Dickens Small-Group Walk

London Christmas Carol & Charles Dickens Small Group Walking Tour. Rated 5.0 across 55 reviews. Runs 3 hours. From $120.

Overview

This three hour walk follows A Christmas Carol through the alleys, courts and taverns of Dickens's London, starting at Temple Station and ending at Leadenhall Market. Stops along the way take in the Inner Temple, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, the Royal Exchange, an old London coffee house, the George and Vulture and Simpson's Tavern, all of them places the listing ties to Dickens and his stories. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese gets the longest stay, and the listing notes the walk calls at one of London's oldest pubs, a spot where Dickens and the Hellfire Club once gathered.

The guide holds it together. Many reviews praise the guide's knowledge of both Dickens and wider London history, and one traveller describes A Christmas Carol coming to life against real London sites. One reviewer finished wanting to reread A Christmas Carol, and one family came back for a second round with four children in tow.

It suits Dickens readers first, and the Christmas season gives it extra pull, though reviewers who would not call themselves fans also had a good time. Groups max out at 10 travellers, children are welcome with an adult, and the route is not wheelchair accessible. Food, drinks, and pickup and drop off are all excluded.

What's Included

Included

Professional guide
Small Group Tour

Not Included

Food and drinks
Pick up & Drop Off
Hotel pickup

Itinerary

Meet at Temple StationGather outside the Temple Underground station entrance, at the bottom of the steps next to the newspaper and magazine vendor. The address is Temple Pl, London WC2R 2PH.
Inner TempleThe first stop of the walk, 15 minutes, with free admission.
Ye Olde Cheshire CheeseThe longest stop at 30 minutes. Entry is free, though any drink is bought separately since food and drinks are excluded.
Royal Exchange BuildingA 10 minute stop with free admission.
Original London coffee house15 minutes here, free admission. Coffee or anything else ordered is at your own expense.
George and VultureA brief 5 minute stop, free to enter.
Simpson's TavernAnother short stop of 5 minutes, free admission.
Leadenhall MarketThe final stop of the route, 10 minutes, and the official end point at 6 Leadenhall Market, London EC3V 1LR.
Onward travel helpThe guide can assist with onward travel or walk the group to the nearest Underground station, roughly 5 minutes away.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from what past travellers report back.

Pace and shoes. The tour runs 3 hours on foot. One reviewer called it a lot of walking and worth it, while another praised the pacing, so expect steady walking broken up with standing stops. Comfortable shoes make a difference.
Group feel. The group is capped at 10 travellers. Reviewers describe attentive guiding, and several mention picking up London history well beyond Dickens along the way.
Bring the family. Children must be accompanied by an adult. One reviewer took four children aged from seven to seventeen and reported they all enjoyed it, and another family said the guide captured their three teenagers' imagination.
Drinks cost extra. Food and drinks are not included in the price. The route takes in pubs and a coffee house, and anything ordered at them is paid for on the spot.
Getting there. There is no pickup or drop off. The meeting point is outside Temple Underground station at the bottom of the steps by the news vendor, and the walk ends at Leadenhall Market, from where the guide can point you to the nearest Underground station about 5 minutes away.
Time it right. Reviewers again and again place this among the best things they did on a Christmas trip to London. The story sits best around the holidays, they say.

Common issues. The listing states the tour is not wheelchair accessible, and one reviewer noted there is a lot of walking. Food and drinks are excluded, as are pickup and drop off, so budget for any pub stop and make your own way to Temple Station. Cancelling inside 24 hours of the start forfeits the amount paid, and changes are not accepted in that window.

What To Decide Before You Go

What is included in the price?

A professional guide and a place in a small group of no more than 10 travellers. Food and drinks are not included, and neither is pickup or drop off. Admission is free at every stop on the itinerary, so there are no entry tickets to buy.

Do I need money for the pubs and coffee house?

Only if you plan to order. The stops are free to enter, but food and drinks sit on the exclusion list, so anything consumed along the way is paid for separately.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts outside Temple Underground station on Temple Place, WC2R 2PH, at the bottom of the steps beside the newspaper and magazine vendor. It finishes at Leadenhall Market, EC3V 1LR, and the guide can help with onward travel or walk the group to the nearest Underground station, about 5 minutes away.

Is it suitable for children?

Children can join when accompanied by an adult, which the listing requires. Reviewers have taken children from seven up to seventeen, plus teenagers, and reported the storytelling kept them engaged.

Can I take part with a wheelchair or a pushchair?

A wheelchair is not possible, as the listing marks the tour as not wheelchair accessible. Pushchairs are allowed, service animals are welcome, and both ends of the route sit close to Underground stations.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the amount paid is not refunded and changes are not accepted. Cut-off times are based on the local time of the experience.