Chasing Dickens: A Writer’s Journey Through London
4.65Player rating· 223 plays →
Made for this city by a local creator, with a real-world challenge at every stop.
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Get this quest →The experience
About this quest
You came to London to write—but the words won’t come, and the nights grow longer. Then one evening, wandering through foggy streets in search of clarity, you see him: a man in a black top hat, with an intensity in his eyes that stops you cold. He looks just like Charles Dickens. You know it can’t be, but something about him feels real… important.
In this atmospheric walking quest, you’ll follow the figure through the streets that once inspired Dickens himself. Solve puzzles, uncover literary clues, and explore hidden corners of London’s Victorian past.
Perfect for curious minds, history lovers, and creative souls, this real-world adventure blends story, movement, and memory-making. Will this journey unlock the writer within—or lead you somewhere even more unexpected?
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Learn about Dickens’s extraordinary life, from child labourer to celebrated writer.
Explore the once brutal and crime-ridden streets of Clerkenwell and the stately legal district of Holborn where Dickens studied and worked.
Discover the darkened bars and inns where lawyers once jostled with scoundrels and Dickens met the colourful characters that would crowd his novels.
From people who played this quest
They went outside.
Here’s what stayed with them.
66 player ratings
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Your walk, at a glance
London
48-49 Doughty St, Holborn, London WC1N 2LX, UK
145 Fleet St, London EC4A 2BU, UK
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
From your phone to the streets
Pick it. Open it. Play.
- 01
Choose your access
Check the player and phone options for your group.
- 02
Open the Questo app
Follow your purchase instructions to access the quest.
- 03
Head to the start
Follow the clues and let the adventure unfold.
Choose your way to play
Explore at your own pace.
| Experience | This quest | Guided walking tour |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | Discover places through stories and clues in the app | Hear stories and ask a guide questions |
| Pace | Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look | Usually follows the guide’s schedule |
| Company | Explore with your own people or on your own | Private and shared group tours are available |
| Guidance | Directions and challenges in the Questo app | Live interpretation from a guide |
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
Plan your day
Good to know before you play
- Walking distance
- 3.5 km
- Playing time
- Play at your pace · usually 63 min
- Languages
- EN
- Best during the day
- Kid friendly
- Best for couples
- Recommended activity for families
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chasing Dickens quest self-guided?
Where does the Chasing Dickens quest start and finish?
How many tickets does our group need?
What languages is the Chasing Dickens quest available in?
The people behind the adventure
Created by Annemarie Lopez.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Every quest. One year.
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Keep exploring London
More adventures in London
Literary London
Walk between Dickens’s home and Fleet Street
The route connects places associated with Dickens’s life and work, from his Doughty Street home to the inns and legal streets around Fleet Street. The aspiring-writer storyline is fictional; the London literary setting is real. Playable languages: English.