The Haunted Pubs of Old London

Haunted pubs in London have a way of grabbing you fast. This guided walk combines atmospheric traditional pubs with a historian’s stories of executions, plague pits, monks, and infamous criminals. I love that it’s not just jump-scare vibes; you get real context for why these places earned their reputations, and you’ll pick up local color from a guide who grew up in the area.

Two things I really like: the rotation of pub stops (each tied to a specific story) and the focus on specific locations like Smithfield and the Old Bailey area, not vague “somewhere nearby” ghosts. One consideration: the tour mixes short walking with standing time on streets, so if you struggle to see or read things in front of buildings, plan for that.

Key things to know before you go

• Arthur the Leisure Pirate leads the tour and brings a playful, funny energy while answering questions as you go
• A complimentary half-pint (or non-alcoholic alternative) kicks things off at the first haunted pub
• You cover major dark landmarks tied to Black Death plague pits, Charterhouse monks, and Smithfield executions
• Expect pub stories linked to real London figures like 19th-century resurrection men
• Film-location spotting is part of the route at Smithfield and at a major historic church
• You’ll end near the Old Bailey close to St. Paul’s Cathedral, so it’s easy to keep exploring afterward

Meeting at Barbican: starting where London hides its past

You start at the main exit of Barbican Underground Station. I like this meeting point because it’s easy to find and it also sets the tone: before you even reach the pubs, the tour begins with what’s described as a secret lying deep beneath the surface in this corner of the city. It’s a good reminder that London’s biggest history often sits under your feet.

Arthur’s style matters here. From the way he’s described, he’s not just reading facts off a page. He seems to translate the area into something you can picture—streets, buildings, and people—so the eerie stories feel grounded instead of random. If you enjoy asking questions, this is the kind of tour where you won’t be brushed off.

Practical note: you’ll want comfortable shoes. The info says visitors should be comfortable walking up to about 10 minutes, and the tour runs rain or shine. So even if the walking time sounds short, you should still dress for the weather and expect street-level time.

The first haunted pub and your half-pint welcome

The route kicks into gear fast at the first haunted pub. You’ll hear about the first ghost—described as a friendly ghost—and then you get a complimentary half-pint of traditional English beer. There’s also a non-alcoholic alternative, which is a nice touch if you don’t drink beer.

This first stop does two jobs. First, it breaks the ice with an easy social setting. Second, it gives you a baseline for the tour’s rhythm: story first, then atmosphere, then the next location. It’s also one of the best ways to learn what kind of evening you’re signing up for—spooky but friendly, not just grim.

After that complimentary half-pint, here’s the deal you need to plan for: you’ll be expected to order a drink of your choice at the pubs you visit. So budget a bit beyond the ticket price if you want to do what most people naturally do on a pub tour—have a pint and stay with the vibe.

Plague pits, Charterhouse monks, and why Smithfield feels different

One of the main draws here is the way it moves through London’s worst centuries without losing your footing. After that first pub, you get taken toward plague pits dating back to the Black Death. That topic can turn into general doom if a guide isn’t careful. The good news is that the tour is led by a guide described as a qualified historian, and the structure is built around named places and specific fates—not just broad statements.

Then you hear about the grisly fate of the monks at the Charterhouse monastery. This matters because it gives the plague-era story another angle: not only mass death, but also how religious institutions and communities got caught in it.

And then comes Smithfield, the tour’s most cinematic stretch. Smithfield is described as the site of some of the bloodiest executions in England’s history. It was also a market for over a thousand years, and it became notorious as a centre of criminal activity during Dickens’s lifetime. That’s a lot of layers for one neighborhood, and you’ll feel it in the way the walk is framed.

Even better for movie fans: Smithfield is mentioned as a filming location for Skyfall, Closer, Snatch, and Sherlock. You might find yourself looking at corners differently when you know that camera crews once chased the same streets you’re walking now.

One more detail I appreciate: Arthur isn’t just pushing the darkest tales. The tour includes perspective on the area—how local people understand it now—so the execution history doesn’t land as pure spectacle. It’s more like a guided walk through cause and consequence: sickness, punishment, rumor, and the way a city remembers.

Resurrection men, a haunted hospital walk, and pub stories with teeth

After Smithfield, you stop at a pub described as frequented by 19th-century resurrection men—also known as body snatchers. The haunting here is tied to the ghost of one of their victims. I’m glad the tour doesn’t treat this as a cheap horror story. The framing matters: resurrection men weren’t just folklore. They reflect the pressure around bodies for study and the brutal reality of how people were treated.

This section also keeps the tone varied. You’re still in the mood for dark stories, but you’re not only hearing about executions. You’re learning how fear and profit shaped behavior. That shift makes the walk feel like a timeline rather than a random list of spooky stops.

Then you walk through the grounds of a haunted hospital, described as home to several phantoms. A hospital haunting can be a cliché in tourism, but here it’s positioned as one more stop in a chain of institutions that once held power over life and death. If you like stories where the setting explains the ghost, this kind of stop works well.

The tour’s practical rhythm also helps. The pace is short—3.5 hours total—but it still covers a lot. It’s ideal if you want atmosphere and stories without spending your whole day on transport.

The oldest church ghosts and Newgate’s Black Dog

As the walk continues, you head toward one of the City of London’s oldest surviving churches, described as having ghosts. This is one of those stops that can feel like pure architecture if your guide doesn’t connect it to narrative. Here, the tour also references film history: this church served as a filming location for Wedding and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Other Boleyn Girl, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and V for Vendetta.

That movie list isn’t just for trivia. It helps you notice details fast—shapes, stonework, the way the building holds light. Even if you’re not into filming locations, it gives your eyes a job: look for what productions might have used.

Next up: Newgate Prison. You’ll visit the site of the notorious Newgate Prison and hear the legend of the Black Dog of Newgate. This legend-style material is common in London, but the tour’s value is how it pins legends to a place you can actually stand in. When the story has a physical address, it sticks.

And because this is a pub tour, the climax lands where you’d expect: the London’s most haunted pub, described as home to three different ghosts. You’ll enjoy a pint here—so yes, you end the experience with a full-on drinking stop. That’s not just for celebration. It’s also a practical storytelling move: by the time you reach this pub, you’ve collected enough context that the final ghost stories feel earned.

Finishing near the Old Bailey and continuing the day

The tour ends at the Old Bailey, close to St. Paul’s Cathedral. I like endings like this because you don’t get trapped at the start of the next thing. You can look around at street scale, grab food nearby, or head toward St. Paul’s if you want a calmer page after the grimness.

If you’re the type who likes to keep walking, this ending location is handy. You’re already in the historic core, and the sites you just heard about aren’t far from your next step.

Price, drinks, and value: what $87 buys you

The price is listed at $87 per person for a 3.5-hour tour. That’s not a “cheap and cheerful” price, but it also isn’t a full-day commitment. For me, the value depends on what you’re buying.

You’re paying for:

• A live guide with a historian’s storytelling approach
• Multiple themed stops connected to specific places (not vague stops)
• Pubs that carry built-in atmosphere
• One included half-pint at the first pub

The included drink is helpful, but it’s also clear that the rest of your time at pubs involves your own orders. So if you plan to have two drinks total, the effective cost rises. Still, that may be part of what makes pub tours feel worth it—you’re not just paying for walking; you’re paying for a guided night out with structure.

I also think the guide quality is a major factor in perceived value here. The strongest review signal is about Arthur: people describe him as fantastic, fun to be with, and really good at answering questions. That kind of guide turns a spooky theme into a story you can follow and even reuse later when you’re in the area on your own.

Who should book, and who might want to skip it

This tour is best for adults who like:

• Dark London themes told with real place-based detail
• Pub atmosphere (with the expectation you’ll order additional drinks)
• Walking tours that are short enough to fit a busy day
• Film-location spotting if you recognize movies like Skyfall or Avengers: Age of Ultron

It’s likely not the right fit if:

• You’re not comfortable with the subjects listed—executions, plague pits, murder, and prison legends
• You need strong accessibility accommodations (the tour isn’t suitable for people with mobility impairments)
• You’re bringing kids (it’s not suitable for children under 18)

One more consideration from the tone of a less-perfect review: some parts involve standing outside on pavement or in front of buildings, which can make it harder to see or read what the guide shows. If you’re sensitive to sightlines, go with the expectation that you’ll mostly be listening, not staring at close-up displays.

Should you book the Haunted Pubs of Old London?

If you want London spooky with structure—and you enjoy pubs—this one is easy to recommend. The combination of named historic sites (Smithfield, Charterhouse-related stories, Newgate) plus multiple haunted pub stops is a strong format. And Arthur’s described personality seems like the difference between a tour that’s merely creepy and one that stays fun while still informative.

Book it if you’ll enjoy a 3.5-hour night walk that ends near St. Paul’s and includes a real drink start. Skip it if you need a fully seated, low-standing experience, or if the darker historical topics don’t match your comfort level.

If your travel style is part history, part atmosphere, and part good pub time, you’ll probably have a memorable evening.

FAQ

FAQ

Where does the Haunted Pubs of Old London tour start?

It meets at the main exit of Barbican Underground Station.

How long is the tour?

The duration is 3.5 hours.

What’s included in the ticket price?

A half-pint of beer is included at the first pub on the tour. A non-alcoholic alternative is also mentioned.

Do I need to buy drinks during the tour?

Yes. You’ll be expected to order a drink of your choice at the pubs visited.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card and wear comfortable shoes.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18.

Can people with mobility impairments join?

No. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

What should I expect for walking and weather?

You should be comfortable walking up to about 10 minutes, and the tour runs come rain or shine.

Does the pub route change on Sundays?

Yes. On Sundays, the tour will stop at a slightly different range of pubs due to opening hours.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at the Old Bailey, close to St. Paul’s Cathedral.