A Children’s Tour through Dickens’ London
It is winter! The holiday season has come to the most exciting city in all of England. Welcome to the London of Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria, where one will find amusements and diversions at every turn! As you enter look to your left and see that Fezziwig’s Warehouse is hosting a party for all of Mr. Fezziwig’s friends—and everyone is a friend to Mr. Fezziwig! Care for a dance? Join in! Learn to dance and play parlour games, or just watch the fun.
Begin your tour and turn right, away from Fezziwig’s and pass down the magnificent GRAND CONCOURSE where you will see our spectacular Christmas tree. Just opposite that the famed London Telegraph Office operates; here you can send a telegram to anyone in all of London and telegraph girls or boys will run from one end of the city to the other to hand-deliver your message! Continue down the lane and stop by Mrs. Piper’s Photo Parlour to pose for a portrait of family and friends. Across the way, you can marvel at the hand-painted tiles at The Curious Wonder Cabinet; have a gift ornament customized at the Ornaments by Eddy cart; or peruse the magic wands at the Whirlwood Wands shop.
Passing through GRENADIERS GATE takes you to the dark and notorious LONDON DOCKS where you will find the Paddy West School of Seamanship. Try your hand at knot-making, be hoisted up into the rigging by a helpful sailor, and enjoy the lively shows on the Paddy West Stage. But mind your wallet! Fagin’s Den is nearby, and
On nearby FISH STREET you can feast on traditional British Fish & Chips while you observe the spectacular plans for the Crystal Palace Exhibition on display. Don’t miss HOLLYBERRY PARK next door to the exhibit, with shops for dolls and fairy houses. Just to your right at the entrance of the Park is our new Silhouette artist who can cut your likeness out of paper in less then 5 minutes. Best of all, relax and share a refreshing pot of tea with the family at Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe; here you may have peanut-butter & honey sandwiches or scones, and hot chocolate if you’ve been especially good!
Now head straight back down FISH STREET, right the way through until you land in Fagin’s Den back in the LONDON DOCKS. Here you will find Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger making full-time work of picking pockets and snatching hankies. Nearby Peeler’s Clink Jail will hold you or any thieves caught by Her Majesty’s Royal Constabulary – get locked in and take a photo.
Push on! Your tour is nearing the greatest point! Into TINSLEY GREEN, where Father Christmas makes his appearance and poses for pictures on the Father Christmas Stage at 1:00 daily. Create a gift by painting your own ceramic ornament at the Children’s Painting Garden. Next door is the Punch & Judy Puppet Theatre. (Don’t encourage old Mr. Punch; he’ll get into enough trouble all on his own.) Have some Mr. Punch’s Pasta and enjoy lunch while you watch a show. Here you will also find fun with the Boot the Cat game; flip a chimney sweep into a chimney at Flip a Sweep; then pelt terrible performers with vegetables at Footlight Fiasco. See the spectacular Adventure Carousel and take a ride on your favorite animal. Do not miss Professor Flockmocker’s Laboratory of mechanical wonders, to see if the flying machine is ready!
Nearing your final destinations! Jog your merry way into PICKWICK PLACE, where you will find more eateries. Across the way, try your hand at the miraculous mechanical Candy Machine, where everyone wins a prize! Down BELLRINGER’S ROW you will find freshly baked warm cookies at Maclaren’s Cookies & Milk, and Nuyens Portraits, where you can pause to be skillfully sketched. Next door don’t miss the production of Pinocchio at the Victoria & Albert Theatre – enjoy a box of freshly-popped popcorn, and take any seat! After the show, stop by the authentic Printing Press located nearby and try your hand at typesetting.
You are once again near the entrance to the city, but you’ll probably want to retrace your steps to visit whatever you missed on the first go’round!
Happy Holidays!
On nearby FISH STREET you can feast on traditional British Fish & Chips while you observe the spectacular plans for the Crystal Palace Exhibition on display. Don’t miss HOLLYBERRY PARK next door to the exhibit, with shops for dolls and fairy houses. Just to your right at the entrance of the Park is our new Silhouette artist who can cut your likeness out of paper in less then 5 minutes. Best of all, relax and share a refreshing pot of tea with the family at Cuthbert’s Tea Shoppe; here you may have peanut-butter & honey sandwiches or scones, and hot chocolate if you’ve been especially good!
Now head straight back down FISH STREET, right the way through until you land in Fagin’s Den back in the LONDON DOCKS. Here you will find Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger making full-time work of picking pockets and snatching hankies. Nearby Peeler’s Clink Jail will hold you or any thieves caught by Her Majesty’s Royal Constabulary – get locked in and take a photo.
Push on! Your tour is nearing the greatest point! Into TINSLEY GREEN, where Father Christmas makes his appearance and poses for pictures on the Father Christmas Stage at 1:00 daily. Create a gift by painting your own ceramic ornament at the Children’s Painting Garden. Next door is the Punch & Judy Puppet Theatre. (Don’t encourage old Mr. Punch; he’ll get into enough trouble all on his own.) Have some Mr. Punch’s Pasta and enjoy lunch while you watch a show. Here you will also find fun with the Boot the Cat game; flip a chimney sweep into a chimney at Flip a Sweep; then pelt terrible performers with vegetables at Footlight Fiasco. See the spectacular Adventure Carousel and take a ride on your favorite animal. Do not miss Professor Flockmocker’s Laboratory of mechanical wonders, to see if the flying machine is ready!
Nearing your final destinations! Jog your merry way into PICKWICK PLACE, where you will find more eateries. Across the way, try your hand at the miraculous mechanical Candy Machine, where everyone wins a prize! Down BELLRINGER’S ROW you will find freshly baked warm cookies at Maclaren’s Cookies & Milk, and Nuyens Portraits, where you can pause to be skillfully sketched. Next door don’t miss the production of Pinocchio at the Victoria & Albert Theatre – enjoy a box of freshly-popped popcorn, and take any seat! After the show, stop by the authentic Printing Press located nearby and try your hand at typesetting.
You are once again near the entrance to the city, but you’ll probably want to retrace your steps to visit whatever you missed on the first go’round!
Happy Holidays!
For more information about the event and how to get your tickets- go here: https://www.facebook.com/DickensFair
