The Charles Dickens Museum is the former home of novelist Charles Dickens, located at 48 Doughty Street in Bloomsbury, central London. Dickens lived in this Georgian townhouse from 1837 to 1839, writing major works including Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby during his residence.
The museum is spread across five floors and displays original manuscripts, furniture, personal items, and period rooms arranged as they would have appeared during Dickens’s time. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, how to get there, accessibility information, what to see inside, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Wednesday–Sunday: 10:00–17:00 | Closed Monday and Tuesday (open most bank holiday Mondays) |
| Ticket prices | Adults (16+): £12.95 | Concessions: £10.95 | Children (6–15): £7.95 | Under 6: Free |
| Address | 48 Doughty Street, London, WC1N 2LX |
| Nearest transport | Russell Square Underground (5 min walk)<br>King’s Cross St Pancras (15 min walk) |
| Time needed | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Last entry | 16:00 |
Charles Dickens Museum opening hours
The Charles Dickens Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. Last entry to the historic house is at 16:00. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, though it opens on most bank holiday Mondays. Check the planned closures page on the museum website before travelling to confirm opening on specific dates.
Charles Dickens Museum ticket prices
Adult tickets (aged 16 and over) cost £12.95. Concession tickets are available for £10.95 and apply to students, people over 60, disabled visitors, people receiving universal credit, and blue light card holders. Children aged 6 to 15 pay £7.95, and children under 6 enter free. The museum accepts Art Pass, London Pass, ICOM, and Museums Association cards for free entry, though these do not include special events. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket desk on arrival. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked and updated in January 2026.
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How to get to the Charles Dickens Museum
The Charles Dickens Museum is located in Bloomsbury, close to several Underground stations. The nearest station is Russell Square on the Piccadilly Line, a 5-minute walk from the museum. Chancery Lane on the Central Line is a 10-minute walk away. King’s Cross St Pancras station, served by multiple lines including Victoria, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City, Northern, and Metropolitan, is a 15-minute walk from the museum.
Bus routes 7, 17, 19, 38, 45, 46, 55, and 243 stop near the museum. A Santander Cycles docking station is located nearby on Doughty Street, and a cycle rack is available on the street. Use the TfL journey planner for the most accurate route information.
Parking at the Charles Dickens Museum
The Charles Dickens Museum does not have a car park. On-street parking is metered and subject to local restrictions. Visitors with a Blue Badge may park in designated bays, subject to Camden Council regulations. The nearest alternative parking is at Russell Square. Full parking details are available on the Camden Council website. Public transport is recommended for visiting the museum.
How long to spend at the Charles Dickens Museum
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the Charles Dickens Museum. The historic house covers five floors, with period rooms, exhibitions, and displays of manuscripts and personal items. Visitors interested in Victorian literature or Dickens’s life and work may wish to allow longer. The museum also has a café and garden which can extend visit time.
Accessibility at the Charles Dickens Museum
The museum entrance, ticket desk, shop, and cloakroom are step-free from street level. The café and gardens are accessed via one small step, with ramp access available. A platform lift connects four levels of the house and is operated by museum staff. Ask at the ticket desk to use the lift. An accessible toilet with handles on both sides is located on the first floor next to the lift.
The attic level is not accessible by lift and can only be reached by stairs. Visitors unable to access the attic can view these rooms via the museum’s interactive digital tour. Seating is available on every floor of the historic house. Pushchairs and prams are not permitted inside the historic house due to space restrictions and must be left in the cloakroom.
Assistance dogs registered with Assistance Dogs International, Assistance Dogs UK, or the International Guide Dog Federation are welcome with appropriate ID. Carers accompanying disabled visitors are admitted free. The museum offers audio-described tours for blind and partially sighted visitors, developed in partnership with VocalEyes. Some larger electric wheelchairs may not fit through narrow corridors; contact the museum on 020 7405 2127 to check dimensions. Mobility scooters cannot be accommodated.
What to see at the Charles Dickens Museum
The ground floor includes the morning room and dining room, furnished in Victorian style. Portraits and items related to Dickens’s family are displayed here. The basement features the kitchen and preparation room, showing how the household functioned below stairs. Dried herbs hang in the preparation room, and the cellar door opens to an outside space in summer.
The first floor contains the drawing room where Dickens entertained guests, featuring period furniture and portraits. The first-floor exhibition room displays manuscripts, early editions, and personal items including Dickens’s writing desk. The second floor includes the room where Dickens’s sister-in-law Mary Hogarth died in 1837, an event that deeply affected the author. The reading room on this floor serves as a designated quiet space. Exhibition rooms on this level explore themes from Dickens’s novels and life.
The attic level features the nursery and servant’s bedroom, showing where children and domestic staff lived. These rooms sometimes include soundscapes triggered by movement. The museum also contains Dickens’s portable reading desk, first editions of his novels, and letters written during his time at Doughty Street. Temporary exhibitions explore aspects of Dickens’s work and Victorian social history.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Book tickets online or purchase at the door; advance booking is not required but guarantees entry. |
| Last entry is at 16:00, allowing one hour before the museum closes at 17:00. |
| Large bags and suitcases are not permitted in the museum; leave these at luggage storage facilities at King’s Cross or St Pancras stations. |
| The museum is generally quieter on weekday afternoons compared to weekends. |
| Pushchairs must be left in the cloakroom as they cannot be taken into the historic house. |
| The Artful Tea Room café is located on site and serves food and drinks; the garden provides additional seating. |
| Check the planned closures page before travelling, particularly around bank holidays. |
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Charles Dickens Museum suitable for children? | Yes, children are welcome. Those aged 6 to 15 pay £7.95, and under 6s enter free. The museum offers family-friendly content though some rooms have low ceilings and narrow spaces. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No, tickets can be purchased on arrival at the ticket desk, though online booking is available. |
| Is the Charles Dickens Museum open on Sundays? | Yes, the museum is open on Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00. |
| Are bags allowed? | Small handbags and backpacks are allowed but must be worn on the front or carried by hand. Suitcases and large bags are not permitted. |
| How long does a visit take? | Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the five floors of the museum. |
| Is there wheelchair access? | Yes, a platform lift operated by staff provides access to four of the five floors. The attic level is not accessible by lift. |
Things to do near the Charles Dickens Museum
The Foundling Museum is an eight-minute walk west on Brunswick Square. The museum explores the history of Britain’s first children’s charity and houses an important collection of 18th-century art. The British Museum, a seven-minute walk south on Great Russell Street, contains world history and cultural collections including the Rosetta Stone, Rameses II bust and Egyptian antiquities.
Sir John Soane’s Museum and the Hunterian Museum are much smaller, and endearingly quiry.
The Wellcome Collection on Euston Road, a six-minute walk north, examines connections between medicine, life, and art through exhibitions and collections. The British Library at St Pancras, a 15-minute walk north, displays literary and historical treasures including original manuscripts and rare books. Coram’s Fields, a children’s park and playground with a café, is a five-minute walk from the museum and is open to adults only when accompanying a child.
The London Transport Museum and St Paul’s Cathedral are within reasonable walking distance, while other interesting London museums include the Horniman Museum, Florence Nightingale Museum and the Golden Hinde.
More London travel
Other London travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Visitor tips for going to the London Dungeon.
- A practical guide to visiting Kenwood House and the Freud Museum in Hampstead.
- A first time visitor’s guide to Kensington Palace.
- Plan your visit to the London Transport Museum.
- Visitor guide to the Tate Modern in London.
