Reviewed · LONDON

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London

★ 4.5 · 11 reviews 2 hours (approx.) From $32 Operated by Lantern Ghost Tours · Bookable on Viator
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Old London’s darkest stories come alive on this evening walk, from mass burial grounds beneath the streets to the city’s largest execution site. Along the way, your guide mixes grim history with attempts to contact spirits using Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing tools.

I like the small maximum group of 10, which should make it easier to hear the guide and take part in the investigations. I also like the mix of serious historical material and the stop at a traditional gin palace. The main drawback is that the paranormal activity is an attempt, not a promise of proof, and one past booking suffered from a cancellation communication problem.

Key points to know before you book

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London - Key points to know before you book

  • Old London’s grim side: Hear about executions, serial killings, mass burial grounds, William Wallace, and the Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane.
  • Hands-on ghost hunting: The guide uses Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing tools at different stops.
  • Small evening group: The tour accepts no more than 10 participants, making this a more personal walk.
  • A pub stop with a difference: You visit a traditional London gin palace, but drinks cost extra.
  • Practical timing: Meet at 40 Cowcross Street in Farringdon at 7:30 pm for a walk lasting about two hours.
  • Best for adults: You must be at least 18, and comfortable walking shoes are a smart choice.

Why this walk feels different from a standard ghost tour

Many London ghost walks rely on old tales and atmospheric streets. This one adds a hands-on attempt to test the supernatural claims. At each stop, the guide may use a Ouija board, a K2 meter, or dowsing tools while inviting the group to consider what, if anything, is happening.

That distinction matters. You are not booking a theatrical show with actors and special effects. You are joining a guided history walk with paranormal experiments folded into the route. The stories provide the substance, while the equipment adds a participatory element.

I would approach the evening with curiosity rather than certainty. If you want a careful historical walk followed by a few strange experiments, the format should suit you. If you expect repeated, dramatic spirit encounters, you may find the experience quieter than the title suggests.

The guide’s storytelling is central. The available information does not provide a guide’s name, but the guide leads the group through the streets, explains the local stories, and manages the attempts at contact. One positive account specifically praised the guide’s polite, friendly manner and the interesting collection of historical stories.

Other London outings people book alongside this one:

Starting at Farringdon after dark

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London - Starting at Farringdon after dark

The meeting point is 40 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6BY, in Farringdon. The tour starts at 7:30 pm and returns to the same meeting point at the end.

Farringdon is a sensible base for this sort of walk. It puts you in central London, close to public transport, and within easy reach of old streets tied to the city’s darker past. Still, give yourself time to locate the exact address. One participant found the meeting place insufficiently clear, so do not leave arrival until the last minute.

The tour lasts about two hours. That is long enough to build a mood and cover several stories without committing your whole evening. It also means you should plan for a substantial amount of standing and walking. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and you should be prepared for the practical realities of an evening outdoors.

The group limit of 10 is useful here. A small group makes it easier to gather around the guide, hear the story, and take a turn with any equipment. It also keeps the walk from feeling like a large procession through central London.

Bodies beneath the streets and London’s execution grounds

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London - Bodies beneath the streets and London’s execution grounds

The early part of the walk sets the tone with stories of the many bodies lying beneath London’s streets. This is not just a spooky talking point. London has been repeatedly rebuilt, and its old burial grounds, prisons, courts, and execution sites are woven into the modern city.

That contrast is one of the best reasons to take a walking tour in this part of London. You are not viewing a preserved haunted attraction. You are standing on ordinary streets while hearing about events that took place in the same area centuries ago.

The guide also takes you to the city’s largest execution site. The appeal here is historical as much as supernatural. Public executions were once large public events, and the site gives the guide a chance to explain how punishment, spectacle, and fear shaped London life.

The exact route details are not fully specified, so you should not expect a printed list of every stop in advance. Instead, the evening unfolds as a guided sequence of locations and stories. That can make the walk feel more natural, though visitors who prefer a tightly mapped route may want more detail before booking.

Scratching Fanny and London’s stranger stories

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London - Scratching Fanny and London’s stranger stories

The story of the Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane is one of the evening’s more unusual episodes. It concerns alleged supernatural activity connected with Cock Lane and gives the tour a different flavor from straightforward tales of murder and execution.

This is where the walk appears to balance history and folklore. Stories such as this are less about visiting a major monument and more about seeing how Londoners responded to strange claims, public rumors, and supposed contact with the dead.

I like this kind of material because it avoids making the whole evening about famous criminals. It gives you a look at the city’s old appetite for mystery and spectacle. The story also fits naturally with the later use of Ouija boards and other paranormal tools.

The guide’s presentation will matter a great deal. The strongest part of the experience is likely to be the combination of clear storytelling and a good sense of atmosphere. A guide who can explain the background without turning every detail into a dramatic claim will make the evening more rewarding.

A different sort of day out in London altogether:

William Wallace and the hard edge of punishment

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London - William Wallace and the hard edge of punishment

The tour also covers the grisly end of William Wallace. This story brings the walk back to the harsh realities behind London’s old punishment system.

The subject is not presented as a light ghost story. It is a reminder that the city’s historic streets are tied to real suffering, public violence, and severe justice. That darker tone may appeal to you if you prefer your ghost walks grounded in documented events rather than only legends.

This part of the tour is also a reason to think about the audience. The activity is for people aged 18 and over, and the material includes executions, killings, and disturbing historical details. It is not designed as a family-friendly stroll.

You should also expect the mood to shift. Some moments may be grim and factual, while others invite supernatural speculation. That mixture keeps the walk from becoming repetitive, but it may feel uneven if you want either a pure history tour or a dedicated paranormal investigation.

Newgate Prison and the abandoned jail cell

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London - Newgate Prison and the abandoned jail cell

One of the strongest stops is Newgate Prison. The tour includes an abandoned jail cell that once housed a notorious serial killer described as one of the world’s worst.

The value of this stop comes from its sense of place. A prison cell is more immediate than a story told on a pavement. Even without a dramatic encounter, the setting can make the history easier to picture.

The tour does not promise access to an extensive prison museum or a long indoor visit, so keep your expectations measured. The available details identify the cell as a stop on the walking route, not as a full prison tour. The guide’s explanation and the atmosphere around the location will carry much of the experience.

This is also one of the places where the small group should help. Ten people or fewer can gather without the scene becoming crowded, and you should have a better chance of hearing the guide’s account. As with any evening walk, visibility and street conditions may affect how much you can see.

Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing tools

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London - Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing tools

At each stop, the guide attempts to make contact with ghosts and spirits using paranormal equipment. The tools include Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing tools.

A K2 meter is generally used by paranormal investigators to detect changes in electromagnetic fields. A Ouija board provides a more direct group activity, while dowsing tools offer another traditional way to look for unusual responses. The tour gives you a chance to see these methods used in the places connected with the stories.

The important word is attempts. The experience does not guarantee evidence, and the supplied details do not claim that every stop produces a clear result. You should treat the equipment as part of the evening’s entertainment and discussion rather than as scientific proof.

One person who enjoyed the historical side still wanted more paranormal investigation and more use of equipment. That is a fair point. If the supernatural side is your main reason for booking, you may want to ask how much time the guide normally spends with each device.

For me, the equipment works best as a way to involve the group. You are not only listening to a guide recite old stories. You may also watch the meter, take part in a board session, or consider a strange movement from the dowsing tools. The value depends on your willingness to enjoy the uncertainty.

A traditional gin palace at the end

Paranormal ActivityTour in Old London - A traditional gin palace at the end

The walk includes a visit to a traditional London gin palace. This provides a welcome change of pace after the prison, executions, and murder stories.

A gin palace is not simply a modern cocktail bar. The term refers to grand Victorian-era drinking establishments known for ornate interiors and a strong connection with London’s gin culture. The supplied details do not identify the exact venue or promise a particular drink, so the focus is on visiting the setting rather than on a tasting experience.

Drinks are not included in the ticket price. You should budget separately if you want to order something. This is worth knowing because the gin palace is part of the tour’s appeal, but it does not function as an included refreshment stop.

The pub visit also adds a little humor to the evening. After hearing about spirits of the supernatural sort, you finish among an entirely different kind of spirit. It gives the group a natural place to relax before returning to the meeting point.

Is $32.91 a fair price?

At $32.91 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a two-hour guided walk in central London, especially with a maximum group of 10. You are paying for a guide, a planned route, historical storytelling, and access to the paranormal activities.

The value depends on what you want from the night. If you mainly want a low-cost way to hear unusual London stories after dark, the price is easy to justify. The small group is an added advantage over a much larger city walk.

If you want a formal investigation with extensive equipment, controlled experiments, or guaranteed access to historic interiors, the price may not deliver that level of detail. Drinks at the gin palace are extra, and the experience does not include anything beyond the guide and the activities described.

The strongest value comes from the blend. You get the city’s grim past, a few recognizable names and locations, and a chance to participate in ghost-hunting methods. That is more varied than a standard narrated walk, but less specialized than a serious paranormal research session.

Who should book this Old London ghost walk?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy dark history, local legends, and a little theatrical uncertainty. It suits couples, friends, and small groups looking for an evening activity that is more unusual than a pub crawl but less demanding than a full night investigation.

It is also a good fit if you like hearing about executions and old crimes in the places connected with them. The stories about Newgate Prison, William Wallace, the Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane, and London’s execution grounds give the walk a strong historical base.

You may want to choose another activity if you dislike grisly material, outdoor walking at night, or paranormal devices. The tour also may not satisfy you if your main goal is repeated evidence of ghosts.

Book with care around the meeting time. Confirmation is provided when you book, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. If the operator cancels, check your messages and ticket details before heading out. A past booking involved a cancellation notice that was missed, leaving the participant waiting at the meeting point.

My verdict on the Farringdon paranormal walk

This is a compact, adult-focused London walk with a good mix of grim history and hands-on ghost hunting. Its best qualities are the small group, the variety of stories, and the unusual finish at a traditional gin palace.

I would book it if you want atmosphere, old crimes, and a chance to test paranormal tools without paying for a full evening event. I would skip it if you require firm proof of supernatural activity or a clearly defined investigation at every stop.

Arrive early at 40 Cowcross Street, wear comfortable shoes, and keep your expectations practical. The history is the reliable part. The spirits, if any appear, are an optional bonus.

FAQ

How long does the paranormal walking tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is 40 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6BY, in Farringdon, London.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 7:30 pm.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What paranormal equipment is used?

The guide attempts to make contact with spirits using Ouija boards, K2 meters, and dowsing tools.

Are drinks included in the price?

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

Is there an age requirement?

Yes. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

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