Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour

Tour at a glance

Itinerary

1. 1
   St George the Martyr

   See locations relating to Little Dorrit and visit where Dickens family were imprisoned.

   20 min Admission included
2. 2

   The site of the old debtors prison that so influenced the young Charles Dickens.

   10 min Admission free
3. 3
   Red Cross Cottages & Garden

   These beautiful and largely unvisited gardens were created by a contemporary pf Charles Dickens and in her own way equally famous social reformer in what was one of the worst streets in London and close to where Dickens lived as a boy.

   10 min Admission free
4. 4
   London Bridge

   Stand on Nancys Steps where poor Nancy met her end

   5 min Admission included
5. 5
   Borough Market

   Visit sites of poverty that inspired Dickens to write. See the places where the pick-pockets operated in Oliver Twist and much more

   25 min Admission included
6. 6
   Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

   We will pass by this famous theatre and learn about the history and locations nearby.

   15 min Admission not included
7. 7
   Old Bailey

   The oldest court in the western world in effect is next to the notorious old Newgate Prison and site of public executions to Victorians in fact and fiction.

   5 min Admission not included
8. 8
   Winchester Palace

   Learn about Winchester Geese and the lives of the poor and forgotten as we follow in the footsteps of how Dickens would walk to work.

   15 min Admission included
9. 9
   St. Paul's Cathedral

   Find out about an inadvertent impact St Pauls had on the life of Charles Dickens

   5 min Admission not included
10. 10
    Temple Church

    As well as seeing the outside of this very famous church we will visit the legal districts where characters such as Pip would feature. Please note sometimes at weekends, access to this area is closed to the public.

    15 min Admission free
11. 11

    Visit the outside of the actual Old Curiousity Shop, perhaps the oldest shop in London and right next to what was then a place of terrible poverty.

    15 min Admission free
12. 12
    Fleet Street

    The most famous newspaper street in the world which amongst other things not only played an important role in the life of Charles Dickens but the alleys and taverns also feature in his literature.

    10 min Admission free
13. 13
    Lincoln's Inn Fields

    This area is full of Dickensian history especially relating to Bleak House and is also the home to the biographer of Charles Dickens

    20 min Admission included
14. 14

    See some of the pubs that Dickens himself drank in and where characters visited in the novels.

    Pass by (no stop) Admission free
15. 15
    Dr. Johnson's House

    We visit other literary places along the way, including the outside of the home of the man who wrote the Dictionary.

    5 min Admission not included
16. 16
    High Holborn

    Visit the alleyway where poor Krook spontaneously combusted infront of his shop.

    10 min Admission included
17. 17
    Bloomsbury

    Pass through parts of Bloomsbury and see where Charles Dickens lived after he had become successful and enjoy the sumptuous streets of this literary hotspot.

    20 min Admission included
18. 18
    Charles Dickens Museum

    We finish the tour at the front door of the Charles Dickens Museum, his perfectly preserved house which you'll no doubt want to explore and perhaps have a well deserved cup of tea in the delightful restaurant at the back.

    1h Admission not included

Meeting & pickup

Hotel pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point.

We can meet you at your Central London Hotel (not just those listed above), otherwise just outside Borough High Street Tube Station where the tour commences.

Schedule

Good to know

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• We have earmarked this tour as especially safe during the Coronavirus outbreak due to generally quiet places that we visit where social distancing is generally not a problem. All of our tours are private so it is just you/your family and your guide.  To make it easier and safer for all concerned we would suggest starting this tour a little later than the usual time, perhaps around 10.30-11am which allows us all to miss rush-hour. We are happy to still come to your hotel to meet you but for the moment we would suggest meeting us at the tour starting point.  This allows you to arrive by a taxi or uber rather than public transport. Please feel free to wear masks throughout or at times during the tour.  Your guide will also have a mask with them.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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