Dark Side of the City Guided Walk

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.

Please note: children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.