Dickens and London at the Museum of London

See Dickens' rare, original manuscripts and discover what the capital was like in Victorian times at the Museum of London's new exhibition, Dickens and London.

Dickens and London at the Museum of London

February 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. To celebrate the occasion, the Museum of London presents Dickens in London, the first major exhibition on the influential author since 1970.

Discover what life was like in 19th-century London and learn about Dickens' difficult childhood experiences, including working in a blacking factory while his father was locked in a debtor's prison.

As well as looking at the social ills of the day, the Dickens and London exhibition also highlights the new innovations, including steam boats, railways, the electric telegraph and the penny post.

Highlights of Dickens and London

Dickens and London has a wealth of objects on show from Dickens' time – even his own desk. Treasures to look out for include:

• Original and rarely seen manuscripts of his most famous novels, including Bleak House and David Copperfield
• Dickens' writing desk and chair, showcased as part of an audio-visual experience
• The only surviving costume of the famous clown, Grimaldi
• Dickens' bank ledger
• Luke Fildes' painting Applicants For Admission to a Casual Ward
• Excavated items from Jacob's Island, depicted by Dickens in Oliver Twist
• Manuscript pages describing the East End opium den featured in Dickens' last, unfinished novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood
• William Powell Frith's portrait of Dickens

Plus, find out the differences between London after dark today and in Dickens' time in a specially-commissioned film, The Houseless Shadow, by leading documentary filmmaker William Raban.

Dickens and London Special Offer

Get two-for-one tickets to Dickens and London with our special offer