While London is renowned for its cultural attractions and historical landmarks, the city also harbors a darker, more unsettling side. Whether you're a history buff with a taste for the macabre or seeking experiences that defy the ordinary, our guide unveils a curated list of unsettling activities that will challenge your comfort zone. Get ready to see a side of London that often lurks in the shadows, waiting to be explored.
1. Highgate Cemetery
A stroll through Highgate Cemetery may sound peaceful, but its eerie ambiance and Gothic architecture make it a hauntingly beautiful destination. The cemetery is the final resting place of notable figures, and the overgrown pathways and weathered tombstones create an otherworldly atmosphere. Some even claim to have witnessed paranormal activity within the cemetery's historic grounds.
The Cemetery offers tours too! Check the website for availability.
Address: Highgate Cemetery, Swain’s Lane, London N6 6PJ.
Website Link: Highgate Cemetery
2. Jack the Ripper Tour
Step back in time to Victorian London and walk in the footsteps of one of the world's most infamous serial killers, Jack the Ripper. Guided tours take you through the dimly lit streets of Whitechapel, where the gruesome murders occurred. Immerse yourself in the chilling atmosphere as expert guides recount the horrifying details of the unsolved mysteries that continue to captivate the world.
Website Links:
3. The London Dungeon
For a theatrical and interactive experience of London's grim history, head to the London Dungeon. This attraction combines live actors, special effects, and storytelling to recreate some of the city's darkest moments, from the plague-ridden streets to the torture chambers of the Tower of London. Brace yourself for a spine-tingling journey that brings history's most macabre events to life.
Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom. Website Link: The London Dungeon
4. Attend an Execution (1649)
London was once known as the City of Gallows. Between the first recorded public execution in 1196 to the last in 1868, tens of thousands of people were put to death. These public displays of control and violence became part of life in London.
While hangings were the most common form of execution in London over the centuries, there were also burnings and beheadings. No matter the method, public executions resulted in a boost for the local economy – benefiting memorabilia peddlers, refreshment sellers and pickpockets.
Step back in time and experience the most controversial execution in British history. The Death of a King: The Path to Execution on the BARDEUM mobile app is an audiovisual walking tour written by CHARLES SPENCER (The White Ship, Killers of the King) and narrated by ANTHONY HOWELL (Foyle's War; Selfridges).
Download the BARDEUM app in the App Store or Google Play. The experience begins outside St. James's Palace and takes users through St. James's' Park and onto the Banqueting House.
Imagine a chilly day in late January 1649, and a carriage with a gold crest on its doors arrives at the gatehouse of St. James's Palace. It is carrying an eight-year-old boy and his thirteen-year-old sister. They are Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Elizabeth, two of Charles the First’s children.
But, this is no happy royal or family visit. For, in a unique moment in English history, the king has recently been condemned to death, and these children have been brought to London to say their final goodbyes to their father.
Escorted by a regiment of 1200 men, King Charles the First is paraded from St. James’s Palace, through St. James’s Park and onto Whitehall, where his executioner awaits.
Walk in the footsteps of the condemned King as you learn about the events that ultimately led to this remarkable renunciation of the Divine Right of Kings and stand witness to his final words as the axe falls.
"A magical tour...brilliantly written. it weaves you into its story and you are spellbound, watching the decline, fall and execution of the King - and you can’t do anything to stop it."
Kate Williams, CNN royal historian & New York Times bestselling author
5. The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities
Step into the weird and wonderful at The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, where an eclectic collection of oddities awaits. From taxidermy specimens to bizarre artifacts, this museum celebrates the peculiar and the unsettling. It's a journey into the eccentric and the uncanny that's sure to leave you with a sense of bewilderment. It's also a bar....so stay for one of their unusual cocktails.
Address: 11 Mare Street London E8 4RP
6. Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park is one of the "Magnificent Seven" Victorian era cemeteries that will delight those looking for a ghostly afternoon or evening stroll. The cemetery is the final resting place of notable figures, and the overgrown pathways and weathered tombstones are deliciously haunting. If you have the chance, don't miss the unforgettable Halloween walking tours where you wander among the graves by torchlight.
Of interest: Amy Winehouse's music video for "Back to Black" included graveyard scenes filmed at Abney Park Cemetery.
Address: Abney Park Cemetery
219 Stoke Newington High Street
London, N16 0LH
7. The Clink Prison Musuem
Step into the dark and sinister past of London at The Clink Prison Museum. Located on the site of the original Clink Prison, this museum showcases the brutal history of one of England's oldest prisons. Interactive exhibits and reconstructed torture devices provide a spine-chilling experience, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities faced by prisoners throughout the centuries.
Address: 1 Clink St, London SE1 9DG, United Kingdom
8. Seven Dials & Covent Garden Ghost Walk
Join a guided ghost walk through the winding streets of Seven Dials, an area with a history steeped in mystery and paranormal activity. Professional storytellers share tales of ghosts, unsolved crimes, and eerie occurrences that have left an indelible mark on this part of London. It's a captivating journey into the supernatural side of the city.
Website: Look Up London
9. The Old Operating Theatre Museum
Hidden within the attic of St. Thomas' Church, The Old Operating Theatre Museum offers a glimpse into the gruesome history of Victorian surgery. The eerie setting and antique medical instruments provide an unsettling atmosphere as you learn about the primitive practices of the past. It's a chilling reminder of the stark contrast between medicine then and now.
Address: 9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY, United Kingdom
Website: The Old Operating Theatre Museum
10. Ghost Bus Tour
Embark on a spine-chilling journey through the city on the Ghost Bus Tour. A classic double-decker bus takes you to London's most haunted spots. Expert storytellers narrate tales of restless spirits and haunted history as you pass through dimly lit streets and ominous landmarks. Keep your eyes peeled for spectral apparitions along the way.
Website: The Ghost Bus Tours
11. The Enfield Haunting
Fans of paranormal investigations will be drawn to the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case. Stroll by home in North London borough of Enfield, where a series of disturbing supernatural events unfolded in the 1970s.
Delve into the unsettling occurrences that perplexed investigators and can still send shivers down your spine - in the play at the Ambassador Theatre in the West End. The Enfield Haunting Tour stars Catherine Tate and David Threlfall and is showing until March 2024.
Address: Enfield House: 284 Green Street, Enfield, United Kingdom
ENJOY YOUR CREEPY TRIP TO LONDON
BARDEUM offers self-guided audio/visual tours via mobile app. These immersive experiences are written by award-winning & bestselling authors, journalists, and historians.
Available in the App Store and Google Play.