Private Tour
Charles Dickens Old London - A Private Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
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
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Professional guide
Private tour
Food and drinks
What To Expect
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.
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.
Options
Charles Dickens
Reviews
6 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Unforgettable, fantastic tour!
Julia M,
Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00What started as an accidental booking for a private (vs group) tour for my daughter and me turned into a once in a lifetime tour of not just Dickens’s London but when we expressed an interest, Richard enthusiastically added Sherlock Holmes, Benjamin Franklin, and even Shakespeare among other literary writers, characters, and famous people and places. Highly highly recommend! So many places we never would have even noticed! My only regret is that we didn’t book it earlier in our trip to London to add context to the rest of our visit - unforgettable!
Fantastic experience....
Michael W,
Jul 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Fantastic experience. Richard is very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend to anyone (even non-literary enthusiasts).
A Christmas Carol is one...
Amy K,
Mar 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A 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!
Charles Dickens Christmas Walk
Jeanette R,
Dec 3, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Absolutely 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.
Absolutely the BEST Tour Guide
jerrydI1264XG,
Apr 25, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Last September on a visit to London my wife and I arranged a tour of Chartwell and Biggin Airfield with Richard, and we had a wonderful time (see my earlier review for details). So, when we knew we would be in London in April with our daughter and her husband, I contacted Richard about setting up a walking tour of old London for the four of us, as I knew from chatting with him on our previous visit that he was extremely knowledgeable about English literature and London history. As was the case in September, we thoroughly enjoyed a delightful day with the best tour guide we've ever used. Richard guided us on a walk from the Tower of London to Covent Garden, pointing out sites and buildings of importance in London history, as well as historic pubs, movie locations, and many fascinating sites associated with the life and work of Charles Dickens and other favorite authors (e.g., Arthur Conan Doyle). Richard's knowledge of "all things London" is simply incredible. Though all four in our group have made numerous trips to London over the years, every stop we made on our walk was a new experience for us. Richard definitely knows the "hidden gems" of the city, and we all agreed that our six-hour walk was a most memorable and enjoyable learning experience - and definitely among the highlights of all our many travel experiences in England. Our walking tour was well-paced and very well organized. In addition to being knowledgeable and totally prepared, Richard is also extremely personable and engaging. I honestly cannot imagine a better tour guide for a visit to London. If you are looking for an exceptional travel experience, contact Richard!
Great Fun
Denise B,
Mar 6, 2022
- Review from Viator
5.00Richard was fun, engaging, knowledgeable and flexible. We enjoyed his company immensely. Very happy with our experience!
Related Experiences
Operated by Richards Tours