How long is the guided walk?

The walk lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Farringdon Station, Cowcross St and finishes near Smithfield Market.

Is the walk suitable for people with limited mobility?

No, the route includes cobblestones and stairs, and is not step-free.

Can I take photos during the walk?

Yes, photography is encouraged but please be mindful of other participants.

Are there restroom facilities available?

Public toilets are available at Farringdon Station before the walk begins.

What should I bring with me?

Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, and bring water.

Bleeding Hearts Walk in London by London Guided Walks

London’s Farringdon and Smithfield districts offer a striking contrast to the city’s polished modern veneer. Here, the echoes of grim public executions, bloody rebellions, and devastating plagues linger in the cobbled streets and shadowed alleys. The Bleeding Hearts and Body Parts Walk, led by London Guided Walks, immerses visitors into this stark reality with a 90-minute journey through some of the city’s darkest and most intriguing corners.

Starting just outside Farringdon Station on Cowcross Street, the tour moves through historic sites where medieval markets once thrived alongside brutal forms of justice. Smithfield Market, now a bustling Victorian landmark, once served as the grim stage for the execution of heretics, rebels, and traitors—all recounted with vivid detail. The guide traces tales of resilience and cruelty alike, including Anne Askew’s defiant martyrdom and the shocking murder of Anne Naylor, whose story still haunts local folklore.

Walkers will pass St Bartholomew’s Church and the atmospheric Cloth Fair, locations resonating with centuries of history marked by both refuge and ruthless punishment. Beneath these streets lie plague pits memorializing the thousands lost to the Black Death, notably near the Charterhouse, a former monastery-turned-townhouse with a layered past. These spaces reveal how disease and death shaped London’s evolution.

What sets this walk apart is its focus on unvarnished, fact-based stories rather than myth or sensationalism. The route calls attention to how the area’s blood-soaked history shaped London’s social and political fabric, including the impact of the Peasants’ Revolt and the grim practice of body snatching for medical research. For history lovers and curious travellers alike, this walking tour goes beyond typical city sightseeing to offer an unflinching gaze at London’s shadowed past.

Part of London Guided Walks’ diverse offerings, this trip underscores the company’s reputation for narrating local history through knowledgeable guides who balance engaging storytelling with historical accuracy. With a maximum group size of 30, the tour maintains an intimate atmosphere suited for those ready to step off the beaten path and into the complex, sometimes unsettling stories that built the heart of London.