The George and Vulture
Ancient City tavern immortalized by Charles Dickens, now haunted by the ghost of the great Victorian novelist himself.
The George and Vulture, established in 1660, is one of the oldest surviving taverns in the City of London. The establishment was famously featured in Charles Dickens’ “The Pickwick Papers” as a favorite haunt of Mr. Pickwick and his friends. Today, staff and patrons claim that Dickens himself has never truly left the cozy dining rooms and narrow passages of his beloved tavern.
The ghost of Charles Dickens is said to appear as a distinguished Victorian gentleman with characteristic beard and period clothing, often seen sitting at what was reportedly his favorite table near the fireplace. Witnesses describe him as appearing deep in thought, sometimes making writing motions with his hand as if composing one of his famous works. The apparition has been seen by both staff and customers over the decades, with some reporting a strong smell of ink and old paper accompanying the sighting.
Beyond the visual manifestations, the pub experiences a range of paranormal phenomena. Books have been known to fall from shelves, doors open and close on their own, and the sound of a quill pen scratching on paper has been heard in empty rooms. Some visitors report feeling an overwhelming creative inspiration when sitting in certain areas of the pub, as if Dickens’ literary genius still permeates the very walls. Staff members working late have reported hearing footsteps in the upstairs rooms and the murmur of Victorian-era conversations, as if the author and his contemporaries are holding one of their famous literary gatherings beyond the veil.