London Serial Killers – The Blood and Tears Walk

London’s darker stories are not confined to Whitechapel. On this two-hour walk, author and guide Declan McHugh links serial-killer cases to courthouses, churchyards, tucked-away lanes, and streets that most sightseeing walks pass by.

I like two things in particular: the focus reaches well beyond Jack the Ripper, and the interactive moments invite you to think about the cases rather than simply listen. The trade-off is a brisk two-mile route with grim subject matter, so it is not a good fit for every age, interest, or walking ability.

At a glance

• Ten serial-killer stories cover cases linked to London, including two killers tried at the Old Bailey and McHugh’s own Jack the Ripper theory.
• The route visits lesser-seen corners near Barbican, Fleet Street, and Holborn, with stops at churches, courts, and narrow alleys.
• Declan McHugh leads the walk, drawing on his book Bloody London and adding questions, audience discussion, and a horror-film interlude.
• Plan for two miles in about two hours. The pace is fairly quick, and the tour runs in all weather.
• The tour costs $27.74 per person and starts at 7:00 pm near Barbican, ending at the Princess Louise pub by Holborn station.

A true-crime walk with a brisk pace

This is a story-led walking tour, not a visit to a crime museum or a sequence of indoor exhibits. You move through central London as McHugh connects present-day streets with killings, court cases, and the people who lived or worked nearby. The locations give the stories a physical setting, though you should not expect a dramatic crime-scene reconstruction at every stop.

McHugh’s approach is deliberately interactive. You’ll be asked to make observations, try a profiling question, and share your thoughts during parts of the walk. Some people will enjoy the energy and mental challenge; if you prefer a guide to speak without involving the group, the questions may feel more like a classroom than a lecture.

The subject is serious: the stories include the murders of children, women, and men. McHugh mixes in lighter material, including a discussion of horror films, to break up the darker sections. That shift may help the evening feel manageable, but the tour is still built around real violence, not campy ghost stories.

From Barbican to the Old Bailey

The walk begins near Barbican at Underground Ltd on Aldersgate Street. The first stop is the Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, where McHugh tells the story of an uncaught killer connected to the murders of two young girls, one of them at Barbican station. He compares the cases and discusses the profile he has formed of the killer.

It is a sobering opening, and the link to a busy transport stop is a reminder that these stories belong to real city streets. The short stop lasts about eight minutes, so expect a focused account rather than a long historical tour of the church itself.

At Holy Sepulchre, the subject shifts to the economics of the dead: grave-robbing, medical training, and the relationship between doctors at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and people considered social outcasts. This five-minute stop adds context to a period when the bodies of the poor could become part of a trade. It is a useful change of angle from murder alone, though the stop is brief.

The Old Bailey brings the tour to one of London’s best-known criminal courts. McHugh describes two serial killers whose cases were heard there: one who appeared in court twice and sent an innocent man to his death before confessing to multiple murders, and another who killed 13 women over more than five years.

The building itself is a strong setting for stories about evidence, trials, and the failures of justice. The Old Bailey stop lasts about eight minutes, and later in the walk you’ll hear about two further killers tried there. The walk does not go inside the court, so think of this as a street-side history lesson, not a courthouse visit.

A horror-film pause and a Victorian case

Printer Street provides a lighter interlude. McHugh asks the group to vote on the scariest horror films, then shares the top ten collected across 23 years of the tour. One film on that list is described as little known and recommended by many men but not by women; McHugh also suggests a 60-year-old cult horror film that is free to watch on YouTube.

This six-minute stop changes the mood without losing the tour’s theme. If you like film trivia, it is a welcome breather; if you came strictly for historical crime, it may feel like a detour. The range of material is part of the tour’s personality, and the audience gets a say rather than simply receiving another case summary.

At Red Lion Court, the mood turns back to crime. McHugh tells the story of a little-known Victorian serial killer who operated on two continents and lived in the area. The account is presented as a tale with several twists, followed by a question that asks you to draw a conclusion from the details.

Ten minutes gives this story more room than some of the earlier stops. The question-and-answer format is central to the experience: you can test your reasoning, but you should not expect every puzzle to have an obvious answer. McHugh says one question on the tour is especially difficult, so the appeal is as much in the discussion as in getting it right.

Jack the Ripper, then a dark alley

At Hare Place, the walk reaches the Jack the Ripper section. McHugh takes you to the place where his chosen suspect lived and explains why he believes this man was the Ripper. His theory is also covered in a chapter of Bloody London, and he asks the group to assess the evidence through a profiling exercise.

This is a useful stop for people who know the familiar Ripper story and want to hear a specific argument rather than another broad retelling. It is important to keep the distinction clear: McHugh is presenting his theory, not a proven identification. A particularly tough question here offers a place on the tour’s Roll of Honour if you solve it.

The route then enters a narrow, dim alley near St. Dunstan in the West. McHugh describes the place as a murder scene and tells the story of two serial killers who operated nearby. The ten-minute stop also includes a psychic experiment, asking the group to respond to the atmosphere of the space.

This is likely to be the most unnerving part of the walk, especially in the darker months. The setting does real work: a cramped, isolated passage feels very different from standing outside a court or church. But the atmosphere is not for everyone. If you dislike confined or gloomy places, or do not want a tour to play with supernatural ideas, this stop may be uncomfortable.

Courts, final cases, and the Princess Louise

At the Royal Courts of Justice, McHugh sets aside the details in advance and says the section is for the group. That element of surprise is part of the design. It is a short, five-minute stop, so expect a compact piece of the evening rather than a full introduction to the court’s role in British law.

On Portugal Street, two more killers come back into the story. Both were tried at the Central Criminal Court: one murdered 15 boys and men, while the other is described as perhaps the most dangerous woman in the world. This seven-minute stop completes the thread begun at the Old Bailey and reinforces how many different cases the walk manages to cover.

The final stop is the Princess Louise, a pub known for its Victorian decor. The tour ends outside or at this destination, with a final story about a well-known British serial killer and an alleged piece of behaviour not commonly covered in books or documentaries. McHugh says he learned the detail from the head of forensics involved in the case.

After the last story, McHugh offers signed copies of Bloody London for £10, payable in cash or by PayPal. Buying the book is optional. The pub makes a fitting endpoint, but after the final account, you may want a moment before stepping inside for a drink.

What the price and timing get you

At $27.74 per person, the tour offers two hours of guided storytelling and a route through parts of the city you might not otherwise visit. There are no paid admission stops listed, so the main value is McHugh’s research, the locations, and the way the stories connect. If you enjoy true crime, that is a fair price for a focused evening activity; if you are not drawn to the subject, the format will not make the murders easier to enjoy.

The tour is listed as averaging 31 days’ advance booking, so consider reserving ahead if your dates are fixed. It is in English, uses a mobile ticket, and begins at 7:00 pm. Since the tour operates in all weather, bring clothing suited to the forecast. In summer it may still be light, while the darker months can heighten the atmosphere in the alley.

The walk covers about 2 miles, or 3.2 kilometres, at a reasonably fast pace. Allow extra time to reach the starting point: the operator advises adding 20 minutes because of Underground delays. The endpoint is the Princess Louise at 208 High Holborn, about a minute from Holborn Underground station on the Central and Piccadilly lines.

The stated minimum age is 12, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 12 to 14 are classed as children, while adults are 15 and older. The tour is not recommended for people with significant mobility or health concerns, and the operator specifically advises against it for people in their 70s because of the pace and distance. That guidance is worth taking seriously, even though the route is described by one participant as mostly flat.

The booking information gives a maximum of 20 people per booking and an overall tour maximum of 45. In practice, that means the group may be larger than a small private walk. If hearing a guide in a crowd is a concern, arrive ready to stay close and speak up when you have a question. McHugh welcomes questions during the walk, and people can ask him as the group moves between stops.

Is this London walk right for you?

Book it if you like true crime, enjoy a guide who asks the group to think and respond, and want to see a less familiar stretch of central London. It is especially appealing if Jack the Ripper is only one part of your interest: the walk includes several other cases and a range of settings, from a churchyard and court buildings to an unsettling alley.

Think twice if you want a gentle stroll, have difficulty keeping a brisk pace, or prefer a light evening activity. The walk covers serious crimes, including murders of children, and some of its atmosphere is intentionally unsettling. For the right person, the mix of local streets, detailed storytelling, and audience participation makes the price worthwhile. For anyone unsure, the pace and subject matter are the two points to weigh before booking.

FAQ

How long is the tour, and how far do we walk?

It lasts about two hours and covers roughly 2 miles, or 3.2 kilometres. The pace is fairly brisk.

Where does the walk start and finish?

It starts at Underground Ltd, Aldersgate Street, near Barbican. It ends at the Princess Louise pub at 208 High Holborn, close to Holborn Underground station.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 7:00 pm. Allow an extra 20 minutes for Underground delays when planning your journey to the meeting point.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The minimum age is 12, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 12 to 14 are classed as children; ages 15 and older are classed as adults.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes. It operates in all weather, so dress for the conditions.

Is the walk suitable for someone with mobility or health issues?

The route is about 2 miles and moves at a reasonably quick pace. The operator advises people with mobility or significant health issues to consider a different tour and does not recommend this walk for people in their 70s.