Did London's churches really give their attendees the plague...well yes! Today's episode of Macabre London: Belief and the Occult in the Capital City, we go on a field trip to London's oldest churches. We learn about how many of them were created by significan't people, had notable people in their congregations and how they've watched over hundreds of years of history and significant events. We learn about how Christianity came to find London and how a tiny bit of the first church it arrived at ...
Apr 22, 2026•31 min
Ever wondered what those weird medieval animal drawings are all about? Well, it's a little something known as a Bestiary. Today's episode of Macabre London: Belief and the Occult in the Capital City, explores the sweird world of medieval creatures and Dr Eleanor Janega tells us how Faeries ruled homes and how Joan of Arc was put on trial for dancing around a horny tree, yes really!! This episode has everything, elves, manticore, hippogriffs, werewolves, vampires and the revenant dead. So be sure...
Apr 14, 2026•26 min
How do you spell Werewolf using runes? Well today we find out...kinda! Today's episode of Macabre London: Belief and the Occult in the Capital City, explores the settling of the Anglo-saxons in London and how they used magic in their everyday lives. We learn about how strange belief's spread in pockets of society who were far apart ( let that be a modern day lesson to us all), and how the seeds of christianity started to spread by a few princesses in Kent...who thought that to be a godly place?!...
Mar 24, 2026•24 min
When the Roman's abandoned Londinium ( London ) they left something important behind... A secret temple which had been dedicated to the god Mithras. But nearby, something even stranger appeared...a stash of 39 human skulls, all men, all with blunt force trauma, but who were they and how did they get here? Today on Macabre London, we uncover the mystery behind the London Mithraeum. Thanks to Dr Francis Young - https://drfrancisyoung.com So if you're interested in magick, the occult, historical be...
Mar 10, 2026•30 min
Boudicca Burned London to the ground and did it so well that she left behind an archaeological layer of ash which still exists. But what happened next? London came back bigger and bettter but it couldn't be kept safe forever. New invaders were coming and the Romans had been called home so who was left to fight...well, no one! Finding the city abandoned, the Anglo Saxon's were dismayed and creeped out! Who would leave such a perfect place to rot? Join me today as we find out what happened to Lond...
Mar 04, 2026•31 min
Did you know London was burned to the ground before it was even finished being built? Join me today for tales of Boudicca and her army gathered from the Iceni tribe. Boudicca was bullied and beaten by the invading Romans but she didn't back down. She got mad, got even and then took the advice of her gods to wreak fiery havoc on not one, not two, but three new Roman cities which she torched and burned to the ground. We hear from Dr Francis Young who explains about the Goddess Andraste and just ho...
Feb 24, 2026•35 min
Were the Celts a bloodthirsty, insatiable crowd of savages?... On the first episode of "Belief & The Occult in the Capital City", we take a look into just how London came to be. Was it a land of crazed celts who were hell bent on human sacrifice? Well if you listened to the Romans, they'd have you believe so! However, the truth was far more tame...was there bloodshed? Yes, but was it as bad as the slanderous Roman's made it out to be? Absolutely not. The first stops in this series are: What ...
Feb 17, 2026•31 min
If 2025 was the year of criminals for Macabre London then 2026 is the year of Magic! I'm so excited to be sharing my new series with you in this introduction episode. I'll be letting you in on my plans for this series, how I'll be exploring things and just what I'll be covering. I'll be taking things all the way back to the very beginnings of belief in London before it was even called London. Starting with an introduction to the occult and exactly what that means plus what you can expect in the ...
Feb 10, 2026•6 min
Merry Christmas! Thanks for all your kind messages, comments and words of support, it really makes a difference. More news about what's to come in 2026 in January. But for now, enjoy - Dark Christmas by Janette Winterson - read by Nikki Druce. There are ads in this ep which may disrupt you if you're trying to sleep. If you want this Ad free, you can listen on Patreon. Sweet dreams! Xx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 24, 2025•26 min
Not what I wanted to be putting out by RIP to my dear cat Boots who died yesterday - 13/12/25. She was an excellent cat, friend and daughter to me, I loved her so much and she was my family. I know many of you will know how much this hurts so thank you for understanding, this was not what I wanted to be doing at all, everything was very sudden and not expected but she was an old lady at 14 and she had a wonderful life. My brain is not in the game to be editing and putting things out so I'll see ...
Dec 14, 2025•2 min
In December 1888, when London’s East End was still haunted by the fear of Jack the Ripper, another woman was found strangled in the street: Rose Mylett. And just like that, the terror returned. This episode takes you deep into the investigation that never reached a conclusion — a tragic death brushed aside by authorities desperate for normality at Christmas. Who killed Rose? And why did the case fade into the fog of history? We’ll also step through the East End’s bleak holiday reality — overcrow...
Dec 09, 2025•22 min
Forensic science is now one of the most powerful tools in crime investigation — but its journey began in the shadows of London’s darkest cases. In this episode of Macabre London , we trace the evolution of forensics through the crimes that pushed science to its limits. We begin with the first-ever conviction using a fingerprint , a moment that changed policing forever. From there, we step into the disturbing case of Patrick Mahon , whose brutality forced investigators to invent new forensic tech...
Dec 02, 2025•34 min
In this next chapter of our Crime & Punishment in the Capital City series, we explore a story often overlooked in the darker corners of London’s past: the long and brutal fight for women to earn their place in the Metropolitan Police. From early moral guardians to undercover operatives, and eventually, fully empowered officers, the women who patrolled London’s streets faced resistance at every turn. Their uniforms were criticised, their authority questioned, and more than once their very exi...
Nov 18, 2025•35 min
Hidden down a quiet Belgravia mews, The Grenadier looks like any charming old London pub — but inside, something sinister still stirs. Said to be haunted by the ghost of a young soldier beaten to death over a game of cards, this centuries-old tavern holds stories soaked in sorrow, superstition, and spirits of all kinds. Join me as we slip through the misty backstreets of 19th-century London to uncover the legend of the Grenadier’s ghost — a tale where loyalty, betrayal, and a lost debt still ech...
Nov 04, 2025•18 min
Beneath the Strand lies a street lost to time — Lower Robert Street. Once a bustling Georgian neighbourhood, it now hides in darkness beneath London’s surface, sealed off and forgotten. But inside its crumbling tunnels and bricked-up entrances, something remains… In this episode, we uncover the haunted history of Lower Robert Street — from ghostly apparitions and phantom carriages to the eerie echoes of the people who once called it home. Could this be London’s most mysterious street? Please che...
Oct 31, 2025•22 min
Nestled in the heart of Spitalfields, The Ten Bells is one of London’s most infamous pubs — and not just for its beer. Said to be haunted by the restless spirits of the past, this centuries-old public house has seen everything from Ripper victims to spectral barmaids who never clocked out. But how much of the haunting is real, and how much is legend born from the dark streets of Whitechapel? In this episode of Macabre London , we uncover the eerie history behind The Ten Bells — from its chilling...
Oct 29, 2025•18 min
In this episode of Macabre London , we step into the foggy streets of Whitechapel in 1888 to uncover the brutal murder of Mary Jane Kelly – the last known victim of Jack the Ripper. We’ll follow the police investigation as it reached its breaking point, examine the key suspects who haunted the inquiry, and reveal how a shocking telegram from Queen Victoria forced the government to finally take notice of London’s slums. Was this the moment the Ripper was closest to being caught? And how did Mary ...
Sep 23, 2025•43 min
FROM THE VAULT: this week we have a corker of an episode from years gone by, we're diving back into the vault of Macabre Mini Mysteries to find you a yesteryear gem for your delectation. We'll be back as usual ASAP with a brand new episode but until then, enjoy this vintage listen... A top a windswept rocky outcrop stands a lonely lighthouse. Its job for many years has been to forewarn sailors that their boats are at risk of striking one of the many jagged rocks that are hidden deep below the su...
Sep 09, 2025•40 min
In September 1888, Jack the Ripper escalated his crimes. Annie Chapman was found murdered in Hanbury Street, followed just weeks later by the Double Event — the back-to-back killings of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes in a single night. In this episode of Macabre London , we follow the police investigations into these gruesome murders, uncovering the challenges they faced, the evidence they uncovered, and the infamous Goulston Street Graffito that baffled investigators. Could the Ripper h...
Aug 27, 2025•37 min
On 31st August 1888, Mary Ann Nichols was found brutally murdered in Whitechapel — and with her death, the shadow of Jack the Ripper began to fall across London. In this episode of Macabre London, we take you inside the police investigation into the first confirmed Ripper murder. How did officers approach the scene? What evidence did they have to work with in Victorian London? And could they have stopped the Ripper before his killing spree claimed more lives? Using contemporary police reports, w...
Aug 12, 2025•29 min
Before Jack: Police Investigate Whitechapel’s First Two Murders Join Macabre London for a chilling prelude to the infamous Jack the Ripper saga. In this episode, we uncover the first two Whitechapel murders —Emma Elizabeth Smith and Martha Tabram—long before the canonical five claimed global attention. Discover how H Division detectives responded to these brutal cases, the investigative methods of 1888, and why these early murders were initially overlooked in the Ripper narrative. 🔎 Key Topics ...
Jul 29, 2025•32 min
Edward Dando wasn’t your average thief—he was a man possessed by an unrelenting hunger for oysters… and a complete disregard for paying the bill. In this episode of Macabre Mini Mysteries from Macabre London , we explore the life and crimes of Edward Dando: the Regency glutton who scandalised polite society by stealing and devouring shocking amounts of shellfish. Discover why oysters were once cheaper than chips, how Dando became a curious celebrity in London’s courts, and the sad truth behind h...
Jul 15, 2025•30 min
Before the crisp uniforms and community smiles, London’s very first police officers were anything but respectable. In this episode of Macabre London , we uncover the outrageous early days of the Met — when public trust was low, tempers were high, and a night on the beat often ended in a fight outside the pub. From riotous mobs to internal corruption, discover how Britain’s most iconic police force was built by brawlers, not by-the-book officers. We look into the horrifying bloody code years, the...
Jul 01, 2025•28 min
In 1828 , a grand celebration marked the trial of Britain’s first passenger railway—but by the end of the day, one of the country’s most powerful men was dead. William Huskisson, MP, was struck by The Rocket in a gruesome accident that unfolded in front of the Duke of Wellington and dozens of shocked onlookers. As the wheels of progress crushed Huskisson’s leg and his legacy, rumours of hauntings began to follow the railway line. Was his death just an unfortunate error—or something more sinister...
Jun 17, 2025•31 min
Before Scotland Yard... before the Met Police... there was chaos . In this episode of Macabre London , we uncover the wild, booze-soaked origins of Britain's very first police force – the Bow Street Runners . But these weren’t your average crimefighters. Oh no. These were drunken, brawling, and occasionally criminal men who blurred the lines between justice and disorder. Led by an eccentric magistrate and paid with public funds (and sometimes beer), this ragtag group laid the foundations for mod...
Jun 03, 2025•31 min
In this episode of Macabre London , we uncover the astonishing true story of the Chevalier d'Éon — a master spy, decorated soldier, and diplomat in 18th century France who became one of the first openly transgender or gender-nonconforming public figures in recorded history. D'Éon led a double life in the shadowy world of Louis XV’s secret intelligence network, using diplomacy, disguise, and blackmail to survive the cutthroat politics of the French royal court. After years of military service and...
May 06, 2025•29 min
Before London had the Met, it had chaos. In this episode of Macabre London, we uncover the strange and often deadly story of how policing began in the city—from the drunken "Charlies" who fell asleep on the job, to the terrifyingly informal Hue and Cry system that let ordinary citizens legally execute criminals on sight. And let's not forget Jonathan Wild: the man who invented organised crime while pretending to be its biggest enemy. Join me as we dig into the murky underworld of Georgian crime,...
Apr 22, 2025•29 min
True crime lovers, horror fans, and mystery addicts – it’s time to get spooky! Join Nikki and Cheryl as they return for another chilling season of Killers, Cults & Queens ! This season, we’re diving deeper into the most twisted cult leaders, infamous serial killers, and bizarre conspiracy theories you won’t believe. From historic slashers to the murderer next door, expect shocking stories, eerie surprises, and spine-tingling twists. AND we've got plenty of new surprises for you... you won't ...
Apr 11, 2025•40 sec
☠️ Poisoned to Death in Plain Sight – Who Was The Croydon Poisoner? 💀 In the 1920s, an unknown killer stalked the quiet streets of Croydon, leaving a deadly trail of poisoned victims in their wake. But who was behind these sinister tea-time murders? Was it an elusive criminal mastermind, or did police completely miss the real killer who may have just been a little closer to home? Join me on Macabre London as we uncover the twisted tale of The Croydon Poisoner —one of Britain’s most chilling uns...
Mar 25, 2025•34 min
Deep in the heart of Egypt, a horrifying discovery shocked archaeologists—a mummy with its mouth frozen in an eternal scream. Who was this tormented soul? And why did ancient embalmers leave them in such a ghastly state? In this episode of Macabre London , we uncover the chilling mystery of the Screaming Mummy of Luxor. Was it a curse? A case of live burial? Or something even more sinister lurking in the sands of time? And even worse...why did the victorians like to eat mummies at parties? Join ...
Mar 10, 2025•22 min
