The Cloak And Dagger Tour — Local services in London

This was our third walking tour while in London. It was a bit disappointing to hear our guide (nice enough man) downplay the Jack the Ripper and Haunted London tours, as both of them were more historically informative and entertaining.

As we began our journey the guide asked where we'd traveled from and I mentioned Illinois; having flown out of Chicago. He immediately remarked, "Ah, the sunny part of the world." Good Lord, man.

The most intriguing bit of the evening was the fact that from Southwark, one walks up to the Thames River. That's mind blowing. Unfortunately, thar was about as interesting as the tour got. There's an attempt to introduce fear through the fact that the London Barriers are used more frequently than anticipated and the area is sliding into a sinkhole...maybe. Most locals don't seem too concerned.

An introduction to the dietary habits of the inhabitants is punctuated by gross misinformation regarding swine nutrition. (It was repeated that 48% of modern pigs diet is feces. With several years experience in livestock nutrition, this is 100% fiction. Although coprophagy is common within the animal kingdom, the 48% "statistic" is ridiculous and unsubstantiated).

The history of street crime isn't really focused, aside from a story of monks operating a brothel and genitals being stabbed by thieves (seems contrived and an attempt at building shock value). Speaking of shock value, there is more unsubstantiated material regarding the etymology of some obscenities. There are partial truths here, but also a good deal of embellishment.

Next was an overdone segment on drawing and quartering (anyone with a remote interest in the subject already has all the details). This stretched (no pun intended) too long. The tour was supposed to be two - three hours, but after two hours and some very labored attempts at explaining how horrifically entrails could be mutilated, we were bored and tired and ready to get some BBQ, so we left.

As far as historical information, it was disappointing. And for all the talk of "wretched, revolting, horrible, disgusting" depictions of the day to day life, it was far tamer than the average South Park episode.

There are skits put on at a few of the locations that aren't really worth mentioning...or for even staying awake.

At the end of each segment, we're told "it's about to get worse". In terms of quality of the overall experience, that's...

We were a group of 7 & recently had the pleasure of joining The Cloak and Dagger Tour in London, guided by the incredible Mary, and I cannot express how thrilled I am with the entire experience. This unique exploration of London's history combined with elements of theatre was an absolute delight from start to finish.

Mary, our guide, was an exceptional companion throughout the tour. Not only was she incredibly knowledgeable about the darker side of London's past, but her wit and humor added an extra layer of enjoyment to the journey. It was evident that Mary was passionate about history, and her enthusiasm was contagious.

The Cloak and Dagger Tour is an absolute must for anyone seeking a memorable and immersive historical experience in London. It strikes a perfect balance between education and entertainment, providing a unique perspective on the city's darker past. Mary's intelligence, humor, and extensive knowledge made her an exceptional guide, ensuring that every step of the tour was thoroughly enjoyable.

I wholeheartedly recommend this tour to locals and tourists alike. Prepare to be enthralled, engaged, and transported to a time forgotten, as The Cloak and Dagger Tour delivers an unforgettable journey through London's mysterious and fascinating history.

Kudos to Mary and the entire team for creating such a remarkable experience. I can't wait to join the tour again and unravel even more of...

A brilliant, informative, and engaging way to spend an evening learning about the little known history of Southwark and what life was like for the common folk of London's history. Our host Cary had a wealth of knowledge and would welcome questions at each stop of the tour. The incorporation of actors at different points kept your focus and helped with committing the interesting stories and facts we learned to memory. I was initially expecting that this would be more the kind of tour which details specific crimes or stories which occurred in the local area, but instead it gave you a picture of what life was like in general and the perrils and challenges of life throughout the centuries. I actually preferred this approach because it appeals to my interest in history and provides the sort of information I'm unlikely to come across anywhere else, and it also avoids the whole 'celebrating murderers and sensationalising the tragedy their victims experienced' which makes me uncomfortable. The Good: Informative host with extensive knowledge. Great actors to help bring the stories to life. Interesting information about history I hadn't heard before. An accessible tour that anyone should be able to do (there are some stairs but with advance notice I'm sure the host could provide an alternate route or accommodate in some way if needed). Keep in mind: You're outside, for a good while so dress appropriate for...