Monday 9 June 2025 was no ordinary Monday. In the heart of Bloomsbury, at 48 Doughty Street – the only surviving London home of Charles Dickens – history came alive in the most extraordinary way as the Charles Dickens Museum marked its 100th birthday. Even more poignantly, the day also commemorated 155 years since the passing of the great author himself.
To celebrate the centenary, the Museum opened its doors to the public free of charge, with a truly one-of-a-kind twist: the rooms were stewarded not by curators or volunteers, but by seven living descendants of Charles Dickens. Yes, seven. As a writer and editor, I had one of those rare pinch-me moments, finding myself not only in their presence but interviewing several of them throughout the day.
Photo by Helena Hogueira – 9 June 2025 at Dickens Museum
The family members, warm and wonderfully articulate, clearly share more than just a famous surname. Storytelling runs deep in their DNA. Whether reading from Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, or A Christmas Carol, each descendant brought an unmistakable sparkle to the day – proof that the Dickensian legacy is not confined to pages in a book.
Amongst them was Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, who gave an engaging talk on Dickens’s international travels, and Gerald Dickens, who spoke movingly about the Staplehurst train crash – the real-life tragedy that inspired The Signalman. Mark Dickens gave a special reading of A Christmas Carol from within Dickens’s own study, while Ian Dickens shared passages from David Copperfield, and Ollie Dickens read aloud from Oliver Twist in the very room it was written.
Monica Costa with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley
The museum itself was buzzing like never before. Visitors flooded through the house, marvelling not only at the rare treasures on display – including the ‘Lost Portrait’ of Dickens – but also at the surreal opportunity to engage with his modern-day family. Even Asad Ahmad, the BBC’s lead news presenter, was spotted soaking in the atmosphere, seemingly charmed by the whole Dickensian gathering.
Monica Costa with Mark Dickens – Photo by Helena Hogueira – 9 June 2025 at Dickens Museum
In between readings, I spoke with several of the descendants, gathering insights, anecdotes, and even tales of their own encounters with the British royal family – who, as it turns out, are fans of Dickens too. These conversations will feed directly into my upcoming “Impossible Interviews” series, newly enriched by the wit, warmth and deep humanity of this remarkable family.
London Mums magazine editor Monica Costa and the Dickens Dynasty at the Dickens Museum – from left to right: Mark Charles Dickens, Gerald Charles Dickens, Monica Costa and Ian Charles Dickens
The exhibition, Dickens in Doughty Street: 100 Years of the Charles Dickens Museum, is a treasure trove for fans and historians alike, featuring some of the most iconic items from the Museum’s world-leading collection, alongside never-before-seen acquisitions. It runs until 29 June 2025, and it’s not to be missed.
It was, in every sense, a day to remember – a rare moment of literary magic where past met present, and the stories of old felt alive once more.
Museum details:
Charles Dickens Museum
48 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LX
Exhibition: Dickens in Doughty Street runs until 29 June 2025
www.dickensmuseum.com
Stay tuned for my full interviews with the Dickens family in the upcoming Impossible Interviews feature in London Mums Magazine.
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