It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Charles Dickens’ novels, largely social protests wearing the cloak of entertainment, made readers feel as if they’d traveled to London when they never left their own armchairs. Trouble is, the city that Dickens has primed visitors to expect—the foggy, coal-smudged metropolis teeming with pickpockets and virtuous orphans—is nowhere to be found. Partly thanks to Dickens’ work, London reformed itself. On this tour, you’ll explore what’s left of its darker side—from the libertine London of Shakespeare’s day to the desperate one Dickens sought to solve with his pen. Along the way, you’ll enjoy gourmet food and a beer on the Thames, which conceals a body count of its own.

To preview the tour, visit St. Paul's and Southwark self-guided walking tour

This tour is self-guided, and free.

The app provides turn-by-turn walking directions to each stop, as well as the each stop's content.

Download the Built Story app at the Apple App Store, or Google Play Store.

Cheers!