London

Serial Killers: The Blood and Tears Walk

Badge of ExcellenceLondon, England

Blood and Tears Walk chilling and informative two hour London Horror tour

From $19.28

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover the dark side of London’s East End on this after-hours walking tour, inspired by guide Declan McHugh's best-selling book 'Bloody London'. Follow in the footsteps of the notorious Jack the Ripper and other serial killers; hear stories of executions, grave-robbing, witchcraft, and murders; and prepare to be shocked, scared, and thoroughly entertained.

Guided tour with 'Bloody London' author, Declan McHugh
Upgrade to include a copy of the best-selling book
Convenient pickup point in central London
Small-group tour with a maximum of 15 people

What's Included

Local guide
Professional guide
Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
Live entertainment

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Underground Ltd, Aldersgate St, Barbican, London EC1A 4JA, UK
I meet you directly opposite the ONLY exit at Barbican underground station, just 6 metres (20 feet) away from the only exit. Look for the black and red sign, saying 'The Blood and Tears Walk', on my rucksack on the ground.

Start time

07:00 PM

End point

125 High Holborn, London WC1V 6AN, UK
We end at the wonderful 'The Princess Louise' pub 208 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7EP. Holborn underground station (Central and Piccadilly lines) is only 60 seconds away from that pub.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
A maximum of 20 people per booking
Near public transportation
Operates in all weather condition so dress appropriately
MINIMUM age is 12 years. This is strictly enforced.

Children are 12-14 years old. Adults are 15+.
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
You MUST add 20 minutes extra travelling time, due to constant Underground train delays
I would seriously consider choosing a different Tour if you have mobility/significant health issues. It’s a fairly brisk pace – it has to be to cover 10 serial killers in two hours - and we cover 2 miles (3.2 km). And in Summer it can be hot all through the two hours. Truthfully (and quite apart from the subject matter), this Tour will not be suitable for everyone because of the distance and the reasonably fast pace. This Tour is also not recommended for people in their 70s because, as I said, it's quite fast-paced and we cover about 2 miles =3.2 kms.
Don't attend if you are feeling unwell and have a temperature with a new persistent cough
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

531 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 531 reviews

5/5 experience

Abbie_S, Apr 2024

Our tour Guild Declan as amazing. He knew how to keep the crowd engaged and entertained. He was very knowledgeable about the facts on the killers and answered all our questions if we had any. He was very approachable, and make the tour feel like only 2 minutes long. I would highly recommend him for walking tours around London. 5/5 experience .

Response from Host, Apr 2024

So very nice of you to say so, Declan

Information killer tour

Angie_H, Apr 2024

Very informative tour of some serial killers in London. It was entertains to hear about some other London killers, and not just Jack the Ripper.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

You are welcome. Just doing Jack is not enough for me. So I do NINE more on the same Tour. That way you can learn more about shared behaviours of serial killers.... Declan

Freaky, fascinating, frightening

Toni_n, Mar 2024

Really fascinating and our guide was very knowledgeable, you really get immersed in the whole tour. I learnt a lot about some of this country's most depraved serial killers.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Indeed Immersive! I use that word for a reason as anyone who has been on the Tour will understand. Thanks for this great 5-star review. Declan

"It's normal, we're normal"

Mikael_S, Feb 2024

Thanks for the great tour and the insights into the dark minds of serial killers. Your passion for the subject was appreciated!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Haha. I love the reference to what I say at the beginning, that an interest in serial killers is normal - especially in women (attendees on the tour over the years have been 85% women). Declan

For something a bit different...

Sara_H, Feb 2024

Really enjoyed this! Declan is very informative and delivers a humourous thought provoking perspective of a wide variety of serial killers.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

I do try to lighten the undoubted darkness with humour, otherwise it would all be just too bleak...Thanks for the kind review... Declan

Fun little tour

Kat_J, Jan 2024

Knowledgeable and charismatic tour guide! Had a blast! We were impressed by how much miscellaneous history in addition to serial killers the guide had.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

You are too kind.....glad I gave you a good time... Declan

Declan was so...

Anna_B, Jan 2024

Declan was so enthusiastic and put so much energy into the tour, my friends and I had a wonderful time. He was so knowledgeable and friendly. I would recommend this to anyone.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Very much appreciated. You're welcome! Declan

Highly knowledgable...

Letty_P, Jan 2024

Highly knowledgable guide, bought the stories to life and despite two hours of intense rain we enjoyed ourselves!

Response from Host, Jan 2024

THANKS! If I can get 5-star reviews despite people having to put up with the worst weather in a year - it's really very pleasing. Declan

Average

Richa_G, Nov 2023

Average. Some interesting facts and a route around london. I found the constant rules and how we were told about them quite rude- we aren’t kids. Quite condescending. Whilst I appreciate these points needed to be mentioned - they could have been said in a much more friendly manner and with a please! Also spent time plugging his book and asking lots of questions to get research for his next book/blog/webpage. Overall he clearly knows his stuff and is knowledgeable and a great actor!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Bit of a strange review this one. I've had only two of those 'average' reviews, and 397 excellent, 5-star reviews. I'm not sure what the reviewer means by the "constant" rules. Before we begin I ask people to 1) stay close because it adds atmosphere, makes it easier to show photos, saves my throat, and means we don't block the pavement 2) not take photos while I'm talking and 3) not to go on the internet while I'm doing the actual tour. The thing about those suggestions is that they just make the tour better for everyone. As for plugging 'Bloody London', I mention it for 30 seconds during a TWO HOUR tour, and then at the end. Probably 3000 of the 9000 copies sold have been at the end of the Tour. I wrote it, It's had fantastic reviews, I'm proud of it. I mean, should I not mention it? As for "asking lots of questions", I'm puzzled. Would the reviewer prefer to be talked at for two hours with no interactivity? I am genuinely fascinated by peoples opinions - again, is that a bad thing? I ask a few questions because I'm fascinated by the answers and I like to engage, plus, as I say on the Tour, peoples answers will help me select articles for a serial killer website I'm planning. The reviewer's interpretation comes across as jaded and cynical. The website will be about serial killers and the people coming on the Tour are the very people likely to go to the website. Would the reviewer like me to not ask peoples opinions on a few things, so I know which subjects to write about, and instead blindly publish articles that don't interest people as much? I love the last 2 lines though, especially because I don't think of myself as a "great actor"! Declan

Get the size of the group right as advertised

Clare_E, Oct 2023

You state that it is a small group of 14 or less - there were at least 25 people and too many for the street

Response from Host, Oct 2023

I'm glad you enjoyed the Tour... I believe you booked on TripAdvisor where it says the following: "This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travellers" and "max of 45 per group" So I believe you made a mistake on the number allowed... Declan

And the answer is......

Aleksandra_T, Oct 2023

......thanks for an evening of fantastic storytelling, Declan!! I have just been reading your book and it is excellent.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Beaming face emoji (if I could only put one here) Declan

Fantastic

Melissa_K, Oct 2023

This tour was brilliant, Declan was fantastic and so knowledgeable. This probably the best tour we have done. Thank you!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Blushing..... Declan

Declan knows what he is talking about, brings it alive, and will leave you with a smile (and a tear).

Robert_S, Sep 2023

Declan is not only knowledgeable about his subject, but he has a great sense of humor, and he has a bit of a performer inside as he makes the gruesome stories come alive. As importantly, he engages the group with Q&A so that he holds your interest and attention. More than your average guide and better than your average experience! Go, enjoy.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thanks for spotting the effort, and the interactivity! Declan

Great tour for true crime fans

Sophie_I, Sep 2023

Really interesting tour, Declan is very knowledgeable and he delivers the information well! I got to see lots of places I would never have gone to otherwise and heard the dark history of each place too.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

You are 100% welcome, and thanks for commenting! Declan

I absolutely loved it!!

Clare_R, Sep 2023

We absolutely loved this tour!! He was fantastic in the way he described everything!! I 100% would recommend this to anyone who is visiting or who would like a chilling and creepy tour, we would love to do this again sometime!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

There's nothing more humbling than people telling you that they'd like to do your Tour again, having just done it. Blows my mind, every time... Declan

Amazing creepy history!

Jeff_S, Sep 2023

I love taking haunted tours, and this was no disappointment! Lots of great stories, some well known, some a bit more obscure, some interesting theories about serial killers, but lots of fun and definitely worth the time and money!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thanks! I have a big smile... Declan

Good for true crime and horror fans

Elena_P, Aug 2023

Fun, interactive tour. Get to see some interesting spots and also discuss horror movies. Good if you want a mix of true crime and not just Jack the Ripper.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you! Declan

Disappointed and Underwhelmed

Linda_S, Aug 2023

I was really interested in this tour having worked with serial killers for many decades. Though the history seemed interesting the modern day serial killer information contained incorrect information. Declan did not regard his audience, several had problems keeping up with him, but he did not reduce his pace, nor wait for them to join the group before talking, so they missed some of the information at each stop. He kept saying he had done this tour for 23 years, so it seemed like he was bored with it.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

1) Zero details of the supposedly incorrect information were given. 2) I pay a LOT of attention to my audience. 3) It's always a tricky balance between going at the pace of the fastest people, and the pace of the slowest people, and I think about it a lot. I can't make a 2 hour tour into a 3 hour tour - that also would not be fair on the majority of people, would it? Oh, and I wait until people catch up before talking. 4) I love what I do. I find it amazing that I've done the Tour for so long, the time has gone so quickly. You say "it seemed like he was bored with it", strangely the exact opposite of the review two below yours: "a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide"...and many others.... I rewrote 50 % of the Tour during the pandemic. I'm absolutely not bored, I'm really looking forward to the next 10 years! Declan

Great

Amber_H, Aug 2023

Declan was great. It was a very enjoyable walk. Would definitely recommend it if you want something quirky to do in London.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Appreciate these words! Declan

Great Evening

Richard_C, Jul 2023

A great evening with a knowledgeable guide in Declan. He made the whole experience very memorable and thought provoking.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Cheers! Declan

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