Bleak House Museum
Bleak House Museum
3.5
This location was reported permanently closed
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The summer home of Charles Dickens, where he wrote his famous novel "David Copperfield".
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3.5
94 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
30
Average
10
Poor
13
Terrible
13
Emidio D
Italy4 contributions
May 2022
You get into the Victorian atmosphere. It's exciting to see the place from where Dickens wrote some of his works. Amazing the Smuggler's Museum in the basement.
Written 11 April 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.
Geoff H
Cranbrook, UK12,315 contributions
Dec 2019
Bleak House, Broadstairs, a prominent property on a cliff overlooking Viking Bay, was originally named Fort House as it was the residence of the captain of one of the two coastal forts guarding Broadstairs. Built around 1801 (and substantially extended a hundred years later, when its size was doubled), it was in the 1850s and 1860s that the author, Charles Dickens, spent his summer holidays and wrote David Copperfield. In the early part of the 20th century someone asserted that this house was one and the same as the "Bleak House" referred to in the book (with the same name) written by Dickens in 1853. Whether or not it is, the new name for the property stuck. The property looks very grand from afar and it is well worth walking up to the top of the cliff just to have a look at it, if only from the outside.
Written 31 December 2019
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.
CyclingAnnie
London, UK25 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
The website says that Bleak House is open every day from 11-5. We went 3 days in a row between those times and it was never open. Granted it was over New Year but then don’t say every day or at least leave a board outside detailing your revised opening times to we don’t waste our time traipsing back there.
Written 2 January 2019
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.
brucebassa
northampton216 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Chares Dickens writing room in "Bleak House", where he wrote much of "David Copperfield", I found very atmospheric. It is full of artefacts relating to the great man, not a "high tech" display, and a bit dusty, but personally I found it added to the charm of the place. There is his desk with a great view out overlooking the English Channel and there are some fascinating examples of Dickens writing, including facsimiles of some of the opening pages of "A Christmas Carol". He liked to go to Broadstairs on holiday and did a lot of work as well, though how he got anything done with that view and several pubs near by, I have no idea. I did not chose to visit the Smuggler's Museum section so this memorable visit cost me only £2, very good value for such an experience.
Written 18 October 2018
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.
Wendy W
Canvey, null, United Kingdom44 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
Difficult to locate. Not well signposted. Had to ask passers by. Could not get up the stairs to museum. Garden beautiful and a good place for a coffee.
Written 16 September 2018
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.
Salsabeel M
8 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
I would say that the highlight of the museum was the smuggler tunnels- apparently they lead to various parts of the town which is all so exciting! I went down with my siblings and the tunnel was great fun with the soldier and all- felt rather like a horror movie- as if something were going to pop out.
Written 6 August 2018
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.
Catherine B
Wakefield, UK55 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
Lovely building and gardens. Impressive entrance and rooms. Great view from Dickens' study. The museum had lots of information/artefacts related to smuggling. How amazing it would be if the tunnels could be made safe! It is a little dusty in places and could do with some TLC, but the smuggling history is just as fascinating.
Written 29 July 2018
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.
Jan T
London, UK26 contributions
Jul 2018
We were mesmerized by all the history and the talk by Lee was very discriptive as well as amusing! its a must see whod have guessed there were underground tunnels leading all the way to over 17 destinations along the coast-WOW we had a fun time followed by a luxurious afternoon champagn lunch with home made scones freesh cream fresh jam and strawberries plus sandwhiches and other cakes and fancies-we left happy and full! Many thanks to all the staff at Bleak house for their hospitality again (my 5th or 6th stay at Bleak house i just cant get enough of this fabulous historic building and all the its surroundings.
Written 10 July 2018
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.
nigel-travelww
Luton, UK261 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
Visited the museum. £4 per person. The guide was very good, the museum was okay. You get to sit in a window where Charles Dickens used to write & go under the house where there were smuggler tunnels.
Written 13 April 2018
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.
Maria patenza
38 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
Very nice , good old building with lots of history, the views are great, ideal mini day out for the family , need more buildings like this in broadstairs as broadstairs is wonderful , since moving here from london with my family have enjoyed the wonders of broadstairs , i fully enjoyed this and the staff were really nice .
Written 11 April 2018
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.
Norman K
Chelmsford, UK7 contributions
Could you tell me if Broadstairs is very hilly please particularly leading to the museum?
brucebassa
northampton216 contributions
Hi Norman.
Broadstairs is hilly, unfortunately if that is an issue for you. But a lovely place, well worth visiting. We went there for the first time a few months ago and intend a return trip.
Travelwise853
London, UK1 contribution
Please could you say what the opening times are.
shirley a
London, UK50 contributions
Hi it's open Monday to Saturday 11.00 - 5.00 pm
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