Explore Ancient Alleyways in the Footsteps of Dickens: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

On this walk we will see actual places that Dickens visited as well as places mentioned in his novels. We start at St Paul’s Cathedral, which dominated London in Victorian times. It was near here that the young Dickens worked as a freelance reporter in Doctor’s Commons. He witnessed the old-fashioned and slightly ridiculous legal practice here which led to his contempt of the law, and his famous saying in Oliver twist ‘The law is a ass’. We then wend our way through ancient alleyways and churchyards, such as St Peter’s, Cheapside, where the young Dickens first arrived in London. In ‘A Christmas Carol’ Ebenezer Scrooge sees the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come on the steps of the Royal Exchange. Nearby we discover the George and Vulture Inn where Mr Pickwick stayed just before his trial for Breach of Promise in ‘The Pickwick Papers’. The audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone’s GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.

St Paul’s was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Dickens would have known St Paul’s, which dominated London in Victorian times the way modern skyscrapers do today. The St Paul’s you see today has recently been restored to its original light yellow colour, whereas in former times the Portland stone had turned a dark grey.

The Guildhall is a Gothic building with many spires. The building dates to the 14th Century and was financed by the famous Mayor of London, Richard Whittington. Just inside the entrance hall are statues of the giants Gog and Magog.

Mansion House is a magnificent classical building with a grand portico and Corinthian columns. It was built in the 18th century and since then has been the home of the Lord Mayor of London.

This is the third Royal Exchange to be built. The previous two were destroyed by fire. On the top of the portico you’ll see Latin inscriptions stating that it was constructed in the 8th year of the reign of Queen Victoria.

There has been a market at Leadenhall since 1377, but the present building was constructed in 1888 by Horace Jones, who also designed Tower Bridge. This is the perfect setting for Dickensian films. For the film of ‘Bleak House’, the whole market building was filled with smoke to recreate the foggy atmosphere of Victorian London.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• Explore Ancient Alleyways in the Footsteps of Dickens: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
  Add

• VoiceMap Application
• Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
• Lifetime access to Explore Ancient Alleyways in the Footsteps of Dickens tour

• Smartphone
• Transportation
• Food/Drink
• Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

Trending London Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out

VOICEMAP CODE
───
Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You’ve been sent an eight character code you’ll need to redeem your tour.

[REMOVE FOR DRIVING TOURS]This code can be used by every member of your party. If you’ve booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.[REMOVE FOR DRIVING TOURS]

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
───
Once you’ve received your code, please follow these steps:

1. Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app
2. Create an account
3. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes
4. Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE
───
• You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.
• This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.
• When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.
• Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT
───
For technical support and other queries, please email support@voicemap.me

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by VoiceMap Audio Tours.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/London.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.