We envision a world where arts and entertainment are accessible to everyone. We believe that creativity is a fundamental human trait that should be nurtured and celebrated. Our goal is to bring history alive through theatre.
The Mystery Tours are suitable for from the ages of eight through to adult. Tours normally last between 60 and 90 minutes, with a maximum of 20 people. During this time, the Time Traveller will transport you back in time and act as your guide.
Our content is designed to inform, entertain, and inspire our readers. We will be updating and adding more information on the upcoming tours for 2025.
Sunday 29th June at 5pm, Sunday 31st August at 5.30pm and Saturday 20th September at 5.30pm.
Step Into the Flames of History!
Join us for an immersive journey back to September 20th, 1675, when a single spark ignited a catastrophic fire that reduced much of Northampton to ashes. Guided by our enigmatic Time Traveller, you’ll witness the unfolding disaster, hear the tales of survival, and see how the town rose from the ashes.
Tour Highlights
St. Mary’s Street
Stand at the very spot where the fire began and discover how a single flame in a thatched house led to devastation.
Market Square
Hear the dramatic accounts of desperate townsfolk, the crumbling of historic buildings, and the narrow escapes from the inferno.
All Saints’ Church
See how this iconic landmark rose from the ashes, thanks to King Charles II’s donation of timber.
Sessions House
Marvel at one of the first buildings to be rebuilt, symbolizing the town’s determination to recover.
Meeting Point: St. Peter’s Church, Northampton (Outside main gate)
End Point: Top of Abington Street
Duration: 90 minutes (approximately)
Suitable for: Adults & children over 10
Tickets: £15 (including booking fee)
Important Information
This is a walking tour—please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
Book Your Spot Now!
Suitability: Adults and children over the age of ten. Lasts approx 1hr. Tickets: £15 inc booking fee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mystery.tours/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themysterytours
To book, click the link below!
General Comments
"Loved it 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟”
Audience Member
"Highly recommend the Mystery Tours - every one is packed full of everything you ever wanted to know about Northampton’s interesting & rich past. The time traveller transports you back to relive different parts of the town’s history with each tour focusing on a different theme & some interesting characters appearing along the way to tell their own stories. The tours are very well researched & engage & inform the audience throughout. Always an interesting glimpse into Northampton’s past & a celebration of the heritage of the town"
Events Team - Northampton Town Council
“We’ve had great experiences working with The Mystery Tours – they’ve become a fantastic partner for so many of our events at Northampton Town Council. Whether it’s bringing history to life at Heritage Open Day, giving us a brave St. George for our Market Square, or hosting spooky Ghost Tours at The Guildhall, their team always goes above and beyond.
Their re-enactors are brilliant at engaging all ages – from kids meeting a knight and dragon, to adults listening to tales of famous Northampton figures like Lady Wantage or Simon de Senlis. The Ghost Tours were a real highlight, with great storytelling which takes people from courtrooms to creepy prison cells – including the story of the “blazing car murder”!
They’re reliable, creative, and full of ideas – it’s always a joy to work with them.”
Events Team - Aylesbury Town Council
"A huge thank you to you for Sunday. it was great to be able to involve you and you did a great job with both the street theatre as well as the walkabouts. Thank you for your thoroughness with everything as well, as an organiser that's always much appreciated! We've had some lovely feedback as well, including Di who gave a glowing report from inside the King's Head."
Events Team - Northampton Town Council
“We’ve had great experiences working with The Mystery Tours – they’ve become a fantastic partner for so many of our events at Northampton Town Council. Whether it’s bringing history to life at Heritage Open Day, giving us a brave St. George for our Market Square, or hosting spooky Ghost Tours at The Guildhall, their team always goes above and beyond.
Their re-enactors are brilliant at engaging all ages – from kids meeting a knight and dragon, to adults listening to tales of famous Northampton figures like Lady Wantage or Simon de Senlis. The Ghost Tours were a real highlight, with great storytelling which takes people from courtrooms to creepy prison cells – including the story of the “blazing car murder”!
They’re reliable, creative, and full of ideas – it’s always a joy to work with them.”
Events Team - Aylesbury Town Council
"A huge thank you to you for Sunday. it was great to be able to involve you and you did a great job with both the street theatre as well as the walkabouts. Thank you for your thoroughness with everything as well, as an organiser that's always much appreciated! We've had some lovely feedback as well, including Di who gave a glowing report from inside the King's Head."
"Enjoyed ourselves - Always learning something new"
"It was brilliant! So engaging and bringing the stories to life, also really refreshing to hear all correct historical facts and dates within the tour- really good work!" - Louise Hannam-Jones |Events and Projects Officer (Northampton Town Council)
"Best Mystery Tour since their return! Much of Northampton’s history requires imagination to think of what was once present, but for the crime & punishment themed tour, Northampton’s Grade I listed Sessions House built in 1675 provides an apt & grand location. If its walls could talk, they would tell the tales presented so succinctly by the time traveller of highwaymen, witches & theft, of judges & waggling tongue devils passing the ultimate sentence & of the walk of shame to the execution yard. This mystery tour offered all of this & more - participating in a trial in a 17th century court house, experiencing the original cells & treading the same path as those condemned to death by the court. Utterly brilliant, packed full of interesting information & the opportunity to visit such an amazing building & hear the tales it has to tell!" - Public Review
“We enjoyed the event immensely … brought home a little of what it must have been like” - Richard Blacklee (Author of 'the Culworth Gang' and 'Gaols, Gallows and Ghosts'
"We had such a great time! The judge made us all laugh as well as learn about the history too, all of us really enjoyed it and couldnt stop talking about it after 
We would all definitely come to any more tours coming up!" - Public Review
"No better time than Halloween for the time traveller to summon spooky spirits to recount their tales of terror & no better a venue than Northampton’s gothically wonderful Guildhall. The walls of this grand & magnificent building talked on this dark & spooky night & what they told through the time traveller’s voice were stories of murder & the ultimate retribution for those condemned. The experience of hearing the tales of those lost & treading the steps of the guilty through courtrooms, chambers & cells was full of suspense & shivers down your spine (or was it ghostly fingertips?!) & as always in the mystery tour experience, packed full of facts & knowledge & everything you never knew that you needed to know. Prepare yourselves for ghosties & ghoulies & long-legged beasties & things that go bump in the night as well as an appearance from everyone’s favourite health & safety representative Dave! Do you dare?………"
"Another brilliant Mystery Tour with a theme of Northampton’s Theatreland - Past & Present. The time traveller transported our audience back in time to relive the hey days of different theatrical spaces located around the town. The tour was well researched & packed full of everything you could possibly want to know about Northampton’s theatre heritage. As is often the case with Northampton’s history, imagination is needed in parts where buildings no longer exist, but the story of the past was conveyed excellently through a detailed factual narrative which brought it to life once again. You learn something new everytime & always end a tour wanting to know more & this was no exception. Bring on the next one!"
"Most enjoyable almost forgot it was raining!"
"It was great really enjoyed it thank you"
"Brilliant as always - informative, interesting & engaging. Have missed the tours & so glad they are back"
