The underrated UK seaside town that’s become a dark tourism hotspot

An underrated UK seaside town has become a dark tourism hotspot thanks to one museum.

The True Crime Museum in Hastings is a step back in time, packed full of artifacts from the country’s grisliest cases.

It houses everything from the acid barrels that serial killer John George Haigh used to dissolve his victims to Rose West’s underwear.

Speaking to the Metro, the museum’s curator Joel Griggs said: “It’s reality, part of history. I don’t think you can wrap someone in cotton wool and pretend none of this stuff happens. There are bad people out there.”

Mr Griggs said he doesn’t want to make light of their crimes and said they try to present exhibits in a tasteful way.

He added: “When I look at crime magazines in shops, they seem to be by the soap magazines and celebrity magazines, so they are seen as a form of entertainment in a similar way.”

Inside, visitors can see the bath used by contract killer John Childs to dismember his victims, the skull of murderer and rapist Louis Lefevre, and nooses from which criminals were hung.

Elsewhere, they can see a genuine lethal injection death bed and read about the victims and suspects linked to Jack the Ripper from 1878 to 1898.

The museum is also home to boxing gloves signed by Ronald and Reginald Kray, also known as the Kray twins who ran organised crime in London’s East End during the 1950s and 1960s.

In addition, there are personal and intimate letters sent to British author Ricki Thomas by US serial killer Richard Ramirez, who was convicted of 13 murders, a series of home invasions, mutilations and rapes.

Most of the artifacts have either been donated to the museum or Joel has bought at auction. Adult tickets to the museum are £10.50.