expedia
A smartphone displaying a map application with a street view of a building labeled 'The Old Court Bed & Breakfast.' 1
A tall monument with a vertical panel. 2
A large tree in front of a white house with a white picket fence. 3
A street sign at the intersection of Brown St and Keene St. 4
A multi-story brick apartment building with a well-maintained lawn and a parking area. 5
By VoiceMap Audio Tours
Free cancellation available
Price is €9 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 2h 30m
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Providence's own H.P. Lovecraft invented cosmic horror in these streets. This self-guided walking tour follows the real houses and graveyards behind his most unsettling fiction. At 135 Benefit Street, hear what The Shunned House's narrator finds buried beneath the basement floor.

    The route winds through College Hill, from St. John's churchyard, where Lovecraft once led friends at midnight to listen for scratching in the walls. It passes the Fleur-de-Lys building, real-life home of Henry Wilcox in The Call of Cthulhu. Along the way, trace the invented history of the Necronomicon, a text so convincing that readers still ask if it's real. The tour ends at Prospect Terrace, overlooking the city Lovecraft both loved and feared until his death in 1937.

    Perfect for horror fans, myth lovers, and anyone who has ever wondered where fiction ends and history begins. Simply install the free VoiceMap app and enter the code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start walking.

Activity location

  • Roger Williams National Memorial
    • 282 North Main Street
    • 02903, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Roger Williams National Memorial
    • 282 North Main Street
    • 02903, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Check availability

The World of H.P Lovecraft: A Providence Self-Guided Walking Tour in English

  • Activity duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes2h 30m
    2h 30m
  • Opening hours: Sun 00:00-23:59
  • English
Language options: English
Price details
€8.97 x 2 Adults€17.94
Total
Price is €17.94

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
  • Inclusions
    Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
  • Inclusions
    Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • Inclusions
    Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
  • Inclusions
    The VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
  • Exclusions
    Smartphone and headphones
  • Exclusions
    Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
  • Exclusions
    Food and drink
  • Exclusions
    Transport
  • Exclusions
    An in-person guide

Know before you book

    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transport options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
    • In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.
    • This activity is provided by a professional trader (a party acting within their trade, business or profession).

Activity itinerary

Roger Williams National Memorial (Pass by)

Your tour begins at the Roger Williams National Memorial, the leafy city centre park that H.P. Lovecraft was known to frequent for inspiration. You'll pass through the grounds, which are free to enter, before setting off into College Hill.

271 N Main St (Pass by)

You'll pass the Gothic Revival Cathedral of St. John and its shadowy churchyard, the very grounds Lovecraft once described to friends as home to "unsuspected vampiric horror." The cathedral building itself is not open to the public on this route.

135 Benefit St (Pass by)

You'll pass by 135 Benefit Street, the real house that inspired Lovecraft's chilling tale "The Shunned House." This is a private residence, so there's no interior access on this tour — just a lingering look from the pavement.

Providence Art Club (Pass by)

You'll pass the Providence Art Club and its striking neighbour, the Fleur-de-Lys Building, decorated with the same style of bas-relief sculpture that plays a key role in Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu." Entry to the galleries is not included on this walking tour.

The Stephen Hopkins House (Pass by)

Passing by the red weatherboard Stephen Hopkins House, you'll hear how this early governor's home became a pivotal setting in Lovecraft's only novel, "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward." The house museum keeps separate seasonal hours, and entry is not included in this tour.

John Hay Library (Pass by)

You'll pass the John Hay Library on the Brown University campus, where a bronze plaque bears lines from one of Lovecraft's own poems. The plaque is viewable from outside; entry into the library is not included.

454 Angell St (Pass by)

You'll pass 454 Angell Street, the site of the grand family home where Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born in 1890, though the original house no longer stands. A modern apartment building now occupies the plot, so this is a pass-by only.

140 Prospect St (Pass by)

You'll pass the Halsey House on Prospect Street, the real-life mansion that inspired the Ward family home in "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," along with the nearby "Little White Farmhouse" that Lovecraft also referenced. Both are private residences viewed from the street only.

Prospect Terrace (Pass by)

Your tour concludes at Prospect Terrace, a small park famous for its sweeping views over Providence and its monument to city founder Roger Williams. Entry to the park is free.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Roger Williams National Memorial
    • 282 North Main Street
    • 02903, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Roger Williams National Memorial
    • 282 North Main Street
    • 02903, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Best Deals on Things to Do

Experience the wonders of the world up close with great deals on things to do near and far. Expedia offers one-of-a-kind activities that allow you to explore Providence your way. Whether you love nature, culture, food or a bit of adventure, we have the perfect activity for you.

Top experiences in Providence

With so many things to do in Providence, planning the perfect day out may seem like a daunting task. Expedia is here to take the hassle out of finding the best attractions, tours and activities in Providence. Families, couples and business travellers can all find the perfect activity in Providence to create life-long memories with the help of Expedia.