Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs: A complete visiting guide
The complete visiting guide to Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs, Kent, including practical information, ticket prices, what to see and local tips.
When I visited the Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs, I felt like I stepped back in time. This charming little house is filled with personal items, including letters and furniture that once belonged to the famous writer Charles Dickens. As I walked through the rooms, I could see how much this place inspired his stories. In this blog post, I’ll share what I saw and learned at the museum, and why it’s a must-visit for anyone who loves Dickens and his work.
Dickens spend many holidays between 1837 and 1851 in Broadstairs, including staying at this very house, which later inspired the character Betsey Trotwood’s home in his novel “David Copperfield”.
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My favourite things about the Dickens House Museum
I really liked the actual house. It was great to walk around and try to imagine how it would have been used when people lived there. The museum has a very good gift shop with all things Dickens, so if you are looking at a Dickens themed souvenir, this is the place to go.
Is the museum worth visiting?
I’m always happy to support local museums and the entrance fee is fairly affordable, so I’d say yes, of course the museum is worth visiting if you are a Charles Dickens fan.
Over the years, Kent has lost the two other Dickens related museums (in Bleak House in Broadstairs and in Rochester – I mean the old Dickens museum at the historic Rochester High street), so this one is the only one where you can learn a bit about such an important literary person.
But, the museum can only captures a small part of Dicken’s world with some rooms put together to illustrate how the parlour or the nursery would have looked like in the Dicken’s time. With only a few rooms open to the visitors, it’s not a comprehensive ‘Dickens’ Museum, but to be fair, the museum doesn’t pretend to be the ultimate ‘Dickens experience’, so that’s absolutely fine too. It’s a lovely glimpse into Victorian life in England and Dicken’s connection to Broadstairs and the house itself.
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What to see at the museum
The museum displays personal belongings of Dickens, such as letters and furniture he used when he stayed here at Broadstairs. Couple of the rooms are set up to look like they might have been in the 19th century, showing what life was like during his time (the parlour and the children’s room).
You can also see the study where Dickens wrote some of his famous works. There are displays explaining his connection to Broadstairs and how the town inspired some of his writing. And most importantly the house itself inspired the home of Betsey Trotwood in “David Copperfield.”
Practical Information for visiting Dickens Museum
Location
2 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1QS.
Opening Times
For the 2025 season, the museum is open from 2nd April to 2nd November:
- Wednesday to Sunday: 1pm to 4.30pm (last entry at 4pm)
- Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Ticket Prices
- Adults: £4.50
- Children (under 16 years): £3.00
- Students (16-18 years): £3.50
- Family (2 adults & 4 children): £10.00
Parking
There is no parking at the museum as it’s part of the Broadstairs seaside parade. The nearest parking (paid) is at Albion Street Car Park, which is located just a short walk away from the museum.
How long to allocate for your visit
The museum is quite compact, so you probably won’t need a long for your visit. I spent around 30-45 minutes there when I visited, but I red the displayed letters and looked through the displays, including the shop fairly slowly.
I think this museum is all about enjoying the atmosphere of this charming historical house and trying to imagine what it would be like when Charles Dickens stayed there. There are volunteers and staff in most rooms, who are very knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions you might have.
Facilities
The museum is quite small and there is no tearoom, just a small outside space where you can see the back of the house. There is a well stocked shop with all things Charles Dickens, that’s definitely worth browsing through.
History of Dickens Museum House
The house itself was built in the early 19th century and originally served as the home of Miss Mary Pearson Strong, who was a friend of Charles Dickens. Strong’s personality and her house inspired the character of Betsey Trotwood and her home in Dickens’ novel “David Copperfield.”
Charles Dickens frequently visited Broadstairs between 1837 and 1851, and he often stayed in various houses around the town, including the Bleak House on the hill above Broadstairs. During his visits, he became friends with many local residents, including Miss Strong. The house, with its charming seaside location left a lasting impression on Dickens and he used it in his writing.
This blog post was originally published on 9 February 2025 and last updated on 9 February 2025
