As vast and renowned as its museums are, there's as much rich history to be found on the streets of London for those who know where to find it. For the rest of us, there's no way to find it like a guided walk, and there's no guided walk quite like London's famous haunted walks.
Part ghost story, part fascinating history lesson, ghost walks put you in the hands of experienced, knowledgeable guides with a keen eye for a good story, whether true or simply terrifying. Many turn the role into a performance, sometimes with the help of other actors – so your guide may themselves be a spirit from the other side.
There are a host of companies offering haunted tours from around £7, including
London Walks and
the London Ghost Tour (led by the author of Walking Haunted London). Many companies offer a number of different walks: London Walks has a different one each night of the week and a number of occasional special events. Walks generally begin at easily-accessible locations such as tube stations and, as atmosphere demands, most take place in the evening.
If you'd rather take your own pace, self-guided tours can be found in books like
Walking Haunted London or on websites like
London Walking Tours. These capture many of the stories and historical facts of the guided walks, but you'll have to do your own scary voices. For anyone who wants or needs to avoid walking long distances, meanwhile, the
Necrobus offers the paranormal equivalent of an open-top bus at £18 for adults and £15 for concessions. And if ghoulies don't chill your blood, a
Jack the Ripper tour might be more down your dark alley.
Whether you're just visiting or you know the city better than a cabbie with a history degree, these haunted walks will have you looking at London you won't find on an English Heritage plaque.
