Booking fee
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* This tour requires at least one of the following per booking: Adult, Senior
Treat yourself to a private and bespoke tour at your own pace to the sites immortalised by one of the most famous authors in the world, Charles Dickens. This tour takes you on a journey through Dickens life, and to the very sites that still survive much as he would have remembered them. Your guide will bring to life the Hidden Courts, Alleys and Taverns featured in novels such as Oliver Twist, The Old Curiosity Shop, Little Doritt and many more. The tour includes free entry to the Charles Dickens Museum located in the very house he wrote Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby and The Pickwick Papers.
• See the places Charles Dickens lived and worked
• Real locations featured in the stories
• Includes free entry to Charles Dickens Museum
• Explore hidden Alleys, Courts, and Taverns
• A private tour at your leisure - No rushing or strict schedule!
• Met direct at your London accommodation
• Includes hidden sites
See more
Professional guide
Private tour
Food and drinks
Departure Point
Borough, Borough High St, London SE1 1JX, UK
Borough Underground Station
Return Details
48-49 Doughty St, London WC1N 2LX, UK
Entrance to Dickens Museum and House Included in the tour price.
Angel Pl., London SE1 1JA, UK 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
Crossbones Graveyard & Garden of Remembrance, London, United Kingdom 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
75 Borough High St, London SE1 1NH, UK 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
Borough Market, London, United Kingdom 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
St Michael's Alley, London EC3V 9DS, UK 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
Leadenhall Market, London, United Kingdom Featured in A Christmas Carol, and most recently as a filming location for the Harry Potter Movies. 10 minutes
Royal Exchange Building London, London, United Kingdom 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
145 Fleet St, London EC4A 2BP, UK 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
Old Curiosity Shop, London, United Kingdom 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.
Inner Temple, London, United Kingdom 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
Charles Dickens Museum, London, United Kingdom 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. 60 minutes
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Michael_W
05 Jul 2025
Fantastic experience. Richard is very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend to anyone (even non-literary enthusiasts).
Amy_K
13 Mar 2025
A Christmas Carol is one of favorites stories, and we re-read it every December. Thanks to Richard, we were able to see the word of Charles Dickens that inspired this classic!
Jeanette_R
03 Dec 2024
Absolutely wonderful time with Richard who provided vivid storytelling of the places Charles Dickens spent time as a boy and man as he developed his life and stories.
This tour in
London
is organized by
Richards Tours
We always double-check the availability with our local partners for each booking. Even though this is usually a swift process, it can take up to 24 hours. Once this process is completed you will receive your voucher or ticket by email. If our local partner is not able to confirm your booking we will offer you the best possible alternative. If the new date and/or time doesn’t fit your itinerary, we will reimburse the full amount paid.
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