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16th 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. |
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Alternative
Shoes Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Shopping |
| Natural Shoe Store |
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21
Neal Street,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2H
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8 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Shopping |
| Birkenstock |
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70
Neal Street,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2H
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9 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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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Local
Shopping Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Shopping |
| Charles Worthington |
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28
Great Queen Street,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2B
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4 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Shopping |
| Hope and Greenwood |
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1
Russell Street,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2B
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4 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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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Local
Hotels Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Hotels |
| Kingsway Hall Hotel |
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Great Queen Street,
London,
WC2B
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4 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Hotels |
| The Waldorf Hilton |
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Aldwych,
London,
WC2B4DD
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4 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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Local
Event Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Event |
| Oliver! |
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Theatre Royal Drury Lane,
Catherine Street,
WC2B
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4 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Event |
| Cat on a Hot Tin Roof |
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Novello Theatre,
Aldwych,
WC2B
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5 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| Standing alongside A Streetcar Named Desire as one of Tennessee Williams' timelessly exquisite (and Pulitzer Prize-winning) plays, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof follows hot ...More...
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Local
Entertainment Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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1 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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4 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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4 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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Local
Sights and Attractions Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Hunterian Museum |
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35-43
Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Holborn,
London,
WC2A
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1 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| The Hunterian Museum within the Royal College of Surgeons boasts a host of enlightening, permanent and temporary, galleries and exhibitions. Housed in the college, the ...More...
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Sir John Soane's Museum |
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13
Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Holborn,
London,
WC2A
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3 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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Local
Restaurants Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Restaurants |
| The Terrace in the Fields |
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Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2A
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1 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Restaurants |
| Fleet River Bakery |
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71
Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Holborn,
London,
WC2A
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3 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| The food offering is chalked up on the blackboard at the Fleet River Bakery cafe in Lincoln's Inn Fields where a full wine list is served ...More...
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Local
Education Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Education |
| Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design |
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Southampton Row,
Bloomsbury,
London,
WC1B
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7 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Education |
| Courtauld Institute of Art |
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Somerset House,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2R
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7 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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 |
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| London Leisure |
| Lincoln's Inn Fields |
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Holborn,
Holborn,
London,
WC2A
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4 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Leisure |
| The Hospital Club |
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24
Endell Street,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2H
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8 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| Before it was a hip private members' club designed specifically for the creative industries - complete with bar and dining rooms, cinema, TV and recording ...More...
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Local
Pubs Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Pubs |
| Cittie of Yorke |
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22
High Holborn,
Holborn,
London,
WC1V
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7 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Pubs |
| The Cove |
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1
The Piazza,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2E
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7 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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 |
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| London Nightlife |
| Fabric |
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77a
Charterhouse Street,
Clerkenwell,
London,
EC1M
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14 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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...
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| London Nightlife |
| LSE Student Union |
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East Building,
Houghton Street,
Holborn,
London,
WC2A
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2 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| 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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Local
Business Near The Old Curiosity Shop |
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| London Business |
| Royal College of Surgeons of England |
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35-43
Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Holborn,
London,
WC2A
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1 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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| ...More...
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| London Business |
| The Terrace In The Fields |
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Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Holborn,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2A
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1 minutes distance from The Old Curiosity Shop
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