Ghosts of Greenwich and Blackheath: A London Walking Tour
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Centuries of spectral sightings lie beneath Greenwich and Blackheath’s elegant Georgian facades.
On this walking tour, you’ll uncover ghostly tales and royal secrets that haunt this UNESCO World Heritage Site, finding out how centuries of rebellion, romance, and tragedy left supernatural echoes across the landscape.
The tour starts at Cutty Sark, the 1869 tea clipper ship that’s said to be cursed by its builders. As you pass the Old Royal Naval College, you’ll hear about Admiral Byng’s disastrous Caribbean mission, and how his cheerful ghost still offers directions here to lost tourists.
You’ll make your way to the Royal Observatory at the Prime Meridian, then venture onto Blackheath itself – an ancient heath where Wat Tyler led rebellions and Dick Turpin ambushed travellers. You’ll hear the legend of the sealed Blackheath Caverns where wild parties once drew enormous crowds, and learn why All Saints Church is the only church in the area without a graveyard. The tour ends at Blackheath Station, built in 1849 above the hidden Kid Brook.
On this 45-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:
- Visit the monument to Sir Walter Raleigh, whose embalmed head was kept by his widow in a velvet pouch
- Walk through Greenwich Park past Anglo-Saxon burial mounds to the Queen’s House, where a famous 1966 photograph captured an unexplained shrouded figure ascending the Tulip Stairs
- Learn about JASON, the secret 10-kilowatt nuclear reactor hidden in the Naval College basement until recently
- Stand at the Prime Meridian line where east meets west and all global time zones begin
- Trace the remnants of the Queen Elizabeth I Oak where Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn danced during their courtship
- Discover The Crown pub’s Victorian ghost, a jilted woman who still appears outside waiting for her lover
- Explore how Blackheath got its ominous name and hear the legends of plague pits beneath the heath
This tour reveals the supernatural side of one of London’s most historic neighborhoods, where every corner has its own ghost story.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Svetlana Toporova
I’m a marketing professional and former journalist who has always loved writing stories and finding the right words. London is my biggest inspiration – especially Blackheath, where that rare village‑in‑the‑city feeling is still alive.
I secretly believe that when I grow up I’ll become a London tour guide, so it seems I haven’t quite grown up yet. For now, I walk around with my daughter, telling her little stories and curious facts about London, Blackheath and Greenwich.
I’m also obsessed with Halloween, which is exactly why this tour was born. I wanted to dive deeper into the mystical side of the streets I walk every day – and now I’m inviting you to join me there too.
I’m a local blogger, and this hobby grew naturally out of my constant curiosity about city history, local development and life with a child. My blog focuses on family activities in South London – exploring places, stories and moments that make this part of the city feel like home
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 24
Ranger's House - The Wernher Collection
Let's come to a stop in front of it.
This elegant Georgian villa, built in the 1720s, was a silent sentinel, guarding secrets from centuries past.
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On All Hallows' Eve, when darkness falls, the gho... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Old Royal Naval College
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Greenwich Market
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Painted Hall
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Queen's House
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National Maritime Museum
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Royal Observatory Greenwich
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Greenwich Park
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationKing William Walk, London SE10 9HT, UK
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Total distance4km
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Final locationTranquil Vale, Greater, Blackheath, London SE3 9LE, UK
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Distance back to start location2km
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins at Catty Sark, the last tea clipper. It is best to stand to the right of the ship with your back to the Thames embankment. Here you will find the entrance to a pedestrian tunnel leading to the other side of the Thames, towards Canary Wharf. You can get here by DLR to Catty Sark station or by water taxi to Greenwich.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
This tour is simply packed with amazing and interesting places to visit. If you have time, be sure to visit the Cutty Sark museum, the last tea clipper in the UK (admission fee applies), then pop into the Painted Hall to see the incredibly painted ceiling (admission fee applies). Next, we will walk past Greenwich Market, where you can grab a bite to eat and choose from a selection of street food from different countries. Then take a stroll through the free museums - Queen's House or the Maritime Museum. And if you still have energy left, pop into the Greenwich Observatory. Or choose what interests you most, check the opening hours on the website and start the tour as soon as possible. At the end, you will find the charming village of Blackheath, where you can relax in very cool restaurants and pubs. I recommend the oldest pub, the Crown, which has been open since 1680.
Best time of day
The best time of year for this tour is just before Halloween, when it is particularly interesting to delve into the history of ghosts and legends. However, you need to take into account the opening hours of Greenwich Park, through which part of the route passes.
Monthly Closing Times of Greenwich Park
Jan/Feb/Nov/Dec: 18:00
March: 19:00 (20:00 from start of BST)
April: 20:00
May: 21:00
June/July: 21:30
August: 21:00
September: 20:00
October: 19:00 (18:00 from end of BST)
Precautions
This tour passes through Greenwich Park, so it is important to keep track of the park's opening hours so that you don't get stuck there after dark, alone with the ghosts.
There are toilets in the park, but they are pay-to-use, so it is a good idea to take care of this before the tour starts. You can ask to use the toilet in cafés and coffee shops.
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