Tours/London/London's Ghosts & Gruesome Past Nighttime Walking Tour
Viator · Private tour

London's Ghosts & Gruesome Past Nighttime Walking Tour

4.9(29)London1 hour
VIATOR5.0(6)TRIPADVISOR4.9(23)

Description

Take a walk through the sinister past of the Dark Side of London, hearing ghost stories, tragic tails, and creepy facts and figures, all the more unsettling because it is true! You will learn the salacious history of the Barber Surgeons, see the site of the execution of a legendary hero, and stand before an old Victorian hospital famous for grave-robbery. On this tour you'll find out why Londoners used to drink blood and eat bones, learn who is said to haunt London's Underground network, and hear the story of England's most prolific serial killer (and if you think you know who it is - think again!). You'll walk over plague pits, through haunted graveyards and along the very same paths the condemned would have once taken on their final journeys. This tour, guided by a professional storyteller and scholar, is a must for anyone who wants to get off the beaten track and learn about the macabre tales that this ancient city has to offer. You’ll never look at London the same way!

Tour Options

London's Ghosts & Gruesome Past Nighttime Walking Tour

Itinerary

10 min

Your local guide will meet you just outside the station and will ensure you "mind the gap" as you learn about the ghost of a girl that is said to haunt the station. It's busy and colourful, but try to listen through the noise or - if you are not afraid - come after midnight... It's a tragic story of a young girl badly treated when she was alive and even worse after death. Is she still here? Some say you can spot her if you know what to look for. We will tell you what happened to her in the 18th century and then you can decide if you are brave enough to look for her remains or just listen to her scream.

15 min

It's a great place to buy some meat, but that's not why we will bring you here. We will ask you to close your eyes and try to imagine how it looked back then... This market was a place for public executions for centuries. Heroes, martyrs and innocent folk were tortured and killed in many different ways. But, you have hand it to the executioners - they were very inventive when it came to drawing the last bit of life from exhausted human flesh...

15 min

This is a lovely and peaceful park in the middle of a busy city. But before you sit on a bench, be careful, as they are made of snakes! And that's just the beginning. Layer after layer, century after century and one horrendous disease after another...Deeper and deeper we will unravel how plagues changed London, how deadly they were, how doctors tried to stop them and just what happened to those who survived. Keep an eye out under your feet, as you're never far from a skull as you stand on top of London's plague pits.

10 min

Here your guide will show you where to pick up a drink before attending a public London execution.

15 min

Here we will make our way through some narrow passages and old streets until we discover one of the oldest churches in London - St. Bartholomew the Great. For nine hundred years it served the people, both alive and dead. Among other famous burial stories we'll tell you one about the founder of this church: How his eternal rest was disturbed, what's missing from him now, and how he tried to get his revenge. You'll take in these stories while standing in tranquil settings surrounded by centuries-old tombstones as you find yourself standing in one of London's most haunted graveyards.

10 min

Here we will take you into the past as we go way back to when England and Scotland were at war. One Scottish freedom fighter has a special place in the memory of his people - and also on this spot. Hear the true story of William Wallace from the gory details of his triple execution, the later consequences for the UK as a result, and also the inaccuracies of the film loosely based on his life.

15 min

Here we will wander past another church before we end up in the middle of the hospital yard. Both the church and hospital have the same patron and the same long history. You will be grateful for your current medical service when you find out what methods, tools and means the doctors here used in the past! You wouldn't believe what you had to drink, eat or smear on yourself in the hope to get better! Imagine a doctor not washing their hands; sharing a hospital bed with another patient; having an audience watch your surgery or amputation. Oh, and be careful because even just watching can be deadly on its' own...

15 min

Visit yet another historic church and graveyard, but this one seems to be missing something. Where are the graves? These empty pits are a reminder of the times, over two hundred years ago, when some people made a living by taking dead bodies out from their graves and selling them. Taking or stealing? That's debatable and, as you will find out, sometimes the distinction could make a very important difference. But most importantly, who would buy a dead body? Well, we've just been to the hospital and on the way we passed the pub ... just connect the dots. Was it legal? Was it profitable? And how did it end? The answer is a book with a very disturbing cover.

15 min

We always keep the worst for the end! At this legendary courthouse, your guide will introduce you to the "worst serial killer" England ever saw. And if you think it's Jack the Ripper - think again! Here you will stand outside an imposing court building which stands on the site of a former prison. In that prison, among many murderers, thieves and degenerates one stands out. An ordinarily looking woman, but with a piercing, chilling look and a deadly touch. To make matters worse she specialised in killing the innocent. Even worse, she was making money out of it. Even worse than that, she was actually twice caught and allowed to carry on! And worse still, she had a daughter herself. And even all of that is not the worst part of this story...

Highlights

An entertaining tour with a local guide.

What's included

Included
An entertaining tour with a local guide.
Not included
Gratuities

Traveller Ratings

4.9
29 reviews
5
27
4
2
3
0
2
0
1
0

Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews(29)

A
andradthav2021
December 17, 2025
Scary, funny, and unforgettable tour.

Thank you to Matt, who came after me even though I was late. He is a great storyteller, and I hope to have him again next time.

S
scottkU2784II
October 21, 2025
Fun unique activity to do in London

I really enjoyed the tour conducted by Carolina. She was quite knowledgeable about the history of certain sites in London and nicely weaved together fact and rumour to bring out the human side of these stories. I would recommend this tour. Our group was small (4 people) which was a nice experience as we all got to ask lots of questions.

D
Denise_B
September 23, 2025
A must do tour

Tour guide extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. Great historical details and easy to walk tour.

Operator response

Thanks for the review! We’re glad you enjoyed the walk and the guide’s knowledge and stories.

K
Katie_W
August 1, 2025
We enjoyed the tour with...

We enjoyed the tour with Matt. Great information about London. Great communication about the meeting point.

Operator response

Thank you for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed exploring London with Matt and appreciated the clear communication.

P
pennydK1094DK
July 17, 2025
Fascinating and spooky!

We had the most fascinating evening on our Ghost Walk around Farringdon station, Smithfield market, St Bart’s and other fantastic places on this brilliant historical ghost tour. Not only was our guide, Carolina, incredibly knowledgeable about the area but also was a brilliant story teller, bringing the history and spooky stories to life! I’d highly recommend this to anyone interested in ghost walks and the history of London! We loved it.

Operator response

Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Carolina—she’s a fantastic storyteller!

N
N6258NFar
July 2, 2025
Family ghost tour

Informative evening with lots of history and stories. Well hosted and you go through a variety of areas and experiences

Operator response

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the evening and the mix of stories and places—always something new to discover!

R
Rachel B
March 16, 2025
Would definitely recommend :)

My tour guide was Carolina, she was very knowledgeable and passionate about the stories. I really liked that the tour included a lot of historical information.

Operator response

Carolina’s passion and knowledge really shine through! Glad you enjoyed the mix of history and storytelling. Thanks for sharing your experience!

5
500abigailt
January 19, 2025
Highly recommend!

A really lovely evening out learning about London’s dark and gruesome past. Our guide Matt was super engaging, extremely knowledgeable and covered so much in the two hours and at a great pace. Highly recommend this tour, especially for those that live in London as it’s so easy to overlook these fantastic hidden gems that symbolise so much and to forget the rich history that London has to offer!

Operator response

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're so glad you enjoyed uncovering London's dark and fascinating history with Matt. It's always exciting to rediscover the hidden gems in your own city. We hope to see you on another tour soon!

O
O3736ATtheresac
November 16, 2024
A Ghostly Walk to Remember

My husband and I took London’s Ghosts & Gruesome Past Nighttime Walking Tour. Led by our guide, Carolina, this tour is an absolute must for anyone with a taste for history, mystery, and a slight touch of the macabre. From haunted alleys to infamous criminals, every stop on the tour has fascinating history. Carolina’s knowledge and delivery made each story come alive—whether it’s tales of plague pits, grave robbing or restless spirits said to wander iconic locations. Walking through the city at night only added a dramatic edge to the experience. Even my husband, who is a bit of a skeptic, was enthralled by the history of it all. Highly recommend!

Operator response

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear how much you and your husband enjoyed Carolina's captivating storytelling and the eerie charm of the nighttime tour. It sounds like a memorable experience for skeptics and believers alike!

J
Jennifer C
November 16, 2024
Fun ghost and history tour

Carolina was awesome! She was so knowledgeable and really brought the tour to life. What a great way to spend a night under the full moon!

Operator response

Thank you for the glowing review! We're delighted to hear Carolina made the tour so memorable under the full moon. Hope to see you on another adventure soon!

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