About this tour
When Em from our team did this walking tour, we got a proper history lesson wrapped up in theatre. Hex and the City takes you through London's back-streets and into the dark corners of the capital's witch persecution — medieval healers, Elizabethan occultists, wartime spiritualists, and others branded as witches across centuries. It's part theatrical performance, part social history, running about two hours and fifteen minutes through central London. The guide brings these forgotten women back to life with a mix of spooky atmosphere and genuine human stories, delivered with sharp wit and a bit of gallows humour. You'll hit actual locations linked to witchcraft and occult activity, including a functioning pagan temple tucked away in the city.
Highlights
- Guide performs the witch stories as mini-dramas, not just reciting facts
- Sees women persecuted for being healers, mediums, and 'wrong' kind of spiritual
- Visits a real pagan temple operating in central London today
- Threads dark history through recognisable London landmarks and streets
- Balances serious history with black humour — avoids being grim or preachy
- Manageable pace; mostly standing and walking at conversation speed
- Small group size keeps the immersive theatre element intact and intimate
What to expect
Em found the tour kicks off with your guide setting the tone — theatrical but grounded, not pantomime. You'll walk through quieter pockets of central London, stopping at sites tied to actual cases of persecution: a corner where a healer was accused, a street where occult meetings happened, and the temple itself. The guide weaves individual stories of these women back in, treating them as real people caught up in fear and misogyny, not caricatures. The immersive angle means the guide uses voice, movement, and period detail to bring moments to life rather than just pointing at plaques.
Pacing feels thoughtful — there's time to absorb each location, ask questions, and actually look at your surroundings rather than rushing to the next stop. The two-hour-fifteen window moves steadily but never feels rushed. Em noted the black humour lands well; it doesn't undercut the seriousness but does stop the whole thing tipping into relentless darkness. The pagan temple visit is the high point — seeing active spiritual practice in the same city that once burned people for it hits different.
What travellers say
- Stories feel human and urgent, not dusty historical trivia
- Theatrical delivery keeps attention without becoming melodramatic
- Visits working pagan temple — tangible link between past and present
- Guide's black humour prevents mood from becoming relentlessly grim
- Walkable pace; fits into an evening without exhaustion
- Reframes 'witches' as victims of systemic persecution, not folklore
- Two hours-plus on foot in London weather — bring rain gear
- Evening timing can feel cold in winter; peak season best
- Not wheelchair-accessible; some street-side standing required
- Adult content focus; not a family or young-children tour
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is proper social history delivered with personality. If you're interested in how fear and misogyny shaped London, or in stories of resilient women fighting back against persecution, you'll find real substance here. The theatrical angle keeps it from feeling like a university lecture. Small groups mean the guide can actually see and respond to people. Works for anyone with a basic interest in history; you don't need occult knowledge beforehand.
Two-plus hours of walking in London weather — bring a waterproof jacket. Not ideal for people with mobility issues, though the route avoids major hills. Some locations are street-side, so expect background city noise. Early evening departures are common for atmosphere, so night-time London applies (can feel atmospheric or a bit chilly depending on season). Not a kids' tour — content is adult-focused, darker themes. Worth checking exact meeting point when you book; central London can be confusing for first-timers.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.