Barnard's Inn (Dickens-era site), London

Step into Barnard鈥檚 Inn鈥攐nce a legal hangout, later a literary dump, and now an intellectual hotspot. Originally belonging to Gray of Chancery and existing from around 1454, it was named for and owned by the Mackworth family. Later, a guy called Lionel Barnard lodged here for a while, and, somehow, the place got stuck with his name for over five centuries.

Being one of the Inns of Chancery in Holborn, it moonlighted as a backdrop for none other than Charles Dickens in Great Expectations. When young Pip hits the big, foggy city of London around 1820, this is where he lands鈥攔ooming with Herbert Pocket in what Dickens, never one to sugar-coat, described as 鈥渁 club for Tom-cats鈥� tucked in a "rank corner.鈥�

And he didn't stop there. Dickens laid it on thick: Barnard鈥檚 Inn was, in his words, 鈥渁 flat burying-ground鈥� featuring 鈥渢he most dismal trees, dismal sparrows, dismal cats, and dismal houses鈥濃€攂asically, the starter pack for Victorian gloom. Broken windows, sad little curtains, half-dead flower pots, and the ghost of Lionel Barnard apparently feeding off the misery of tenants too broke鈥攐r too cursed鈥攖o leave.

Despite that glowing review, the place itself is architecturally fascinating. There鈥檚 a hall with 18th-century chambers, 15th-century timber bays, 16th-century linen-fold paneling, and Greater London鈥檚 only surviving crown posts. These days, it鈥檚 home to Gresham College, where public lectures happen under those same gloomy rafters鈥攂ut with a lot more PowerPoint and a lot less Dickensian despair.

So go ahead鈥攑oke around Barnard鈥檚 Inn. Just watch out for the cats.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 911爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Barnard's Inn (Dickens-era site)
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Charles Dickens Tour

Walking Tours in London, England

Create Your Own Walk in London

Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Harry Potter Walking Tour II

The Harry Potter movies and London go together like Butterbeer and a cold winter night at Hogsmeade. While much of the magical world was brought to life with computer-generated images and studio sets, quite a few iconic scenes were filmed right in the heart of the British capital, transforming ordinary city spots into wizarding landmarks. Here's a look at six more London locations where the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

Bridges of London

Around thirty bridges span the Thames river in London, each with its own story. Our self-guided walk takes you to see nine such historical structures located in the heart of the city, starting from the storied Westminster Bridge and ending at the iconic Tower Bridge.

The latter has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles

Charles Dickens Tour

Imagine a world without Dickens. No Oliver Twist, no Ebenezer Scrooge, no brooding orphans wandering foggy streets with suspiciously eloquent vocabularies. Tough to picture, right? That鈥檚 because Charles Dickens didn鈥檛 just leave a mark on literature鈥攈e practically steamrolled through it in a horse-drawn carriage. Recognized as the undisputed heavyweight of Victorian storytelling, he... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

Jane Austen鈥檚 London

The celebrated English novelist Jane Austen primarily lived between Bath and Hampshire. However, London also held a special significance in Austen's life. Many of her novels drew inspiration from the capital, like Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham鈥檚 elopement in 鈥淧ride & Prejudice.鈥�

One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles

Walk around Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, the British monarch's official residence, is a must-see for anyone visiting London, but so are the adjacent royal establishments that give a unique window into the royal way of life. On this self-guided walking tour, along with Buckingham Palace and its memorable fountain, you will visit the St. James's private royal residence, the wonderful Queen's Gallery, and... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

London Introduction Walking Tour

London: the capital of England, heart of the UK, and international heavyweight in history, culture, and sheer charm. Its name comes straight out of Rome. Londinium was founded circa 43 AD as a trading post. Then came Queen Boudica in 61 AD, who, let鈥檚 say, didn鈥檛 care much for Roman urban planning and burnt it to the ground. But Londinium wasn鈥檛 one to stay down鈥攊t bounced back,... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles

View all walking tours in London, England

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

London Souvenirs: 18 Distinctively British Products for Travelers

Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...