Square Mile of Screams Dark History Tour of the City of London

London, England
Duration1h 45m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 20 travelers

Overview

The City of London has been burned, plagued, bombed, and rebuilt more times than anyone can count, and every era left something behind.

This Halloween, walk the ancient streets of the Square Mile after dark and uncover the history that some would rather you forgot. From the Roman city of Londinium to the flames of the Great Fire, the tour is a journey through the City's darkest chapters.

On this walk, you'll discover:

- The plague pits beneath the pavements, and the streets where the death carts once rumbled
- Smithfield, where martyrs burned and rebels met their end
- The doors of Newgate Prison, and the bell that tolled for the condemned.
- Where the Great Fire began, and the stories that survived it
- The ghostly figures said to still haunt banks, churchyards, and alleyways.

Bring a friend, bring your courage, and bring a torch if you like. The streets are older than they look, and they have a dark past.

What's included

  • Guide
  • Alcoholic Beverages

What to expect

  1. Charterhouse Square
    10m
    Here we will visit one of the largest plague pits in London and the remains of an old monastery - the Charterhouse - terrorised by Henry VIII during his Henrician reformation.
  2. Smithfield Market
    10m
    Smithfield Market sits on the location where Mary I martyred 280 protestants during her attempt to reverse the protestant reformation. We will talk about how these Martyrs met their gruesome ends.
  3. Cloth Fair
    5m
    At Cloth Fair we will visit two of the oldest residential buildings in The City of London
  4. Church Of St. Bartholomew The Great
    10m
    The Church of St Bartholomew The Great is one of the oldest churches in The City of London. Here we talk about Anne Askew, whose memory is commemorated at the gatehouse to the church.
  5. WIlliam Wallace Memorial
    10m
    William Wallace is a Scottish national hero. Here we will talk about his famous battles, and his conflict with Edward I - 'The Hammer of The Scots'.
  6. St Bartholomew's Hospital Museum
    10m
    The Peasant's Rebellion saw Wat Tyler nearly depose Edward II, the 15 year old king. We will talk about this thrilling historical episode (and about what happened to Wat Tyler) at St Bartholomew's Hospital.
  7. Golden Boy of Pye Corner
    10m
    The Golden Boy of Pye Corner marks where The Great Fire of London stopped. At the junction of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane, the area has been the site of lots of sordid affairs over the years. Known for its ghosts and brothels, Cock Lane has been famous for centuries - it is even mentioned by William Shakespeare in King Henry IV
  8. 10m
    The Holy Sepulchre Church manufactured a bell for inmates on Death Row to hear rung the night before their execution - this grizzly relic marks our journey toward The Old Bailey and Newgate prison.
  9. Old Bailey
    10m
    The Old Bailey sits on the site of Newgate prison, which leads us into the grizzliest part of our tour, where we discuss some of the most famous Victorian criminals. Many of these met their end by execution at Newgate Prison.
  10. Paternoster Square
    10m
    At Paternoster Square we continue our discussion of Victorian Criminals.
  11. St. Paul's Cathedral
    10m
    Here the tour concludes

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Go to the entrance to the park at Charterhouse Square at the intersection of Chaterhouse Square and Carthusian Street. I will be waiting for you holding a tall stick with a flag on the end.

End point

Additional 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
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
£20.00 £16.00 per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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