London Ghost Walking Tour: Ghastly Ghosts After Dark
Nightfall turns the City of London's oldest lanes into something else entirely, and a London ghost walking tour is the sharpest way to explore that shift. Ghastly Ghosts leads small groups past plague pits, execution sites, and centuries of documented dark history for two hours after sunset. Book the earliest evening slot the season allows and let the guide do the rest.
About This Tour
Cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
Lock in your evening slot today and pay closer to the date.
Two hours, starting after sunset.
Documented history and theatrical retellings, no jump scares or actors leaping from doorways.
Old lanes and churchyards covering the plague pits, the Great Fire, and Newgate's hauntings.
The walk goes ahead in all weather, year-round, after dark.
Check Live Availability & Prices
See tonight's remaining slots and lock in your evening before they sell out.
Why Take This Ghost Walk
Ghastly Ghosts spends two hours walking you through parts of the City of London that daylight sightseeing skips entirely, the plague pits, the grounds of Newgate Prison, and the churchyards where London buried its dead for centuries. The guide tells the stories straight, dates and sources included, rather than reaching for cheap scares, so a London ghost walking tour here feels closer to a history lesson lit by streetlamp than a haunted-house act.
This walk fits neatly into the evening slots in our two-day London plan, once sightseeing hours are done and the City streets have emptied out. Winter departures are pitch black by five o'clock and carry the atmosphere the season deserves; summer slots trade some of that gloom for longer daylight beforehand, so you can still pair the walk with an early dinner first.
What You'll See
The route threads through some of the oldest surviving lanes in the City, each stop tied to a documented event rather than folklore alone.
- The site of the 1665 plague pits, still marked in the churchyards above them
- Newgate Prison's former grounds and its reported hauntings
- The Bank of England and the story of the 'Black Nun'
- Alleyways associated with the Great Fire of 1666 and its aftermath
- A churchyard used for centuries of City burials
- The corner linked to reports of body-snatchers working the graveyards
- A theatrical retelling of a City execution, told on the spot it happened
- Narrow cobbled lanes that have barely changed shape since the seventeenth century
What's Included (and What's Not)
What's included:
- ✓ A two-hour guided evening walk with a professional storyteller
- ✓ Every stop along the outdoor route
- ✓ Small-group format for an easier view of the guide
- ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
Not included:
- ✗ Food and drink along the way
- ✗ Transport to or from the meeting point
- ✗ Entry to the historic pub at the finish, should you choose to stay
How the Evening Flows
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6:30 PM
Meet Your Guide
The group gathers at a City of London meeting point as the last daylight fades.
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6:40 PM
Into the Old Lanes
The walk opens with the narrow streets nearest the meeting point, setting the tone for the stories ahead.
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7:00 PM
The Plague Pits
A churchyard stop covers the 1665 plague and how the City buried its dead.
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7:20 PM
Newgate and the Old Bailey
Stories of Newgate Prison's inmates and its reported hauntings, told outside the site itself.
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7:45 PM
The Black Nun
A stop at the Bank of England for the story behind one of the City's best-known ghosts.
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8:10 PM
Body-Snatchers and Executions
A theatrical retelling of a City execution and the graveyard trade that followed it.
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8:30 PM
Final Stop
The walk ends near a historic City pub, a natural spot to warm up and compare notes.
Know Before You Go
Not suitable for
- Young children, some stories involve executions and plague deaths
- Anyone who struggles with a couple of miles on uneven cobbles
- Visitors who want jump scares rather than told history
What to bring
- Comfortable, closed-toe shoes for cobbled lanes
- A layer for the evening chill, even in summer
- A small torch or phone light for dim alleys
- Cash for a drink at the closing pub
Not allowed
- Large luggage or backpacks on the walk
- Pets, aside from registered assistance animals
Insider Tips
A few things make this London ghost walking tour land better:
- Book a winter departure for full darkness by five o'clock and the best atmosphere
- Wear real shoes, alleys and cobbles run the whole way
- Stand near the guide at each stop, the theatrics reward the front row
- Ask the guide for their pick of the historic pub at the finish
- Pair the walk with an early dinner in the City beforehand
Where You're Headed
Who It's For
This walk suits:
- History fans who prefer documented fact over jump scares
- Couples and small groups looking for an evening activity after sightseeing hours
- Teens and adults comfortable with mature themes like execution and plague
Not ideal for
- Young children, the subject matter skews mature
- Anyone who needs a fully step-free route on smooth pavement
London Ghost Walking Tour FAQ
Is the London ghost walking tour scary or just historical storytelling?
It leans toward storytelling. Ghastly Ghosts sticks to documented history, the plague pits, the Great Fire, Newgate's inmates, rather than actors jumping out or staged frights.
What time does the tour start?
Departures run in the evening after dark, with the exact start time shifting slightly by season since the walk depends on nightfall.
Is this walk suitable for children?
Family policy varies by operator, but the subject matter, executions, plague deaths, body-snatching, skews toward teens and adults rather than young children.
How much walking is involved?
About two miles at an easy, flat pace through the City of London's older lanes and churchyards.
Does the tour run in bad weather?
Yes. It operates rain or shine, year-round, since the stories and the after-dark setting matter more than clear skies.
Where does the walk end?
Near a historic City pub, a good spot to warm up, get a drink, and ask the guide any last questions.
What Travellers Say
Our guide made two centuries of City history feel immediate without a single cheap trick. Best evening of our trip.
I expected jump scares and got real history instead, which was better. The Newgate stories still stick with me.
Cobbles and dark alleys after sunset made every stop feel exactly right. Ended at a proper old pub too.