Best of · DARK HISTORY AND HAUNTED TOURS IN THE UK
Every trip has one free day too few. These 13 dark history and haunted tours in the UK justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get on with the rest of it.
Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town with a guide trained in Scottish history or backed by decades of experience. In 90 minutes, you’ll visit Tron Kirk, Canongate Kirkyard, and the South Bridge vaults. Groups are capped at six, with time for questions and stories often missed on larger tours.
“A fun adventure exploring some of the hidden history of Edinburgh, very informative and entertaining”
Start at the Guy Fawkes Inn at 6:30 pm and follow a 90-minute evening walk around York’s Minster area, lesser-seen streets, and the Shambles. Guides such as Dan, Josh, and Mackenzie mix grim history, ghost stories, humour, and theatrical storytelling before finishing near the Shambles.
“Dan was an excellent tour guy, very entertaining and made the experience memorable, creating an atmosphere with every story.”
Walk Edinburgh’s Old Town for 75 minutes with a character guide such as Hazel, Juniper, or Angelica. Hear the stories of people accused of witchcraft, pass St. Giles’ Cathedral, Lady Stair’s Close, Castlehill, and Victoria Street, then finish at Grassmarket.
“Our guide was Juniper and she is perfect! So funny, nice and 1h went by without any effort. Full of interesting, catching stories and made us see Edimbourgh through different eyes. Amazing. We recommend!”
Follow a costumed guide such as Cornelius Piper, Merlot, Willow, or Nutmeg through York’s old town. Hear true stories of Mad Alice, Mary Bateman, and other suspected witches while visiting the Shambles, York Minster, Stonegate, Barley Hall, and hidden lanes.
“It was a really lovely tour through the streets (gate) of York. Stories, murders, witches... Cornelius was great and friendly!”
Follow an English-speaking guide from West Parliament Square to Canongate Kirk for a roughly two-hour walk through Edinburgh’s darker past. Expect executions, plague, thieves, body snatchers, old graves, and sharp storytelling from guides such as Robert, Joe, James, Kieran, Lydia, and Chris.
“Advertised as 90 mins, lasted 2 hours. Stories at a couple of stops could have been shortened considering the weather.(Started drizzing rain) Lovely guide however very little interaction with tour participants.”
Follow a theatrical guide such as Juniper, Hazel, or Angelica from St Giles’ Cathedral along the Royal Mile to Grassmarket. Hear stories of witch trials, Mary Queen of Scots, warlocks, public executions, and overlooked women while exploring Edinburgh’s steep, cobbled Old Town.
“Wish we got to see more of the underground vaults and it was a bit longer, but our tour guide was fantastic.”
Follow a costumed witch from Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate through the Shambles, York Minster, Stonegate, and Barley Hall. You’ll hear tales of witches, rats, magic, and York’s past during a lively 70 to 75 minute walk. Guides include Nix, Merlot, Willow, and Cornelius.
“Wonderful tour of York and the Shambles. Our tour guide, nutmeg, I believe 🤔, gave a fantastic tour, she was fun and very informative. Would definitely recommend..”
Meet outside the Philharmonic Dining Rooms for a theatrical walk through Liverpool’s darker past. English-speaking guides such as Chilla Black, Meryl Creep, and Indiana Bones use acting, humor, sound effects, and local stories to lead you past two cathedrals, Rodney Street, and St James’ Gardens.
“This is the second tour I have done. Once again, the whole performance was excellent, informative and extremely good fun. The guides stayed in full actors mode throughout. I would not hesitate to reccomend the ghost tours. A perfect night out. It doesn't matter if you're with friends or on your own as the performers include everyone. Well done and thank you.”
Follow an English-speaking guide such as Dan, Josh, or McKenzie through York’s old streets for 90 minutes of ghost stories, executions, plague, and dark humor. Meet near Guy Fawkes Inn, see the Minster and Shambles, and finish near the Shambles.
“very informative, guide was excellent easy to hear and understand, cared about the group, was a brilliant tour!”
Meet beneath the white All-Star Guides umbrella at St. Giles Cathedral for an English-language walk through Old Town and Canongate. Guides such as Robert, James, Lydia, and Kieran combine factual research, poetry, humor, and grim stories without costumes or staged scares.
“Poetic and imaginatively graphic as The Passion of the Christ. Take the tour with Robert!”
Follow a costumed guide such as Gary the Grey, Veronica, Beatrix, or Felix from London Bridge through Bankside. In 75 minutes, hear true stories of suspected witches while passing Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, The Clink, Shakespeare’s Globe, Millennium Bridge, and St Paul’s Cathedral.
“Great tour with an amazing guide. Very witty and yet informative as well. Learned a lot of interesting new things about London. Would highly recommend.”
Join Mr. Roberts and Miss Llewellyn for a 90-minute English-language walking story show through Liverpool’s St James’ Cemetery. By lantern light, you’ll hear local tales of pagan rites, the Everton Vampire, ancient runes, ghost sightings, and the infamous Portal to Hell.
“They were both very professional and well informed about all the ghostly stories of the graveyard,never felt bored once.”
Join Rob for a 90-minute English walking tour from the National Museum of Scotland through Greyfriars, Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, and the Royal Mile. Expect stories of witches, executions, plague, Burke and Hare, and Harry Potter connections, with a digital guide in several languages.
“The Tour was around 2h, IT was very interessant and i was learning a lot of dark details and also funny things of Edinburgh. The Guide has a very clear English. We as not native English speakers were able to understand everything. We highly recommend to take this Tour. Thank you”
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