbled flooring
Smell: General attraction smells

You will go up 1 flight of stairs to get to the Conspirator's Walk

Beyond the city gates you enter a dark tunnel that winds back beneath the city of London. Dare you proceed? This area is the journey between Conspirator and Bates, were you will try and escape the King's guards and safely deliver the letter.

See: Stairs, low wooden beams, barrels, candles, cobwebs, figures, bars, very low lighting
Hear: Banging, screaming, sound effects
Feel: Cobwebs, low beams, pavement type flooring
Smell: Gun powder scent

Here you may potentially experience a jump scare

Who could resist the chance to BLOW UP PARLIAMENT? Obviously you shouldn't concern yourselves with a certain unlit fuse next to all the gunpowder. Just relax and enjoy the history… it's never been so explosive.

See: Barrels, Master Bates character, smoke, haze, character, projection of Guy Fawkes, lit fuse
Hear: Guy Fawkes, explosion, character talking, sound effects
Feel: haze, smoke, floor shaking, cobbled flooring
Smell: Gun power scent

Now you find yourself in the Torture Chamber. The Torturer is looking for 'volunteers'. Prepare to be delighted and repulsed in equal measure. If you do not wish to volunteer please say no when asked and the actor will move on to someone else.

See: Cages, torture instrument, chair, guts, walls, fire, stage, skeletons
Hear: Sound effects, torturer speaking, screams, banging, metal clanging
Feel: Chair, cages, wooden doors, pavement type flooring
Smell: N/A

Here you will make your way through the plague ridden streets of London and up one flight of steps to the Pest House. Here you might potentially experience a jump scare.

See: Figures, bodies, skeletons, plague masks, cobbles, vomiting man, streets, wooden gates, clothes hanging
Hear: Sound effects, voices, water splashing
Feel: Water spray, clothes hanging, wooden slats and cobbled flooring
Smell: Plague smell

You’ve strolled along the stinking streets of London in 1665 with death and disease surrounding you, but it’s not only the plague you’ve got to survive, the bailiff has led you to a deserted pesthouse where you’ll spend 40 days and nights to escape the outbreak. This space can be quite crowded so please speak to one of the characters should you need assistance.

See: Wooden platform, windows, shelves, metal door
Hear: Character talking, voice over, sound effects, objects falling, smashing
Feel: Pavement type flooring, haze
Smell: Plague smell

It's 1665 and the Black Plague is rife. Once you’ve experienced the pest house, then you'll meet the Plague Doctor. Oh wait... he's dead. Let's not worry, the assistant is in charge and on the lookout for those infected.

See: Body, guts, benches, skeletons, leeches, blood, chair, curtain, hammer, flashing lights, blackouts
Hear: Vomiting, leeches, speaking, sound effects, gong
Feel: Leeches under the leather benches, air cannon, water squirt, wooden and cobbled flooring
Smell: Musky plague smell

You’ll enter the bowels of Newgate Prison and witness Elizabeth Sawyer, The Witch of Edmonton, awaiting her execution.

See: Cages, witch, jailor, benches, wooden walls, chandelier, flashing lights, strobe, windows, portrait
Hear: Banging, voice over, music, witch talking, air cannon
Feel: Haze, wooden flooring, metal cage, benches vibrating
Smell: Haze / Smoke

If you do not wish to be put in the cage, please say no when asked and the actor will move onto someone else

See: Trommel spinning, figures, alley way, street, hanging washing
Hear: Music, voices, sound effects
Feel: Washing, cobwebs
Smell: Bakery smell

Mrs Lovett welcomes you from a stinking Fleet Street into her famous pie shop. She makes the best pies in all of London. She might even make YOU a pie!

See: Pies, bubbling pot, pie shop, bar, meat grinder, Mrs Lovett, hatch, body
Hear: Character talking, voice over, background music
Feel: Wooden flooring
Smell: Bakery smells

Fancy a short back and sides? Looking for a hair cut? Sweeney Todd can see you now and Mrs Lovett's assistant is more than happy to show you in.

See: Chairs, darkness, window, toby/ flora
Hear: Voice over, screams, sound effects
Feel: Chair moving, air blowing
Smell: N/A

If you do not wish to take part in this section, please speak to the actor and you can bypass this show

It's 1888 in the foggy gas lit streets of London's Whitechapel and you can smell the fear in the air as a murderer is on the loose. Mary Jane Kelly updates you on the recent Whitechapel murders.

See: Streets, lampposts, Mary Jane Kelly, body, lightening, lantern, blackouts
Hear: Banging, background music, actor speaking, thunder and lightning sound effects
Feel: Cobbled flooring
Smell: Haze / Smoke

Quickly! The only way to safety is through the Whitechapel Labyrinth, a confusing maze of narrow streets. If you want to skip this section then please speak to Mary Jane Kelly who will be able to assist in showing you an alterative route.

See: Mirrors, people, models, Walls
Hear: Chains dropping, loud bangs, sound effects and voice overs
Feel: Mirrors, bricks
Smell: N/A

Let Waldren, owner of the 10 Bells, tell you the ultimate ghost story on a stormy night. Who was Jack the Ripper and will he strike again?

See: Chairs, bar, tables, windows, shelves, character, lighting, flashing light, strobes, blackouts, spotlights
Hear: Sound effects, loud bangs, thunder, rain sounds, character talking, air cannon, music
Feel: Air cannons
Smell: N/A

You must be guilty or very guilty to find yourself in this court room and the Judge has little time for your excuses. Who will get pulled up into the dock to confess their crimes? This show includes audience participation, if you do not wish to participate, please say no to the judge and they will move on to another volunteer.

See: Courtroom, candles, Judge, docks, books, portraits
Hear: Judge, banging, music, sound effects
Feel: N/A
Smell: Wooden flooring

Here you will await your punishment handed to you by the Judge. This is a holding area before the drop ride where a team member will give you instructions for the ride. If you do not wish to ride, speak to a staff member and you can bypass this section.

See: Ride signage, theming, hanging nooses, wooden doors
Hear: Voice over describing rules, sound effects, staff member giving instructions
Feel: Pavement type flooring
Smell: N/A

Welcome to the Newgate Gallows. The crowd cheers and it's your turn to face the drop. The noose is ready as are the Judge, Priest, and executioner. The thrilling faster than gravity drop is the ultimate end to your Dungeon journey.

The drop dead is a freefall drop ride to your death in complete darkness. There are several restrictions in place for health and safety which are listed before entering the area. Guests who do not want to take part are given the opportunity to leave.

See: Gondola, lap bars, boxes, severed head models, ropes, staff member in costume, moments of darkness, camera flashes
Hear: Sound effects, voice over, background music, staff member explaining the rules, staff member giving instructions
Feel: Drop motion of the ride, metal bar, cushioned bar, hard foam seats, ride restraints, metal slatted flooring
Smell: N/A

See: Photo screens, staff, barriers, carts, theming
Hear: Sound effects, guests talking, screams from drop ride
Smell: N/A

This is the end of your tour. Here you can get a drink, take a seat or buy a souvenir in the London Dungeon gift shop.

See: Bar, chairs, tables, piano, shop, drinks
Hear: Music, guests, sound effects
Feel: Tables, chairs, items in the shop, drinks
Smell: Snacks and drink smells

Sensory Guide

The London Dungeon Sensory Guide

1. Admissions

2. Photo opportunity

3. Toilets

4. Rat run

5. Jester

6. The Descent

7. The Tyrant Boat Ride

8. Tower Warden

9. Conspirator

10. Conspirator's Walk

11. Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot

12. The Torture Chamber

13. Plague Street

14. Pest House

15. Plague Doctor

16. Curse of The Witch

17. Poppins Court

18. Mrs Lovett's Pie Shop

19. Sweeny Todd

20. Mitre Square

21. Mirror Maze

22. The Ten Bells Pub

23. The Courtroom

The Noose

24. The Drop Ride

Photo sales

25. The Tavern