Explore the real places in London that appear in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include The Workhouse, Saffron Hill, Brownlow's House, London Bridge, Chertsey and 7 more.
Where Oliver was born and raised
Oliver Twist is born here and spends his early years in harsh conditions. He famously asks for more gruel, leading to his expulsion. The workhouse represents the cruel treatment of the poor under the Victorian Poor Laws.
Victorian workhouses were established under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, designed to provide relief for the destitute while discouraging dependency through harsh conditions.
Most workhouse buildings have been demolished or converted. Some survive as hospitals, museums, or residential buildings, serving as reminders of Victorian social policy.
Visit: Workhouse Museum (various locations) (museum)
Fagin's den in the criminal quarter
Oliver is brought here by the Artful Dodger and meets Fagin and his gang of child pickpockets. He witnesses the criminal training and lives in squalor among the thieves.
Saffron Hill was historically one of London's most notorious slums, known for criminal activity, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The area has been largely redeveloped and is now part of modern London's legal district, near Hatton Garden, with office buildings and improved infrastructure.
Benevolent gentleman's residence
Oliver is taken here after collapsing during his first pickpocketing attempt. Mr. Brownlow shows him kindness and considers adopting him, providing Oliver's first taste of genuine care.
Pentonville was developed in the 1770s as a fashionable residential area for London's growing middle class, known for its Georgian terraced houses.
The area remains residential with many preserved Georgian and Victorian houses, now a mix of private homes and converted flats in North London.
Scene of Nancy's murder
Bill Sikes brutally murders Nancy near here after discovering her loyalty to Oliver. The scene represents the ultimate violence of the criminal underworld and Nancy's tragic sacrifice.
The 19th-century London Bridge was a busy commercial crossing point over the Thames, surrounded by warehouses, inns, and working-class neighborhoods.
Modern London Bridge has been rebuilt several times; the current bridge dates from 1973. The area is now a major transport hub and business district.
Visit: London Bridge (landmark)
Mrs. Maylie's country retreat
Oliver recovers here after being shot during the Chertsey robbery. He finds peace with Mrs. Maylie and Rose, experiencing rural tranquility and genuine family affection for the first time.
Chertsey was a small market town in Surrey, known for its abbey ruins and rural character, popular with wealthy Londoners as a country retreat.
Chertsey is now a suburban town in Surrey, still maintaining some historic character while serving as a commuter town for London workers.
Bill Sikes's final hideout
Bill Sikes flees here after murdering Nancy, hiding in the decrepit buildings. He accidentally hangs himself while trying to escape, bringing his criminal career to a violent end.
Jacob's Island was an actual area of extreme poverty in Bermondsey, described by contemporary observers as one of London's most wretched slums.
The area has been completely redeveloped as part of modern London's South Bank, now featuring luxury apartments and office buildings along the Thames.
The Artful Dodger's territory
Jack Dawkins, the Artful Dodger, leads Oliver through these streets and teaches him the ways of pickpocketing. The Dodger demonstrates street wisdom and criminal expertise.
Clerkenwell was historically associated with watchmaking, printing, and later became known for political radicalism and criminal activity.
The area has been gentrified and is now known for its trendy restaurants, bars, and creative businesses, while retaining some historic character.
Visit: Clerkenwell (restaurants and bars) (restaurant)
Where the Dodger is likely sent
Though not explicitly shown, this represents the fate awaiting captured members of Fagin's gang, including the Artful Dodger who faces transportation.
Pentonville Prison opened in 1842 as a model prison designed around separate confinement and moral reformation of criminals.
The prison still operates today as HMP Pentonville, housing both remand and sentenced prisoners in North London.
Oliver's half-brother's lair
Edward Leeford (Monks) meets here with the Bumbles and others to destroy evidence of Oliver's inheritance and identity, plotting to keep Oliver in poverty.
The riverside areas of London were filled with warehouses, taverns, and lodging houses that provided privacy for illegal activities.
Much of the historic riverside has been redeveloped, though some Victorian warehouses remain as converted apartments and offices.
Administrative center of poor relief
Mr. Bumble administers poor relief with pompous cruelty, arranging Oliver's apprenticeship to Sowerberry and later being manipulated by Monks about Oliver's origins.
Parish beadles were local officials responsible for maintaining order and administering poor relief under the oversight of magistrates and church wardens.
Local government functions have been modernized and centralized, though some historic parish buildings remain as community centers or offices.
Oliver's first apprenticeship
Oliver is apprenticed here and forced to lead children's funerals due to his melancholy appearance. He fights Noah Claypole and flees after being insulted about his mother.
Victorian undertakers were essential tradesmen who handled the complex rituals and practical needs of death in an era of high mortality rates.
Traditional undertaking businesses still exist throughout London, though modern funeral homes have largely replaced the old workshop model.
Central Criminal Court
Fagin is tried here for his crimes and sentenced to death. Oliver visits him in the condemned cell, showing compassion even for his former captor.
The Old Bailey has been London's central criminal court since medieval times, famous for trying serious crimes including murder and treason.
The current Old Bailey building dates from 1907 and continues to serve as the Central Criminal Court, trying major criminal cases.
Visit: Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) (landmark)
More by Charles Dickens: Bleak House locations map · Great Expectations locations map · A Tale of Two Cities locations map · David Copperfield locations map · All Charles Dickens books
More novels set in London: Browse all London books on Map A Story
Other nearby maps: Patriot Games by Tom Clancy locations map · The Time Machine by H.G. Wells locations map · The Italian Girl by Iris Murdoch locations map · The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman locations map