Dickens House

Dickens House

Dickens was a literary genius of the Victorian era. This four-story museum and library houses Dickens’ manuscripts, letters, photographs, and other personal belongings. Everything reflects the atmosphere of the Victorian period and the lifestyle Dickens led at the time.

From his marriage to Catherine in 1837 until December 1839, Dickens lived at 48 Doughty Street. The publication of *The Pickwick Papers* in 1837 brought him instant fame in Britain, enabling him to move from a cramped home into this residence. At the time, the street was privately owned, so access was often guarded by soldiers. Although he stayed here for a relatively short period, he published and released many famous works during his time at this address, including *The Pickwick Papers*, *Oliver Twist*, and *Nicholas Nickleby*. Dickens’ fame, like his family, continued to grow. In October 1839, after the birth of their third child, he began looking for a larger home. By the end of 1839, the family moved to 1 Devonshire Terrace, Regent’s Park, which was demolished in 1959. Doughty Street also faced the threat of demolition in 1923, but the Dickens Fellowship (founded in 1902) saved it. The house was restored and officially opened to the public in 1925. It is now the world’s most renowned collection of Dickens-related materials and the headquarters of the international Dickens Fellowship.

Address: 48 Doughty Street, London, UK

Admission: £5 for adults, £4 for students, £3 for children, £4 for groups (10 or more)

Opening Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–17:00 (Tue until 19:00, Sun from 11:00)

Transport: Take bus routes 7, 17, 19, 38, 45, or 55, or take the Tube to Russell Square, Charing Cross Road, or Holborn stations