Walk: Blood, Black Hearts and Booze

The vicinity of Smithfield Market has been associated with bloodshed and butchery (human as well as animal!) for a thousand years, but butchery and beer have long been close companions, and this area is also the City’s “pub heaven”. On this walk, which starts from outside Farringdon Station, we shall be discovering what Londoners blamed the Great Fire on, what fair became so scandalous that the Victorians closed it down, which pub became the “Court of Dusty Feet” and how many ghosts drink in a single City tavern. Because we shall be calling at two or more outstanding pubs, this walk will last between two and two-and-a-half hours.

Meet outside Farringdon Station.

Host or Publisher Guildhall Library