About this tour
Walk through two millennia of London history across Holborn, tracing the city's transformation from Saxon settlement to Georgian grandeur. This guided tour weaves together threads of medieval intrigue, literary London, and institutional power: the Knights Templar's fortress, the locations that inspired Dickens's criminal underworld, Freemasons' Hall, and the prisons that once dominated the neighbourhood. You'll cover roughly two miles at a steady pace, starting at Covent Garden Station and finishing near Blackfriars, with numbers kept to fifteen walkers for genuine engagement.
Highlights
- Saxon-era foundations beneath medieval streets
- Locations from Oliver Twist's criminal network
- Knights Templar headquarters and fortifications
- Freemasons' Hall and esoteric symbolism
- London's most feared prisons, now disappeared
- World's largest silverware collection, hidden in plain sight
- Bow Street Runners' early policing innovations
What to expect
Expect a narrative-driven walk rather than a museum tour. Your guide unpicks how Holborn shifted from lawless Saxon marshland through medieval monastic wealth, then became the epicentre of 18th-century crime and punishment. You'll see unmarked courtyards where Fagin's gang operated in Dickens's imagination, stand where gallows once stood, and enter grand Victorian halls built on the ashes of those prisons. The route is flat and urban; you're reading the street itself as a historical text, stopping frequently to absorb stories before moving on. Expect to be outdoors for the full two hours regardless of weather.
Good to know
Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. The tour covers two miles at an easy pace and suits all fitness levels, though you must be capable of continuous walking. Groups capped at fifteen ensure you'll hear clearly and ask questions. Public transport surrounds the start and end points. Gratuities aren't included.
Frequently asked
- How long does Turmoil, Templars & Oliver Twist London's Squalor and Splendour take?
- Turmoil, Templars & Oliver Twist London's Squalor and Splendour runs for approximately 2 hours.
- How much does Turmoil, Templars & Oliver Twist London's Squalor and Splendour cost?
- Prices start from AUD $39 per person. Final pricing varies by date, group size and any add-ons — confirmed at checkout via Viator.
- Where does Turmoil, Templars & Oliver Twist London's Squalor and Splendour run?
- This tour operates around United Kingdom. Specific meeting points and pickup options are listed by the operator at checkout.
- Who runs Turmoil, Templars & Oliver Twist London's Squalor and Splendour?
- The tour is sold and operated by its supplier through Viator. New Forest National Park earns a small commission on bookings made via the link, which keeps this site free for travellers.
- Is the tour confirmed at the listed price?
- The price shown is the operator's "from" price as of our last sync. Final price, currency conversion, group discounts and cancellation policy are confirmed at checkout — always review before paying.
Tour sold and operated by its supplier via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original New Forest National Park summaries, not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.