Charles Dickens Old London - A Private Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Marshalsea Prison South Wall

  The tour begins in the area where a young Charles Dickens spent some of his childhood. A time and place that would haunt the author for the rest of his life. He later used this area as the main setting in the novel Little Doritt. We will tour all the back streets and discuss Dickens early family life.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Crossbones Graveyard & Garden of Remembrance

  To highlight the poverty and desperate conditions that Dickens often based his works upon, we will make a stop at Crossbones Graveyard. This is a former burial ground for the outcasts of society deemed unsuitable for a proper Christian burial. Mainly prostitutes and their illegitimate children. Ironically enough these prostitutes were licenced by the Bishop of Winchester, and known as the Winchester Geese. In Dickens time it was said that after a storm or heavy rain, bones would stick out of the ground, eventually leading to the site being closed. It was rediscovered in the 1990's, and now offers a place of peace and memorial to those outside of social conventions.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3
  George

  London's only surviving galleried Inn, and often referred to as 'Shakesperes local' as the famous bard is said to have performed plays in the courtyard. Charles Dickens was also known to drink at the Inn and most famously mentions the historic Tavern in Little Doritt . One of London's oldest and most historic pubs.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Borough Market

  We will walk through the world famous Borough Market and head to the steps where Nancy waited for Mr Brownlow in Oliver Twist. It may be hard to resist all the pleasant smells coming from the food stalls on the market, but feel free to have a browse. There has been a market on this site since the 1400's and it would have been a lively place Dickens knew well.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  London's Original and All-Inspiring Coffee House

  Let's get off the beaten path and head deep into the world of Ebeneezer Scrooge and 'A Christmas Carol' as we visit Scrooge's Counting House, the place where he took supper on Christmas Eve, and Charles Dickens favourite Chop House the George and Vulture. If Dickens was on this tour with us, he would be able to go in to the George and Vulture, find his favourite table, and even order his favourite meal. Not a lot has changed. This atmospheric old tavern was the meeting place of the Pickwick Club and is mentioned over 20 times in the Pickwick Papers. The equally unchanged Tavern round the corner, Simpsons is most likely Scrooge's favourite eating spot. Your guide will explain why!

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 6
  Leadenhall Market

  Featured in A Christmas Carol, and most recently as a filming location for the Harry Potter Movies.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 7
  Royal Exchange Building London

  Right next to the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange is where the Ghost of Christmas yet to come takes Scrooge to see his colleagues discussing his funeral. The steps of the Exchange are the traditional spot where Royal announcements are made. Today you can cross the trading floor, but the bankers are long gone. Now designer shops, and Champagne bars attract the visitors attention.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8
  Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

  A Tavern with Cellars dating to the 13th Century. This Pub was a haunt of Dickens and a meeting place for the Hellfire Club. David Copperfield drinks here in the Novel of the same name.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9
  The Old Curiosity Shop

  This Tudor building was already 300 years old when Dickens wrote about it. Amazingly it still stands surrounded by buildings of the modern world. Imortalised by Dickens as The Old Curiosity Shop. Then we will walk through the areas a young Dickens worked and lived, and the location of Fagins Den in Oliver Twist.

  Admission ticket free
• 10
  Inner Temple

  Let's explore the area where Dicken's worked as a junior Clerk. From the mysterious Inns of Court he took inspiration that would later find it's way in to David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and Martin Chuzzlewit.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 11
  Charles Dickens Museum

  The tour ends at the Charles Dickens Museum. This was the Authors home from 1837, and from these rooms Charles Dickens released Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist. Your tour includes entry to the house.

  1 hour • Admission ticket included

Additional info

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children must be accompanied by an adult

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