London Visit: Charles Dickens Museum. I absolutely loved my tour around the Charles Dickens Museum, which is located in beautiful Bloomsbury, London on Doughty Street. This is a must for anyone who is a fan of the author and his novels, Victorian architecture and Victorian history. If you’re looking for things to do in Bloomsbury or the best London museums, you’ll literally have the best time!
Victorian Drawing Room
Charles Dickens Museum Victorian Home
This museum is set within the former five-storey home, of Charles Dickens located on Doughty Street in Bloomsbury. Charles, his wife Catherine and their first child moved into the property in 1837. He was writing under the name Boz and by the time he moved out three years later he had penned The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.
Charles Dickens Novels Available To Buy In The Gift Shop
The house is beautifully furnished so not only do you discover more about Dickens, but you also get a glimpse into how people lived during that era. On the ground floor, you have the café with a cute little courtyard garden. You can purchase your ticket in the reception come gift shop. The two main rooms to view on the ground floor are the dining room where the young writer entertained his guests over dinner. The morning room is where Mr and Mrs Dickens received visitors and wrote letters.
Dining Room For Entertaining Guests
Make sure you venture down to the basement which is fascinating. You can see the kitchen where servants prepared the food and you can imagine tradespeople delivering goods to the back door. The scullery, washhouse and wine cellar are all presented just as they would have been in the time Dickens lived here.
Basement Kitchen
Head up the stairs to the first floor where you can view the most important room which was the study of Charles Dickens. This is where he started his career as a novelist writing The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. The room is smallish with a desk and bookcases. The drawing room is also on this level which overlooks Doughty Street.
Study Where Dickens Wrote His Early Novels
On the second floor, you will find the master bedroom and Dicken’s dressing room next door. Mary Hogarth’s bedroom is also on the second floor, she was the sister of his wife who died suddenly at the age of 17.
Master Bedroom With Four Poster Bed
The attic is where the children (Charles Junior, Mary, and Katey) slept along with the servants.
Charles Dickens Museum Café and Garden
Quiche With Salad
Before I started my tour of the house, I popped into the café which is situated on the ground floor. You can visit the café without buying a ticket to the museum. I ate a vegetarian quiche with salad. The food offering includes soups, quiches, salads, scones and cakes along with tea, coffee, and soft drinks. Just don’t say “’Please, sir, I want some more,” because I bet, they’ve heard that famous line from Oliver Twist a million times before! There is a lovely garden at the back which is a wonderful place to sit when the weather is good.
Charles Dickens Museum Information
Charles Dickens Home Bloomsbury London
To find out more take a look at the Charles Dickens Museum Website. The address is 48 Doughty Street, Bloomsbury WC1N 2LX. The nearest stations are Russell Square, Euston Square, Euston, Kings Cross, Farringdon, Chancery Lane and Holborn. Opening times are Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm. The last admission is at 4 pm. Check the website because they may be closed for special tours or events. Ticket prices are £9.50 for adults, students and seniors £7.50, children 6-16 £4.50 and children under the age of 6 can enter for free. There are toilet facilities on the premises. Enjoy your tour. If you want to explore further read my Ten Things To Do In Bloomsbury feature.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.
