Where: 48 Doughty Street, WC1

What: Dickens house museum it sited in a house in which the author lived from 1837 to 1839. ‘Oliver Twist’ and ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ were written and the ‘Pickwick Papers’ completed during those two years.

Dickens described the house at the time - "It was a pleasant twelve room dwelling of pink brick, with three stories and an attic, a white arched entrance door on the street level, and a small private garden in the rear. It was located just north of Gray's Inn ... a genteel private street with a lodge at each end and gates that were closed at night by a porter in a gold-laced hat and a mulberry-colored coat with the Doughty arms on its buttons."

This Museum of Dickens memorabilia is also the headquarters of the Dickens Fellowship. There are activities on most Tuesdays between the end of April and the end of September.

Nearest underground station: Russell Square

Museum opening times: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm); Tuesdays 10am to 7pm (for events see the website below); Sunday 11am to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm)

Admission: (2005) Adult £5.00, Consessions £4.00, Family £14.00 (2 adults and up to 5 children).

Website: dickensmuseum.com