Patrons drink at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub, one of London's oldest pubs and one of Charles Dickens favourites, alluded to in A Tale of Two Cities, London. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012. Picture taken December 19, 2011.Reuters
Patrons drink at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub, one of London's oldest pubs and one of Charles Dickens favourites, alluded to in A Tale of Two Cities, London. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012. Picture taken December 19, 2011.ReutersThe front of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub, one of London's oldest pubs and one of Charles Dickens favourites, alluded to in A Tale of Two Cities, in London. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012. Picture taken December 19, 2011.ReutersSunlight casts shadows on Staple Inn Square, which Charles Dickens often mentioned for it's tranquillity, in London. Dickens last novel, the unfinished Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dickens references "a little nook called Staple Inn." The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012. Picture taken January 26, 2012.ReutersIvy covers a Victorian-era grave stone in a cemetery, reflecting Charles Dickens recurring theme of death, in London. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012.ReutersA cell wall from the Wellclose Square prison bears names and dates carved into the wall, at the Museum of London. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012. Picture taken December 28, 2011.ReutersNew and old buildings stand side by side on Fleet Street in London, a favourite haunt of Charles Dickens. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth which falls on February 7, 2012.ReutersThe Newgate Prison door is displayed at the Museum of London. The prison held prisoners awaiting trial and execution. The executions were held outside the gate. After witnessing one, Charles Dickens wrote that he felt he "was living in a city of devils." The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on February 7, 2012.ReutersRules restaurant is the oldest in London and at the height of his fame Charles Dickens had a table reserved with a view over the blacking factory where he used to work as a boy, in London. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012.ReutersA window at Clifford's Inn, where in Charles Dickens novel, Little Dorrit the character Tip works as a clerk and where Dickens often wandered, in London. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012.ReutersThe menu at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub, one of London's oldest pubs and one of Charles Dickens favourites, alluded to in A Tale of Two Cities, London. The month of February marks an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens on the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012. Picture taken December 19, 2011.Reuters
For all those fans of the writings of Victorian-era novelist Charles Dickens, his 200<sup>th birth anniversary - which falls on Feb. 7 - is a lovely opportunity to walk through the lanes and pubs of a Dickensian city and see his world as he saw it.
Fortunately, present-day London has not been so rude as to uproot all that made the city a Victorian metropolis. The buildings, locations and scenes that inspired his more famous novels, "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Oliver Twist", are still standing and visitors can travel across the city, visiting all the places he brought to life in his work.
These include places like Grays Inn (one of the Inns of Court where Dickens was a solicitor's clerk in 1828) and the famous Old Curiosity Shop. Visitors can also go to Doughty Street, Clerkenwell and the Dickens House Museum, his first real home with wife Catherine and where he wrote "Oliver Twist" and "Nicholas Nickleby". Although some of the places do look a little run-down, they remain of historic importance and are frequented by travellers from across the globe.
To commemorate and celebrate his life and works, a Dickens 2012 project has been initiated. The group, in association with institutions and organisations from all over the world, will deliver a programme of events and activities to mark the occasion.
Meanwhile, take a look at some of the historic locations that inspired Dickens...
