Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum

Portsmouth

Type:Museum

Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum, 393 Old Commercial Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 4QL

Tel: +44 023 9282 1879

Photograph showing the exterior of the Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum under a blue sky

About

Pay a visit to the small, terraced house where, in 1812, the famous novelist Charles Dickens was born. The home in which he lived for a short time has been lovingly restored and furnished to illustrate middle-class tastes of Dickens' era.

The furniture, ceramics, glass, household objects and decorations faithfully recreate the Regency style which Charles's parents would have favoured, although their actual possessions have long since been dispersed.

There are three furnished rooms: the parlour, the dining room, and the bedroom where Charles was born. The exhibition room features a display on Charles Dickens and Portsmouth, as well as a small collection of memorabilia. This includes the couch on which he died at his house in Kent, his snuff box, inkwell, and paper knife - poignant reminders of an author celebrated for his prodigious talents and creative output.

Please visit the museum website using the link above to find out the open day dates and times for this year.

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£5.50 per ticket
Child£4.20 per ticket
Educational groups (school, college & university)£2.80 per ticket
Group price adult£4.20 per ticket
Group price child£2.80 per ticket
Group price senior citizen (60+)£3.90 per ticket
Leisure Card holders£4.20 per ticket
Senior citizen (60+)£4.90 per ticket
Student with valid ID£4.20 per ticket

Free admission for Portsmouth residents (PO1-6) and schools.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Facilities for Visually Impaired Visitors - Accessible parking close by. Historic building - access for less ambulent is limited. Guides are available in Braille.
  • Guide Dogs Permitted

Establishment Features

  • Gift shop
  • Groups welcome
  • Toilets

Group Travel

  • Out of Hours Visits

Parking & Transport

  • On site parking close by
  • Parking (charge)
  • Railway station within walking distance

Payment Methods

  • Approx length of visit - 30-45 minutes
  • Groups Accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Min group size - 15 (to achieve group rates)
  • Open by appointment outside normal opening times - Groups of 15 ot more can visit from Nov-Mar if booked two weeks in advance.
  • Visa accepted

Printed Material in Foreign Languages

  • Bengali printed material
  • Cantonese printed material
  • Dutch printed material
  • French printed material
  • German printed material
  • Hindi printed material
  • Italian printed material
  • Japanese printed material
  • Literature in Dutch
  • Literature in French
  • Literature in German
  • Literature in Italian
  • Literature in Japanese
  • Literature in Spanish
  • Russian printed material
  • Spanish printed material

Provider Preferences

  • In town/city centre
  • Indoor Attraction

Specialist Features

  • Educational Groups

Tours and Demonstrations

  • Educational Visits Accepted - Most suitable for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3.

TripAdvisor

Map & Directions

Road Directions

Take M27 to M275. Follow brown Tourist signs to Charles Dickens' Birthplace.

Public Transport Directions

Nearest train station is Portsmouth & Southsea.

Opening Times

Open select dates (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024)

* Please note, the museum is open on select dates throughout the year. See the 'About' section for full details.
Last admission 4pm.

What's Nearby

  1. The New Theatre Royal

    The New Theatre Royal in the heart of Portsmouth is an iconic Victorian building and one…

    0.74 miles away
  2. Portsmouth Guildhall

    Portsmouth Guildhall is one of the premier event and entertainment venues on the South…

    0.76 miles away
  3. Krazy Kaves

    A purpose-built play and party centre for toddlers through to 12-year olds.

    0.95 miles away
  1. Harbour Tours


    Portsmouth is still the home of the modern Royal Navy and taking the Harbour Tour offers…

    1.01 miles away
  2. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

    Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is the UK’s premier destination for exploring 500 years of…

    1.06 miles away
  3. Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery

    Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery is the museum of and for the people of Portsmouth,…

    1.11 miles away
  4. Spinnaker Tower

    View things differently at the top of Britain’s best viewing tower – the stunning 170…

    1.17 miles away
  5. Mountbatten Leisure Centre

    The Mountbatten Leisure Centre is set in an attractive park adjacent to Portsmouth's…

    1.26 miles away
  6. Kings Theatre

    The dignified and beautiful Kings Theatre is one of the most elegant Edwardian playhouses…

    1.48 miles away
  7. Falklands Gardens

    The Falkland Gardens, Gosport can be found at the eastern end of Gosport High Street.…

    1.54 miles away
  8. The D-Day Story

    The D-Day Story is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the Allied Invasion in June…

    1.83 miles away
  9. Cumberland House Natural History Museum

    See the flora and fauna of Portsmouth at Cumberland House - the Natural History Museum.

    1.84 miles away
  10. Gosport Discovery Centre

    In Gosport town centre you will find The Discovery Centre, where there is a surprising…

    1.86 miles away
  11. The Pyramids Centre

    One of Portsmouth’s largest health and wellbeing centres, located just off Southsea Beach.

    1.88 miles away
  12. Blue Reef Aquarium

    Enter the Blue Reef Aquarium and take a safari from the depths of the Solent to the…

    1.9 miles away
Previous Next