The Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty Street is the only surviving London home of Charles Dickens. He lived there between 1837 and 1839 while writing The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, and Barnaby Rudge. He moved in with his wife Catherine, his eldest son Charley, his brother Fred and his sister-in-law Mary Hogarth. While staying at 48 Doughty Street, his two daughters Mary and Katey were born, and his sister-in-law died at only seventeen years old.

This museum is included in the list of:
Famous London People Museums and Houses.

The museum closed during 2012 (the bicentenary of Charles Dickens's birth) for a £3.1 million refurbishment.

There is now disabled access to all but the very top floor with a lift/elevator installed in no.49, the connected building next door. There are also education rooms and a cafe too. The basement kitchen has been restored and the attic rooms have been opened up for the first time.

Visit Duration: 1 hour +

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm.

The museum is open every day of the year, including Christmas Day.

Tickets (2015)
Adults: £8
Concessions: £6
Children 6-16: £4.00
Children under 6 years: free.

Contact Information

Address: Charles Dickens Museum, 48 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LX

Nearest Tube Stations: Russell Square or Holborn

Use Journey Planner to plan your route.

Telephone Number: 020 7405 2126

Official Website:www.dickensmuseum.com

You may well also enjoy a day trip from London to visit Dickens World.

Charles Dickens Museum Review

I first visited the Dickens Museum in 2008 when I did the Charles Dickens' London Walk book review, and I returned for a preview of the reopening in 2012.

This is a former home of the great author and opened as a museum 1925. Following the major refurbishment, the building is much more historically accurate now and the rooms are decorated as Dickens would have known them.

Instead of labels in the rooms, or a folder of information, all visitors are given a Plan and Visitor Guide produced in the style of Dickens's "monthly parts" which was how he first published his novels. It's a lovely booklet but must be given back at the end of your visit. It only includes a few paragraphs about each room so if you need to know more details about the objects on display you will need to ask a member of staff or a museum volunteer.

Some atmospheric sounds have been added but there are no overt nods to the modern day so the museum seems more like an historic building. In no.49, there is a fascinating timeline around the walls on the second floor and there are some IT resources too. On the first floor there is a temporary exhibition so there is always a reason to return.

See also Things to Do Near The British Museum.