The Great Fire, Plague & Black Death Tour of London

5.0 (3 reviews) London, England
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Duration2h - 3h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

Step back in time and well away from the other tourists as we explore key sites and pivotal moments from two of the biggest disasters to hit London in its over 2,000 year history.

We will visit where the Great Plague started and learn how and why it took hold and spread leaving London possibly the worst hit city in the world.

We will visit plague pits including the biggest one and will even come face to face with an unfortunate victim of the Black Death who was only recently uncovered.

Visit the resting place of Samuel Pepys whose diary gives us such a unique account of life through the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London as we tread the same streets as he did.

We will also see where The Great Fire of London started and was extinguished as well as learning how it helped wipe out the Great Plague from London for good.

Along the way we will visit various other sites and locations from the Middle Ages and Medieval periods that didn't just change London but the world.

What's included

  • Private Guided Walking Tour
  • Tube travel costs. Around £5

What to expect

  1. St Giles-in-the-Fields Church
    15m
    It's hard to imagine 700 years ago where this church is was was once in a tiny village in the country. Things didn't stay cute forever with all manner of sad events here before becoming infamous for being where the first cases of the plague were detected in the spring of 1665.
  2. Charterhouse Square
    10m
    Visit the spot of the largest ever discovered plague pit containing tens of thousands of victims who died from the Black Death .
  3. The Charterhouse
    15m
    We will come face to face with an extraordinary skeleton of a young man who died from the Black Death around 1348.
  4. WIlliam Wallace Memorial
    5m
    See where William Wallace was executed not too many years before the Black Death.
  5. Peasants' Revolt Plaque
    5m
    London was ravaged by things other than the Great Plague. Here we will see where the pivotal Peasants Revolt came to a head.
  6. 5m
    Stand on the spot where bishops were martyred in the 16th century.
  7. St Bartholomew's Gatehouse
    Pass by
    This fabulous old hospital has just celebrated its 901st anniversary. It obviously features heavily in the story of the Great Plague in London.
  8. Golden Boy of Pye Corner
    5m
    This quaint memorial commemorates where the Great Fire of London was extinguished. Learn the story of its design and see some of the actual houses that lay witness to the Great Plague and Great Fire of London.... what a time to be alive!
  9. 10m
    Underground stations don't often appear as an attraction on tours but this one has a grisly connection with the Great Plague. Try not to think about it too much as we get the tube here!
  10. Aldgate Square
    5m
    Daniel Defore writes memorably about the plague pit that lies beneath. There is plenty of other plague related bits around here and if that's to enough, one of Jack The Rippers victims was killed a few yards away.
  11. 5m
    Almost an institution in London but obviously as it has a special place in this tour, it can't be for good reasons.
  12. Pass by
    A beautiful medieval church steeple surrounded by 21st Century London. One might wonder what happened to the church..... Hmmm!
  13. St Olave's Church
    15m
    This beautiful old church is the resting place of the erstwhile Samuel Pepys and his wife. His diary is perhaps the best contemporary evidence of what life was like in London during the Great Plague and Great Fire of London.
  14. 15m
    This beautiful modern garden was recently redeveloped and was the place where Samuel Pepys lived and worked. The footpath in the garden has etchings of momentous events in the life of Samuel Pepys. How many will you know?
  15. Tower Hill Memorial
    5m
    Visit the infamous Tower Hill where so many well known figures from history met their grisly end.
  16. 5m
    See the exact spot where the legendary Great Fire of London started and perhaps its one redeeming feature.
  17. The Monument to the Great Fire of London
    5m · Admission ticket not included
    We finish at The Monument to the Great Fire of London.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

We will meet just outside the iconic Dominion Theatre a few feet from the exit of Tottenham Court Road Underground Station.

End point

The tour ends at the Monument to the Great Fire of London, a few feet from the nearest Underground Station, easy to find a taxi here too or walk onwards for a drink or meal.

Pickup details

We can meet you at your hotel then travel by Underground to the tour starting point or alternatively you can meet us there.

Additional information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

5.0 (3)
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£160.00 per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by Ye Olde England Tours · Booked through Viator
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