Released on: February 07, 2012, 12:02 am
Author: Kieran Kerrigan
Industry: Travel
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Charles Dickens Museum and attend a wreathlaying ceremony at Westminster Abbey today, on Tuesday 7th February 2012, to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens in the year that marks the 200th birthday of the much-loved writer.
The Royal visitors will be treated to a private reading at the museum by Emmy-award winning actress Gillian Anderson who played Miss Havisham in the BBC's recent adaptation of ‘Great Expectations'. Visitors who want to celebrate in Dickens's bicentenary in the city which so inspired him – it's no coincidence that Bleak House begins with just one word, ‘London' – can do so by booking one of the many hotels in London featured on the website LondonTown.com which gives useful information on the Dickens 2012 festival events in the city.
Following their visit to the museum, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be guests of honour at the wreathlaying ceremony at the special service in Poets' Corner where Dickens was buried in 1870, with readings by actor and director Ralph Fiennes, acclaimed biographer Claire Tomalin and Mark Dickens, head of the Dickens family.
The centrepiece of the British Council's 24 hour Global Read-a-thon on Tuesday 7th February – a reading marathon which will take place in 24 countries from Albania to Zimbabwe – sees a special guest take to the stage at London's BFI Southbank at the premiere of new films inspired by Dickens. Dickens in London will also be broadcast from Monday 6th to Friday 10th February on BBC Radio 4, with the films available online.
Events are taking place across London throughout 2012 to mark the anniversary, at the Museum of London visitors can see the UK's first major exhibition on the author for over 40 years, recreating the atmosphere of Victorian London through sound and projections. Actor Simon Callow is also at the museum to offer a fresh perspective on Dickens and there's a whole host of other events from a puppet workshop at the Barbican to the Olivier award nominated Dickens' Women starring Miriam Margolyes at the artsdepot.
For more information about the Dickens 2012 festival exhibition visit http://www.dickens2012.org and for information on London events go to LondonTown.com and search for ‘Dickens'. For visitors coming from outside London the website offers a whole host of resources including travel information and accommodation advice and if you can't find what you're looking for online there's a team of advisers available on +44 (0)20 7437 4370.
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About LondonTown.com
Londontown.com is the number one Internet site for London. With over 16 years of experience assisting visitors to the capital, they pride themselves on their customer service and editorial independence – no advertising or paid for content is allowed. The LondonTown.com team assist in finding cheap London hotels, sightseeing tours, ticket information and events. Trusted and with a loyal following, LondonTown.com is a very reliable source of recommendations and advise on what to do in London. http://www.LondonTown.com