The Charles Dickens Museum in London is the world's most important collection of material relating to the great Victorian novelist and social commentator.

The only surviving London home of Dickens (from 1837 until 1839) was opened as a Museum in 1925 and is still welcoming visitors from all over the world in an authentic and inspiring surrounding.

Each year, the Museum provides a unique and enchanting glimpse into how the festive season was celebrated by the great Victorian author, with the historic interiors transformed into a true embodiment of Christmas Past.

13, 20, 27 November, 4 December 2024

17.00, 18.00, 19.00
Dickensian Christmas Tour
£20.00 (concessions £15.00), Child £10.00

There is perhaps no other writer more associated with Christmas than Charles Dickens. Many of his stories invoke the magic of Christmas, none more so than A Christmas Carol. A story filled with the scents and tastes of Christmas, as well as lessons of charity and togetherness, it revived the love of the festive season in Victorian society. Its overnight success also catapulted Dickens to international acclaim.

Join Dickens’s close friend John Forster, as he guides you through Dickens’s historic London home and regales you with tales of Christmases past. Get to know the writer and his love for the season, and maybe learn a Christmas lesson of your own! Duration 1 hour.

10-15, 17-23 December 2024, 16.00, 18.00
A Christmas Carol
£25.00 (concessions £22.50)

It’s one of the most magical, enchanting stories ever written, A Christmas Carol is a true masterpiece by Charles Dickens.

This December, step into the former home of Dickens, as actor James Swanton brings this wonderful story to life. Beneath the glint of a traditional Christmas tree, encounter Ebenezer Scrooge as he embarks on his supernatural journey with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-To-Come. It's a story which has the power to chill the marrow, and tickle the funny bone, and which reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. Duration 1 hour.

10 December 2024, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00
The Christmas Housemaid's Tour
£20.00 (concessions £15.00), Child £12.50

Our Housemaid’s Tour returns this autumn, and my goodness she's been busy! 

Step back in time to 1838, and enjoy a tour of Charles Dickens’s London home led by his own housemaid. Experience the magic of Charles Dickens as you soak up the glorious historic atmosphere and explore the very rooms in which Dickens lived and wrote. 

You’ll hear all about life in the Victorian Era, from the growing prosperity of the Dickens family, to the hard-working servants and the suffering of the London poor. You'll see some of the treasures the Charles Dickens Museum has to offer, including Dickens's very own writing desk, and, if you promise not to tell anyone, you may even hear a few tantalising morsels of family gossip on the way! 

Our tours are made up of small groups of no more than 15 people and bring to life the way in which the Dickenses would have lived.

24 December 2024, from 10.00
Christmas Eve at the Charles Dickens Museum
£20.00 (concessions £15.00), Child £10.00

The warming scent of mulled wine wafting through the air. The glorious sight of holly garlands twisting up the staircase and tied with red ribbons, is there any better place to be on Christmas Eve than in the historic London home of Charles Dickens?

Soak up the festive spirit this Christmas Eve as you explore the very home in which Charles Dickens lived and wrote. Traditionally decorated in an authentic Victorian style, the Charles Dickens Museum evokes the nostalgia of a Dickensian Christmas. Every guest receives a free mince pie and mulled wine or soft drink alternative. For an extra special treat, we’ll be playing adaptations of A Christmas Carol, including the family favourite The Muppet Christmas Carol, throughout the day in ‘The Smallest Theatre in the World.’

11, 13, 17, 19 December 2024, 16.00
The Haunted Man
£22.00 (concessions £20.00)
The Haunted Man is perhaps one of the most powerful stories Dickens ever wrote. It was his fifth and final Christmas book, published in 1848 following the death of his sister, Frances. The story opens with Professor Redlaw in deep mourning for his own sister, so this story is a deeply personal one to Dickens, in which we are able to glimpse Dickens's own state of mind and spirit at Christmas 1848. 

Redlaw is haunted by a menacing phantom, with whom he strikes a bargain. The ghost will remove all memories of pain and sorrow, along with their associated memories. Once the weighty deal is struck, Redlaw comes to realise that without pain and sorrow, without the memories of those whom we love, there can be no joy or compassion, sympathy or love. 

The Haunted Man is brimming with that classic Dickensian combination of gothic chills and warming Christmas spirit and is brought powerfully to life by James Swanton. 

30 November, 1 December 2024, 11.30, 13.00,15.00
A Gothicly Grand Magic Lantern Christmas
£15.00 (concessions £12.50), Child £10.00

Step into a world of wonder and enchantment this Christmas with our Magic Lantern shows, brought to you by internationally acclaimed maestros, Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker. Dive into the mysterious realms of goblins, ghosts, and the extraordinary in a spellbinding seasonal celebration that's perfect for all ages.

A magic lantern is a captivating device, which was incredibly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It consists of a light source and a series of lenses and slides. When illuminated it projects vivid and fantastical images, creating enchanting story telling experiences. Jeremy and Carolyn use a rare and intricate lantern, a triunial (triple) magic lantern. This delivers lightning-fast shows, filled with breath-taking effects. A truly magical way to experience this Victorian style entertainment.

With over two decades of experience, this dynamic duo have mastered the art of magic lantern performances, ensuring that the captivating beauty and visual spectacle that has enthralled audiences for centuries remains as wonderful as ever.

Join us for a Christmas adventure like you've never seen, and let Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker transport you to a world where the supernatural comes alive!

10, 12, 18, 20 December 2024, 16.00
The Chimes: Live
£22.00 (concessions £20.00)

This December, join us for a stunning solo performance of one of Dickens's lesser known festive tales: The Chimes. 

Encounter Trotty Veck, a good hearted but discouraged messenger who has lost faith in humanity. Called to and haunted by the bells of a nearby church, Trotty embarks on a magical, midwinter journey as he falls into a world of ghosts, omens and true Dickensian adventure. A tale which was inspired by Dickens's time in Genoa, this beautiful and haunting tale evokes the coming of the New Year as a time to cherish our loved ones, and understand our own importance to the happiness of those around us. 

May the New Year be a happy one to you, happy to many more whose happiness depends on you!

Duration 1 hour.