London gets spooky when you walk its backstreets. What makes this tour fun is the mix of haunted pubs and very specific landmarks, including spots linked to films like Skyfall and Shakespeare in Love. I also love the half-pint welcome at the first pub, and I like how the guide Arthur strings the stories to what you can actually see on the street. The one drawback: this is not a nonstop pub-only crawl—churches and historic sites take real time, so it can feel more like a storytelling walk with drinks than a party.

With a maximum group size of 14, you get a slower, friendlier pace and time to ask questions. It’s also priced at $102.83 for about 3 hours, with the walking tour included and most entry points handled as part of the stops—then you choose what to order at the pubs.

Key Things I’d Highlight Before You Go

• Small group (max 14) means the stories land better and the walk doesn’t feel crowded
• Half-pint included at the first pub lets you settle in right away
• Film-linked locations like the Barbican and key Old London streets give you extra context
• A real mix of stops from executions sites to older churches makes the ghost theme feel grounded
• Arthur’s style comes up again and again: high energy, lots of conversation, and good local tips
• Sunday alternatives swap a couple pubs for drinks at nearby favorites, so you still get the same theme

Why This Haunted Pub Tour Feels Like Street-Level London

This tour works because it treats ghosts as a layer of meaning, not just jump-scares. You’re walking through places tied to Roman London, plague time, executions, and medieval religion, and then you’re stepping into pubs that kept those same neighborhoods alive.

I like that the “haunted” part stays connected to the physical city. You’re not just hearing spooky lines over a generic soundtrack. You’re standing near spaces where dramatic history happened—then you get a drink in a pub that’s part of the same story.

Another plus: Arthur’s delivery matters. In the reviews, people kept calling out his enthusiasm and the way he answers questions instead of rushing everyone along. That usually means more than you expect from a walking tour.

Meeting in the Barbican and How the 3-Hour Rhythm Works

You start at Underground Ltd, Aldersgate St, Barbican, London EC1A 4JA, with a 2:30 pm start. The tour runs about 3 hours, and the route is built around short walks between major story locations.

That timing matters. You cover a lot of ground without feeling like you’re sprinting across central London. You also get those in-between moments—street corners, courtyards, and church views—where the stories become more believable because you can see the setting.

Bring comfy walking shoes. You’re on your feet for long stretches, even if each stop is brief. Also plan for weather; you’ll be outside a fair bit in between indoor entrances.

Stop-by-Stop: From the Barbican’s Underground Secrets to a Real Old London Pub

The Barbican: Roman Echoes and a Secret Under Its Walls

You begin with a story about the Barbican, tracing its history from Roman times until today. The hook here is the idea that the past isn’t gone—it’s buried, reused, and still shaping the city.

There’s also a specific “what’s underneath” element to the tale, and that sets the tone for the rest of the walk: London’s ghosts feel like they belong to architecture and geography, not just folklore.

If you like history that links eras—Roman, medieval, modern—you’ll enjoy this start.

The Sutton Arms (EC1): First Haunting, Plus a Half-Pint

Then you head to the Sutton Arms in EC1 for the first haunted pub stop. The tour includes a complimentary half-pint of beer of your choice (or an equivalent soft drink).

This is a smart way to begin because it gives you a reset after the history talk. You get a chance to settle in, look around the pub, and start feeling the “old place” atmosphere before you move on.

Sunday note: on Sundays, this stop is handled differently. You’ll visit the Sutton Arms from outside, then have a drink at the Fox & Anchor instead.

Charterhouse Square to the Charterhouse: Plague Tragedy and Monastic Ruins

Charterhouse Square: The Black Death’s Impact

At Charterhouse Square, you hear about the Black Death and how it devastated medieval London. This stop is short, but it gives the tour a serious historical backbone.

The value here is perspective. Ghost stories hit harder when you understand what real fear looked like in the past—especially when it involved disease, fear, and mass loss, not just superstition.

A Brief Art Deco Moment: Poirot’s Old Residence

You also pause for a story tied to an Art Deco building that once served as the residence for legendary detective Hercule Poirot. This part is lighter, but it breaks up the heavier themes and keeps the tour feeling like a London walk rather than a history lecture.

If you’re into classic detective fiction, it’s a fun side door into the city’s cultural layers.

The Charterhouse: London’s Last Surviving Monastic Building

Next comes the Charterhouse, where you get City of London’s last surviving monastic building. You’ll hear about the gruesome fate of the monks—one of those tales where the setting makes the story feel sharper.

What I like about this stop is that it’s not just “here’s a building.” You’re told what the monastery meant, then the darker end of that story. It helps the haunted theme make sense as a consequence of how people lived, governed, and punished.

Cloth Fair, St. Bartholomew the Great, and Rahere’s Ghost

Cloth Fair: Bartholomew Fair and Last Pints Before Execution

Cloth Fair is one of those street names that sounds normal—until you learn what happened there. This area was once home to the notorious Bartholomew Fair. It’s also tied to a pub where condemned criminals were given their last pints before execution.

That’s the tour’s style in one moment: practical detail plus a darker historical punch. You’re walking a street with layers, then you’re hearing how people used alcohol as part of a ritual ending.

There’s also a mention of London’s oldest house in this area. Even if you don’t hunt it down obsessively, it adds another “why this place matters” layer.

St. Bartholomew the Great: Rahere’s Ghost and Movie Spots

At Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, you visit London’s oldest surviving parish church, haunted by the ghost of its founder, Rahere. This stop is also where the tour turns cinematic: the church has appeared in many films, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Other Boleyn Girl, Sherlock Holmes, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Transformers: The Last Knight.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome. I like this approach because you’re not paying for entry at every stop—yet you’re encouraged to support a place that’s still in use.

If you enjoy places that show up in movies, this is a big payoff stop.

Rising Sun and Smithfield Market: Resurrection Men and an Execution Past

The Rising Sun: Resurrection Men and Haunted Pub Atmosphere

Next is the Rising Sun, one of London’s most notorious haunted pubs. Here the story involves the Resurrection Men, who used to ply their trade in human bodies.

This is where you feel the tour’s “darker London” focus. It’s not just about a ghost roaming around—it’s about how brutal demand and desperation shaped real lives, long ago.

You’ll be expected to buy a beverage of your choice. The drink isn’t included here, so come prepared for pub pricing.

Sunday note: on Sundays, the day still includes a pub stop, but the tour swaps out at least one named location to keep everything workable.

Smithfield Market: Old Market, Old Punishments

Smithfield Market is next, visited outside operating hours. It’s one of the world’s oldest markets, tracing its history back over a millennium. This area also served as one of London’s most popular execution sites, where traitors were hung, drawn and quartered, heretics burned at the stake, and poisoners boiled alive.

That combo—market life and punishment life—can feel heavy, but it’s also historically honest. It explains why this neighborhood has such a dark reputation: commerce and coercion lived close together.

Even if you don’t love gruesome stories, the practical value is understanding the city’s layout. It helps you stop seeing London as a set of postcard sites and start seeing it as a working machine that also did terrible things.

Small Churches, Baroque Courtyards, and Cock Lane’s Scratching Fanny

St Bartholomew the Less: A Quick, Beautiful Pause

St Bartholomew the Less is a small church stop. It’s brief, but it fits the tour well because it gives you a calm visual break between heavier stories.

If you’re the type who likes details—stonework, quiet corners, little lanes—this sort of stop is a nice balance.

St Bartholomew’s Hospital: Baroque Courtyard and Three Ghosts

At St Bartholomew’s Hospital, you see the beautiful Baroque courtyard of the oldest hospital in England. The story includes that the site is home to three different ghosts.

This is another good example of how the tour makes the haunted idea feel tied to a real institution, not just a random rumor. Hospitals and churches carry long memories, and the setting makes that feel logical.

Cock Lane: Scratching Fanny’s Story

Then you reach Cock Lane and hear the story of a ghost called Scratching Fanny. This lane-style stop is short, but it’s exactly the kind of London detail that disappears if you stick only to major sights.

I find these quick street stories useful because they train your eyes. After a few stops, you start noticing what’s old, what was rebuilt, and what survived.

Old Bailey, Newgate’s Black Dog, and the Viaduct Tavern

The Old Bailey Emerges From Newgate

Next you hear how the Old Bailey emerged from the ruins of notorious Newgate Prison, plus the story of the Black Dog of Newgate.

This part matters because it connects modern London court life to older, darker punishment systems. The tour isn’t just naming ghosts—it’s explaining how places get replaced and repurposed.

The Viaduct Tavern: Built on Newgate Ruins

The final pub stop is The Viaduct Tavern, considered by many to be London’s most haunted pub, built on the ruins of Newgate Prison.

You’ll expected to buy a beverage here too, and the stop is about 25 minutes. This is a great closing choice because the story peaks where the city’s punishment past left a physical footprint.

Sunday note: on Sundays, the tour visits the Viaduct Tavern only from outside and instead has a drink at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street.

Price and Value: What You’re Paying For (and What You Still Need to Pay)

At $102.83 per person for about 3 hours, you’re paying for a guided walk plus the structure of multiple story stops that cover a mix of free and paid entry experiences.

Here’s the value breakdown that matters most:

• The walking tour itself is included.
• A half-pint of beer (or soft drink) is included at the first pub.
• Some stops are explicitly free (including key churches and market areas).
• Other pub drinks are not included, and you’ll be expected to purchase what you order (range given as about £2.50 to £6.50).

So the realistic “cost” isn’t just the ticket. Plan a small extra budget for drinks at the pubs after the included half-pint. If you like beer variety, this can still feel like good value because you’re getting both a pub visit and the story that gives the pub meaning.

Also, this tour has group discounts. Exact terms aren’t spelled out here, so check at checkout if you’re coming with friends.

Who Should Book This Haunted Pubs of Old London Tour?

I think this tour fits best if you want:

• A small group and an easy pace through interesting neighborhoods
• London history that’s told like a story, not a script
• Ghost tales that connect to real places: churches, hospitals, markets, and prisons
• A pub stop built into the walk, with time to ask questions

It’s less ideal if you want:

• A pure pub crawl with minimal walking and minimal church time
• A strictly timed, click-at-each-stop schedule with no story detours

One review noted the tour can feel less haunted-pub heavy and more history-forward, so if that matters to you, go in knowing the mix is intentional.

Should You Book It? My Practical Take

Yes—if you like old London with a darker edge and you enjoy guided stories that actually match what you see around you. The biggest reason to book is the format: small group size, a guide who keeps the energy up, and a route that hits recognizable London themes—Roman layers, plague tragedy, executions, and classic church landmarks—without turning into a museum day.

Before you go, do two things:

• Plan for extra drink spending beyond the included half-pint.
• Set expectations that you’ll walk between pubs with churches and historic corners in the mix.

If that sounds like your kind of London afternoon, this is a strong pick.

FAQ

How long is the Haunted Pubs of Old London tour?

It’s listed as approximately 3 hours.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 14 travelers.

What does the ticket cost?

The price is $102.83 per person.

Is alcohol included?

A half-pint of beer (or an equivalent soft drink) is included at the first pub. At later pub stops, you are expected to purchase a beverage of your choice (not included).

Are there admission tickets included for attractions?

The first pub stop includes an admission ticket. Other stops are marked as free entry.

What happens on Sundays?

On Sundays, the Sutton Arms is visited from outside and you have a drink at the Fox & Anchor instead. The Viaduct Tavern is visited from outside and you have a drink at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese instead.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Underground Ltd, Aldersgate St, Barbican, London EC1A 4JA, UK.

Is the tour language in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

Are donations required at any stop?

St. Bartholomew the Great is free to enter, but donations are welcome.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

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