Charles Dickens in Manchester. Literature Festival Official Tours

Bleak House starts with a one-word sentence: “London”.

Charles Dickens probably considered starting “Hard Times” with a similar one-word sentence: “Manchester”, except that he hedged his bets by calling his mythical Northern city “Coketown”.

Nevertheless the great novelist spent much time in Manchester, appearing at The Athenaeum and Free Trade Hall, and hanging loose with Harrison Ainsworth.

We remember the best of times, the worst of times.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Queen Victoria's Statue, Piccadilly, Manchester, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App