Secret Old London Walking Tour

The Secret Old London Walking Tour offers a captivating journey through the city’s medieval and Tudor heritage. Led by knowledgeable guides, this 1.5-hour excursion takes participants to intriguing sites like the Barbican, Charterhouse Square, and Smithfield. With a stellar 4.9/5 rating, the tour promises an engaging exploration of London’s dark past, from black death burial pits to ancient churches. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply seeking a unique perspective on the city, this wheelchair-accessible tour could be the perfect way to uncover the hidden gems of London’s storied past.

Key Points

• 1.5-hour walking tour exploring medieval and Tudor sites in lesser-known areas of London, led by a live English-speaking guide.
• Highlights include visiting the Barbican, Charterhouse Square, Smithfield, and the site of the long-lost Roman Amphitheatre.
• Tour focuses on dark history, such as black death burial pits and execution sites, with an immersive experience for history enthusiasts.
• Priced from £18.00 per person, with full refund available for cancellations up to 24 hours in advance.
• Meeting point is outside Barbican Underground Station, and the tour is suitable for ages 12 and up with comfortable shoes required.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Tour Overview and Pricing

The Secret Old London Walking Tour offers visitors a 1.5-hour exploration of the city’s atmospheric medieval and Tudor sites.

Explore London’s atmospheric medieval and Tudor sites on this 1.5-hour walking tour.

Priced from £18.00 per person, the wheelchair-accessible tour is led by a live English-speaking guide. Guests can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance, and they can reserve their spot without paying today.

The tour highlights include visiting Barbican, Charterhouse Square, and Smithfield, as well as seeing St Bartholomew the Great and the site of the lost Roman Amphitheatre.

Comfortable shoes are required, and the tour is suitable for ages 12 and up.

Tour Highlights

This walking tour explores atmospheric parts of London, including black death burial pits, execution sites, ancient churches, and memorials.

Participants will visit Barbican, Charterhouse Square (a historical plague site), and Smithfield (an execution ground). They’ll see St Bartholomew the Great, featured in films like Four Weddings & A Funeral and Sherlock Holmes.

The tour will also take them to the shell of a church destroyed in the Blitz and a hidden memorial in a park.

Plus, guests will locate the site of the long-lost Roman Amphitheatre.

Meeting Point and Requirements

As the meeting point, participants gather outside Barbican Underground Station.

They’ll want to wear comfortable shoes for the 1.5-hour walking tour through atmospheric parts of London.

Video recording isn’t allowed, and pets, luggage, and large bags are prohibited.

The tour is suitable for ages 12 and up, though guide dogs are permitted.

With a focus on the city’s medieval and Tudor history, the tour promises an engaging and immersive experience.

A captivating tour through London’s medieval and Tudor past, offering an immersive and engaging historical experience.

Participants can expect to learn about London’s dark past, from black death burial pits to execution sites, through the guide’s vivid storytelling.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Customers have overwhelmingly praised the "Secret Old London Walking Tour," awarding it an impressive 4.9/5 overall rating based on 130 reviews.

The tour guides have also received high marks of 4.9/5, and the value for money is rated 4.8/5.

Reviewers highlight the guides’ in-depth historical knowledge and engaging storytelling, which bring the city’s dark past to life.

The tour is ideal for history fans seeking a unique perspective of London, with customers describing the experience as atmospheric and informative.

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Tour Experience

The "Secret Old London Walking Tour" offers participants a captivating journey through the lesser-known areas of the city, with a focus on its medieval and Tudor past.

Steeped in history, the tour immerses guests in the atmospheric settings of black death burial pits, execution sites, ancient churches, and memorials.

Guides bring these haunting narratives to life through their in-depth knowledge and engaging storytelling, providing a unique perspective on London’s dark history.

The experience is ideal for history enthusiasts and those seeking an off-the-beaten-path exploration of the city.

Exploring the Barbican and Charterhouse Square

After departing from the Barbican Underground Station, the tour group begins their exploration of the Barbican and Charterhouse Square.

The guide points out the remnants of the medieval Barbican wall, a once-imposing fortification. They then enter Charterhouse Square, a historic site that witnessed the devastation of the Black Death.

The group learns about the Charterhouse, a former Carthusian monastery, and its role during the plague outbreak.

The Charterhouse, a former Carthusian monastery, played a significant role during the devastating plague outbreak in London’s somber past.

Standing amidst the peaceful square, participants gain a deeper understanding of London’s somber past and the resilience of the city in the face of such tragedies.

Visiting St Bartholomew the Great and the Blitz-damaged Church

From Charterhouse Square, the tour group moves on to explore the historic St Bartholomew the Great. This 12th-century church has appeared in numerous films, including Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sherlock Holmes.

The guide shares fascinating stories about the church’s past, pointing out notable architectural features and explaining its role in London’s history.

• Visitors admire the church’s ornate Norman architecture, including its impressive arched entrances and decorative carvings.

• The guide highlights the church’s connections to medieval guilds and its survival through the Great Fire of London.

The tour then heads to a hidden memorial in a nearby park, where a Blitz-damaged church shell stands as a poignant reminder of the city’s wartime past.

Guests learn about the history and significance of this evocative site, adding depth to their understanding of London’s complex story.

Uncovering the Lost Roman Amphitheatre

Beneath the bustling streets of modern London lies the long-lost remnants of a Roman amphitheatre.

Once a grand venue where spectators gathered to watch gladiatorial contests and public executions, this ancient structure fell into obscurity over the centuries.

Only in recent decades have archaeologists uncovered tantalizing clues to its whereabouts.

The tour guides on this walking experience point out the site’s location, allowing visitors to stand where Roman Londoners once cheered and jeered.

Stepping into this lost world offers a unique glimpse into the city’s distant past, reminding us of the rich history that lies hidden beneath the surface.

The Sum Up

The Secret Old London Walking Tour offers a captivating exploration of the city’s medieval and Tudor heritage. With knowledgeable guides, wheelchair accessibility, and a stellar rating, it’s the perfect choice for history enthusiasts seeking a unique perspective on London’s dark past. The tour takes participants through intriguing sites like Barbican, Charterhouse Square, and Smithfield, providing an engaging and informative experience.

You can check availability for your dates here: