We start with Young Dickens before he made it big. We show you where he had his first white collar job and tell you about the mischief he got up to when he was bored. We also show you where he was living at the time and here, like many places we visit during the walk, tell you how he later used locations he knew in his writings. You hear how he became a star, and we see places he used in Bleak House before heading to Fagin’s Den, Bill Sikes’ local pub and many places used as locations in Oliver Twist such as where the Dodger first meets Oliver. You hear why Dickens lived in so many places, and why he appeared to visit so many pubs. And we follow in Dickens’ footsteps into the fascinating areas of narrow streets and old buildings (now rather more charming than they were in his time!) through which he walked to get ideas for his stories. And whilst doing this you hear all about Dickens the man, husband and philanthropist too, and we see a famous children’s hospital which he helped get upgraded from its simple beginnings.

Start Walk: Holborn underground station
Finish Walk: Russell Square underground Station
Shorter Walk alternative: Start Chancery Lane underground station