Charles Dickens’ Washington DC: from Decatur House to Freedom Plaza

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Charles Dickens’ Washington DC: from Decatur House to Freedom Plaza

(6 reviews)
Washington, D.C. audio tour: Charles Dickens’ Washington DC: from Decatur House to Freedom Plaza
This is a 0.8mi walking tour
It takes an average of 40 mins to complete.
Washington, D.C.
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$5.99
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About the Tour

Charles Dickens came to America with high expectations, but things soured quickly. On this walking tour, you’ll wander through downtown Washington, seeing the “dysfunctional” capital city through his eyes, via excerpts from his infamous and extremely witty 1842 travelogue. On this walk from Decatur House to Freedom Plaza, you’ll hear about topics including:

  • A visit with a president
  • Cynical politicians
  • Bad urban planning
  • A death by dueling
  • Lots of chewing tobacco

On this 40-minute tour around one of the best-preserved parts of DC, you’ll learn what Dickens’ biggest pet peeve was, discover which structures were around when he first set foot in the city, and see where he stayed during his visit.

Categories
Literature Top Sights

Tour Producer

avatar

Olivier Ballou

2 tours

Originally from Canada, I've lived in Washington, DC for nearly a decade.

Preview Location

Location 1

Decatur House

(NARRATOR 1)
Welcome to this tour of “Why Dickens Hated DC”.
You are on Lafayette Square.
It’s named after the Marquis de Lafayette, the Frenchman who fought for American Independence.
This is one of the best-preserved parts of DC.
Before we get walking, let me briefl... Read More
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Major Landmarks

  • Decatur House

  • Lafayette Square

  • White House

  • US Treasury

  • Freedom Plaza

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.
  1. Start location
    748 Jackson Pl NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA
  2. Total distance
    1km
  3. Final location
    1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
  4. Distance back to start location
    797.55m

Directions to Starting Point

748 Jackson Pl NW, Washington, DC

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

After your walk, you can extend the British theme with a stop at the Elephant and Castle pub (1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW).

Best time of day

The tour can be done at any time.

Precautions

The area is safe but always be street-smart. Take care when crossing roads.

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App Store Review
“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”
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Questions and Reviews

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