Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 23 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour worth booking?
Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour is a 3-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from $70 per person. It scores 69 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 23 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 69 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (23)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $70 per person
This walking tour will take us to places that both inspired Charles Dickens the writer but also those real locations that shaped Dickens the man. All writers take inspiration from the people they meet and places they vi
What you get
About this experience
This walking tour will take us to places that both inspired Charles Dickens the writer but also those real locations that shaped Dickens the man. All writers take inspiration from the people they meet and places they visit, and Charles Dickens was no different. His novels are so successful because he so enjoyed wandering the streets of London and picking up the rich details of everyday life.
What's included
Included
- Local guide
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup
Not included
- London Underground Tube ticket
- Entrance to Charles Dickens House Museum
What you'll see and do
St George the Martyr
See locations relating to Little Dorrit and visit where Dickens family were imprisoned.
20 minutes here · Admission included
The site of the old debtors prison that so influenced the young Charles Dickens.
10 minutes here
Red Cross Cottages & Garden
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.
10 minutes here
London Bridge
Stand on Nancys Steps where poor Nancy met her end
5 minutes here · Admission included
Borough Market
Visit sites of poverty that inspired Dickens to write. See the places where the pick-pockets operated in Oliver Twist and much more
25 minutes here · Admission included
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
We will pass by this famous theatre and learn about the history and locations nearby.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Old Bailey
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.
5 minutes here · Admission not included
Winchester Palace
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.
15 minutes here · Admission included
St. Paul's Cathedral
Find out about an inadvertent impact St Pauls had on the life of Charles Dickens
5 minutes here · Admission not included
Temple Church
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.
15 minutes here
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.
15 minutes here
Fleet Street
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.
10 minutes here
Lincoln's Inn Fields
This area is full of Dickensian history especially relating to Bleak House and is also the home to the biographer of Charles Dickens
20 minutes here · Admission included
See some of the pubs that Dickens himself drank in and where characters visited in the novels.
Pass by without stopping
Dr. Johnson's House
We visit other literary places along the way, including the outside of the home of the man who wrote the Dictionary.
5 minutes here · Admission not included
High Holborn
Visit the alleyway where poor Krook spontaneously combusted infront of his shop.
10 minutes here · Admission included
Bloomsbury
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.
20 minutes here · Admission included
Charles Dickens Museum
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.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
London
Just outside the entrance next to the newspaper vendor
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations.
Ends at
Please note the museum is currently not open on Monday and Tuesday though the tour ends at the front door. Your guide will happily find you a pub, cafe or nearby tube station if needed!
Options you can book
5 hour Dickens Extravaganza!
Duration: 5 hours: This tour includes everything in the basic tour but visits numerous extra locations and goes through the old City of London. Pickup included
Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour
Pickup included
A Christmas Carol
2 hour walk + Dickens drinks!: More bang for your bucks. A condensed Charles Dickens Walk with drinks in a famous pub he stayed & wrote in. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ye Olde England Tours
Know before you go
- 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.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 23 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
23 verified traveler reviews for Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Wow! We had a Dickens of a time!
Stephen is a most remarkable guide. He has a positive, upbeat, personality and laughs readily. He has an amazing amount of information at his fingertips, which he shared in a friendly and engaging fashion throughout the tour. He is passionate about what he does. I’m a huge Charles Dickens fan, and an hour into the tour, my expectations had already been exceeded. Thank you, Stephen, for a fabulous time!
via Tripadvisor
Seeing Old London history in a fun way
Stephen showed us his incredible knowledge and shared it in such a personable and fun way. We were interested in seeing some of what was old London. We found his Dickens tour to be perfect for this. We found so many out of the way places we would never have known were there. I can't imagine anyone else in the city having a better knowledge and grasp of all the special spots the city has to offer. We plan to return to London and, when we do, one of his tours will be at the top of our list.
via Viator
Charles Dickens Tour
Kevin was our tour guide. He was not only knowledgeable about Dickens, but he also knew everything about the history of London and was able to provide us with interesting facts and show us the sights. We learned more from him during this tour than all of our other tours combined. Kevin was also kind and beyond patient with us. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!
via Viator
Had a wonderful experience
Our guide Kevin was fantastic!
via Tripadvisor
Kevin was great on the Charles Dickens tour
from the minute, we met Kevin, we knew we had a great tour guide. His love and passion for his native city poured from him and such an affable and interesting fashion. He shared many secrets about London and many secret little alleys. He told great stories that always had an entertaining and surprising ending. He knows so much and is willing to share everything. I would highly recommend him for anyone.
Response from the operator: Thankyou for your amazing review. I'm so glad that you enjoyed your tour with Kevin so much. It's a great route and I myself never tire of exploring all the little alleys. Thankyou!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $70 to $250
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 8
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 69
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.
How much does Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour cost?
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Prices start at $70 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in London is not rushed.
Is Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 69 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 23 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour?
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Around 8 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in London can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in London and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Charles Dickens Private Walking Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central London within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in London?
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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs, The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit London?
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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in London?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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