Walk around Smithfield to explore London's history of executions, body snatching and the disposal of Black Death victims. The walking tour links these stories to the area's past as a site of animal and human slaughter; gratuities are extra. 4.98 from 287 reviews at €24 per person for 2h.
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.
This tour runs Thu, Sat, departing at 11:00, 14:00. Scheduled through September 2027. These are the operator’s scheduled departures, not a live seat count: availability is confirmed at checkout. Schedule last checked October 1, 2026.
We meet outside Barbican Station exit. Please aim to arrive five minutes early as the tour will start on time. If you aren't able to make the tour or you will be late, please message me on +44 7783 401 129 so that I know whether to send you our live location on WhatsApp.
Open in Google MapsOn Ely Place, around the corner from Farringdon Station
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
| 1+ days | Full refund |
| 0-1 days | No refund |
| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This tour · #6 of 92 | €24 | 2h | 4.98 (287) | shared |
| The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour | €38 | 2h | 4.99 (2069) | shared |
| London Sightseeing Walking Tour with 30+ sights | €23 | 5h | 4.97 (865) | shared |
| Drag Queen Disco Diva Tour - Silent Disco Walking Tour | €45 | 1h 30m | 4.98 (428) | shared |
Ranked #6 of 92 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €17 to €714, median €31; typical length 2h. 11 of 92 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 92 Walking Tours