Most peoples experiences of London are packed tube trains, busy shops, bright lights and crowds of people. Mine always seem to be very different and I often feel like I am living in a Charles Dickens story. Walking around quiet lanes or alleys, church bells ringing as random people shout out greetings as I run various errands.… Continue reading Where Little Dorrit slept – A secret spot of Dickensian London
Tag: Charles Dickens
Christmas trees of London
As I posted last week on the most famous Christmas Tree, the one being in Trafalgar Square, I thought I might put up a few photos of some of my favourite ones I’ve seen in public spaces in London this year. Of course there are hundreds of Christmas trees on display in London, possibly thousands… Continue reading Christmas trees of London
Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire at the Guildhall
A few weeks ago, on opening day actually, I went to see a new exhibition at the Guildhall Art Gallery which features over 200 items dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, many of them viewable for the first time. There is a wide range of historical items, royal, military, ecclesiastical, and theatrical… Continue reading Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire at the Guildhall
Visiting the spot where Oliver Twist asks for more
Having gone through something of the history of the Southwark Mint and its somewhat trepidatious old workhouse, I wondered if I might find anything of the spot today. There are still several old workhouse buildings around but I knew that this one had long since vanished. What started off this whole escapade was this old… Continue reading Visiting the spot where Oliver Twist asks for more
St. Saviour’s Union Workhouse at Mint Street
Following on from the previous post on the dismal history of the Mint Street area in Southwark, I thought I’d investigate more to see how just this one example was the inspiration for a very famous Charles Dickens moment. Maybe even find a way to jazz up my original Ye Olde England Tours Charles Dickens… Continue reading St. Saviour’s Union Workhouse at Mint Street
A special Charles Dickens Tour. In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.
Recently I did a most special tour for two blind tourists from Iran. It was hard work and tiring but thoroughly rewarding and ultimately a huge success. My guests were Bita and Parham and were lovely. Very clever and witty and charming, it really was their dream to visit London and follow in the footsteps… Continue reading A special Charles Dickens Tour. In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.
The Buttermarket of Barnard Castle
Along with Middleton-In-Teesdale, Barnard Castle is one of the two principal towns in beautiful Teesdale. Whilst being a local shopping centre; it also is home to one of the most fantastic ruined castle Barnard Castle and the even more magnificent Bowes Museum with its magical silver swan. More modest in scope though none the less beautiful… Continue reading The Buttermarket of Barnard Castle
Shad Thames and Jacobs Island – The Venice of Drains
This my second post resulting from my scouting out a new tour I have been wanting to start offering to my lovely tourists. As well as the regular tourist hotspots, I really enjoy taking people to the lesser visited parts and judging from the reactions of my tourists, the more authentic an experience, the greater… Continue reading Shad Thames and Jacobs Island – The Venice of Drains
The lost and hidden rivers of London
It’s easy to see London as one big mega city with just one river, what Londoners fondly call old Father Thames. When the tide of the river rises and falls it is almost as if you can see the city itself breathe. The Thames has always been the centre for life in the city even if… Continue reading The lost and hidden rivers of London
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub & The Rude Parrot of Fleet Street
Following on from my discovery and subsequent blog post on John “Mad Jack” Mytton – The craziest man in history! I was overjoyed to stumble across another hilarious character of history whilst out on a Charles Dickens Walking Tour on friday. Everything was going well and then we reached one of the points of the tour, the… Continue reading Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub & The Rude Parrot of Fleet Street
Stephen Liddell 