Explore the dark and chequered history of Smithfield, home to **London’s central meat market**.

* Learn about the area’s gruesome history and enjoy a pint of local brew at the **oldest drinking holes** around. 
* Put yourself in the shoes of **Dickens** and **Sherlock Holmes** with a wander around the grounds of the historic **St Barts**, the oldest hospital in Europe. 
* Uncover the most unlikely stories of one of London’s most influential areas with your expert guide. 
* Learn about the role of traditional watering holes in the area’s history and take the chance to cultivate your palate: from stout, to cider, to traditional British ales.

**Exploring London’s Bloody Past**

Looking to quench your thirst whilst taking in London’s bloody past. In this fantastic pub tour you will have the pleasure of visiting some of the most historic drinking spots in the City of London. Enjoy some excellent locally-brewed craft beer whilst exploring the dark and chequered history of the Smithfield area. The central meat market for London, Smithfields has been in continuous operation for more than 800 years. Undoubtedly the most gruesome location in the capital, this ancient marketplace has long been a site of gory traditions: from the cattle that were slaughtered in its streets to the presence of countless heretic witches, public executions (of the likes of William "Braveheart" Wallace) and the slaying of Wat Tyler during the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381\. Murder and mystery define the district, which is often referenced by London’s literary legends – the nearby St Bartholomew, more commonly known as St. Barts, is where Sherlock Holmes first meets Dr. Watson. Once described by Dickens in Oliver Twist as “the armpit of London, where animal excrement and entrails created a sea of filth”, today Smithfield thankfully operates in beautiful ornate Victorian halls - no entrails in sight!

**Hidden Smithfield** 
As you venture through these labyrinthine streets with your expert local guide, you will be going off the beaten track, journeying back in time as you explore some of Smithfield’s’ most interesting pubs and breweries. One establishment you might venture into, The Hand and Shears, dates as far back as the Middle Ages – the Lord Mayor used to open the famed St.Bartholomew's fair from outside its doors. As you make yourself at home in these traditional watering holes, your guide will regale you with tales of the city.