The Charles Dickens Museum

Latest #vlog on #CharlesDickensManOfScience examines the unique power Dickens wielded as the ideal communicator of his time educating, informing and inspiring the public with the scientific discoveries of the day.

Find out how Charles Dickens wasn't just an incredible teller of stories, but was also a committed follower of science.
Come and join us at the Charles Dickens Museum this August and go back in time!
Imagine how people lived in Victorian homes by coming with us on a guided tour of the Dickens' family home as it was in the late 1830s; ... Investigate the scientific inventions advertised in Charles Dickens' publications, which promised to make ordinary people's lives easier; Invent your very own labour-saving device for your family's home today!
Suitable for children aged 6-12. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout their visit.
More details: https://dickensmuseum.com/…/all-…/ima gine-investigate-invent
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Story of the Missing Sundial - Where is it now?!
In a letter in 1859 Dickens writes to his daughter Mamie: ‘One of the balustrades of the destroyed old Rochester bridge has been (very nicely) presented to me by the contractor of the works, and has been duly stone masoned and set up on the lawn beside the house. I have ordered a sun-dial for the top of it and it will be a very good object indeed.’
The sun-dial stood 4ft 8in high, in the garden at Gad’s Hill (Dickens's final ho...me) in a most prominent position as it was considered one of his most valuable treasures.
After Dickens’s death [in 1870], it was bought by Mr. Crighton, of Rochester. Alice Morse Earle, in her 1902 book Sundials and Roses of Yesterday, says that the dial was later sold in London for the sum of £50. An article in the Pittsburg Press, 14 February 1899, gives more details “There is offered for sale by a curiosity dealer in London the old sun-dial and stone column formerly the property of Charles Dickens. The column is inscribed: ‘These relics, from Gad’s Hill Place and old Rochester Bridge are placed here in sincere regard for Charles Dickens.’
In 1907 it was exhibited in the ‘Pickwick exhibition’ in London, and had been lent by the company Francis Barker sundial and barometer specialists, 12 Clerkenwell Road, London. The company was also making replicas of the original to sell.
As we continue our search, let us know if you can shed any light on the mysterious whereabouts of the sun-dial!
#TheSearchContinues #SunDial #Dickens #GadsHill #London #missing #SpreadTheWord
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We still have some availability for board room and museum hire for the #summer! Planning receptions, dinners or even just team meetings then how about a unique historical venue dressed up for the occasion? And give your guests the chance to explore all 5 storeys of Dickens's home after hours!
https://dickensmuseum.com/pages/museum-hi re
#venue #venuehire #events #London #Bloomsbury #heritage

Need last minute thank you #gifts for #teachers? We've got a little of everything from mugs, chocolates & stationery through to graphic novels...take your pick! Oh & did we mention 20% off with discount code PIP2018 (T&Cs apply) #CuriosityShop #MuseumShop #GiftIdeas #EndOfYear #MondayMotivation
https://dickensmuseum.com/pages/curiosity -shop

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way . . ."
#FrenchRevolution #England #France #ATaleofTwoCities #Dickens #BastilleDay #CharlesDickensMuseum #QOTD

Jam packed week with #lateopening this Thu 12 Jul until 8pm and a #performance of #ATaleOfTwoCities almost sold out at 6pm! Book now: https://bit.ly/2z7bBIB
We then have our FINAL #HousemaidsTour for the #summer! Beware as far as housemaids go she's a feisty one! Sun Jul 15 | Book now: https://bit.ly/2pFN58s
#CharlesDickensMuseum #Dickens #Events #Lates #Summer #July #London

Round up of all the goings on this #July The Charles Dickens Museum includes #performances, #tours. #walks and our new Curiosity Shop! #summer #events #retailtherapy #Dickens #CuriosityShop!
Including recommendations Geological Society of London and Wellcome Collection
https://bit.ly/2NphtQe

Join us next week for a special performance by the wonderfully talented Dominic Gerrard of A Tale of Two Cities! Based on Dickens's very own adaptation of the novel. Ticket includes museum entry! Thu 12 July, 6pm
#Event #Performance #late #LateOpening #Dickens
https://dickensmuseum.com/…/111673798-a -tale-of-two-cities-…

Latest #vlog now out reminding us not only to not judge a book by its cover but also not to judge a man by his bookshelves! #CharlesDickensManOfScience #Exhibition #DickensMuseum

Don't forget we're open #late this evening until 8pm! Last admission to historic house is 7pm.
PLUS #CuratorTour @ 6.45pm with @AdeleneBuckland on our current #exhibition Charles Dickens: Man of Science! Be sure to sign up at the front desk when you arrive https://bit.ly/2MxWXMn

“…Though a happy release for the clock, this is not convenient to the household.”
Just as eloquent and playful in his letter writing as his fiction? We think so. Happy #NationalWritingDay!
#Dickens #CharlesDickensMusuem #ClockLife #Letters #LetterWriting

"Don't be afraid! We won't make an author of you, while there's an honest trade to be learnt, or brick making to turn to." Charles Dickens
Happy #NationalWritingDay! Check out some of our other gems in our #onlineshop to get you inspired: https://dickensmuseum.com/pages/online-sh op
#museumshop #shopping #writers #writerlife #inspiration

Discover London’s criminal underbelly of pickpockets, prostitutes and murderers and see the sites of courts, prisons and executions, all of which #Dickens saw and wrote about in #OliverTwist on our walking tour this Saturday | 30 Jun | Book now: https://bit.ly/2zAVJMZ
#London #Walk #Weekend #ToDo #CanIHaveSomeMorePlease

Explore Dickens's 'house in town' with an exclusive guided tour from the author's housemaid! | Sun 15 Jul | More info: http://ow.ly/JRHY30bLcAj
#BookNow #Event #Summer #Tour #GuidedTour #Housemaid

Wonderful evening hosting The Surrey Copper Distillery Limited and their new gin launch! Copperfield London Dry Gin Volume One now on sale in our shop!

This #room holds a lot of history and has many stories to tell! It was here in Dickens's study at 48 Doughty Street that Dickens finished writing #ThePickwickPapers, completed #OliverTwist and #NicholasNickleby and began #BarnabyRudge. And it was at this very famous desk which is from his final home at Gads Hill Place, Kent that he wrote #GreatExpectations and his final unfinished novel #TheMysteryOfEdwinDrood.
Due to his lower middle class background Dickens's family had nev...er amassed a significant book collection. So when Dickens first moved into Doughty Street he put on his shelves mainly books presented to him by publishers and fellow authors. Within a few years however, he brought together a large and valuable collection of books some of which are still on display in this room today.
Why not join us on Thu 28th June to explore Dickens's study and then listen to author Adrian Mourby who will be talking about Rooms Where Great Writers Wrote at 6.30pm.
https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/all-event s/room-of-ones-own
#historichouse #study #Dickens #anotherdayintheoffice #library #librarygoals #victorianhome #writinglife
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Tickets now on sale for #ATaleOfTwoCities reading by Dominic Gerrard next month in celebration of #BastilleWeek! Book now - limited spaces!
#DominicGerrard #BastilleDay #Events #CharlesDickens #MuseumEvents #reading #BookNow
https://dickensmuseum.com/…/111673798-a -tale-of-two-cities-…

Thanks to current #exhibition #CharlesDickensManOfScience we've got some quirky and also more traditional gift ideas for #FathersDay!
#betterlatethannever #NeverTooLate #Gifts #Shop #onlineshopping #museumshop #giftideas
https://dickensmuseum.com/collections/man -of-science

148 years on from Dickens's funeral and a mourning nation. Find out more from Dr Leon Litvack discussing one of the most unique items in our #collection - a century old #rose thrown into Dickens's #grave.
#CharlesDickens #funeral #OnThisDay #OTD #vlog

You are transported back to Victorian times and the range of pieces to look at are beautifully arranged. A real insight into the hone and life of Dickens. I really enjoyed my visit yesterday.

We went on Christmas Eve and the mulled wine and mince pies were a special feature. The carollers were sensational and the character readings a highlight. Overall a magical experience.

Visited yesterday with my son. Very interesting museum. Step back into the Victorian era and you can smell Christmas. Definitely worth a visit.

This was a little slice of heaven on my last day of vacation in London. Well curated, researched, and staffed, the CDM was a veritable smorgasbord of literary delights for the Dickens enthusiasts and historians alike. Walking in the footsteps of Dickens, his family, and friends was only part of joy. To see the actual desk where he may have written your favorite story, or to peer into the bedroom where he may have thought up your most beloved character, were just as awesome as tiptoeing through a Victorian-style home in all its era-inspiring decor. The CDM is a must see!

The Dickens museum is a hidden nook of tranquillity that is always a pleasure to visit. Full of historical and literary interest, that any living/social/literary history fan should venture to. It's a real Bloomsbury gem!

The Charles Dickens Museum is very close to the place in London where I used to live back in the 1990s. It was a weekly joy, just to stop by and feel its evocative atmosphere. Trying to decipher Hans Christian Andersen's handwriting in his letters to Ch. Dickens, kept under a glass and protected from daylight, was a great source of amusement on my first visit.

It's absolutely wonderful! My Christmas Eve was perfect as I wondered from room to room soaking up the Yuletide atmosphere and listening to vignettes of A Christmas carol with my husband and daughter and soon to be son-in-law. The mulled cider and mince pie were a lovely treat. I would like to think that at midnight on Christmas Eve the great man himself walks from room to room!!

I visited the museum for the first time with a small group of students. We had a wonderful experience. The museum is delightful and you can see many items and beautiful paintings which belonged to Dickens. Also on view are original manuscripts which highlight how difficult it was to write in the early and mid 19th century. The workshops for students are excellent and engage the young people. I have received so many positive comments from my students. I would not hesitate to return. If you are a member of the public do not worry that you will be disturbed by students, it is well controlled. Do visit and do the Dickens' walk as well.

I had great expectations for this tour and I can say it did not disappoint. The most amazing experience with the most wonderful house maid to guide us round...we will be returning as soon as possible.

Had a great half day there with friends. We thoroughly enjoyed walking from room to room learning about his life as well as his writing. One of the volunteers was very informative and afterwards we had tea and coffees in the little courtyard........

Fantastic place...A dream comes true!Dickens’s house is beautiful,an incredible Victorian house,the small shop so cute and Christmas decorations something of beautiful!!!!

Excellent exhibitions, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff, and a very welcome tearoom with homemade cakes. Well worth a visit!

Deep in the heart of Bloomsbury, is the remaining London residence of Charles Dickens where he stayed on a three year tenancy agreement from 1837-1839. Here, you can experience the dining room of Charles and Catherine Dickens, where they entertained friends William Thackeray and John Forster. With three floors from the servants quarters to the children's attic, one can experience a superb piece of history,, and it was at 48 Doughty Street that Dickens set to writing The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist. A beautiful courtyard, and neighbouring views of historical Bloomsbury provide a first class visitor experience. Highly recommended.

Absolutely loved this visit and certainly lived up to hopes and expectations. Friendly and helpful staff, well laid out displays, lots of information, nice shop, nice cafe, what's not to love. And for a Dickens fan it's a pilgrimage and a must.

A wonderful experience! To step into the Dickensian world was a dream come true! A gorgeous museum, an Instructive, fun experience, friendly staff, beautiful shop! Loved it, loved it, loved it �

A really good place to visit with very knowledgeable and friendly volunteers. Interesting from both a literary and social history perspective. Sweet courtyard garden for refreshments. Recommended!

A big thank you from me to the wonderful people who maintain the house and contents, so that everyone that visits, has the most wonderful time.

Very historic, well preserved, insightful, friendly staff, nice coffee shop to ponder and reminiscence on the experience, well worth a visit

Had a very enjoyable morning, that the museum. The staff were very pleasant and helpful. The exhibition was very interesting.

You are transported back to Victorian times and the range of pieces to look at are beautifully arranged. A real insight into the hone and life of Dickens. I really enjoyed my visit yesterday.

We went on Christmas Eve and the mulled wine and mince pies were a special feature. The carollers were sensational and the character readings a highlight. Overall a magical experience.

Visited yesterday with my son. Very interesting museum. Step back into the Victorian era and you can smell Christmas. Definitely worth a visit.

This was a little slice of heaven on my last day of vacation in London. Well curated, researched, and staffed, the CDM was a veritable smorgasbord of literary delights for the Dickens enthusiasts and historians alike. Walking in the footsteps of Dickens, his family, and friends was only part of joy. To see the actual desk where he may have written your favorite story, or to peer into the bedroom where he may have thought up your most beloved character, were just as awesome as tiptoeing through a Victorian-style home in all its era-inspiring decor. The CDM is a must see!

The Dickens museum is a hidden nook of tranquillity that is always a pleasure to visit. Full of historical and literary interest, that any living/social/literary history fan should venture to. It's a real Bloomsbury gem!

The Charles Dickens Museum is very close to the place in London where I used to live back in the 1990s. It was a weekly joy, just to stop by and feel its evocative atmosphere. Trying to decipher Hans Christian Andersen's handwriting in his letters to Ch. Dickens, kept under a glass and protected from daylight, was a great source of amusement on my first visit.

It's absolutely wonderful! My Christmas Eve was perfect as I wondered from room to room soaking up the Yuletide atmosphere and listening to vignettes of A Christmas carol with my husband and daughter and soon to be son-in-law. The mulled cider and mince pie were a lovely treat. I would like to think that at midnight on Christmas Eve the great man himself walks from room to room!!

I visited the museum for the first time with a small group of students. We had a wonderful experience. The museum is delightful and you can see many items and beautiful paintings which belonged to Dickens. Also on view are original manuscripts which highlight how difficult it was to write in the early and mid 19th century. The workshops for students are excellent and engage the young people. I have received so many positive comments from my students. I would not hesitate to return. If you are a member of the public do not worry that you will be disturbed by students, it is well controlled. Do visit and do the Dickens' walk as well.

I had great expectations for this tour and I can say it did not disappoint. The most amazing experience with the most wonderful house maid to guide us round...we will be returning as soon as possible.

Had a great half day there with friends. We thoroughly enjoyed walking from room to room learning about his life as well as his writing. One of the volunteers was very informative and afterwards we had tea and coffees in the little courtyard........

Fantastic place...A dream comes true!Dickens’s house is beautiful,an incredible Victorian house,the small shop so cute and Christmas decorations something of beautiful!!!!

Excellent exhibitions, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff, and a very welcome tearoom with homemade cakes. Well worth a visit!

Deep in the heart of Bloomsbury, is the remaining London residence of Charles Dickens where he stayed on a three year tenancy agreement from 1837-1839. Here, you can experience the dining room of Charles and Catherine Dickens, where they entertained friends William Thackeray and John Forster. With three floors from the servants quarters to the children's attic, one can experience a superb piece of history,, and it was at 48 Doughty Street that Dickens set to writing The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist. A beautiful courtyard, and neighbouring views of historical Bloomsbury provide a first class visitor experience. Highly recommended.

Absolutely loved this visit and certainly lived up to hopes and expectations. Friendly and helpful staff, well laid out displays, lots of information, nice shop, nice cafe, what's not to love. And for a Dickens fan it's a pilgrimage and a must.

A wonderful experience! To step into the Dickensian world was a dream come true! A gorgeous museum, an Instructive, fun experience, friendly staff, beautiful shop! Loved it, loved it, loved it �

A really good place to visit with very knowledgeable and friendly volunteers. Interesting from both a literary and social history perspective. Sweet courtyard garden for refreshments. Recommended!

A big thank you from me to the wonderful people who maintain the house and contents, so that everyone that visits, has the most wonderful time.

Very historic, well preserved, insightful, friendly staff, nice coffee shop to ponder and reminiscence on the experience, well worth a visit

Had a very enjoyable morning, that the museum. The staff were very pleasant and helpful. The exhibition was very interesting.