London inspired Dickens, and in particular London on a dark winter's night:

“But the streets of London, to be beheld in the very height of their glory, should be seen on a dark, dull, murky winter's night, when there is just enough damp gently stealing down to make the pavement greasy, without cleansing it of any of its impurities; and when the heavy lazy mist, which hangs over every object, makes the gas-lamps look brighter, and the brilliantly-lighted shops more splendid, from the contrast they present to the darkness around…”

Charles Dickens: The Streets – Night, Sketches by Boz

Afflicted by bouts of “sleeplessness”, Dickens would take to epic night walks intended to create a self-afflicted state of “houselessness” in an attempt to share the experiences of some of his greatest characters and to turn his gimlet-eyed observation on the slumbering City in his search for inspiration.

Join me on this virtual tour of Dickens' London where we’ll trace some of his steps along these night walks and explore the extent to which the ups and downs of life in the greatest city in the world inspired and appalled him in equal measure.

This is a live virtual tour hosted via Zoom video conferencing where your guide will give an illustrated presentation of the tour route with an accompanying talk. There will be opportunities for questions and interaction both during and after the virtual tour.

Some tripadvisor reviewer comments about this virtual tour (full reviews can be seen here):

"The virtual tour is filled with the same energy and enthusiam as the physical walks as well as his knowledge of the subject... ...Zoom worked really well and the presentation was engaging and clear."

"Mark is an excellent story teller and brings to life the night time streets of London which Dickens loved to roam and which inspired his writing... ... I recommend this tour and I'll be back for more."

"Friendly, informative and certainly recommended."

"Mark is a highly experienced and knowledgeable guide and the maps. photographs and extracts from Dickens' novels brought the subject vividly to life."