Freemasons and Fraudsters: City of London Walking Tour

The tour lasts 2 hours

Available in English

Description

Walk the real, documented history of Freemasonry through the City of London — past the lodge that still meets beneath Guildhall, the alley where a 1720 stock market scam sold "unimaginable riches" to a city that lost its mind, and the ruined church where a February 2026 High Court case gets its final word.

Every stop, every claim gets sorted on the spot: documented, disputed, or myth — no vague "London has secrets" filler, just names, dates, and the paper trail to back them up.

• Stand above the crypt where a Masonic lodge still meets today, six centuries after Guildhall was built

• Stand where the South Sea Bubble was sold to the public — and watch it collapse

• Learn why a carved square and compass usually has nothing to do with the Freemasons at all

• Hear the real oath sworn by every new Mason — and why the Church of England voted 384–52 against it

• Finish at St Dunstan-in-the-East, a bombed church swallowed by its own garden

Guide: Marc

Guiding since 2026

Hi! My name is Marc, and I’ve been guiding tours in London for the past year. Having spent most of my life in and around the City of London, I became fascinated by the strange stories, scandals, and hidden history that shaped the city we see today. After months of research, I recently launched Freemasons and Fraudsters, available for the first time on the 1st of September. It is a two-hour walking investigation through the City of London. I look forward to meeting you and showing you a side of London that most people walk past without ever noticing.

5 stops

2 hours

Meeting point:Punto de encuentroI'll be with a UnderBelly Tours Branded flag in the Yard.Open in Google Maps →

Outside visit

Saint Michael's AlleyThe 1928 mock-Tudor frontage, and the real difference between the medieval stonemasons' guild and fraternal Freemasonry.

Outside visit

Bank JunctionThe Bank of England, Royal Exchange, and Mansion House: one real architectural link to Freemasonry, and the honest limits of what the others actually show

Outside visit

Change AlleyThe coffee-house corridor where the South Sea Bubble was sold to the public in 1720, and how it collapsed

5 stops

2 hours

Meeting point:Punto de encuentroI'll be with a UnderBelly Tours Branded flag in the Yard.Open in Google Maps →

Outside visit

Saint Michael's AlleyThe 1928 mock-Tudor frontage, and the real difference between the medieval stonemasons' guild and fraternal Freemasonry.

Outside visit

Bank JunctionThe Bank of England, Royal Exchange, and Mansion House: one real architectural link to Freemasonry, and the honest limits of what the others actually show

Outside visit

Change AlleyThe coffee-house corridor where the South Sea Bubble was sold to the public in 1720, and how it collapsed

7 reviews

Professionalism

5.00

Entertainment

7 reviews

Professionalism

5.00

Entertainment

5.00

Communication

5.00

Quality

5.00

Route

5.00

Free tours don't have a fixed price. At the end, each person contributes to the guide the amount they consider fair based on their satisfaction. As a guideline, Guruwalk recommends between €15 and $50 per participant.

Accessibility

Suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Groups

Does not accept large group bookings.

Pets

Suitable for bringing pets.

Minimum attendees

Requires a minimum of 1 people to conduct the tour.

Additional costs

The tour does not require payment for entries or additional expenses.

Free cancellation

If you cannot attend the tour, please cancel the reservation, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.