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Murder, Mayhem, and Scandal: 1-hour Historical Character Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Williamsburg, USA
Great choice
5+ bookings last month.
  • 1 hour (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

    What's Included

    • Souvenir button
    • Gratuities

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • East Duke of Gloucester Street
      E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

      Please meet your tour guide in the Capitol circle on Duke of Gloucester Street, directly in front of the Capitol Building by the gate.

    End point

    • Raleigh Tavern Bakery
      410 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

      The tour will end on Duke of Gloucester Street in front of the Raliegh Tavern.

    Itinerary

    1

    East Nicholson Street

    15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    2

    R. Charlton's Coffeehouse

    15 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

    3

    Chiswell Bucktrout House

    15 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

    4

    Raleigh Tavern Bakery

    15 minutesAdmission Ticket Not Included

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infants must sit on laps
    • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
    • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Reviews

    5.0
    based on 76 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    Well organized, with...

    Jan_S, Nov 2025
    Well organized, with clear communication up front. Passionate, knowledgable, engaged host and guide. Enjoyed every minute of the tour, despite the cold night.

    Response from Host, Nov 2025

    Thank you for your kind review. We are glad you enjoyed your time with us, learning history from a different perspective. As an unknown author once said, "Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching."

    Very authentic and entertaining

    jmarquie, Jun 2025
    We thoroughly enjoyed this experience! The stories were extremely authentic and the actors were fantastic. I’m a theatre teacher and I was impressed with how well he stayed in character! While we only walked around the Capitol building, the hour was full of unique stories and tidbits of history. We watched other groups go by with large groups so we were very grateful for the small group and individual attention. These folks have a genuine passion for telling historical stories in an entertaining and accurate way! Highly recommended!

    Response from Host, Jun 2025

    Thank you for your kind review. We are so glad you enjoyed your experience. We are pleased that our love for this tour and the stories we tell comes through. Thank you for taking our tour and as Henry Fielding says “ Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.”

    Recommended

    Diane_N, May 2025
    Our tour was quite small which allowed everyone to really participate. The guide, in character until the last few minutes, was entertaining and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the experience!

    Response from Host, May 2025

    Thank you for your kind words. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with your guide, appreciated the stories, and felt comfortable participating. Remember the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes: "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."

    Fun evening in Williamsburg

    William_G, Apr 2025
    Interesting and entertaining walk in old town. Fun evening and learned a great deal of history. Recommend!

    Response from Host, May 2025

    We are glad you enjoyed your time with your guide and the history. Remember what Martin Luther King, Jr. said: "We are not makers of history; we are made by history."

    Nice guides, enjoyable evening

    Jennifer_W, Apr 2025
    We had a great time. The guides were super informative and kind. The guide stayed in character the whole time and the walk was very casual, not to strenuous after we had spent the day walking in Williamsburg. It

    Response from Host, Apr 2025

    Thank you for your kind review. We are pleased you had such a pleasant walk with your guides. As Hippocrates said, "Walking is man's best medicine."

    History Buff

    dynamikinsd, Apr 2025
    Heather was very knowledgeable about the dark history of Williamsburg! If you are a history buff you will enjoy this tour!

    Response from Host, Apr 2025

    Thank you for your kind review. We are pleased you enjoyed hearing all the stories of scandal from your guide. As the Roman poet said, "There's a lust in man, no charm can tame, of loudly publishing our neighbors shame."

    Interesting and engaging...

    Kristel_C, Mar 2025
    Interesting and engaging experience! The tour guide was lively, and told funny and interesting stories.

    Response from Host, Mar 2025

    We are pleased that you enjoyed your time with our guide and the stories he told. As Rudyard Kipling once said, "If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten."

    Williamsburg tour

    Cory_P, Mar 2025
    Tour guides were nice, funny, and very knowledgeable. A beautiful walk. We will definitely do it again!

    Response from Host, Mar 2025

    Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your time with us and would be pleased to take you through the town again for more tales of murder, mayhem, and scandal. As Henry Fielding said, "Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea."

    It was a Chilly Night but a Terrific Activity.

    Stanley_J, Feb 2025
    A wonderful experience with knowledgeable and passionate guides. We learned much and enjoyed ourselves immensely.

    Response from Host, Feb 2025

    Thank you for your kind words. We are pleased you enjoyed your time with us. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn."

    A don't miss tour for Williamsburg.

    Sheree_S, Dec 2024
    We loved the guide. She was so enjoyable and included everyone with her story telling. the tour was great fun.

    Response from Host, Dec 2024

    Thank you so much for your kind review and we are so pleased that you loved your tour. We do our best to include everyone in our gossip for as Oscar Wilde says “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

    Highly recommended

    PatriciaDiane_H, Dec 2024
    Our guide was fabulous! Found out she was the owner and really knew her history in detail. It was chilly but we loved every second.

    Response from Host, Dec 2024

    Thanks for your kind review. I’m so glad the chilliness of the evening didn’t keep you from enjoying the warm gossip. And remember what Voltaire says “historians are gossips who tease the dead.”

    Great Character Tour!

    Cindy_P, Nov 2024
    Wonderful tour, highly entertaining! The guide was such a talented character actor and you instantly got Immersed into the story. Lots of fun!

    Response from Host, Nov 2024

    Thank you for your review we are glad you felt immersed in the story. We enjoyed taking through the streets of Williamsburg. And remember what Will Rogers says “ So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the famiky parrot to the town gossip.”

    Great tour for the entire family. Not too long and short walks to areas of interest.

    Tracey_W, Nov 2024
    The guide did an excellent job portraying "Ann Pellum," who was searching frantically for her daughter Sarah when she came upon us. She was very knowledgeable about the history of Williamsburg and it was a very relaxed, informative tour!

    Response from Host, Nov 2024

    Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your experience. I am glad you enjoyed your time with me learning about all the secrets hidden behind the doors of Williamsburg. As Oscar Wilde said, "Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality."

    Amazing experience!

    Brenna_A, Jul 2024
    If you are looking for a good tour that isn’t just another ghost tour this is it!! A husband and wife duo who have so much love for history and theater. Definitely a highlight of the trip. Afterwards they step out of character and answer all the history questions about colonial Williamsburg!

    Response from Host, Jul 2024

    Thank you for your kind review. Glad to know our love for history shows and added to your experience. As Theodore Roosevelt says, “ Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.”

    Fun time!

    Matthew_C, May 2024
    The lady who gave us our tour was so kind and NEVER broke character. She was considerate and allowed us to sit a few times while she continued on with the stories. She was full of information and kept it very entertaining.

    Response from Host, May 2024

    Thank you so much for your review. We strive to make our guests comfortable on these walking tours and glad you could enjoy it fully. “Madness, mayhem, erotic vandalism, devastation of innumerable souls- while we scream and perish, History licks a finger and turns the page” Thomas Ligotti. Thank you for spending your evening with us.

    Memorable experience!

    Grace_S, May 2024
    Highly recommend this tour! Very interesting and engaging. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and relatable. Loved the character sharing the stories in the way the would have been told in the days the events happened.

    Response from Host, May 2024

    Thank you for your very kind review. We are so pleased you enjoyed the tour and our historical character interpreter. As Blackbeard would say, “ if I don’t kill a man every now and then, they forget who I am.”

    From $25.00

    per person

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 16 days in advance.

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