Dickens at 100: Celebrating a Century of Literary Legacy at 48 Doughty Street

As London prepares to celebrate the centenary of one of its most cherished literary landmarks, the Charles Dickens Museum stands ready to honor a century of preserving the life and works of England’s most famous novelist. On June 9, 2025, this historic Georgian townhouse at 48 Doughty Street, once the bustling home of Charles Dickens, will mark 100 years since it first opened to the public. It is a milestone steeped in cultural significance, as the museum not only commemorates the author’s enduring legacy but also celebrates the power of storytelling that continues to resonate across generations.

Originally opened in 1925, the museum was established to preserve the very space where Dickens created some of his most beloved works, including Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. The house is more than a preserved residence; it is a window into the 19th-century world that inspired Dickens’s vivid portrayals of Victorian London. With over 100,000 artifacts in its collection, the museum offers an extraordinary look at Dickens’s life through his personal possessions, manuscripts, and the famed writing desk where so many unforgettable characters were born.

The centenary celebrations are set to transform the museum into a vibrant hub of activity and reflection. Entry will be free to the public on June 9, allowing a new generation of visitors to explore Dickens’s former home. A unique element of the celebrations will be the involvement of the author’s descendants, who will serve as guest stewards for the day. Their participation adds a poignant familial connection, reinforcing the living legacy of a man whose words once echoed across the globe and continue to shape cultural narratives today.

Visitors can expect a rich tapestry of personal insights and live readings within the very rooms where Dickens once lived and worked. The presence of his descendants brings a sense of continuity and intimacy to the celebrations, allowing guests to engage with Dickens not just as a literary icon, but as a father, husband, and historical figure who shaped—and was shaped by—the tumultuous world around him.

To mark the occasion, the museum has launched a new exhibition, “Dickens in Doughty Street: 100 Years of the Charles Dickens Museum,” running through late June. This exhibition draws from the museum’s extensive archive to showcase rarely seen items that tell the story of both the author and the institution dedicated to his memory. Among the highlights are early editions of Dickens’s novels, personal letters, and even artifacts connected to historical moments, such as a copy of David Copperfield taken on Captain Scott’s ill-fated Antarctic expedition. These pieces collectively paint a compelling picture of Dickens’s cultural reach and the deep affection with which he is still held.

Complementing this is the eagerly anticipated exhibition, “Showtime! Dickens and Performance,” which opens in July. This immersive experience will explore the myriad ways Dickens’s stories have been adapted for stage and screen, from early Victorian theatre productions to contemporary film interpretations. Visitors will find themselves surrounded by an array of theatrical memorabilia, including original playbills and annotated scripts used by Dickens himself during his famous public readings. This exhibition underscores the performative power of Dickens’s work and its enduring adaptability to new media and modern audiences.

Beyond the exhibitions, the museum is also investing in the next generation of Dickens enthusiasts. A new educational initiative invites students from local schools to participate in drama workshops inspired by Dickens’s stories. These sessions are designed to ignite creativity and foster a deeper understanding of the social and historical context behind his works. By engaging young minds through performance and storytelling, the museum ensures that Dickens’s message of empathy, resilience, and justice continues to find relevance in contemporary society.

The centenary of the Charles Dickens Museum is more than an anniversary—it is a celebration of narrative itself. Dickens’s ability to combine entertainment with searing social commentary remains unmatched, and the museum’s efforts to honor that legacy serve as a reminder of literature’s capacity to illuminate and inspire. From the preserved rooms of his London home to the voices of his descendants and the imaginations of future readers, the spirit of Dickens endures—vivid, vibrant, and very much alive.

As the doors open on this centennial day, one cannot help but feel the presence of the man who once roamed these halls, pen in hand, crafting tales that would captivate the world. The celebration is not just about the past 100 years of the museum, but the timeless relevance of Dickens’s vision and the promise it holds for the next hundred years.