Guided Walking Tours in London
Dark History of London Tour
If you’re a fan of horrible history, true crime and ghost stories, the fascinating and macabre tales that haunt the city of London will exceed your expectations. On our guided walking tour, we will dig deeper into the city’s most famous hauntings, tell tales of its dark past, of murder, betrayal and crime, combining fact and folklore for the ultimate exploration of London’s dark side.
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This tour costs £16.80 per person, £23.10 for two people or £63 for a group of five people.
Keep your eyes peeled for any discounts we may be running!
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This tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.
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The Rising Sun Pub, Tottenham Court Road, London
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This tour contains dark themes, including death, murder and ghosts. Please consider if this content is suitable for children before booking. Under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult.
In the heart of Central London after dark, you’ll discover a city shaped by murder, tragedy, plague, superstition and some extraordinarily strange characters. Walk through London’s beloved neighbourhoods, Soho, Covent Garden, the Strand, and see them in a very different light.
From Victorian body snatchers to serial killers in the blitz, from West End actors who never left the stage, to the haunting behind Cleopatra's Needle, this is a London history tour you don’t want to miss this spooky season.
A tour for lovers of twisted history, haunted horrors and true crime, as we make our way through London, we’ll share the city’s strangest and most unsettling stories. Some are well documented, some are rumoured, and some are very difficult to explain. Join Where Now Tours in Central London this Halloween, where we bring you the perfect mix of legend and lore, fact and folklore.
What will you discover on our Dark History of London Tour?
Central London has centuries of stories hiding in plain sight. On this history tour, we'll take you through some of the capital's most atmospheric streets and uncover the darker past lurking behind them.
London’s most notorious body snatchers. A Victorian gang, a gruesome trade and the point where stealing the dead became something much worse.
A serial killer who used the blitz for his benefit. For one macabre opportunist, the blitz blackouts provided the perfect opportunity to strike.
The ghosts of the West End. The strangest and scariest stories from London’s theatre district, including actors who never left the stage.
Vampires and Victorian actors. Meet one of London’s most extraordinary theatrical icons, and learn of his connection to one particular gothic literary monster.
The dark history behind Cleopatra’s Needle. A series of deaths plus an ancient monument in London equals one fascinating ghost story.
Unsolved murder mysteries. Hear of a Victorian killer and their unidentified victims, an unsolved crime still haunting the city.
A railway built for the dead. Hidden beneath the beautiful, thriving city is a Victorian railway sure to give you the creeps.
Macabre Mystery and Dark History: Why Book Our Tour?
London is full of creepy tales, but our walking tour takes you one step further, shining a light on the people, true crimes, disasters and beliefs that make London's dark history so iconic in the first place. You don’t want to miss out!
History made fun
Our tours are deeply researched, written and hosted by our tour guides with 30+ combined experience in comedy and tourism. While our tours touch upon the macabre and mysterious, we also bring the streets of London to life with our enthusiasm, laughter, and passion for history!
The stories behind the legends
We hand-pick each tour location, selected for its interesting past and connections to the weird and wonderful. That’s why every story is packed full of strange facts, bizarre rumours and fascinating twists, we’ve chosen the best for you! We’ll show you that each well known landmark is a host to a whole lot more history than people realise.
Central London after dark
See London’s most famous streets and iconic landmarks in a different light - literally! The West End, Soho, Covent Garden and more all tell a different tale after the sun goes down.
Not just for ghost hunters
You don’t need to believe in ghosts to join us. If you’re a fan of London history, murder mysteries, unusual stories, theatre, folklore and the darker side of the capital, you'll find plenty to enjoy.
Locations on the Dark History of London Tour ⬇️
Rising Sun Pub - Tottenham Court Road
The Dominion Theatre
Cambridge Circus & The Palace Theatre
Seven Dials
The Royal Opera House
The Lyceum
Cleopatra’s Needle
Waterloo Bridge
South Bank
The Hole in the Wall Pub
Waterloo Station
Dark History of London FAQs
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Sort of. We do tell some ghost stories, but we're interested in the history behind them as much as the haunted claims themselves. There are many non-ghost stories included and we'll distinguish between documented history, folklore, reported sightings and stories that remain unexplained.
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There are some genuinely dark stories, including murder, death and Victorian crime. But this isn't designed as a jump-scare experience. The emphasis is on storytelling, history and atmosphere.
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The route explores central London, including Goodge Street, Soho, Charing Cross Road, Seven Dials, Covent Garden, the Strand, Cleopatra's Needle, the Thames and the South Bank before finishing around Waterloo.
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The tour passes some of London's most famous theatres, streets, landmarks and riverside locations, but the real attraction is the history and stories attached to them.
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The tour contains stories of murder, death, suicide and violent crime, so parents should consider whether the subject matter is appropriate for their children.
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Absolutely not, the city’s history is the most haunting part…
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The tour involves plenty of walking, so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.
It’s always worth checking the weather beforehand too so you can prepare for any wet weather!
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You can purchase a ticket for the tour here! If you’d like to make a private booking for a party, corporate event, stag do etc., get in touch with us directly.