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The Old Curiosity Shop

 
13 Portsmouth Street, Westminster,  London,  WC2A 2ES
Telephone: 020 7405 9891
Map Maps: Location map, Print map (A4),
Nearby: Hotels, Events, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Dining, Education, Leisure, Pubs, Nightlife, Business
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The Old Curiosity Shop16th century shop and literary landmark.

With its precarious overhanging upper storey, uneven floorboards, sloping roof and wooden beams, this 16th century building warrants its title as probably the oldest shop in central London. It also fits perfectly the image of Charles Dickens’ creaking, half-timbered ‘Old Curiosity Shop’. While some doubt has been cast over the assumption that the shop was the inspiration behind Dickens’ novel of the same name, the building certainly does a very good job of convincing sceptics otherwise. At one time it functioned as a dairy on an estate given by King Charles II to one of his many mistresses. Made using the wood from old ships the building miraculously survived the flames of the Great Fire of 1666 and the bombs of Second World War. Still functioning as a shop (an upmarket men’s and women’s shoe boutique at the time of writing), the building’s future and architectural heritage is now protected by a preservation order. Dwarfed by more recent architectural constructions, the shop is often literally overlooked by tourists and locals alike but is worth seeking out if you’re in the area – especially if you need a new pair of shoes. Pay a visit after exploring Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the Inns of Court or John Soane’s Museum.

Best for:
Creaking floorboards, wooden beams, Charles II, Dickens and shoes.

Did you know?
Charles Dickens lived at Bloomsbury and knew the area surrounding the shop very well. He was known to have visited the shop on a number of occasions.

Visiting The Old Curiosity Shop

 
 
Travel
 
Underground Stations
Holborn Tube (4 minutes)
Temple Tube (7 minutes)
Railway Stations
City Thameslink Station (14 minutes)
Charing Cross Railway Station (14 minutes)
Docklands Light Railway
Bank (29 minutes)
 
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Times
Mon to Sat 11:00-19:00
 
 
Car Parks
 
Drury Lane NCP (5 minutes)
Bloomsbury Square Car Park (7 minutes)
 
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London Location Map of The Old Curiosity Shop

Portsmouth Street
 
Printable map of The Old Curiosity Shop
 

Alternative Shoes

Nearest to The Old Curiosity Shop
 
London Shopping / Shoes
Best
21 Neal Street, Covent Garden, Camden,  London,  WC2H Map
8 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
These are shoes that stay resolutely the same whatever the trends. The designs reflect the name, with comfort as the watchword - most are ergonomic ... More
 
 
 
Birkenstock
Best
London Shopping / Shoes

Birkenstock

70 Neal Street, Camden,  London,  WC2H Map
9 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Every summer, the London streets are ablaze with a rich array of sandals and flip-flops. Clumpy, frumpy and built for comfort, Birckenstock footwear has become ... More
 
 
 
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Alternative Local Shopping

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
Charles Worthington
Best
London Shopping / Hair and Grooming

Charles Worthington

28 Great Queen Street, Camden,  London,  WC2B Map
4 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Service is a watchword at this salon, where clients are guaranteed a first-class hairdressing experience. Celebrity coiffeur Worthington personally trains all his staff and standards ... More
 
 
 
Hope and Greenwood
Best
London Shopping / Food and Drink Shops

Hope and Greenwood

1 Russell Street, Westminster,  London,  WC2B Map
4 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Excellent ice cream in the summer and a delicious-looking Christmas window in the winter are the kind of thing that make this candy shop a ... More
 
 
 
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The Albion Emporium - Food and Drink Shops
Penhaligon's - Perfume and Cosmetics
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Godiva - Food and Drink Shops
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Local Hotels

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
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Best Price Guarentee
Kingsway Hall Hotel
London Hotels / Mid Range Chain Hotel

Kingsway Hall Hotel

Great Queen Street, Camden,  London,  WC2B Map
4 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Well-equipped, comfortable rooms await guests to this elegantly modern hotel in the heart of Theatreland. Set yourself up for the day with a hearty breakfast ... More
 
 
 
The Waldorf Hilton
London Hotels / Luxury Chain Hotel

The Waldorf Hilton

Aldwych, Westminster,  London,  WC2B4DD Map
4 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Positioned between the City’s Square Mile and the thriving West End, this grand, Edwardian Hilton hotel welcomes guests with a patisserie and champagne bar in ... More
 
 
 
More local Hotels
Citadines Apart-Hotel Holborn Covent Garden - Apartment
The Strand Palace - Mid-Range Chain Hotel
High Holborn Hall - Hostel
The Kingsley, a Thistle Hotel (formerly Thistle Bloomsbury) - Mid-Range Chain Hotel
Radisson Edwardian Mountbatten Hotel - Luxury Chain Hotel
See all Hotels near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
 
 

Local Events on today or on tomorrow or on a particular date

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
London Events / Theatre
Best
12th December 2008 until 26th February 2011
Catherine Street,  London,  WC2B Map
4 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Lionel Bart's smashing Victorian musical has had two previous London productions which both ran for over 100 performances, but there's every chance that this new ... More
 
 
 
London Events / Theatre
Best
20th May 2009 until 29th August 2009
Catherine Street,  London,  WC2B Map
5 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Ronald Harwood's 1995 hit Taking Sides - playing in rep with his latest play Collaboration at the Duchess Theatre - is a fascinating exploration of ... More
 
 
 
More local Events
Collaboration - Theatre
Somerset House Fountains - Kids Events
Somerset House Summer Series - Concerts
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Local Entertainment

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
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Show Theatre Distance Tickets from
Dirty Dancing Aldwych Theatre 5 minutes £40.00
War Horse New London Theatre 6 minutes £48.00
Hairspray Shaftesbury Theatre 9 minutes £24.50
 
 
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See all Theatres and Venues near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
 
 

Local Sights and Attractions

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
Sir John Soane's Museum
Best
London Sights and Attractions / Museums

Sir John Soane's Museum

13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Camden,  London,  WC2A Map
3 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
An appealingly higgledy-piggledy treasure trove of artefacts, the extraordinary Sir John Soane's Museum elegantly located on Lincoln's Inn Fields is well worth an exploratory rummage. ... More
 
 
 
Inns of Court and Royal Courts of Justice
Best
London Sights and Attractions / Historic Buildings

Inns of Court and Royal Courts of Justice

Strand, Westminster,  London,  WC2A Map
4 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
A stunning example of Gothic architecture, London's Inns of Court date back to before the 14th century. It is here that barristers train and traditionally ... More
 
 
 
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London Transport Museum - Museums
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The Cartoon Museum - Museums
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Local Dining

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
The Terrace in the Fields
Best
London Dining / British Cuisine

The Terrace in the Fields

Lincoln's Inn Fields, Camden,  London,  WC2A Map
1 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Originally this eco-friendly blonde-wood barn was the club house/cafe for the tennis courts of Lincoln's Inn Fields, a picturesque old square in the city. If ... More
 
 
 
Homage at the Waldorf Hilton
Best
London Dining / International Cuisine

Homage at the Waldorf Hilton

22 The Aldwych, Westminster,  London,  WC2B Map
4 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Homage is located in one of the stately ballrooms of the Waldorf Hilton right next to Covent Garden. As you might expect, it is a ... More
 
 
 
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Great Queen Street - Brasseries
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Christopher's American Grill and Martini Bar - American Cuisine
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Local Education

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design
Best
London Education / Arts and Drama

Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design

Southampton Row, Camden,  London,  WC1B Map
7 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
One of the premier arts colleges in the world, St Martin's accepts only a few talented students each year, and is very well regarded in ... More
 
 
 
Courtauld Institute of Art
Best
London Education / Arts and Drama

Courtauld Institute of Art

Somerset House, Westminster,  London,  WC2R Map
7 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and ... More
 
 
 
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Local Leisure

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
Lincoln's Inn Fields
Best
London Leisure / Parks and Gardens

Lincoln's Inn Fields

Holborn, Camden,  London,  WC2A Map
4 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
The largest public square in London, Lincoln's Inn Fields has a rich and varied history. In 1683 it was the site of the public beheading ... More
 
 
 
The Sanctuary
Best
London Leisure / Fitness

The Sanctuary

12 Floral Street, Westminster,  London,  WC2E Map
8 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
This day spa exclusively for women is a total pampering experience from the minute you step through the door. Located in bustling Covent Garden you'll ... More
 
 
 
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All Star Lanes - Games
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Chang's Hapkido Academy - Martial Arts
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Local Pubs

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
London Pubs / Pubs
Best
22 High Holborn, Camden,  London,  WC1V Map
7 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Although the site of the Cittie of Yorke has been home to a public house since the 15th century, it has been housed in many ... More
 
 
 
The Cove
Best
London Pubs / Pubs

The Cove

1 The Piazza, Westminster,  London,  WC2E Map
7 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Overlooking Covent Garden Piazza, the Cove is a world away from the crowds outside. Tucked up in a worn, leather armchair under the pub’s low, ... More
 
 
 
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Local Nightlife

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
Fabric
Best
London Nightlife / Nightclubs

Fabric

77a Charterhouse Street, City,  London,  EC1M Map
14 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Built on the site of a Victorian meat cellar, Fabric continues to boast the most sensational line-ups in the capital. Its global reputation is founded ... More
 
 
 
LSE Student Union
London Nightlife / Nightclubs

LSE Student Union

East Building,  Houghton Street, Westminster,  London,  WC2A Map
2 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
Cheap, cheerful and drunken are three words that spring immediately to mind when you think of a student union - and LSE is guilty as ... More
 
 
 
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Sway - Nightclubs
The Den and Centro - Nightclubs
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Kingly Club - Nightclubs
Heaven - Nightclubs
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London Private Hire Venues

Near The Old Curiosity Shop
 
London Business / Venue Hire
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Westminster,  London,  WC2A Map
1 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
... More
 
 
 
The Terrace In The Fields
London Business / Venue Hire

The Terrace In The Fields

Lincoln's Inn Fields,  Holborn, Camden,  London,  WC2A Map
1 minutes walk from The Old Curiosity Shop
... More
 
 
 
More local Private Hire Venues
London School of Economics and Political Science - Venue Hire
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New Connaught Rooms - Venue Hire
Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn - Venue Hire
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Also in Portsmouth Street
Our recommendations in the same street as The Old Curiosity Shop
Number Name Categories
13
Best The Old Curiosity Shop
London Shopping, Shoes
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