Broadstairs Dickens Festival 2017

• Written by: Lorraine
• Written on: December 3, 2016
• Filed Under: 2017 Events, Broadstairs, History, Local Area

2017 marks the 80th anniversary of the Broadstairs Dickens Festival – book your Broadstairs holiday let with us between Saturday 17th – Friday 23th June if you want to enjoy this unique historical and literary event where the town seems to step back in time, with people dressed Victorian costumes round every corner and more Dickensian events on offer than you could shake a finely carved antique walking stick at.

Charles Dickens stayed in Broadstairs many times and called it “Our English Watering Place” reporting it had “the freshest freest air”. At the time it was an upmarket Victorian resort with bathing machines lining Viking Bay and ladies in crinolines strolling the promenade with gentlemen in top hats.

Town landmarks such as Pierremont Hall, Crampton Tower, the Seafront, Harbour Masters House, Dickens House, the jetty and York Gate archway over Harbour Street all remain now as they were then and so gazing at old pictures of Broadstairs is not so very different at looking at the town now. Bleak House however has been substantially remodelled since Dickens stayed there but with it’s crenelations, added since Dickens’ time, it looks even more historic and imposing than it would have done originally, looking out to sea atop the cliff above Viking Bay.

Broadstairs is still the seaside Town that Dickens, and Princess Victoria before him, knew and loved. It retains a very similar feel all year round, but Dickens Festival is undoubtedly a very special time to visit – and will be all the more so next year.

We’ve blogged about the Festival before and you may enjoy reading our post about 2016’s event which includes a short and very charming video made in 2014.

The Broadstairs branch of the Dickens Fellowship also run events in the town throughout the year and you can find out about these as well as the full programme for 2017, once it is finalised, on their website here.

The Fellowship meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Dickens House Museum and anyone including visitors to the town is welcome to attend these meetings.

For the 80th anniversary of the Festival, the organisers are going all out to make 2017 bigger and better than ever before, with many more people in the town involved than in previous years. We suggest you get your holiday accommodation booked up early if you are a Dickens fan or if you’re just intrigued to see Broadstairs in high historical mode, pulling out all the stops to celebrate Charles Dickens time and works. Many events and spectacles will be free. Don’t miss the Victorian bathers in their stripy suits, the Victorian Country Fair, penny farthings, top hats, costume talks, readings, theatrical and musical performances. Visit Bleak House and the Dickens Museum (once home to “Betsy Trotwood”). Perhaps you’ll even find yourself taking part in a Dickens themed workshop of some kind. Immerse yourself in Dickens’ world in Broadstairs, June 2017.

See broadstairsdickensfestival.co.uk to find out much more about the Broadstairs Dickens Festival – and the times that Charles Dickens himself spent at this quintessential English seaside town all those many years ago.

If you’re coming to the Broadstairs Dickens Festival, get in touch with us early to book your accommodation. Perfect for groups and families, our Broadstairs holiday lets are located close to all the Festival’s literary and historical events and are equipped with all mod cons you could wish for in a comfortable 21st Century self catering holiday home! When searching for accommodation to enjoy Dickens Festival 2017 remember that it’s a busy time for the town so don’t leave it too late to book. We hope to see you soon, perhaps dressed for the occasion!

Check availability via the form on our home page.