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Museum of London Docklands launches the Dodger family trail, based on BAFTA-winning BBC TV series, Dodger

1 February 2023

The Museum of London Docklands is set to launch a brand new family trail based on the hair-raising, funny and rip-roaring adventures of Dodger, Fagin and the gang as seen in the BAFTA-winning BBC series Dodger.

Created in collaboration with Universal International Studios and the BBC, the free trail map will be available from Saturday 11th February. Written by Rhys Thomas (Creator & Director) and Lucy Montgomery, Dodger is unlike anything you have seen before. Taking place before the events of Charles Dickens’ classic, Dodger is set in a whole world of its own through reimagined familiar characters and a whole host of new ones. Fans can also catch up on the complete Dodger series and specials on BBC iPlayer now.

On a journey around the Museum of London Docklands’ galleries, visitors must help Dodger stay one step ahead of the police, who is on the run for a crime he didn’t commit and help Fagin and the gang make a living on the mean streets of London.

Occupying a converted 19th century sugar warehouse on West India Quay, the Museum of London Docklands provides an atmospheric backdrop for the adventure, giving visitors a chance to learn more about London and its history as a port city.

The trail map runs through the museum’s immersive Sailortown gallery, a recreation of a ramshackle London district from around the time Dickens’ novel was published. The gallery recreates the atmosphere of the maze of lanes and alleys around Ratcliffe Highway and the riverside, an area which had everything sailors alighting at the docks would need. See a life-sized ship’s chandler, curio seller and alehouse, as well as a mysterious animal emporium.

Other intriguing items on display from the Victorian era include rare ‘Billy and Charley’ forgeries made by East End mudlarkers William Smith and Charles Eaton; and scrimshaw or carved whalebone made by sailor Alexander Munro, probably as a love token. Visitors can also learn how London became the centre of world trade, as one of the biggest ports transporting materials and finished goods around the globe. Visitors will have a chance to interact with preserved commodities from the Victorian era including genuine samples of herbs, spices, loose leaves and teas.

Douglas Gilmore, Managing Director, Museum of London Docklands, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Universal International Studios and the BBC on this new trail as we celebrate our 20th anniversary at the Museum of London Docklands. Dodger is a fantastically fun series offering families and young visitors a brilliant new way to explore our galleries and learn more about Victorian London.”

Trail maps for Dodger: A Family Adventure are available free at the Museum of London Docklands from Saturday 11th February.

More details about February half term family activities at the Museum of London Docklands are available here: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands/whats-on/february-half-term-museum-london-docklands?venue=Museum%20of%20London%20Docklands&date=February%20Half%20Term

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Notes for editors

For more press information please contact Mariam Hussein, Media Officer at the Museum of London on 07713 565805 or [email protected].

About The Museum of London Docklands

The Museum of London Docklands is located at West India Quay in east London. Opened in 2003, this grade one listed converted Georgian sugar warehouse specifically tells the story of the port, river and city – focusing on trade, migration and commerce in London.

The museum is open 7 days a week, from 10am-5pm and is FREE to all. You can explore the Museum of London with collections online – home to 90,000 objects with more being added regularly. www.museumoflondon.org.uk.Recommended last entry is 4pm as the museum takes at least an hour to look around. Please note, we begin to close the galleries 20 minutes before closing time.