Pirates, Press-Gangs and Execution Dock
Tower Hill underground station, London (meet by the Tower Hill Tram coffee stand)
Guided by Dan Parry
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 March 2025 | Tour du Jour | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Winter | |
| 19 April 2025 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Winter | |
| 17 May 2025 | Tour du Jour | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 21 June 2025 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 19 July 2025 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 16 August 2025 | Tour du Jour | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
| 20 September 2025 | Special | 2.30 pm | 4.30 pm | Summer | Reserve Online |
Here’s ace guide Dan Parry – he of Spies’ Walks fame – talking about this walk.
Discover the dark side of the empire
Better still, discover it with a world-class guide…
This walk has stairs and cobbles.
Find your sea-legs and sail into the past! Beneath the eerie cry of the gulls, we walk along the river from Dead Man’s Hole to Execution Dock, via ancient smugglers’ taverns where press-gangs dragged men off to sea.
Exploring a salt-encrusted, maritime world that was the making of Britain’s empire, we step off the beaten track to discover a long-forgotten way of life – a time when rum-soaked buccaneers chased Spanish treasure ships, and Royal Navy crews fought criminal captains in the Golden Age of Piracy.
Venturing through streets they knew and perhaps glimpsing the ghosts that still linger to this day, we walk from Tower Hill to St Katherine’s Dock. Then following the Thames, we eventually finish at London’s oldest riverside pub, where you’ll be able to enjoy a drink in wonderfully atmospheric surroundings.
A family-friendly stroll – guided by Dan Parry, former BBC documentaries producer and author of the National Maritime Museum’s biography of Blackbeard – this is the most authentic pirates walk in London!
In the beginning, there were stories of gold. Daring men, who lived, drank and fought beside London’s crowded wharves, sailed to the Caribbean in search of treasure. For some of them, we know their names, where they lived and what they seized along the way.
Sailing as buccaneers, they had royal approval for their attacks on ships and towns. They included men like John Limbrey, who inspired the likes of Captain Morgan and later Blackbeard, and who commanded the Merchant Royal, laden with gold and silver that today would be worth $1.5 billion…if it were ever rediscovered.
Later, such men were outlawed by the state and regarded as pirates. Captain Kidd, seized in Boston, was dragged back to London to be hanged at low tide on the banks of the river. We’ll take a look at Execution Dock, where Kidd met his end, as did many others, and where his body was swamped by three high tides before it was cut down.
Other thieves stole riches closer to home. Before secure docks were built, ships lined up on the Thames waiting to unload. By 1800, thousands of river pirates, night plunderers, light horsemen, scuffle-hunters and mud larks were routinely raiding whatever they could find.
We’ll take a spy-glass glance at all these renegades. We’ll discover how they became pirates, we’ll look at the risks they took, and encounter the people who pursued them. Along the way, we’ll meet the only man who stole the crown jewels, and maybe witness the ghost of the sinister Hanging Judge Jeffreys. Join us, and discover the dark side of the empire…!
This walk will be taken by Ffion on 19th July
Brian A. –
Highly recommended. Dan is a well organised guide. He is welcoming. He has a clear voice. He has clearly thought out the walk and he shares bits of his story at each stop in a logical progression. His stories of pirates and those associated with them are very interesting. He points out places of interest along the way. He also brings light hearted moments to the tour, which helps to keep everyone engaged. He invites questions and has time to answer them. Whilst I am not especially keen on his other walks, I am sure that he would make them interesting.
Shelley Lane –
Ahoy, matey! Be prepared to “sail” into a part of London that isn’t well-known. Dan Parry’s Pirates, Press-Gangs and Execution Dock tour includes the interesting history of pirates, colorful stories about pirating, and pubs where pirates drank and men were pressed into service whether they liked it or not. Dan’s incredible knowledge of pirates and his enthusiastic presentation made a two-hour walking tour end too quickly. So grab your eye-patch and parrot and “sail” along on this wonderful tour!
Ruth Wilkinson –
Thoroughly recommend this tour. Dan is so knowledgeable and engaging, and gives colour and humour as well as a wealth of historical facts. The tour takes in parts of London that have huge historical significance, but without Dan you would just walk on by – missing out on so much. We loved it all .. helped by stunning spring weather.
Joanna Beddall –
Fabulous Pirates, Press-Gangs tour with Dan, on a glorious spring day. The tour is extremely interesting and very informative, I learnt a lot.
Who knew that the pirate flag is not black!
Dan is very knowledgeable and very engaging. I would never have gone to The Prospect of Witby or walked down Pelican Alley if I hadn’t been part of the tour.
I highly recommend this tour to everybody.
We have also been on Dan’s Spymaster tour 👍🏻
Janet and Chris Boreham –
On a glorious spring afternoon we thoroughly enjoyed Dan’s pirate walk which was engaging, interesting and humorous. Dan has a great way of telling stories using his knowledge of the times. Thoroughly recommend and looking forward to joining his spy walk next.
Angela Marriott –
This is the second of Dan’s walks we have booked, both of them being brilliantly enjoyable experiences. We are looking forward to more. The Pirates walk is fascinating and really atmospheric. Dan has a deep knowledge of his subject and the important locations. He brings the history to life, including touches of humour. He is an expert guide and story teller and happy to answer questions. Recommended most highly!
Keith Hart –
A marvellous walk, mixing fact, alleged fact, fiction and fantasy for a fascinating tour. Highly recommended 🙂
Ros –
Dan’s detailed and fun tales from the high seas gave us all a great insight into the lives and adventures of pirates. The quiz at the end was particularly popular with our son. A fascinating way to explore the old docks of London.
Judith P –
This is about the fifth walk that I have taken with Dan [sometimes taking a walk again as it was so enjoyable the first time.] Dan is an excellent and extremely engaging presenter; for this walk he knows just about everything there is to know about the adventures of these buccaneers/pirates including Blackbeard, how they met their end, and the treasures they made off with. He is also knowledgeable of Spanish Galleons as we happened across one on the walk. This walk also goes through a part of London I had not been to before and Dan described its history and fun facts. I highly recommend Dan’s pirate walking tour!
Goretti Considine –
It is very hard to fault Dan’s knowledge, friendliness and enthusiasm during this walk. It covered an area of London I had never visited before. It was very interesting and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.