N.B. this walk will not take place on the following dates:
03-07-2026
“It was the best of walks, it was the best of walks…..” Charles Dickens and Guide David
Short read: A sojourn into a lost city – an Atlantis.
Long read: Dickens and London? He wrote London. You read him, it’s part of you, you’re part of it. Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Little Dorrit – all part of English literature. Same goes for walking his London. Pip’s lodgings in Great Expectations (“who enters here leaves noise behind”); the bank which employed “resurrection man” Jerry Cruncher in A Tale of Two Cities; Tulkinghorn’s chambers (“where lawyers lie like maggots in nuts”) in Bleak House; even the “original” Old Curiosity Shop (or is it?).
Dickens’ immortal Sam Weller had “extensive and peculiar” knowledge of Dickensian London. This walk keeps that tradition alive. Tradition and peculiar being the watchwords. Because we thread our way into a Victorian London of nooks and crannies and alleyways and gas lamps and 18th- and 19th-century houses – and no cars! It’s the part of London where Dickens lived and worked: Embankment, Charing Cross, Strand, Rules Restaurant, Covent Garden, Wellington St, St Mary ‘in the Way’, Old Curiosity Shop, LSE, Central Law Courts on Fleet St, Childs Bank (formerly on Fleet St) and Inner Temple. It’s the London of David Copperfield and Pip and Pickwick papers. It’s “Inimitable” – like Dickens himself.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Don’t just take it from us…
MEET YOUR GUIDE
Get to know David P.– find out a bit about him (spoiler alert, he’s warm, friendly, and ever so likable). All of which well and truly comes across in this recent London Calling podcast interview I did with him.
THE CHARLES DICKENS’ LONDON WALK – THE PRACTICALS
The Charles Dickens’ London Walk takes place every*Friday at 2.30 pm. The meeting point is just outside the Villiers Street exit of Embankment Underground Station Tube. *Not Dec. 25
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, Charles Dickens's London it can always be booked as a private tour. If you go private you can have the Charles Dickens's London walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a fab gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
Another great walk – even though a hot day our guide David took us on a relatively cool walk – and in a relaxed way brought us to places in London where Dickins had worked or dined etc – as well as other famous people. In between he shared nice short anecdotes about these streets over the centuries as well as a few readings of Dickins. I loved the tour as although the theme was Dickins, you saw (as with all London Walks) parts of London with a different perspective. Ending the walk at Dickins’ favourite pub was a wonderful final touch.
Rated 3 out of 5
Andrew Boyd –
Overpriced at £20/head although the guide stood us a beer at the end.
In response, Andrew. (David from London Walks GHQ writing this). Overpriced is always in the eye of the beholder, of course. But in today’s London £20 is roughly the price of a cinema ticket, a modest museum exhibition, or a couple of coffees and pastries in central London – and only a tiny fraction of the price of a West End theatre seat.
And with a London Walks Loyalty Card the Dickens walk actually comes in at £15. David then bought the group a pint at the end, which brought the net financial trauma down still further.
It pretty much goes without saying that you can’t attract and retain accomplished professionals – surgeons, diplomats, barristers, archaeologists, published authors, a former MP, the former Editor of ITN, and in David’s case a former London Mayor – by paying Victorian wages.
Basically, London Walks wants no part of “pile ’em high, pay ’em low” tourism.
Thanks again for joining us.
Rated 5 out of 5
Janis –
Very interesting and informative walk. Richard is an extremely knowledgeable and engaging guide. Lots of great conversations. Absolutely recommend.
Rated 5 out of 5
Heather –
A wonderful walk. Richard III was entertaining, extremely knowledgeable and mic’ed up so you could hear him clearly. Distance of route approx 1-and-a-half miles.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lowell Fritz –
The Dickens walk is well organized, informative and very worthwhile. Richard III for an amazing job of providing lots of context and background with a considerable number of cliff-hangars to keep you in suspense as you walk to the next historical spot. He paints a vivid picture of Dickensian London.
Rated 5 out of 5
Alessandra –
A very useful visit to discover significant places linked to Dickens’s life and work. It would be quite difficult to identify them without a guide! I really appreciated Richard’s accurate and engaging explanations.
Rated 5 out of 5
Rick shults –
Teriffic. Simon our guide is an excellent job. Very knowledgeable and entertaining.
Rated 5 out of 5
Susannah Cohen –
We loved our Dickens Walk with Richard. Great to see London in a new light and Richard made it really interesting and fun, the time flew by!
Rated 5 out of 5
Morag –
We had a really enjoyable afternoon.
David made the walk so interesting that we forgot about the rain. He is very knowledgeable on Dickens and also surrounding areas. Lovely end to the walk visiting the Cheshire Cheese Pub. Would thoroughly recommend it.
Rated 5 out of 5
Elizabeth Greenfield –
David guided us through the streets of Dickens’s London and it was great fun. David is knowledgeable, witty and friendly, but most of all very passionate about this subject and he is well equipped with the relevant quotes from Dickens’s books which he reads out at appropriate places :). The walk ended in an old pub off Fleet Street, which used to be frequented by Dickens where the conversation flowed pleasantly over a couple of drinks we had together. Highly recommended!
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Kate Johnson –
Another great walk – even though a hot day our guide David took us on a relatively cool walk – and in a relaxed way brought us to places in London where Dickins had worked or dined etc – as well as other famous people. In between he shared nice short anecdotes about these streets over the centuries as well as a few readings of Dickins. I loved the tour as although the theme was Dickins, you saw (as with all London Walks) parts of London with a different perspective. Ending the walk at Dickins’ favourite pub was a wonderful final touch.
Andrew Boyd –
Overpriced at £20/head although the guide stood us a beer at the end.
In response, Andrew. (David from London Walks GHQ writing this). Overpriced is always in the eye of the beholder, of course. But in today’s London £20 is roughly the price of a cinema ticket, a modest museum exhibition, or a couple of coffees and pastries in central London – and only a tiny fraction of the price of a West End theatre seat.
And with a London Walks Loyalty Card the Dickens walk actually comes in at £15. David then bought the group a pint at the end, which brought the net financial trauma down still further.
It pretty much goes without saying that you can’t attract and retain accomplished professionals – surgeons, diplomats, barristers, archaeologists, published authors, a former MP, the former Editor of ITN, and in David’s case a former London Mayor – by paying Victorian wages.
Basically, London Walks wants no part of “pile ’em high, pay ’em low” tourism.
Thanks again for joining us.
Janis –
Very interesting and informative walk. Richard is an extremely knowledgeable and engaging guide. Lots of great conversations. Absolutely recommend.
Heather –
A wonderful walk. Richard III was entertaining, extremely knowledgeable and mic’ed up so you could hear him clearly. Distance of route approx 1-and-a-half miles.
Lowell Fritz –
The Dickens walk is well organized, informative and very worthwhile. Richard III for an amazing job of providing lots of context and background with a considerable number of cliff-hangars to keep you in suspense as you walk to the next historical spot. He paints a vivid picture of Dickensian London.
Alessandra –
A very useful visit to discover significant places linked to Dickens’s life and work. It would be quite difficult to identify them without a guide! I really appreciated Richard’s accurate and engaging explanations.
Rick shults –
Teriffic. Simon our guide is an excellent job. Very knowledgeable and entertaining.
Susannah Cohen –
We loved our Dickens Walk with Richard. Great to see London in a new light and Richard made it really interesting and fun, the time flew by!
Morag –
We had a really enjoyable afternoon.
David made the walk so interesting that we forgot about the rain. He is very knowledgeable on Dickens and also surrounding areas. Lovely end to the walk visiting the Cheshire Cheese Pub. Would thoroughly recommend it.
Elizabeth Greenfield –
David guided us through the streets of Dickens’s London and it was great fun. David is knowledgeable, witty and friendly, but most of all very passionate about this subject and he is well equipped with the relevant quotes from Dickens’s books which he reads out at appropriate places :). The walk ended in an old pub off Fleet Street, which used to be frequented by Dickens where the conversation flowed pleasantly over a couple of drinks we had together. Highly recommended!