# Event Details - **Event Name**: THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 28 Dec, 2025 at 04:00 pm – Sun, 28 Dec, 2025 at 06:00 pm - **Event Description**: Discover the hidden stories and mysteries of Clerkenwell on an intriguing walking tour through its dark side.About this EventClerkenwell may have been crowned the best place to live in London in 2024 by The Times, but behind today’s calm streets lies a far darker past. Between the 18th and early 20th centuries, Clerkenwell was one of the most dangerous corners of London—a place where poverty, crime, and death walked hand in hand.Once a thriving hub of industry, Clerkenwell drew in waves of migrants seeking work. But the promises of the Industrial Revolution soon gave way to grim reality: squalid housing, meagre wages, and desperate choices. For many, life narrowed to just two fates—the workhouse or the Pr*son. And in this climate, crime flourished. The district gained a reputation as a den of thieves, pickpockets, and highwaymen, while its slums inspired some of Charles Dickens’ most vivid characters.From the 17th century onwards, at least four different prisons operated here, packed with thieves, debtors, radicals, and the destitute. The Middlesex House of Correction—infamous for its severity—was once the largest Pr*son in the country. Their looming presence gave rise to the magnificent Sessions House on Clerkenwell Green, for years the busiest courthouse in England.On this walk we’ll uncover two centuries of Clerkenwell’s hidden history. From the escapades of Jack Sheppard, the infamous 18th-century thief and master of escape, to the rise of the Italian gangs of the Sabinis and the Cortesis, Clerkenwell’s streets echo with tales both thrilling and chilling.If you want to discover the side of Clerkenwell that Londoners once feared, join me on this walk. Don’t worry—you’ll be safe.TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS:"The fascinating, dark history of Clerkenwell really brought to life!I really enjoyed Emanuela's walk about the dark side of Clerkenwell. It was enlightening, atmospheric, spooky and fun! She is very knowledgeable, and a great speaker, and really made all the stories come to life. I learnt so much I didn't know about the area, and will look at it in a different way now. She was very careful to check in with her audience to make sure we were all included and could hear and see what she was describing. Plus, it was very helpful to see historical pictures and illustrations on her iPad to accompany the talk. Thank you so much! Really fascinating!" PENNY, November 2025"Seedy, criminal side of salubrious Clerkenwell revealed.The theme ‘Dark Side’ threaded through the sites and stories Emanuela brought to life.. IPad images with animations enhanced the information shared. I do walking tours frequently and this was one of the better ones." MONICA, November 2025"Dark Side of Clerkenwell tour: approved!I went on the The Dark Side of Clerkenwell tour run by Emanuela and it was a great experience. It was informative and intriguing hearing about the history of the people that once roamed the crime-ridden streets and dirty alleyways! Well worth the small fee." Craig, December 2025 - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/london/the-dark-side-of-clerkenwell-walking-tour/100001977595706995 - **Event Categories**: - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 15, max: 15, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: London - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: Farringdon Station - **lat**: 51.5200474 - **long**: -0.1050866 - **full address**: Farringdon Station, 46 Cowcross Street, London, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/73a1424a264242267dbbb512ec1f5abcf8a7a1c0871731e875eb85bd802c9824-rimg-w1124-h1494-dc020202-gmir.jpg?v=1766219819 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR being held? - **A:** THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR takes place on Sun, 28 Dec, 2025 at 04:00 pm to Sun, 28 Dec, 2025 at 06:00 pm at Farringdon Station, 46 Cowcross Street, London, United Kingdom. - **Q**: How much do tickets cost for THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR? - **A:** Tickets for THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR are priced at GBP 15 per person. Here's a full breakdown of available ticket types:Ticket TypePriceAvailabilityGeneral AdmissionGBP 15Available - **Q**: Who is organizing THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR? - **A:** THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR is organized by History From Below. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "THE DARK SIDE OF CLERKENWELL WALKING TOUR", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/73a1424a264242267dbbb512ec1f5abcf8a7a1c0871731e875eb85bd802c9824-rimg-w1124-h1494-dc020202-gmir.jpg?v=1766219819", "startDate": "2025-12-28", "endDate": "2025-12-28", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/the-dark-side-of-clerkenwell-walking-tour/100001977595706995", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Farringdon Station", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "46 Cowcross Street", "postalCode": "EC1M 6BY", "addressLocality": "London", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "51.5200474", "longitude": "-0.1050866" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Discover the hidden stories and mysteries of Clerkenwell on an intriguing walking tour through its dark side.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-07", "availabilityEnds": "2025-12-28", "validFrom": "2026-04-07", "lowPrice": "15.00", "highPrice": "15.00", "price": "15.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/the-dark-side-of-clerkenwell-walking-tour/100001977595706995" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-07", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-04-07", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/the-dark-side-of-clerkenwell-walking-tour/100001977595706995", "price": "15.00", "name": "General Admission" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "History From Below", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/history-from-below/26910700", "description": "History From Below was founded in 2024 by me, Emanuela—a qualified Clerkenwell and Islington Guide with a lifelong passion for London’s social history.Originally from Italy, I have lived in London for over 20 years and trained in Art History before turning my focus to uncovering the hidden stories of the city.My work explores the lives of ordinary (and sometimes extraordinary) people who shaped Clerkenwell and Islington over the centuries.In 2023, I joined the Black Mary Project as local historian and researcher. This Arts Council England–funded initiative re-imagines the story of Mary Woolaston, a Black woman said to have run a healing well in Clerkenwell in the 17th century. The project is also supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Mayor of London’s Untold Stories Fund, Black Womxn in Theatre, and Camden Council. Our work is now showcased at the Wellcome Collection until February 2026.Alongside this, I am a Community Curator with Historic England, working on the Greater London Historic Environment Record—a key resource that deepens understanding of London’s layered heritage.I specialise in guided walks of Clerkenwell, one of London’s earliest parishes beyond the city walls and one of its richest districts for social and cultural history. I have recently led walks for Islington Heritage and Islington Museum, including 'Water, Water Everywhere' (marking the centenary of the rediscovery of the Clerks’ Well), 'Undercurrent' (on the role of water and the river Fleet in shaping Clerkenwell), and 'Inspirational Women of Clerkenwell' (for International Women’s Day).Through my tours I aim to bring history to life—revealing not only the grand narratives but also the untold stories of those who lived, worked, and struggled in these streets.I offer public and private guided walks in Clerkenwell and Islington, available in both English and Italian.Join me on a walk to explore the hidden, darker, and more surprising side of Clerkenwell and Islington." } ] } ] ```