The Supernatural Secrets Of London That You...

London has always been a city shrouded in mystery. What many people might not know is that a whole part of the city is hidden: an occult underworld populated by witches, wizards and people who are interested in the legends of the past and the supernatural realms. We take a look at the city’s supernatural secrets.

Loved by over 40s

View All Trips

The Freemasons

Library, Museum

Everyone knows about the existence of the fraternal society The Freemasons and the Freemasons’ Hall is situated in Great Queen Street in Holborn. This is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England and it is here you can visit the Library and the Museum of Freemasonry. The members claim it is an open organisation, with the aim of instilling an ethical approach to life, which can manifest in different ways, such as practicing charity or conducting a honest, morally good life. However, dark shadows surround this society: in several legends, the Freemasons have often been associated with the Knights Templar, Satanism and mysterious rites; and many conspiracy theorists identify them as the New World Order and the Illuminati. According to these theorists, the Freemasons are plotting to conquer the world and spread their esoteric symbolism and beliefs everywhere. Freemasons are said to have an agreed system of signals to recognise each other — ranging from different types of handshakes — or the miming of the devil’s horns with one hand. Some notable Freemasons have been well known personalities, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Alexander Fleming and Sir Winston Churchill.

The Swedenborg Society

Bookstore

The Swedenborg Society was established in 1810, dedicated to the diffusion of the message of Emanuel Swedenborg, one of the most renowned mystics of the eighteenth century. The Swedish scientist claimed to have experienced visions and therefore gained access to the spiritual world. He created a new theological theory regarding different topics, such as salvation, the Trinity, or marriage and wrote about his paranormal experiences in several books. The most relevant is Arcana Caelestia, in eight Latin volumes. His thoughts influenced major intellectuals, including Immanuel Kant, Carl Jung and W.B. Yeats. The real question is: was Swedenborg a charlatan or a true visionary? The members of this society believe in his message and supernatural accounts and even though they do not seem involved in the occult practices, they follow the philosophy of a man who was well known because of his prophecies and who declared that God appeared in front of him.

Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.)

This organisation resembles the Freemasonry in various aspects, having some rituals in common with them. Based on The Book of the Law written by Aleister Crowley, who affirmed it was dictated to him by a spiritual entity, the O.T.O is ‘an Outer Thelemic Order dedicated to the purpose of securing the Liberty of the Individual and his or her advancement in Light, Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and Power’, as it is written on their website. The society is based on a series of initiations, through which the members can advance in the internal hierarchy. It is not possible to know exactly what happens during these esoteric rituals, as there are no specific indications on how to join the order, and the AMeTh Lodge is situated in London.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

The Order of the Golden Dawn flourished between the 19th and 20th centuries, whose aim was the exercise of transcendental and mystic activities. In 1888 they founded the Isis-Urania Temple in London, where both men and women were admitted. The system was arranged in order of rank, and through esoteric ceremonies, the adept could achieve admission to the ‘ghostly realms’. The uniqueness of this society was due to the fact that it gave emphasis to the practice of magic, not only to the study of it. Famous figures joined the order, among them Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley. The official website describes this society’s interests as ‘the ideas studied by Golden Dawn initiates are a unique combination of Jewish Kabbalah, ancient Egyptian and Greek mysteries, several strands of Christianity, and many other Western esoteric traditions.

The Theosophical Society

Archaeological site

Theosophy — or in Greek, ‘God’s wisdom’ — is the core of this society, which seeks the attainment of the absolute truth and wisdom hidden behind the world’s different religions, sciences and philosophies through the exploration and the comparative study of them. The society’s motto is ‘There is no Religion higher than Truth’ and the group has a special interest in the study of Eastern culture and esotericism as a way to access spheres that science can not comprehend. Furthermore, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, one of the founders of the Theosophical Society, was convinced that a ‘World Teacher’ was about to manifest to help the evolution of mankind, and the research perpetrated by the members of the organisation was one of the means to prepare for this mystical arrival.

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points

See Our Culture Trips

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.