Charles Dickens would have had something to write about, had he seen Emma and I trying putting on a brave face in Bloomsbury recently. It was on record the rainiest March day ever! Upbeat and positive, we’d had just about had enough of being drenched, when we came across the small, but perfectly formed, Charles Dickens Museum in the heart of Bloomsbury.
What is the Charles Dickens Museum
The museum is based at 48 Doughty Street. It is where Charles Dickens lived, and is a stone’s throw from Great Ormond Street Hospital. This rather lovely 5-storey house is filled with all sorts of personal possessions. From the old piano used to entertain, to his wife Catherine’s, engagement ring.
The family lived in the house for just 3 years arriving when he was the unknown young writer known as Boz (!) and leaving when he was a literary superstar having written The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.
It is brilliantly done, showing how the family lived –we wandered through the Dickens home from floor to attic – the dining room, fully set up for dinner, the kitchen and scullery are original (pretty basic!), with quotes and shadows everywhere.
The highlight for us is the first floor study. Stacked with pile upon pile of books, complete with his original writing desk, overlooking the garden at the back. You are literally standing in the room where some of Charles Dickens greatest literary works were penned.
For the Dickens enthusiasts or drenched ladies, it’s a fascinating insight into one of our greatest authors. What’s your favourite Charles Dickens novel. Have you read them all? I certainly haven’t, but as a child I loved Oliver Twist.
“Please Sir, I want some more” A Day in Bloomsbury is coming soon.
Verdict:
She said: “Added to a day out in Bloomsbury, it was interesting to see where he lived.”
He said: “I wouldn’t go out of my way to go, but would definitely tag it along to something else.”
Teen said: “It would certainly be more inspiring than having to read Great Expectations!”