Witchcraft, Ancient Cults & MI15 Spy Secrets

London turns strange fast. And it does it on foot. This Witchcraft, Ancient Cults & MI15 Spy Secrets tour is built like a time-traveling history story, taking you to places tied to Roman cults, astrologers, and ghosts, plus the city’s darker legends. I like the way the route is guided and focused on details most visitors miss, and I also like the undivided attention you get from a professional guide during the whole walk.

You’ll move between five major stops in about three hours, with short stays that keep the pace snappy. I especially like that the emphasis is on seeing and connecting clues in real locations, from underground Roman worship spaces to church sites with layers going back thousands of years. One thing to consider is that admission is not included at two stops, so you should expect there may be an extra ticket or fee on your side for those particular locations.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

• A private, guided walk with your group getting focused attention the whole time
• Roman Mithras temple history linked to the underground world of merchants, soldiers, and imperial administrators
• Church sites with deep religious layering, including traces of Roman and pagan buildings under later foundations
• Time-on-foot pacing that fits a half-day plan without feeling rushed all at once
• Smithfield Market included (with executions and a Bloody Mary thread)

A Time-Traveling London Walk That Actually Feels Focused

If your London list already includes the “big hits,” this kind of tour is a smart next step. It switches you from iconic landmarks to the smaller, stranger pieces of the city, the ones that only make sense when you hear what they were for. The Witchcraft, Ancient Cults & MI15 Spy Secrets theme keeps the storytelling spooky and hooked to real places, not just haunted-house vibes.

The tour’s format helps. It’s about 3 hours, and it’s done as a walking route, with each stop timed at roughly 10 minutes. That matters because it stops you from zoning out. You get just enough time to orient yourself, absorb the key facts, and move on while the story is still coherent.

And because it’s described as a private tour/activity, the experience is shaped around your group rather than you being swallowed by a giant crowd. That’s a big reason these kinds of tours can feel better value than you might think, even with a premium per-person price.

Price and What You’re Really Paying For

At $371.59 per person, this is not a bargain-basement excursion. But it does come with a professional guide and a route designed for tight storytelling across multiple sites. For me, the value hinges on two things: first, how much you enjoy interpretation over sightseeing checklists; second, whether you’re the type who wants to ask questions and get answers on the spot.

Two admissions require your attention: the London Mithraeum stop (listed as not included) and Cornhill House (also listed as not included). On the other hand, St. Mary Woolnoth Church and Church of St. Bartholomew the Great are free stops, and Smithfield Market has admission included. That mix can work out well if you’re the type who doesn’t mind planning for a couple of paid entrances while getting the rest without extra cost.

Also worth noting for planning: the tour is booked on average about 54 days in advance, which suggests it can be popular. If you’re traveling during busy periods, it’s one less thing to gamble on.

Where You Start and How the Route Connects

You start at Bleeding Heart Yard, London EC1N and the tour ends near Monument Station (King William St area, London EC4R 9AA). Start time is 12:00 pm, and the total duration is about 3 hours.

This location choice is practical. Bleeding Heart Yard puts you in central East London, and Monument is a major Underground hub. That means you can finish, grab food nearby, and keep moving without feeling stuck miles from transit. It’s the kind of planning that makes a “shorter” tour actually feel convenient.

The tour is also described as being near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. Most travelers can participate, which is useful if you’re not sure whether your walking tolerance matches a typical urban route.

Stop 1: London Mithraeum at Bloomberg SPACE and the Cult of Mithras

Stop one is at London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, a site tied to the city for thousands of years. The story here is built around the Roman cult of Mithras, which first appeared in Rome in the 1st century AD and spread across the empire over the next 300 years.

What I find compelling is the emphasis on how these believers worshiped. The tour notes that Mithras temples were often constructed below ground, and that these spaces were private, dark, and windowless. That helps you understand why the tone of the story matters on this tour. You’re not just looking at Roman symbols. You’re being guided to imagine what the experience of worship would have felt like.

The central myth discussed is the tauroctony, the scene of Mithras killing a bull within a cave. The tour also points out that the full meaning is subject to much speculation. I like that this is handled honestly. It signals that this isn’t a do-or-die certainty exercise. It’s about learning what’s known, what’s debated, and how symbols can carry multiple layers.

One practical note: admission here is not included. So if you want a smooth start, check whether you’ll need a ticket on your side before you arrive at the stop. When a tour begins with a paid entry, it’s good to arrive with your plans already aligned.

Stop 2: St. Mary Woolnoth, a Church Site with Roman and Pagan Traces

Next you’ll stand at St. Mary Woolnoth Church, and the key detail is timing, not grandeur. The tour states that worship at this site goes back at least 2,000 years, and that traces of Roman and pagan religious buildings have been discovered under the foundations of the present church.

That’s the kind of fact that changes how you look at churches. You stop treating them as single-era buildings. You start seeing them as layers of continuity, where later religious structures reused, replaced, or built over earlier sacred sites.

The tour lists this stop as free, which is a nice balance after the first location that may require admission. It also helps you get momentum. You can take in the significance without feeling like you’re being charged for every step of the story.

Given the roughly 10-minute time window, don’t expect a long sit-down. Instead, treat this as a symbolic anchor stop, where the guide frames the idea of repeated sacred space.

Stop 3: Cornhill House Terracotta Devils and Revenge at Street Level

From there, you’ll look at Cornhill House, where three terracotta devilish figures are described as an unusual example of long-lasting revenge. The idea is that they mock worshippers next door at St Peter upon Cornhill, an older city church that is now virtually submerged at street level by office blocks.

I like this stop because it shows how history survives in the details people forget to notice. The devils are not just decoration in this story. They are a message intended to last.

The “why now” part is also clever. It forces you to connect architecture to social conflict. Even if you don’t know the full background, the guide’s framing gives you a reason to focus on the figures, their placement, and what it means that modern buildings changed the relationship between street level and the old church.

Admission here is listed as not included, so again, you may need to plan for entry depending on how that stop works in practice. If it’s an external viewpoint, you’ll likely be fine. If it’s ticketed access, you’ll want to know ahead of time so you’re not caught deciding on the spot.

Stop 4: Church of St. Bartholomew the Great and Surviving 1666

The tour then moves to Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, described as one of the few medieval churches to survive the Great fire in 1666.

This is a strong example of how the tour’s theme of time travel can stay grounded in a clear timeline. Roman cult space, then ancient worship layering, then a revenge monument, then a medieval church that endured a city-changing fire. It’s like a guided sampler of London’s survival stories.

Because this stop is listed as free, you get another no-ticket moment. That matters for pacing too. When you hit a paid site, you mentally switch into transaction mode. Free sites keep your attention on meaning.

Also, with only about 10 minutes allotted, treat it as a landmark meaning stop. You’re not meant to read every stone in depth here. Instead, you’re meant to learn what makes this specific church notable in the city’s longer history.

Stop 5: Smithfield Market, Executions, and the Bloody Mary Thread

The final stop is Smithfield Market, with the promise of places of execution and the story of Bloody Mary. Admission is listed as included here, which is a nice closing perk since you won’t have to add another ticket decision at the end.

This stop is where the tour leans hardest into the darker side of the city’s past. Execution sites and “Bloody Mary” stories carry an immediate emotional weight, and the guide’s job is to connect legend and recorded history to the physical space. Even if your background knowledge is light, you’ll likely leave with a clearer understanding of how this part of London became shorthand for fear and power.

It’s also a good counterbalance to the earlier stops. After underground cult myths, and after religious layering and medieval survival, you reach a place linked to public punishment and remembered names.

The time is short, so come ready to listen. This is one of those stops where the guide’s interpretation is the main value, since you won’t have hours to wander.

The Best Way to Enjoy It (Without Feeling Rushed)

Because the itinerary is built on quick stops, your success depends on your mindset. If you treat it like a checklist, you’ll feel the time pressure. If you treat it like a story you’re following from clue to clue, it clicks.

Here are a few ways to get the most out of the walk:

• Wear comfortable shoes. You’re on foot through central areas for about three hours.
• Arrive a few minutes early so you can settle in before the story starts.
• Ask one good question. With a private guide setup, you can steer the conversation a bit and make the facts stick.
• Don’t worry about memorizing everything. The route is designed to teach patterns: religious reuse, symbolism, survival through disaster, and the city’s darker public moments.

If you already visited classic attractions, you’ll probably like the shift. You’re not chasing the skyline. You’re learning how London’s past hides in ordinary streets.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This experience is especially suited for you if:

• You’ve already done major sights and want less obvious London.
• You enjoy spooky history themes, like cult practice, old religious layers, and dark legends.
• You like walking tours where the guide helps you notice what you would otherwise miss.
• You want a guide who can guide you through meaning, not just point at buildings.

It might feel less ideal if:

• You want long museum time at each location. The stop times are short.
• You strongly prefer only free attractions. Two stops are listed as not including admission.

Should You Book This Witchcraft, Cults, and MI15 Spy Secrets Tour?

If your goal is a focused, story-driven London walk that mixes Roman religion, church layering, and darker legend, I think this is an easy yes. The strongest part is the structure: short, connected stops that build context fast, plus the benefit of a professional guide giving your group focused attention.

The main decision point is money and entry planning. Since some stops require admission that is not included, make sure you’re comfortable with the idea that your total day cost may rise a bit depending on access.

If you like your London a little strange, and you enjoy learning how myths and history share the same street corners, this tour is a smart use of a half-day.

FAQ

What is the duration of the tour?

The tour lasts about 3 hours.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Bleeding Heart Yard, London EC1N, UK, and ends next to Monument Station at King William St, London EC4R 9AA, UK.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 12:00 pm.

How much does the tour cost per person?

The price is $371.59 per person.

What is included in the tour price?

A professional guide is included. Admission is included at Smithfield Market, and free entry is listed for some church stops.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It’s listed as a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.

Is there a mobile ticket?

Yes, it includes a mobile ticket.

Are any stops free, and are any stops not included for admission?

St. Mary Woolnoth Church and Church of St. Bartholomew the Great are free. London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE and Cornhill House are listed as not including admission. Smithfield Market has admission included.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is there a minimum number of travelers?

Yes. The tour has a minimum number of travelers. If it is canceled because the minimum is not met, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.