Broadstairs Dickens Festival takes place every June, and lasts for about a week. Don’t be surprised if you bump into a ‘Victorian’ while you’re having your coffee or buying a sandwich! The streets are full of people in Victorian costume, many representing characters from the novels of Charles Dickens.
Charles Dickens visited Broadstairs in Kent regularly from 1837 until 1859, and the town has always had a strong connection with the famous writer.
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.
During the Festival, you can take tea with Victorians, listen to historical talks or Victorian entertainment, including dramatizations of Dicken’s works. It’s all great fun and very special!