Charles Dickens Museum
Charles Dickens Museum
4.5
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Charles Dickens Museum in London holds the world's most important Dickens collection with over 100,000 items including manuscripts, rare editions, personal items, paintings and other visual sources. Based in 48 Doughty Street, the author’s only surviving London house, we offer visitors the chance to experience what Dickens’s home would have been like and learn more about the great novelist and social commentator. We are open from Tuesday to Sunday, and welcome visitors of all ages.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Charles Dickens Museum
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Bloomsbury
Snuggly nestled within Central London is academic and leafy Bloomsbury, an area that boasts walking distance access to many of London's most popular attractions. It is also home to some of Britain's most celebrated museums, including the must-see British Museum. Despite an understandable popularity with students, tourists and day trippers, vast sections of Bloomsbury retain a quiet, residential feel year round and throughout the week.
How to get there
  • Russell Square • 7 min walk
  • Chancery Lane • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Wanderer581490
    119 contributions
    Interesting museum, decorated nicely for Christmas.
    As a fan of Dickens, I have wanted to visit this place for some time now, especially whilst it is decorated for Christmas. I wasn’t disappointed! It was beautifully decorated and there were lots of interesting plaques of information to read, some of it very moving. An enjoyable morning visit!
    Visited November 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 December 2022
  • 0TBC
    Norwich, United Kingdom280 contributions
    Well worth it
    I have wanted to do this for a long time and was pleased to finally get there. Christmas is surely the best time to visit! It certainly bolstered my Christmas spirit. The place is as you’d expect and seeing Dickens’ desk and personal items was wonderful. The commentary available on your phone js really informative and helpful. The only issue are the over-vociferous helpers who are desperate to show off their knowledge and be asked questions to the point of intrusion. I’m sure Dickens would have made a great deal of them and created some wonderful characters based on them though so they’re certainly not out of place! The cafe was disappointing - a soulless area to the rear of the property. I’m sure they could do more to turn this into a Victorian tea room and give it the ambience is deserves. It was utilitarian and bland and that took away from the experience of enjoying a hot drink and a mince pie at a cold Christmas time. If you are a fan of Dickens, history, or you just enjoy well put together museum then it is a must to come here.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with friends
    Written 29 December 2022
  • Ian D
    London, United Kingdom130 contributions
    A Hidden Gem
    I have frequently been within 50 yards of this museum for the last 10 years and never knew of its existence. It was my daughter on a trip from abroad who suggested we visited it between Christmas and New Year and what a delight. Fantastically laid out, as in Dicken's time there, we meandered through the rooms following the audio guide and reading the room and item descriptions. Thoroughly interesting not just to the Dickens fans but also those who are interested in life in the mid 1800's. Hugely helpful and polite, friendly guides. I massively recommend it.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 29 December 2022
  • Aethelred
    Cambridge, Massachusetts1,250 contributions
    Beautiful after reopening
    The CDM reopened on 1 February after being closed for some renovations and maintenance. I went during the first hour, and it is as jolly and cozy as ever, with very well done exhibitions (it is not easy to bring literature close to people in museums - here, they manage), buzzing with excited childrens' groups expertly led, foreign and domestic tourists, just great. Very courteous staff. A great blend of house and museum. These days, everyone needs a selfie/portrait as the main souvenir: So, in the living room, you now get a replica green chair, a table and a copy of the Christmas Carol, right next to the fireplace. I was by myself for the visit, so the very kind attendant klicked some great pix for me. What a nice place, and sure to kindle or rekindle any interest in Dickens, which is just for everyone's good!
    Visited February 2023
    Written 8 February 2023
  • Melanie741
    22 contributions
    Step back in time with Mr Dickens
    This is a must visit for all Dickens fans, frozen in time rooms make you feel as if the family has just popped out and may be home any minute. Friendly and helpful staff on site are only too happy to share their knowledge and answer any Dickens related question you may have and a very nice cafe on site for when you tire of looking at all the wonderful artefacts that were touched by the man himself. Wonderful place.
    Visited February 2023
    Written 12 February 2023
  • Chuckmidwest
    Omaha, Nebraska263 contributions
    If you're a fan.... you should be...take time to fit this in.
    The house has four stories so need to be able to climb but otherwise they are small rooms filled with his things as they were when he lived here. Fantastic history to read about and only takes one hour. Out of the way so plan how to fit it in.
    Visited February 2023
    Written 20 February 2023
  • Adrian B
    Bakewell, United Kingdom668 contributions
    A tiny gem
    What a great place. A superb free audioguide leads you through the house. Beautifully organised with several rooms where you can sit and take it all in. The cafe is small and serves a very limited menu - this would not be a lunch stop. If you are even remotely interested in Dickens this is a must.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 26 February 2023
  • PJD2909
    London, United Kingdom103 contributions
    Stepping into the 1830s at the Dickens House
    Charles Dickens and his new wife Catherine moved to Doughty Street in his first flush of fame after the publication of the Pickwick Papers. Although they only stayed for a couple of years, the Dickens House Fund has built up an impressive collection of Dickens memorabilia (most notably, his writing desk and lectern) and furnished the house in a manner appropriate to the 1830s. The contents are fascinating, but as with any small museum or gallery, the real value comes from the volunteer guides, who were exceptionally well informed and presented their information well. Not for small children, but anyone interested in literature, domestic architecture or Victorian London is in for a fascinating visit.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled on business
    Written 24 March 2023
  • ShaunH290
    London, United Kingdom2,298 contributions
    A Mecca for Dickens Fans!
    Dickens rented No 48 from 1837-1839. He moved there with his wife Catherine and their eldest son Charlie. While living there, he finished writing The Pickwick Papers and wrote Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist. There is so much that helps understand the man - bars from the Marshalsea prison, evidence from his childhood, including the Blacking Factory, tools of his trade, plus exhibits about his use of magic to entertain and his disbelief in ghosts and haunting. Definitely a must see museum for Dickens fans. Check the website for dates and times and beware of access if you have mobility issues.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 30 March 2023
  • JedAfterthought
    Levin, New Zealand218 contributions
    Worth a visit
    Small but interesting museum about Charles Darwin. Set in his house in Camden, you really feel like you can visualise his life there. They have worked hard to make it child-friendly too. Loved his manuscripts and letters: and his desk!
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 July 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
1,211 reviews
Excellent
741
Very good
361
Average
72
Poor
26
Terrible
11

Steph
Toronto, Canada166 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
Lovely little museum set up to look like it did when Dickens lived there. There's a free audioguide and the admission fee is reasonable. The staff are lovely and there's at least one or two of them around at all times to answer questions/chat about the displays. Cute little giftshop and they've opened a tearoom (unfortunately I didn't have enough time to also do the tearoom, so I'd budget 2-3 hrs if you want to go through the whole museum and sit for a spot of tea).
Written 6 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

F8099EWmichaelf
6 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
One of the BEST museums I have ever experienced. The rooms were so authentic and seemed to reflect how Dickens and his family lived and worked. I loved learning about his beloved niece who died in that very house shattering the author's spirit for a time.
Will certainly return on my next trip to London.
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brian F
Darlington, UK34 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
My first visit and I didn't know what to expect so I got a pleasant surprise, from the friendly staff, the excellent presentation of the family rooms, the shop and the cafe, it was very enjoyable. The family rooms are well explained and it was good to see where the great man himself and his family all lived. thoroughly enjoyed my visit.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steuart L
Wolverhampton, UK65 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Really interesting place to visit, with welcoming, knowledgeable and informative guides. Plenty to see and keep the visitor informed and interested with regard to life in Victorian Britain. On a more specific level, the artefacts relating to Charles Dickens including scripts, personal possessions and furniture are a must for anyone interested in him as a novelist and writer, as well as being of interest more generally regarding that period in British history. There is also a lovely little cafe in the basement with tables outside in the garden when the weather is suitable.
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

caroline2
Paris, France475 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Lovely museum in an authentic victorian house, a real gem to discover. The super friendly volunteers are very eager to answer any questions. Everything is well explained and very well preserved. There is also a little café with inside and outside seatings in the little garden. The exhibit about the London fog is very informative as well. I would certainly recommend this museum.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary1542
West Lothian, UK9 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
This was a real highlight of our recent trip to London. The museum is beautifully kept by knowledgeable friendly staff who were happy to answer any questions. It felt like a calm oasis in the middle of a busy place. I love anything to do with the Victorian era and the museum gives a fascinating taste of how Dickens lived. There were also information boards on the London Fog which were interesting and I liked seeing the artefacts such as Dickens' writing desk and his wife's jewellery. A great gift shop too. I hope to visit again some day.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Caroline H
Ystalyfera, UK11 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
A beautiful property set up as it would have been in Charles Dickens day. Lots of things for children to interact with too. I sat in the walled garden and enjoyed a pot of tea with delicious gluten-free chocolate cake. Lots of the museum exhibits are labelled and give the reader interesting information on Dickens. A couple of WC’s on several of the four levels in the property. Hearing the clock in the hallway was delightful, he would have heard this himself. I’ve wanted to visit here for many years, it was worth it. There’s such a lot more I could add to my review, all positive. Nice items in the gift shop, but no prices on several things I looked at so I put them back. I think it’s something the museum needs to look at. But otherwise, a wonderful day out that brought me closer to my favourite author. Seeing his writing desk was something very special indeed. And the copper that would have been used for the Dickens Christmas puddings when it wasn’t in use for laundry, a very lovely thing to see. I highly enjoyable visit, and I encourage you to visit too dear reader.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hennyreeky
Tyne and Wear, UK263 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
If we hadn’t googled the surrounding area, we wouldn’t have known it was so close by. Excellent piece of history with very knowledgable staff to speak to. Highly recommended.
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

discretionw
Metuchen, NJ14 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
I’m not an avid Dickens reader but I would put Great Expectations up there as a favorite. My daughter and I ventured in, attracted by the prospect of a quiet museum on a quiet street. Our experience far surpassed our expectations. Seeing how Dickens lived with his family at this early period in his career was fascinating. You palpably feel the ambition driving his early success. The docents were excellent. I encourage visitors to engage them, take advantage of their exceptional knowledge and passion for Dickens. They inspired me to buy Claire Tomalin’s biography in the gift shop, which I cannot put down.

Dickens was such a reflection of 19th Century London that I now feel it’s essential to visit this museum, if you seriously want to understand the city. Regardless of your familiarity with his work, this museum is worth s visit. It opens a door into his home and life, as though he just stepped out for an errand. It inspires one to learn more, the sign of a successful museum.

The gift shop is unique to the place, with a good book selection. Don’t miss the garden cafe, a very pleasant verdant nook. And, on a practical note, I don’t know how they fit them in this tight space but there are nice clean public bathrooms on two floors, if needed.

Don’t miss the wash room sink where the Christmas pudding was made. Enjoy!
Written 10 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hannah
9 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
Lovely small museum with gift shop and beautiful garden with café. I really enjoyed wandering round the house and enjoyed the fact that it felt like you could actually live there. There was lots of interesting detail about Dickens's life and links to the stories. The audio guide is accessed via your phone so I would recommend taking earphones so you can hear the information but not spoil the atmosphere. If the weather is good, I would thoroughly recommend having a drink in the garden as it is beautiful.
Written 1 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 1,043
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

CHARLES DICKENS MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Charles Dickens Museum

According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Charles Dickens Museum: