(800) 814 COOL Questions? Call Us Now!

Burnings, Butchery & Black Death: A Walking Tour of London's Bloody Past

235 Reviews 4.95 out of 5 stars Based on 235 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of travelers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
London, England

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 29 (0) days in advance.

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation

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

  • Tour
  • Gratuities
See 1 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Aldersgate Street
Barbican, London EC1A 4JA, UK

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Ely Place
London EC1N, UK

On Ely Place, around the corner from Farringdon Station

Options & Pricing

Start Times

What To Expect

The Charterhouse

A fourteenth century monastery and plague pit
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Smithfield Market

A one thousand year old meat market
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St John's Gate

The home of the medieval Knights Hospitallers
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cloth Fair

A quiet alley with a noisy history
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

WIlliam Wallace Memorial

The memorial to William Wallace, aka Braveheart
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Church of St. Bartholomew the Great

London's oldest surviving parish church
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Golden Boy of Pye Corner

The site where the Great Fire of 1666 died out, and of eighteenth century ghost hysteria
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Holborn Viaduct

The site of the River Fleet, Victorian London's largest open air sewer
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Ye Olde Mitre

A hidden gem of a pub, hidden down an alleyway
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Saint Bartholomew's Hospital Museum

The oldest surviving hospital in the country
Read more

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 8 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Burnings, Butchery & Black Death: A Walking Tour of London’s Bloody Past?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We’re here to help.
Live Chat, Text, Call, or Email our friendly customer support with your questions.

Activity code: C-181808P2

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.95
235 reviews

Average 4.95 out of 5 stars based on 235 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
227
4 stars
7
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 29 (0) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Private Day Tours in London

Private Day Tours in London

 5 hours  Hotel pickup offered  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$204.63

London Pub Tour

London Pub Tour

New To The Site!
 2 hours 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$27.19

Traditional English Walking Food Tour With London Food Tours

Traditional English Walking Food Tour With London Food Tours

 3 hours 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$102.31

Half Day Tour of London with St Paul's Cathedral Entry

Half Day Tour of London with St Paul's Cathedral Entry

New To The Site!
 3 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$169.92

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide
Likely to Sell Out

London by Night Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide

 1 hour 45 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$39.56

Chelsea FC Stadium Tours and Museum
Likely to Sell Out

Chelsea FC Stadium Tours and Museum

 60 to 90 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$40.93

Cotswolds Small Group Tour from London

Cotswolds Small Group Tour from London

 10 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$175.98

London Rock Music Tour

London Rock Music Tour

 3 to 8 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
from
US$88.67

What's Included

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Tour
  • Gratuities

Additional Info

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Report Product Issue

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Cancellation Policy

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Free cancellation
100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Sorting, ranking, and search results

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

City Boat Tours wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through City Boat Tours over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.