Burnings, Butchery & Black Death: A Walking Tour of London's Bloody Past
At a glance
Burnings, Butchery & Black Death: A Walking Tour of London's Bloody Past is a 2h small-group experience in London, United Kingdom, operated by Historic London Tours. Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 288 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $26.92 per person, and free cancellation is available. Included: Tour.
Highlights
- Rated 5.0/5 by 288 travellers
- Small group of up to 15 people for a more personal experience
- Free cancellation for flexible planning
- 10 stops in one well-planned itinerary
Quick facts
- Duration
- 2h
- Group
- Small group, up to 15 travellers
- Languages
- English
- Pickup
- Meet at the start point
- Confirmation
- Instant confirmation
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation (see policy)
Overview
Travel through a thousand years of history, meeting medieval knights, body snatchers, Charles Dickens, an eighteenth century ghost, and William Wallace - aka Braveheart (and learn how he was in no fit state to shout "Freeeedoooommmm!" whilst being executed!)
On our walking tour we'll visit the areas around Smithfield, for centuries London's site of both animal and human slaughter. We'll learn about how the city disposed of the tens of thousands of Black Death corpses in the fourteenth century, the execution methods used in the Middle Ages, and how the area became a notorious slum which Dickens used as the setting for Oliver Twist.
The walking tour begins outside Barbican Station, ends near to Farringdon Station, and will take around two hours. Total distance is about two miles.
Ticket sales will be limited to fifteen attendees, to ensure maximum enjoyment for everybody on the tour.
What's included
What's included
- Tour
Not included
- Gratuities
Itinerary
-
Stop 1 · 10m
A fourteenth century monastery and plague pit
-
Stop 2 · 10m
A one thousand year old meat market
-
Stop 3 · 10m
The home of the medieval Knights Hospitallers
-
Stop 4 · 10m
A quiet alley with a noisy history
-
Stop 5 · 10m
The memorial to William Wallace, aka Braveheart
-
Stop 6 · 10m
London's oldest surviving parish church
-
Stop 7 · 10m
The site where the Great Fire of 1666 died out, and of eighteenth century ghost hysteria
-
Stop 8 · 10m
The site of the River Fleet, Victorian London's largest open air sewer
-
Stop 9 · 10m
A hidden gem of a pub, hidden down an alleyway
-
Stop 10 · 10m
The oldest surviving hospital in the country
Meeting point
We meet outside Barbican Station exit. Please aim to arrive five minutes early as the tour will start on time. If you aren't able to make the tour or you will be late, please message me on +44 7783 401 129 so that I know whether to send you our live location on WhatsApp.
Good to know
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Burnings, Butchery & Black Death: A Walking Tour of London's Bloody Past take?
The experience lasts about 2h.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $26.92 per person. The final price depends on the date, time and number of travellers, and is confirmed on Viator before you pay.
What's included?
Tour.
Where does it start?
We meet outside Barbican Station exit. Please aim to arrive five minutes early as the tour will start on time. If you aren't able to make the tour or you will be late, please message me on +44 7783 401 129 so that I know whether to send you our live location on WhatsApp.
Can I cancel?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is guided in English.
Is it worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 288 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor, which places it among the top-rated experiences in London.
