London Serial Killers – The Blood and Tears Walk

If you like true crime, London has a side you usually never see, the one written into churches, courts, and narrow lanes. This walk takes that darker thread and turns it into a fast-paced, story-driven night out across central and the East End.

I especially love the interactive profiling style and the way Declan McHugh keeps you thinking, not just listening. I also like how the route mixes headline locations with lesser-known streets, so you get East End stops that most tour maps never include.

One thing to consider before you book: this is a brisk, 2-mile walk in about 2 hours, and it is not a sit-and-stroll experience, especially in rain.

Key things to know

• Declan McHugh leads the walk, drawing from his experience as the author of Bloody London
• Small group setup (capped, with recent sessions sometimes running a bit higher) keeps the energy active
• Interactive moments include horror movie voting and profiling-style questions
• You cover 10 serial killer stories at multiple landmarks in a tight timeline
• Expect a brisk pace and weather outdoors, so wear proper shoes and plan for steady walking

The vibe: true crime, but with audience participation

This is a London walking tour for people who want the story behind the story. The format is part guided walk, part real-time game, and part theatrical history lesson, all anchored to physical places you can actually stand in.

Declan McHugh, the guide behind the Bloody London brand, leads the evening in a way that feels like a conversation that keeps moving. You are not just hearing case summaries, you are getting asked to think, choose, and respond in small ways. That is a big reason the tour is so memorable even if you already know some UK true-crime cases.

If you expect a polite, quiet guided lecture, this might feel too energetic. But if you want to be involved, and you can handle dark subject matter, you will probably have a very fun night.

Starting at Barbican, then St. Bartholomew’s and Holy Sepulchre

You begin near Aldersgate Street at Underground Ltd by the Barbican area, with a 7:00 pm start. From there, the walk quickly sets the tone. You are looking at historic spots tied to violent cases, not just enjoying architecture.

Stop 1 is the Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, where Declan frames the story around an uncaught serial killer and compares case similarities. What makes this stop worth your attention is the way it connects timeline and pattern, so the names matter less than the structure of how a case unfolded.

Stop 2 is Holy Sepulchre London, which Declan uses to talk about the grim economics around dead bodies, including grave-robbing. This is a good palate cleanser in a strange way, because it pulls you out of the headline “serial killer” label and into the systems that enabled crime in earlier eras.

Practical note: these stops are short, so the value is in being present and listening closely. If you are trying to photograph constantly, you may miss key pieces of the story since the group keeps moving.

Old Bailey: where trials shaped London’s fear

The Old Bailey, officially the Central Criminal Court, is one of those London places that instantly makes a story feel real. Here, Declan focuses on trials tied to multiple serial killers and how the court became part of the public record of terror.

At this stop, you get two major sets of trials first, each with a grim theme: one killer appears there more than once, and Declan uses that to underline how outcomes and later confessions changed what people understood. Another case is framed as terror lasting for years, with trials that capture the scale of what was happening in plain sight.

This is the segment where the tour feels most like “history with consequences.” Even if you know the broad outline of infamous cases, hearing them tied to the specific court atmosphere makes it feel more grounded, like you are watching the moment evidence entered the system.

Short stop, big impact. Old Bailey is also very central, so it helps the rest of the route feel connected rather than random.

Printer Street: the horror-movie voting break (yes, it matters)

Not every moment is pure darkness. Printer Street is the “lighter” pause on the walk, where Declan switches gears to ask your opinion on horror movies.

Here is the twist that makes it memorable: the tour includes a long-running audience vote on horror films, and the results are revealed in a playful way. Declan also shares a strange pattern from those votes, including a film that most people do not seem to recognize, plus an odd gender split in who recommended it.

This part works because it interrupts the heavy topic without pretending the horror is gone. You are still on a serial killer tour, but the break resets your attention so you can handle the next stretches.

If you do not like being put on the spot, this might still be okay since the tone stays fun rather than aggressive. But you should be ready for interactive questions, even if you do not know the answer.

Red Lion Court and Hare Place: twists, profiling, and the Jack the Ripper challenge

Stop 5 at Red Lion Court delivers a Victorian serial killer story with a twist, and it ends with a question most people struggle to answer. Declan treats it like a mini puzzle, using details from the narrative to set up a final “can you get this right” moment.

Stop 6 is Hare Place, and yes, it is Jack the Ripper time. The tour focuses on a specific suspect and Declan explains why he thinks that man was Jack the Ripper, with the profiling logic built into the storytelling. This is one of the more intense portions of the walk because you are not only told the “why,” you are asked to test your own ability to follow patterns.

The challenge level here is real. Declan states that only a tiny fraction of people who attend can get the toughest question right, and the goal is recognition and reasoning, not trivia memorization.

If you are a true-crime fan, this is usually where you start feeling the tour become its own thing. Instead of repeating familiar names, it turns into a guided exercise in “how would you reason from the facts?”

St. Dunstan in the West: the psychic experiment stop

Stop 7 is St. Dunstan in the West, entered through a narrow alley that Declan describes as one of the creepiest places you might ever walk into. The atmosphere is part of the point, but so is the activity: there is a psychic experiment set up like a “murder scene.”

Declan frames this section around a pair of serial killers who operated around the area. You are not just hearing about them, you are reacting to the environment in real time, and the guide warns that the mood can affect even tough people.

This stop is the one I would recommend taking seriously, even if you are skeptical about psychic experiments. The value is less about whether you believe in that idea and more about how the tour uses space, timing, and tone to make the stories land.

If you get uncomfortable easily in enclosed spaces, you may want to mentally prepare for this alley segment.

Royal Courts of Justice and Portugal Street: the mind-bending legal aftermath

Stop 8 is the Royal Courts of Justice, and Declan keeps it spoiler-free in the way he introduces it, simply promising that it is consistently interesting and sometimes jaw-dropping. In practice, that means you are given a short, tightly focused legal context that makes the surrounding stories feel like part of a larger courtroom machine.

Stop 9 at Portugal Street returns you to the Central Criminal Court connections. Declan brings in two other serial killers whose trials occurred there, one linked to the murder of boys and men, and another described as possibly the most dangerous woman in the world.

This section can be intense, especially if you have been feeling the cumulative effect of nine stops already. It is also where the structure matters. The tour does not let you get lost in one story too long, and it keeps the “why these legal spaces matter” theme running through the final stretch.

If you want to understand how London’s institutions shaped the public record of crime, these stops are the payoff.

Ending at Princess Louise: a forensic detail and book signing

Your walk ends at the Princess Louise pub on High Holborn, with Holborn Underground nearby. The pub is famous for its Victorian decor, and Declan openly notes that after the final serial killer story, you might hesitate before stepping in.

The last story includes a truly specific behavior claim from the case’s head of forensics. Declan frames it as information you likely will not find in the more common summaries, and he tells it in a way that brings the forensic perspective into focus rather than just repeating headlines.

After that, Declan sells copies of his best-selling book Bloody London for £10, with cash or PayPal, and he signs each copy with a personal message. Even if you do not buy the book, the signing moment helps explain why this tour has a long-running following. It is tied to a larger project, not just a one-night script.

Price and value: is $27.74 worth it?

At about $27.74 per person for roughly two hours, this tour is priced like a budget-friendly specialty outing. The value comes from three places.

First, you get multiple major landmarks tied to the justice system and local London street corners, and you spend real time in front of each stop rather than racing past everything. Second, the tour includes interactive elements (movie voting and profiling-style questions), which tends to make the experience feel longer and more personal than a standard narration walk. Third, the entry fees for the listed sights are marked free, so you are not hit with extra costs mid-route.

The tradeoff is pace. You are walking about 2 miles and the guide covers a lot of ground in a short window. This is not a “holiday stroll” format, so the price makes sense only if you are comfortable with brisk movement and heavy topic matter.

Who should book, and who should skip it?

This tour is a strong fit if you want a true-crime night that is interactive and London-specific, not just a list of famous killers. If you love the East End feel, like to hear case comparisons, and you enjoy a guide who keeps you engaged, you will likely have a great time.

Skip it if walking fast is hard for you. Declan warns it is fairly brisk to cover 10 serial killers in two hours, and he suggests considering a different tour if you have mobility or significant health issues. The same goes for people in their 70s, since the pace can be tough even when the walking surfaces are flat.

Also skip it if you are not feeling well, especially with a new persistent cough or fever, since the tour runs outdoors in all weather.

One more small note from the feedback pattern: most people love the interactive style, but a minority felt the quiz tone was too much. If you know you hate being quizzed publicly, you might want to think twice, or at least mentally expect participation.

FAQ

How long is the London Serial Killers – The Blood and Tears Walk?

It lasts about 2 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is listed as $27.74 per person.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Where does the tour start and what time does it begin?

It starts at Underground Ltd, Aldersgate St, Barbican, London EC1A 4JA, with a start time of 7:00 pm.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at 125 High Holborn, London WC1V 6AN, and the walk finishes at The Princess Louise pub (Holborn Underground station is about 60 seconds away).

How big is the group?

The booking info says a maximum of 20 people per booking, and one guide note indicates a specific tour had 25 people.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 12 years, and it is strictly enforced.

Is there a dress code or weather guidance?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so you should dress appropriately for the weather. Comfortable walking shoes are a good idea since you cover about 2 miles.

Is the pace suitable for everyone?

The tour is described as fairly brisk to cover 10 serial killers in two hours and covers about 2 miles. It is not recommended for people with mobility or significant health issues.

How far should I plan to travel before the start time?

You are advised to add 20 minutes extra travelling time because of constant Underground train delays.

Is mobile ticketing used?

Yes, the tour includes a mobile ticket.

Should you book?

Book it if you want a dark, London-specific story walk led by Declan McHugh, with interactive parts that turn you into an active participant. If you can handle brisk pace, cool rainy nights, and true-crime subject matter, this is a great way to see courts, churches, and lanes that most visitors never stop to notice.