London Serial Killers – The Blood and Tears Walk

London’s darkest stories unfold in places most sightseeing walks pass by. On The Blood and Tears Walk, author Declan McHugh leads you from Barbican to Holborn, linking ten serial killers with courts, churches, alleys, hospitals, and streets across roughly two miles.

I like the range of stories beyond Jack the Ripper, and I like the way the walk uses questions, horror-film voting, profiling tasks, and a psychic experiment to keep you involved. The main drawback is the brisk pace. You need to cover the distance in about two hours, so this is not a gentle stroll.

Key things to know before you book

• Ten serial killers in two hours: The walk covers several notorious cases, along with lesser-known figures who operated in London and beyond.
• A brisk 2-mile route: Expect about 3.2 kilometers on foot, with limited time for lingering at each stop.
• Declan McHugh leads the walk: He is the author of Bloody London and brings a strong personal interest in the subject.
• Interactive rather than purely narrative: You may be asked to profile a killer, name a horror film, answer a difficult question, or take part in a psychic experiment.
• The darkest section is near St. Dunstan in the West: A narrow alley and murder-story presentation create the most unsettling atmosphere.
• Best for ages 12 and up: Children aged 12 to 14 must attend with an adult, and the minimum age rule is strictly enforced.

Why this walk feels different from a standard London tour

Many London walks focus on royal landmarks, famous writers, grand churches, or pub history. This one uses the city as a crime scene and courtroom. You begin near the Barbican, pass through the City and Fleet Street area, and finish in Holborn, seeing corners of central London that rarely make a first-time sightseeing route.

The appeal is not simply hearing gruesome facts. Declan connects each case to a physical place. A church may lead into a story about an uncaught killer. A court becomes the setting for several trials. A small alley becomes the backdrop for a murder scene and a test of your instincts.

That sense of place gives the walk its value. You are not just hearing names and dates in a room. You are standing where people lived, worked, were tried, or carried out criminal acts. The subject is grim, but the route also gives you a fresh way to understand London’s older streets.

Declan’s style is lively and direct. He uses humor at selected points, especially during the horror-film section, to give the group a break from the violence. That mix will suit you if you like dark humor and audience participation. If you want a solemn, academic presentation with no games or jokes, you may find his approach too theatrical.

From St. Bartholomew the Great to the economics of death

The walk starts at Underground Ltd on Aldersgate Street near Barbican at 7pm. Arrive early. The operator specifically advises adding at least 20 minutes for Underground delays, which is sensible in London, especially when you have a fixed evening start.

The first stop is the Church of St. Bartholomew the Great. Here, Declan tells the story of an uncaught serial killer whose first known victim was a six-year-old girl. Seven years later, a seven-year-old girl was murdered inside Barbican Station. The focus is on the similarities between the cases and on building a profile of the person responsible.

This opening sets the tone quickly. You begin with a specific case, a real London location, and an interactive question about the killer’s behavior. It is a short stop, about eight minutes, so expect a concentrated account rather than a long historical lecture about the church itself.

At Holy Sepulchre London, the subject shifts to the grim economics surrounding dead bodies. Grave-robbing, medical research, and serial killing enter the story, with St. Bartholomew’s Hospital connected to the demand for bodies.

This section adds useful context. It shows that murder does not always happen in isolation. Medical institutions, poverty, body shortages, and criminal markets could overlap in disturbing ways. The stop lasts only about five minutes, but it helps explain the conditions that made some crimes possible.

The Old Bailey and four major criminal cases

The route then reaches the Old Bailey, officially the Central Criminal Court. This is one of London’s most recognizable legal buildings, and it gives the walk a strong change of setting. Instead of hearing about crime only at the place where it happened, you now hear about the court process and the consequences.

Declan discusses a killer who appeared at the Old Bailey twice. This person helped send an innocent man to his death before later confessing to multiple murders of women. The story raises difficult questions about false testimony, criminal manipulation, and the danger of relying on the wrong person’s account.

A second case concerns a killer who murdered 13 women and caused fear for more than five years. The stop lasts around eight minutes, but these are dense stories. If you like courtroom details, moral questions, and the mechanics of criminal investigations, this part of the route should hold your attention.

Two more killers connected with trials at the Old Bailey appear later in the walk. One murdered 15 boys and men. The other was described by Declan as potentially the most dangerous woman in the world. You do not receive all four cases at once, which helps spread the legal material across the evening.

The Old Bailey is also an excellent reminder that the tour is not only about Jack the Ripper. His case is included, but it forms one part of a much broader look at British serial murder.

Printer Street gives you a strange break from the horror

At Printer Street, the mood changes for about six minutes. Declan asks the group to consider the scariest horror films ever made, then shares a top-ten list based on decades of audience votes.

This is the walk’s lighter moment, though it still fits the theme. One unusual detail is that a film on the list has been recommended by about 2,000 men but not a single woman. Declan also offers a personal recommendation: a 60-year-old cult horror film that is available free on YouTube.

The point is not simply to pass time between murder stories. The film discussion lets you compare fictional horror with the real cases you have been hearing. It also gives the group an easy way to talk, laugh, and reset before the route returns to Victorian crime.

You should expect audience participation throughout the walk, not just a lecture from one person. Some people enjoy being asked to think aloud. Others prefer to listen quietly. If you dislike quizzes or being called on in a group, this section and the later profiling exercises may feel uncomfortable.

Red Lion Court and a killer who crossed continents

Red Lion Court brings one of the more unusual stories on the route. Declan presents the life of a little-known Victorian serial killer who murdered on two continents and lived in London.

The story is designed as a dramatic narrative, with several twists and a final question. You are asked to work out an answer based on the evidence you have just heard. That structure gives the stop a puzzle-like quality without turning the whole tour into a formal mystery game.

This is one of the places where the guide’s storytelling matters most. The case is not one that many people already know, so you arrive without a fixed opinion or a familiar set of facts. The stop lasts about ten minutes, making it one of the longer story segments.

Jack the Ripper near Fleet Street

At Hare Place, the walk reaches its Jack the Ripper section. Rather than visiting the best-known locations associated with the case in Whitechapel, you hear about the place near Fleet Street where Declan’s preferred suspect lived.

Declan explains why he believes this man was Jack the Ripper, drawing on the case presented in a full chapter of his book Bloody London. You are invited to assess the profile and decide how convincing the argument seems.

This approach will appeal to people who have already read about the Ripper and want a less familiar angle. It also gives you something to think about after the walk, since the identity of the killer remains disputed. The tour presents Declan’s theory, but you should treat it as an interpretation rather than a settled historical fact.

The Jack the Ripper section includes the most difficult question of the evening. A correct answer earns a place on the walk’s Roll of Honour, and Declan says only about one person in 500 gets it right. That detail tells you a lot about the tone: expect the group to be tested, teased, and encouraged to reason from the information provided.

St. Dunstan in the West is the atmospheric high point

The most unsettling stop comes at St. Dunstan in the West. The group enters a narrow, isolated alley that Declan describes as particularly creepy, especially during the darker months.

Here, the tour stages a psychic experiment around a murder scene. Declan also discusses two serial killers who operated in the area. The combination of the confined space, the subject matter, and the nighttime setting creates the strongest atmosphere of the walk.

This is the point where the experience shifts from dark history to something closer to theatrical horror. You may find the setting genuinely disturbing, especially if you are uncomfortable in narrow or poorly lit places. The description is not meant as a casual flourish. Declan gives a clear warning that this is not a pleasant stop.

If you enjoy haunted places, ghost stories, and true crime presented with a strong sense of mood, this could be the section you remember best. If you are sensitive to graphic or frightening material, keep that in mind before booking.

The Royal Courts of Justice and Portugal Street

At the Royal Courts of Justice, Declan presents what he calls your section. The exact activity is kept as a surprise, so you should expect another interactive moment rather than a standard talk about the building.

The stop is short, around five minutes, but it breaks up the walking and keeps you involved. It also places the group among some of London’s most imposing legal architecture, which suits the evening’s focus on trials, criminals, and the justice system.

Portugal Street returns to the two Old Bailey cases introduced earlier. One concerns the killer who murdered 15 boys and men. The other concerns the woman described as perhaps the most dangerous in the world.

Because these cases are revisited rather than rushed through in one block, you get a little more time to follow the details. Still, the overall schedule moves quickly. You will not receive a long biography of every killer, and you may want to note names afterward if you plan to read more.

Finishing at the Princess Louise pub

The walk ends near the Princess Louise pub on High Holborn, a Victorian pub known for its ornate interior. Holborn Underground Station, served by the Central and Piccadilly lines, is about 60 seconds away, making the end point practical for getting back to your accommodation.

Before you settle in for a drink, Declan tells one final story about a well-known British serial killer. The detail comes from the head of forensics involved in the case, who attended the walk, and it is described as something not covered in the usual books and documentaries about that person.

That final story is intended to leave you unsettled. You may hesitate before walking into the pub, which is part of the joke. Declan also sells signed copies of Bloody London for £10, payable in cash or through PayPal, and adds a personal message to each book.

The pub is a useful ending because you can continue the conversation afterward, but buying the book is optional. The tour does not depend on purchasing it, and you should not feel that the book sale changes the value of the walk itself.

Price, group size, and the pace of the evening

The price is about $27.74 per person. For a two-hour guided walk in central London, that is a fair price, particularly if you value a specialist subject and a named author as your guide. You are paying for research, storytelling, route planning, and live interaction rather than admission to a major attraction.

There are no paid entry tickets included because the walk uses public streets, courtyards, churches, courts, and exterior locations. That keeps the price reasonable, but it also means the main value comes from Declan’s presentation and the places he selects.

The booking limit is listed as a maximum of 20 people, while the activity information allows up to 45 participants overall. Group size may therefore vary by date or booking channel. A larger group can make it harder to hear in a narrow street, so arrive early and stay close to the guide.

The walk runs in all weather. Wear shoes you can comfortably use for about 3.2 kilometers and bring suitable clothing for rain, wind, or summer heat. Several people have found the pace manageable, but the operator is clear that it is reasonably fast.

Do not book this as a relaxed evening ramble. The schedule includes ten killers, ten locations, and transitions across central London. If you stop often for photos, say so when Declan finishes speaking at a stop. He allows time for pictures, but you cannot expect long pauses.

Who should book The Blood and Tears Walk?

I would choose this walk if you have a strong interest in true crime, criminal psychology, Jack the Ripper, Victorian London, or horror films. It is also a good pick if you have already seen the main London sights and want an evening activity in a different part of the city.

The minimum age is 12. Children aged 12 to 14 must attend with an adult, while the adult category begins at age 15. The subject includes murder, child victims, sexual violence, and disturbing behavior, so parents should decide based on maturity rather than age alone.

The walk has also worked well for families with teenagers who enjoy true crime and horror. The interactive sections give younger participants something to do beyond listening, though the content remains serious and sometimes graphic.

I would think twice if you have mobility or significant health issues. The route covers about two miles at a brisk pace, and the operator specifically says it may not suit people in their 70s because of the speed and distance. Service animals are allowed, and the route is near public transport, but that does not remove the physical demands.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Late changes and cancellations are not accepted, so check your transport plan carefully. The start is at 7pm, and you should leave extra Underground travel time rather than aiming to arrive exactly at the start.

Should you book it?

Book The Blood and Tears Walk if you want a focused, unusual London evening led by someone who has spent years researching the subject. The strongest reasons are the less familiar cases, the walk through overlooked central streets, Declan McHugh’s personal Jack the Ripper theory, and the atmospheric alley near St. Dunstan in the West.

Skip it if you want a quiet historic walk, dislike audience questions, or cannot comfortably maintain a brisk pace for two miles. The subject is also genuinely grim, not a mild ghost tour dressed up as true crime.

For the right audience, $27.74 is a sensible price for two hours of live storytelling and a route you would be unlikely to create on your own. Bring comfortable shoes, arrive early, dress for the forecast, and expect to leave with several names to investigate later.

FAQ

How long is The Blood and Tears Walk?

The walk lasts approximately two hours.

How far do you walk?

The route covers about two miles, or 3.2 kilometers.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 7pm.

Where does the walk begin?

It begins at Underground Ltd on Aldersgate Street near Barbican, London EC1A 4JA.

Where does the walk finish?

It finishes at the Princess Louise pub area on High Holborn. Holborn Underground Station is about 60 seconds from the pub.

What age is this tour suitable for?

The minimum age is 12. Children aged 12 to 14 must be accompanied by an adult, and the minimum age rule is strictly enforced.

Is Jack the Ripper the only subject?

No. The walk covers ten serial killers, with Jack the Ripper forming one section of the broader tour.

Is the tour held in bad weather?

Yes. The walk operates in all weather, so you should dress appropriately.

Is the tour suitable for someone with mobility issues?

The operator advises choosing a different tour if you have mobility or significant health issues. The route is about two miles and moves at a fairly brisk pace.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted.