Hallow...Queens!
IT’S HEREEEEEEEEE!!!! October, my fave month…why? apart from being my birthday month, it’s the month of spooky season, autumnal colours (usually!) and slightly crisper, frostier days (again, usually!)
It’s also our busiest month usually here at Herstorical Tours, where we get the most interest in our spooky witchy tours. And this year looks set to be no different, with many of the tours getting booked up quick already! So what’s in store this month? First, a re-cap of September…
September Shenanigans
Weirdly, September - usually being the quieter shoulder season - has been fairly full on this year with private tours and decent numbers on public tours. I was also delighted to be part of the Totally Thames Festival again with Southwark Hysteries helping to bring the herstory of the Thames to more people.
A highlight was also delivering my witch hunts talk for Pints of Knowledge at the Balham Bowls Club, which is a gorgeous venue and felt very witchy and steeped in history in itself. The talk was a sell out, so I’ll be bringing it back in November ! Watch this space for date and venue details.
Aaaaaand we can’t forget that I launched my first ever Herstorical Vag Badge design this month! More on these below…
October - What’s on?
Loads of fun feminist spooky stuff to whet your autumnal appetites!
If you’re short on time, here’s the full calendar of public events:
October Calendar
(click to go to booking page)
8/10 Phantom Femmes tour
10/10 Magic Mystics and Martyrs tour (50% tickets sold)
15/10 Phantom Femmes tour
16/10 Hex and the City tour
22/10 Phantom Femmes tour
23/10 Hex and the City tour
31/10 Hex and the City tour (50% tickets sold)
I know - there are a lot of tours this year! Plus we are running private tours around these too - no rest for the wicked!
What tour do I choose?
In case you’re still not familiar with my tours and what they entail, here’s a rundown of each one in more detail to help you decide! Also check out our Google reviews, - don’t just take out word for it!
Hex and the City
Witches? Check. Feminism? Check. Spooky? Check. Hex and the City has been running for 5 years now and consistently sells out every October. It’s a tried and tested adult witchy adventure into the city’s persecution history, with real witchcraft cases brought to life on the streets of London, and even a ritual at the end to give us all some magic to go away with. Check out this page for an idea of what to expect.
Magic, Mystics and Martyrs
I only launched this tour last year and it’s already rivalling Hex and the City as one of my most popular spooky tours! On this tour we walk along the river and dive into stories (and of course, re-enactments) of lady mystics, heretics and traitors of our city’s past. There’s a lot of comedy, yes, but also a few jumpy moments, be warned! We end in a spookily-appropriate pub too. Don’t miss this one, it’s selling out fast! Check out this page for more information.
Jail birds of Old London
It’s back! for one night only this October, our true crime epic walk takes you from the heart of the city’s judicial past along quiet, unsuspecting backstreets that were the scenes of some heinous historical misdeeds; all the way to the busy Strand.
This one isn’t for the faint hearted, as we recreate executions and re-tell some disturbing HERstories. Women weren’t always the helpless victims of crime, as Hollywood will often have us think. Victorian women committed crimes for various reasons and some of them may shock you. Perfect then, for dark tourism at Halloween! Get booking, true crime fans! See this page for more info.
Phantom Femmes
A brand new tour for 2026! Phantom Femmes is a shorter ghost walk, and a little different to my usual tours as it’s a non-costumed tour, but is still full of spooky storytelling and interactive elements! There will be opportunities to explore a haunted prison cell on this tour and also try out some spirit hunting tools. So if you fancy a bit of the paranormal but with a feminist angle, you might like this!
Early bird launch tickets are currently only £10 for this tour - bargain! Read this for more info.
VAG BADGES!!!
That’s right, as mentioned I have designed and launched a badge. My VAG Badge is an original hand-painted design based on the medieval vulva pilgrim pins. I’m selling these directly from my website here but you can also simply add one onto your tour ticket for a reduced price, and not pay p&p as I’ll hand you it on the tour. Simply go through to check out and the ticket options will be there!
November- thinking ahead!
I’m doing quite a few ‘one off’ events next month, and they are already on sale from my website. Here’s a preview of what’s happening:
6/11 - Women, Gin and Sin at The Foundling Museum
I’m so excited about this event my wig lice are jumping around more than usual! ;-) I will be partnering with Jane Peyton,booze expert, author and historian to bring the 18th Century gin (and sex) craze to life at the Foundling Museum. I will be first giving a tour of the galleries as Madame Ginerva, the Georgian Gin Spirit , and introducing you to some of the characters from the period. Jane will then ply you with gin, and tell you a bit more about the fascinating history of the spirit. Gin and sin? what’s not to love? There are two time slots you can book. Perfect for a party or team night out. Tickets here.
12/11 - The 18th Century Sex Trade (through Hogarth’s Eyes) at Hogarth House
Continuing the theme somewhat (it never gets old!) I will be giving an immersive short introduction to the historic sex trade in Hogarth’s actual country house in Chiswick, followed by a more formal talk on the subject. Your ticket includes access to the House and garden, and there’s an open bar throughout the event. Book here.
26/11 - Gaol Birds: London Women on Trial 1800-1923, The London Archives
If you like the sound of Jail birds of Old London but don’t fancy the walking part, here’s the solution! Melissa and I will be bringing this tour to the London Archives for a theatrical ‘sit down’ event. Part history presentation, part theatre performance, you’ll be introduced to 4 criminal cases and no less than 5 unlawful ladies from London’s history. The event includes theatrical re-enactment, poetry, storytelling and a bar! Book here.
What about Harlots, Suffragettes and Hysteries?
Yes, all of these regular tours will be coming back in November. I will be listing them online as and when they are booked in, so again, keep checking my site and social media and I will put them in my newsletter at the beginning of next month too.
Ok, that’s a lot! I’ll stop now. There are pumpkins to carve and spirits to summon. I’ll be back mid-month with a Herstory. Until then, looking forward to welcoming you on a spooky tour this month!
Much love,
Herstorical Tours…x
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