True Crime Meets Theatrics at Victorian Condemned: A Halloween Special

The team at Visit Notts were recently invited to get a sneak peak of the brand new 18+ Halloween offering from the National Justice Museum. A brilliant mixture of true crime and a theatrical atmosphere, you’ll not want to miss this special tour which runs throughout October and November. Keep reading to learn more about Victorian Condemned: A Halloween Special.

As we arrived, the foyer at the National Justice Museum was dark, enveloped only in a green glow and subtle candlelight. The spooky vibes? Immaculate. The attention to detail? Incredible, as always! A drink on arrival? Most welcome! The scene was well and truly set, so we knew we were in for a fantastic experience.

Emerging from the darkness was a Victorian constable, who greeted us (played by their talented head interpreter, Stephen Dennis). He was to take us on a unique tour around the museum under the cover of darkness, while regaling us with various true stories of murderers linked to the venue’s past. This meant a high likelihood of walking the same hallways, standing in the same exercise yard and climbing the same stairs as the condemned, either before, during or after their punishment.

Sure enough, the tour started at the courtroom docks, where many of the murderers we heard about were tried. The following locations included the passageways built into the caves, the dark cells and the exercise yard. Without giving away any spoilers, one stop in particular may prompt the question: how long you would leave a body hanging after death? The Constable is interested in your thoughts, after all.

Aside from the atmospheric venue and the talented theatrics, the event has been extensively researched by the team at the National Justice Museum. All of the stories really are based on true records, genuine artefacts and historic case notes from the Victorian age.

Their incredible contextual knowledge of the time period only serves to give further life to the tales, as they invite you to examine the crimes and turn them over in your mind. With stories about prostitutes, mothers, and various men, this added context will educate you about some of the unique aspects and hardships of Victorian life and what drove them to murder in all of the very real cases. You may also begin to wonder what has changed in our modern society, if anything at all.

Moving around the museum, you will hear stories largely relevant to each location. As it is a roving tour, you should expect several staircases and steps, and it is recommended that you wear comfortable shoes and wrap up warm, as it can get a little cold in the prison.

Although there are no jump scares, this is an intense experience and is not recommended for those of a nervous disposition, as you will sometimes find yourself in small or dark spaces alongside the rest of the group.

This is a fantastic experience and the perfect Halloween activity for any true-crime lover. And at only £15 per ticket (which includes a welcome drink), you can even extend your night out with a drink and a debrief at one of the many fantastic city centre bars or restaurants on their doorstep.

Dates & Times

• Friday 25 October
• Saturday 26 October
• Wednesday 30 October
• Thursday 31 October
• Friday 1 November
• Saturday 2 November

Timings: 6pm and 7pm

More from the National Justice Museum

If you are interested in their other Halloween activities, we recommend their Ghost of the Gaol event which runs on selected dates in October with a focus on the paranormal. Or of you're looking for family friendly programming, check out their Kid's Ghost Hunter Tours, which also include craft activities and spooky games.

Or click here for more Halloween activities in Nottinghamshire!

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This blog was written by Katherine Taylor, Marketing Executive at Visit Nottinghamshire.