London is a city famous for its literary talent. Today, the homes-turned-museums of many of them are available for travelers to visit. One way to explore these roots is by author. One of the most famous of those authors is Charles Dickens, known for his novels from "A Tale of Two Cities" to "A Christmas Carol."

Dickens lived in London, where many of his novels are also set. 

48 Doughty Street - Charles Dickens Museum

This is the house where Charles Dickens lived and wrote from 1837 to 1839.  Among the novels he wrote here are "Nicholas Nickelby" and "Oliver Twist." His first two children were also born here.

The house in now the Charles Dickens Museum and offers audio guides, numerous artifacts from Dickens' life, including his writing desk and chair, as well as a learning center and café.

St. Paul's Cathedral

The famous cathedral is a noted setting in many of Dickens books.  It is the place where David Copperfield took Clara Peggoty to see the view of London.

At the top of the cathedral dome is the Golden Gallery.  There is also the Whispering Gallery, where you can test the famous acoustics.

London Bridge

London Bridge crosses the River Thames, and it's the place that Pip crosses in despair after learning that Estella was going to marry Drummle in "Great Expectations." It is also the setting for the meeting between Nancy and Mr. Brownlow regarding Oliver's safety in "Oliver Twist."

The current London Bridge was relocated more than 40 years ago. It was moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and a new London Bridge was built in 1973.

Near the bridge is George Inn, which used to be a coffee house that was frequented by Dickens. The building is the last remaining galleried coaching inn in London. It is not the original building, which was destroyed in a fire and rebuilt in 1676.

Poets Corner

London has many famous authors in addition to Charles Dickens, many of which are memorialized at the Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.

The tradition began with Geoffrey Chaucer, more than 150 years after his death. He was buried in the abbey because he had been Clerk of Works to the palace of Westminster, and later a monument was built to honor him. 

In 1559, poet and author Edmund Spenser was also buried nearby. He was followed by John Dryden, Lord Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning, Rudyard Kipling and Thomas Hardy.

There are also many writers buried elsewhere and memorialized at Poets Corner, including John Milton, Percy Bysshe Shelley, T.S. Eliot, Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters.

William Shakespeare, who was buried in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1616, didn't receive a monument at Poets Corner until 1740. Lord Byron dies in 1824 and didn't get his until 1969.

Charles Dickens is also buried at Poets Corner, his grave marked by a simple plaque inscribed with his name and the dates of his birth and death, February 7, 1812 and June 9, 1870, per his instructions.