Broadstairs Dickens Festival

About

Celebrates the works and characters created by one of England's best-loved authors

The Broadstairs Dickens Festival celebrates the works and characters created by one of England's best-loved authors, with events throughout the town. Charles Dickens visited Broadstairs in Kent regularly from 1837 until 1859 and immortalised the town as "Our English Watering Place".

In 1937, to commemorate the centenary of the author's first visit, Gladys Waterer, the then resident of Dickens House, conceived the idea of putting on a production of David Copperfield and of having people about the town in Victorian dress to publicise it. Thus the Broadstairs Dickens Festival was born and, with the exception of the years of World War 2, has been held annually in the third week of June ever since. 

Follow in Charles Dickens' footsteps by coming to Broadstairs. Savour the delights of the town which he described as “the freshest, freest place."

Events programme to be announced