Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London

London’s oldest streets carry some grim baggage, and this evening walk puts it to work. You’ll hear about executions, serial killings, buried bodies, and the strange case of the Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane while moving through central London after dark. At selected stops, the guide uses Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing rods to test for activity beyond the ordinary.

I like the small group of up to 10 people, which should make it easier to hear the guide and take part in the investigations. I also like the mix of serious history and theatrical ghost hunting, especially the final stop at a traditional London gin palace.

The main caution is that the paranormal evidence may feel light if you want a full investigation with lots of equipment. One participant wanted more time using the instruments, and the meeting point at 40 Cowcross Street can be hard to identify, so arrive early and check your booking details.

Key points about the Old London ghost walk

• Farringdon starting point: Meet at 40 Cowcross Street at 7:30 pm for an evening route through central London.
• Grisly London stories: Hear about executions, serial killings, buried bodies, William Wallace, and the Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane.
• Paranormal equipment: Try Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing rods at several stops.
• Historic prison connection: Learn about Newgate Prison and see an abandoned jail cell linked with a notorious serial killer.
• Gin palace finale: End back near the meeting point with a stop at a traditional London pub serving a different kind of spirit.
• Adults only: You must be at least 18, and drinks are not included in the $32.91 price.

Starting at 7:30 pm in Farringdon

The tour begins at 40 Cowcross Street in Farringdon, central London. The stated start time is 7:30 pm, and the activity lasts about two hours, ending back at the meeting point.

Farringdon is a practical base for this kind of walk. It puts you close to some of London’s oldest streets and to the former prison and execution sites that shape the evening’s stories. The exact route is not laid out stop by stop in advance, so you should think of this as a guided story walk rather than a fixed sightseeing circuit.

The meeting point deserves care. One person who enjoyed the historical side still found the location description unclear. I would arrive with enough time to check the street number, open your mobile ticket, and get your bearings before 7:30 pm. The tour uses a mobile ticket, so keep your phone charged and easy to access.

The group size is capped at 10 people. That matters on a night walk. A small group lets you stay close to the guide, hear the stories without a loud crowd around you, and have a better chance to handle or observe the equipment. It also gives the walk a more intimate feel than a large busier ghost tour.

The bodies beneath London’s streets

The opening stories focus on the layers below modern London. You’ll hear about mounds of bodies resting beneath the streets, a reminder that the city’s central districts were once surrounded by overcrowded burial grounds, prisons, and execution sites.

This part of the tour works best for people who want history with their scares. The stories connect familiar city streets with the people who lived, died, or were punished there. You are not simply hearing a made-up ghost tale in a dark room. You are walking through an area where public punishment and crowded urban life shaped the city.

The guide’s job is important here. The historical material gives the evening its backbone, while the ghost-hunting tools add an element of suspense. One early assessment of the tour praised the guide’s polite manner and the interesting collection of historical stories. That balance is worth keeping in mind: the strongest part may be the storytelling, not proof of supernatural activity.

Expect a walking tour, not a formal museum visit. You will be outside for much of the two hours, moving between points of interest. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and they are a sensible choice even though the distance is not specified.

Executions, William Wallace, and Old London’s darker side

The route includes London’s largest execution site. This is one of the tour’s more important historical stops because it shows how punishment once worked as public entertainment and civic ritual.

You’ll also hear about the grisly end of William Wallace. The story gives the guide a chance to connect a famous figure with the brutal methods used by authorities. The tone is likely to be unsettling rather than gentle, so this is not the right evening activity if you prefer light folklore or family-friendly ghost stories.

The walk also includes tales of serial killings. One particularly unusual stop concerns an abandoned jail cell connected with the world’s worst serial killer. The supplied details do not name the killer, so you should not expect a full biographical presentation in advance. Still, the cell adds a physical link to the stories. Seeing a former place of confinement can make the subject feel more immediate than hearing about it in a pub.

This section should appeal to anyone interested in criminal history, old prisons, and the way London handled notorious cases. If you are mainly seeking dramatic apparitions, you may find the historical material slower than expected. For me, that is a fair trade at this price, since the stories give the tour more substance than a sequence of unexplained noises.

The Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane

The tale of the Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane is one of the tour’s more distinctive pieces. It is an infamous London story involving alleged supernatural sounds, and it gives the evening a classic ghost-story center.

Specific details about the presentation are not provided, so you should expect the guide to tell the story during the walk rather than visit a fully preserved attraction connected with it. The value is in the setting and delivery. London’s old streets provide the backdrop, while the guide turns a strange local case into part of a larger story about belief, fear, and public fascination.

This is also where the difference between history and paranormal entertainment becomes clear. The tour does not ask you to accept every story as fact. Instead, it gives you old accounts and then invites you to test the atmosphere with ghost-hunting devices. You can enjoy the tale as local history, spooky theater, or both.

One useful expectation: this is not advertised as a séance with guaranteed contact. The guide attempts to make contact at each stop, but results are not promised. If you approach the equipment with curiosity rather than certainty, you are more likely to enjoy the evening.

Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing rods

At several stops, the guide uses Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing rods. These tools are central to the paranormal part of the experience.

The Ouija board is familiar to most people, while a K2 meter is an electronic device used by ghost hunters to detect changes in electromagnetic readings. Dowsing rods add a hands-on element, allowing participants to watch for movement as the guide tests different locations.

The exact amount of time devoted to each device is not stated. One participant enjoyed the tour but felt it needed more paranormal activity and more instrument use to gather evidence. That is the clearest warning for anyone booking mainly for ghost-hunting technology: the equipment is part of the walk, but it may not dominate the evening.

I would treat these moments as group participation rather than scientific testing. The fun comes from standing in a historic place at night, listening for a response, and seeing how the group reacts. The guide may create a tense mood, but no reading or movement should be treated as verified proof.

The small group helps here. With no more than 10 people, you may get a closer look at the equipment and have more room to take part. Still, the tour is only about two hours, so the route must balance story stops, walking time, and paranormal attempts.

Newgate Prison and the abandoned cell

Newgate Prison is one of the key historical subjects on the route. London’s old prison system is essential to understanding the city’s tales of crime and punishment, and Newgate gives the evening a strong setting even when you are hearing about it rather than touring a functioning prison museum.

The walk also includes an abandoned jail cell associated with a notorious serial killer. This is a notable detail because it gives the tour a specific physical point of focus. You will not just hear that someone was imprisoned. You will see a cell connected with the story.

The supplied information does not confirm that every part of the former prison is open for entry, so do not assume you will explore a large prison complex. The experience includes seeing the abandoned cell, but the exact access and viewing conditions may depend on the route and the site itself.

This stop should suit you if you prefer real places and documented crime stories to general ghost legends. It also helps break up the walk. After hearing about bodies, executions, and killings, a prison setting gives the stories a clear connection to London’s built environment.

A traditional gin palace and a different kind of spirit

The tour visits a traditional London gin palace. That phrase refers to an old-style drinking establishment associated with London’s gin culture. Here, the evening moves from supernatural spirits to a more familiar kind.

Drinks are not included in the tour price, so budget separately if you want to order something. The stop gives the walk a social finish and a chance to warm up or relax after the outdoor route, but it is still part of a paid tour rather than a complimentary drink tasting.

The gin palace also adds local character. It is more interesting than ending on an ordinary street corner, and it keeps the experience tied to London life rather than making the whole evening about fear. If you do not drink, the available information does not say whether a nonalcoholic option is included or arranged, so check with the provider if that matters to you.

Because the activity ends back at the meeting point, the final stop should leave you in a familiar central London area. The tour does not include transportation, and none is needed between stops because this is a walking experience.

What $32.91 buys you

At $32.91 per person, the price is reasonable if you value a guided evening walk, local stories, and a small group. The fee includes the guide, the route, the storytelling, and the paranormal equipment used during the evening.

It does not include drinks. That is a modest extra rather than a major issue, but remember it when comparing the cost with a tour that includes a tasting or pub drink.

The value depends on what you want from the night. For history and atmosphere, the price works well. You get stories about executions, prisons, serial killings, and unusual London folklore in a compact two-hour format. For serious paranormal investigation, the value is less certain because the equipment may receive limited use.

The tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking time of 53 days before the activity. That suggests you should not wait until the last minute if your evening schedule is fixed. The maximum of 10 people is another reason to reserve ahead.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend this walk to adults who enjoy dark urban history, old crime stories, and a little theatrical suspense. It is especially suitable if you want an evening activity that is different from standard London sightseeing but still connected to real places and events.

It should also suit you if you like having a guide interpret the city rather than simply visiting a landmark. The guide brings together public executions, prison stories, unusual folklore, and ghost-hunting tools in one route.

You may want to choose another activity if you dislike stories of murder, executions, or serial killers. The subject matter is plainly grim. You should also think twice if you want a long paranormal investigation with repeated instrument sessions, since the historical storytelling appears to be at least as important as the supernatural claims.

The tour is for people aged 18 and older. Service animals are allowed, the route is near public transportation, and most participants can take part. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Practical advice before you go

Arrive early at 40 Cowcross Street. The meeting point has been described as hard to identify, so do not rely on finding the group at the exact last minute.

Wear shoes you can comfortably use for a two-hour evening walk. Bring a charged phone for the mobile ticket, and dress for being outdoors. The tour is in English, so you should be comfortable following spoken stories and instructions in English.

Check your email on the day of the tour. One booking problem involved a cancellation notice that the participant had missed, leading to an unnecessary wait at the meeting point. If the provider sends an update, read it before setting out.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before 7:30 pm are not refunded or accepted under the stated policy.

Should you book the Old London paranormal walk?

Book it if you want a compact, adults-only night walk built around London’s most unsettling stories, with a small group and some hands-on ghost-hunting equipment. The best reason to go is the blend of real criminal history, old prison sites, unusual folklore, and atmospheric streets.

Skip it if you need guaranteed paranormal evidence or a long session with instruments. The historical stories are likely to be the strongest part, while the Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing rods add suspense rather than proof.

For $32.91, it offers a fair evening of storytelling and atmosphere. Confirm the meeting point, arrive early, and reserve ahead if you need a particular date.

FAQ

Where does the paranormal tour start?

The tour starts at 40 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6BY, in Farringdon.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 7:30 pm.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How large is the tour group?

The tour has a maximum of 10 participants.

How old must I be to join?

You must be at least 18 years old.

What paranormal equipment is used?

The guide uses Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing rods during the tour.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks at the traditional London gin palace are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted or refunded.