Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour

At a glance

Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour is a 3h private experience in London, United Kingdom, operated by Ye Olde England Tours. Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 23 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $242.25 per person, and free cancellation is available. Included: Local guide, Private tour, Professional guide.

Quick facts

Duration

3h

Group

Private tour — only your group

Languages

English

Pickup

Hotel pickup or meet at the start point

Confirmation

Instant confirmation

Ticket

Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Cancellation

Free cancellation (see policy)

Overview

Itinerary

1. Stop 1 · 20m

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

2. Stop 2 · 10m

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

3. Stop 3 · 10m

   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.

4. Stop 4 · 5m

   Stand on Nancys Steps where poor Nancy met her end

5. Stop 5 · 25m

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

6. Stop 6 · 15m

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

7. Stop 7 · 5m

   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.

8. Stop 8 · 15m

   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.

9. Stop 9 · 5m

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

10. Stop 10 · 15m

    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.

11. Stop 11 · 15m

    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.

12. Stop 12 · 10m

    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.

13. Stop 13 · 20m

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

14. Stop 14

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

15. Stop 15 · 5m

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

16. Stop 16 · 10m

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

17. Stop 17 · 20m

    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.

18. Stop 18 · 1h

    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.

Meeting point

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.

Frequently asked questions