Dark Side of the City Guided Walk

Crime and punishment

Are you ready to learn about London’s grim and gruesome past? Then join us on a tour that tells the tale of crime and punishment, executions and excess.

Our tour starts south of the sedate St Paul’s Cathedral but did you know its churchyard was once a place for book burning, fiery sermons and hanging, drawing and quartering? On your walk, which takes about 1hr, 45 minutes, you’ll learn about:

Paul’s Churchyard, the medieval equivalent of Twitter
Paternoster Square and Temple Bar, where people were pilloried
The City of London Police: did you know they’re Olympic champions?!
Postman’s Park: a place for heroic self-sacrifice and many a sad tale
Greyfriars Church: a ruinous church, haunted by a wicked queen
Old Bailey: the former Newgate Gaol and a place for public executions - and a daring escapee
Smithfield: where martyrs were executed, by burning at the stake - even boiled alive - watched over, it is said, by a sadistic queen
Bartholomew Fair: a raucous festival the Victorians finally banned
Charterhouse: a peaceful part of London but where death lies underneath.

The walks finishes at Smithfield, which is close to the Barbican Tube station and home to several excellent pubs and cafes.