Witchcraft, Ancient Cults & MI15 Spy Secrets

London’s oldest secrets are often beneath your feet. This three-hour private walk follows Roman cults, pagan worship, medieval churches, executions, ghosts, and spy lore from Bleeding Heart Yard to Monument Station. You’ll see a side of the city that most first-time sightseeing routes miss.

I like the private format, since your guide can focus on your questions instead of delivering a fixed speech to a large group. I also like the route’s mix of major historical forces and odd details, from the bull-killing cult of Mithras to three devilish terracotta figures aimed at a neighboring church.

The main drawback is the $371.59 per person price, which is a serious outlay for about three hours and does not include admission to every stop. This makes the experience easier to justify for a small group sharing the private guide than for one or two people paying alone.

Key points about this London walking tour

• Roman London below modern offices: Visit the area of the London Mithraeum, where a secretive Roman cult met in a dark underground temple.
• A private guide for your group: You receive the guide’s full attention rather than joining a large public walk.
• Five sharply different stops: The route links Roman religion, pagan worship, medieval churches, old rivalries, and public executions.
• A useful choice after the headline sights: This tour suits you if you have already seen London’s most famous attractions.
• A central cross-city route: Start at Bleeding Heart Yard and finish beside Monument Station.
• Check what is included: The guide is included, but admission to the London Mithraeum is not, and one other stop is marked as admission not included.

Why this route feels different from a standard London tour

Many London walks move from one famous building to the next. This one follows ideas that shaped the city: worship, fear, punishment, rumor, and secrecy. You are not simply checking off landmarks. You are looking at how sacred places and public spaces changed as London grew around them.

The route reaches back to the 4th century and touches sites with links to Roman and pagan religious practice. It also brings in medieval survival, the Great Fire of 1666, executions at Smithfield, and a story connected with Bloody Mary. The title adds MI15 spy secrets and astrologers to the mix, though the supplied route details do not spell out which specific spy stories appear. If that theme matters most to you, ask the guide at the start how much time will be given to it.

I would choose this walk after visiting the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, or other headline sights. It is designed for the curious repeat visitor, not for someone trying to cover every famous London view in one afternoon.

The private setup is important here. These stops depend on small clues, street-level details, and explanations that can be easy to miss in a crowd. A private guide can pause when you want more context, adjust the pace, and answer questions about subjects that may not fit a standard sightseeing route.

Bleeding Heart Yard begins the walk in old London

The meeting point is Bleeding Heart Yard, London EC1N, with a noon start. This gives you a clear central starting place, though you should leave time to find the exact meeting point before midday.

The name itself fits a tour about London’s darker stories, but the supplied details do not give a specific legend connected with the yard. Treat it as the launch point rather than a full stop with a promised set of sights.

From here, the walk heads toward the City of London. You will be on foot for the full experience, which is the right way to handle a route built around details at street level. The tradeoff is that you need comfortable shoes and enough energy for three hours of walking and standing.

The London Mithraeum reveals a private Roman cult

The London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE is the route’s strongest historical stop. The site has been at the center of London for roughly two thousand years, and the modern Bloomberg building now sits above the remains of the Roman temple.

The Mithraic cult first appeared in Rome in the 1st century AD and spread across the Roman Empire over the next three centuries. Merchants, soldiers, and imperial administrators were among its followers. The meetings took place in temples that were usually below ground, dark, windowless, and private.

That setting tells you something important. This was not a public temple built for a broad civic audience. It was a closed religious world with its own ceremonies and symbols. At its heart was the image of Mithras killing a bull inside a cave, known as the tauroctony. Its full meaning remains open to debate, which gives the guide room to explain what is known and what remains uncertain.

The stop is scheduled for about 10 minutes. That is enough for a sharp introduction, but not a long museum visit. Admission is not included, so you should confirm the current entry arrangements if you want to go inside the Bloomberg SPACE rather than view the site as part of the walking tour.

This is also where the price question becomes important. If you are paying for a private tour, a short stop at a major archaeological site may feel limited unless the guide adds strong explanation and the stop fits your interests. If Roman religion is a priority, ask in advance whether the tour includes entry or only an exterior discussion.

St. Mary Woolnoth links modern streets with ancient worship

At St. Mary Woolnoth, you get another reminder that London’s present streets often cover much older sacred places. The site has been used for worship for at least 2,000 years, and traces of Roman and pagan religious buildings have been found beneath the foundations of the current church.

The church visit is listed at about 10 minutes and admission is free. That makes it a useful contrast with the Mithraeum. Instead of a purpose-built underground temple tied to one Roman cult, you see a church site that has carried religious use across very different periods.

I like this stop because it makes the tour’s main idea easy to grasp: London did not replace one city with another. New buildings and beliefs often rose over older ones. The guide can help you picture those layers without requiring a long museum visit.

Do not expect a full church tour in ten minutes. This is a focused historical pause, not an extended architectural inspection. If you want time to look closely, ask whether the schedule allows it.

Cornhill House shows London’s stranger side

Cornhill House brings the route into the realm of visual oddity and religious rivalry. Three devilish terracotta figures are used to mock worshippers at nearby St. Peter upon Cornhill, an old City church now almost submerged at street level by surrounding office buildings.

This is exactly the sort of detail you can walk past without noticing. The figures are not presented as a grand monument. Their value lies in the story behind them, an unusual example of revenge lasting through the built fabric of the city.

The stop lasts about 10 minutes. Admission is not included, so plan on seeing the exterior unless your guide tells you otherwise. The surrounding office blocks also show how the City has changed scale. Older churches can look unusually low and enclosed beside modern commercial buildings.

This stop should appeal to you if you enjoy small, strange details more than polished landmark views. It may be less satisfying if you want a major interior or a long historical presentation at every stop.

St. Bartholomew the Great survived the 1666 fire

The Church of St. Bartholomew the Great is one of the route’s most substantial historic sites. It is one of the few medieval churches to survive the Great Fire of London in 1666, making it a rare survivor in a city repeatedly rebuilt.

Admission is free, and the visit is planned for about 10 minutes. That is enough to establish why the church matters, though not enough for an exhaustive look at every feature.

The appeal here is survival. London’s story is often told through destruction and renewal, but this church lets you see a piece of the medieval city that escaped the fire. It also gives the tour a calmer counterpoint to its stories of cults, devils, ghosts, and executions.

I would pay attention to the guide’s explanation of what survived and what changed. The route does not promise a long interior visit, so keep your expectations measured. You are getting a concise stop within a wider walking story.

Smithfield Market brings the darkest history into view

Smithfield Market is the final listed stop and one of the most sobering. Here you learn about places of execution and a story connected with Bloody Mary.

The market gives the tour a public setting for its darker material. Roman religious practice was private and enclosed. Smithfield’s executions were public events, tied to power, punishment, and spectacle. That contrast helps the route move beyond old buildings and into the ways authorities shaped public life.

The stop lasts about 10 minutes, and admission is included. The information supplied does not specify which market areas you enter or exactly how the Bloody Mary story is presented, so ask the guide if you want the historical details placed in a clear timeline.

This part may not suit children or anyone who prefers light sightseeing. The subject is serious, and the tour’s title signals an interest in witchcraft, cults, ghosts, and darker episodes. If you enjoy social history and the less polished side of London, Smithfield is likely to be one of the more memorable stops.

Monument Station makes a practical finish

The tour ends next to Monument Station on King William Street, EC4R 9AA. This is a useful finishing point because you can continue through the City, connect to the Underground, or make your way toward other central sights.

Starting at Bleeding Heart Yard and ending near Monument also means the walk crosses a good section of central London rather than circling one small neighborhood. You should think of the route as a point-to-point walk and plan your next activity from the eastern end.

The noon start is convenient for a slower morning, but it can limit your afternoon if you have timed admission elsewhere. With a three-hour duration, you should not schedule a separate attraction immediately at noon or expect to finish before about 3 p.m.

Is $371.59 per person a fair price?

At $371.59 per person, this is not a budget walking tour. The price makes more sense when several people share the private guide, especially since group discounts are available. For a solo visitor or a couple, the cost is harder to defend unless you place a high value on privacy and custom attention.

You are paying for a professional guide and a private activity for your group. You are not paying for a full package of admissions, since the London Mithraeum is not included and Cornhill House is also marked as admission not included. The route does include the Smithfield Market stop, while St. Mary Woolnoth and St. Bartholomew the Great are free.

I would compare the price with your own priorities. If you want an unusual route, a private conversation, and a guide who can focus on Roman religion and London’s darker stories, the cost may work for a small group. If you mainly want famous interiors or broad city coverage, you can likely find better value elsewhere.

The experience is booked an average of 54 days ahead, which suggests you should not leave it until the last minute if your dates are fixed. Confirmation arrives at booking, and free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. A minimum number of participants is required, and if the operator cancels for that reason, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this private history walk?

I would recommend it most strongly for:

• Repeat visitors to London who have already seen the major sights.
• History fans interested in Roman cults, pagan worship, medieval churches, executions, and religious conflict.
• Small groups that can share the private-tour cost.
• People who prefer details and stories over panoramic views and famous photo stops.
• Visitors who enjoy a darker tone, including witchcraft, ghosts, and punishment.

I would hesitate if you have limited time in London, dislike walking, or want guaranteed entry to every site. The tour covers a lot of subjects in three hours, and the short stop times mean you receive a brisk introduction rather than a full visit at each location.

The activity is listed as suitable for most participants, near public transport, and open to service animals. Still, the route is on foot, so ask about the walking pace if anyone in your group has mobility concerns.

My verdict on Witchcraft, Ancient Cults & MI15 Spy Secrets

Book this tour if you want London to feel puzzling, layered, and a little unsettling. Its best material comes from the links between Roman worship, long-used sacred sites, medieval survival, religious mockery, and public punishment.

The private guide is the main advantage. One past guest gave the experience five stars and specifically praised the guide’s kindness and command of the subject. No guide’s name is provided, so you cannot request a particular person, but the private format gives you a good chance to ask for the emphasis you want.

I would book it for a small group with a clear interest in unusual London stories. I would skip it if the $371.59 price feels high for three hours or if you expect a full museum visit, because several stops are brief and at least one admission is extra.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

What time does the tour begin?

It begins at 12:00 p.m.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Bleeding Heart Yard, London EC1N, UK.

Where does the tour finish?

It ends next to Monument Station on King William Street, London EC4R 9AA.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is a guide included?

Yes. A professional guide is included.

Is admission to the London Mithraeum included?

No. Admission to the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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