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Chasing Dickens: A Writer’s Journey Through London

🔒 Instant Access: Book now and start immediately. No need to wait for a guide.

⏱️ Total Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume whenever you want.

🧩 Gamified Discovery: Solve 12 location-based puzzles to unlock hidden stories and secret spots.

📍 Starting Point: Charles Dickens Museum, 48-49 Doughty St, Holborn, London WC1N 2LX, UK

🛡️ Free Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours before your planned start for a full refund.

🌐 Available In: 🇬🇧 English

★★★★★Join 200+ explorers who unlocked Chasing Dickens: A Writer’s Journey Through London.
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Places you will visit

12

It will take you

48-78 mins

You will walk

4600 steps

Total distance

3.5 km

Route you will explore

Loading map…
Starting point Charles Dickens Museum
48-49 Doughty St, Holborn, London WC1N 2LX, UK
Finish point Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
145 Fleet St, London EC4A 2BU, UK

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?

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.

The mission: Your story in London

You are an aspiring writer in London. 

Since you have been here, you haven’t been able to write or sleep. You go for a walk to calm your mind and see an intense young man in a black top hat and coat. 

He resembles Charles Dickens, the famous Victorian writer who first inspired you to write. You know Dickens is long dead, but you become convinced that this man holds the key to breaking your spell of writer’s block. You decide to follow him.

Good to know before you play

  • Best during the day
  • Kid friendly
  • Best for couples
  • Recommended activity for families

Tips & Recommendations

👟

Wear Comfortable Shoes

You will be walking throughout the city, so comfortable footwear is essential for enjoying the experience.

🔋

Charge Your Phone

Make sure your smartphone is at least 60% charged. The quest runs through the Questo app, and you will be using it throughout.

🌤️

Check the Weather

This is an outdoor activity. Bring an umbrella or sunscreen depending on the forecast.

📸

Bring a Camera

You will discover photogenic locations and hidden gems perfect for capturing memories.

💧

Stay Hydrated

Bring water, especially during warmer months or longer quests.

👥

Play with Friends

While you can play solo, quests are more fun with friends or family. One ticket works for a group.

Ratings and Reviews

4.66

59 ratings

5 Stars
71%
4 Stars
24%
3 Stars
5%
2 Stars
0%
1 Star
0%
Reviews
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Pam Peacock

14 Feb 2026

Enrico Giuliani

01 Nov 2025

Michael Kuder

05 Oct 2025
What a wonderful way to walk around the London streets and go to new areas that I passed by so many times. My only comment was a couple of the places were only able to go into Monday through Saturday and they were closed on Sunday. Which made the quest a little more challenging.

Florin Visa

10 Sep 2025

jane

25 Jul 2025
enjoyed very much

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Compare Questo vs. Guided Walking Tours

Flexibility

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Fixed schedules & no pausing

Questo

Start, pause, and resume anytime

Privacy

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Crowds of up to 30 strangers

Questo

Private experience for your group only

Pricing

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$30-$40 per person

Questo

Affordable per-group pricing

Availability

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Requires advance booking

Questo

Instant access 24/7/365

Experience

Regular Guided Tours

Passive listening to a guide

Questo

Active gamification; you solve the mystery

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