Question for Londoners or Dickens experts

[Bellybootcut]

Just watching A Christmas Carol for the umpteenth time and it got me wondering. Which part of London do you think it was imagined to be set in? And also, are there any parts of London that still have that quaint, possibly gritty Dickensian feel? I have visited a few times but just the usual tourist places. Thanks

I was going to suggest adding Carey Street and Chancery Lane to your tour. This is Bleak House territory and what makes it amazing for me is that there are still some gas lamps. I believe there is a special section of Westminster Council that is responsible for their upkeep It is really atmospheric walking there of an autumn or winter evening.

Here's a walk that covers this part of Dickensian London:

https://www.london-walking-tours.co.uk/free-tours/dickens-london.htm

There's the bit between rotherhithe to Tower Bridge, former warehouses that are now posh flats. Rotherhithe by the river is quite oldy worldy. Go to the Mayflower pub and the Rotherhithe Tunnel museum. There's also a church nearby with a plaque devoted to the Pilgrim Fathers. A statue devoted to Aldred Salter and his family are a little further east. (Mr Salter was a GP and MP in Rotherhithe helping the poor families of the borough) There's also leftover dock equipment all along the south bank of tbe river. I'm very familiar with Canada Water and it's docks there, though much of the architecture is post1980 now.

There's a stretch behind Borough Market towards Blackfriars along the river. The clink museum is a good place to go.

On the north bank there's the city of London which though very modern has streets dating back to Roman times.

It's worth following Lucinda Hawksley on Twitter, she is a descendant of Dickens and sometimes leads Dickensian walks around London.

I'd also recommend all the little alleys and yards that come off the main streets like Cheapside and Fleet street. You get a real sense of stepping back in time when you walk around them - it can be quite eerie.