Dickens World, Chatham

...to pay a visit to Dickens World, the South East’s newest tourist attraction, which opened recently in Chatham, Kent, home to Charles Dickens for many years. Nestling between the town’s Historic Dockyard and a somewhat less historic outlet shopping mall, Dickens World was opened to the public on 25th May, 2007, and all the advertising material we’d seen promised “the day out of a lifetime…with a host of captivating attractions” ...
...halt, and a couple of Dickens World staff members in period attire were despatched to pacify and entertain the waiting throng. As we edged towards the entrance doors, a group of senior citizens, some in wheelchairs, others aided by walking-sticks, were led by an attendant to the front of the queue and through the entrance reserved for disabled visitors. “Artful Dodgers!” cried one wag in the crowd, while another remarked that we’d ...

silverstreak 31.05.2007 (17.06.2007) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...point clear- I work at Dickens World, and have done since it opened. As such, this may sound like a press release and/or shameless plug at times, and for that I'm sorry, but I'm going to strive for fairness in this review. All of the other reviews on this site about this attraction were written after visits from customers in the opening few days, and I'm not going to argue them down- they're justified. The opening of the place went horribly- it ...
...to expect. I stress that Dickens World is not a theme park, and it has never been advertised as one. It is an attraction, it is the experience of life in Dickensian times. There are not dozens of huge, fast, thrill-seeking rides, anyone going there expecting an Alton Towers or Disney World will be disappointed. What IS there is a collection of six or seven different features, based around a central square in which costumed staff put on activities ...

lawlore 28.08.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...first thought about going into Dickens World at around lunchtime, however we there was a long queue. We found that by around 2pm the queue was much shorter - this is when we went in. I was a bit worried about the pricing: Adult: £12.50 Child (5-15) £7.50 OAP £10.50 -This had better be worth it! Upon entering you walk quite a long staircase which as you climb becomes themed to the Dickens era. If you like you can have a photo taken here, we ...
...told the story of Charles Dickens and we learnt a lot of things from this which we had not known previously. Everyone else we spoke too also recommended this. Lastly, we tried the Britannia Theatre. Again, the theme of this room was very fitting and quite realistic. Although this was a very good show technically, we found this quite boring and young children may get bored easily. Altogether we spent 3hours in this place, although you could easily ...

neuphin 30.10.2007 (29.10.2007) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...entertaining family outing as the Dickens World website promised " a fascinating journey through Dickens’ lifetime as they step back into Dickensian England and are immersed in the urban streets, sounds and smells of the 19th century" We arrived 30 minutes before opening, joining the queue of 30 or so people. An actor in costume as a 'rat catcher' helped pass the time as we waited patiently for the opening hour. First hiccup with 3 tills of which ...
...based on questions related to Dickens work. An actor in costume hurried in and tried to play head teacher. It was a little perplexing as you were not sure if you were supposed to watch or take part in someway. After a few minutes we wandered back to the square and found the boat ride entrance. With some excitement we joined a short queue for "the largest dark boat ride in Europe". Got in a boat and sat there. Slowly floated round roof tops, no animations, ...

pancho2470 04.06.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

I visited Dickens World this week - 23.10.2007 - and was very pleasantly surprised. I took my daugher and her friend (12 and 13) and was surprised when the first thing they said was "cool". They do not really know a lot of Dickens, apart from Oliver! and then they've never seen it all the way through, but they loved the place. The boat ride is really rather good - not up to it's larger theme park cousins, but all the same, there was lots of screaming ...
...for the unaware, and I'm not about to spoil it for you! However, it is not half as frightening, nor as dangerous as the signs at the entrance would have you believe! The haunted house was a little disappointing, for me anyway, but all the youngsters seemed to enjoy it. Sometimes you will have to queue for the attractions, but we found that towards the end of the day we could just walk on to the boat ride without another soul in sight! There is ...

Ann1eS 27.10.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...big WOW factor excitement emotions. Dickens World in Chatham generates a whole new level of destination attraction amazement. Awe inspiring, tummy churning expectation, dizzy making excitement, the fun of a new experience, all of these descriptions are nothing to do with the feelings generated by Dickens World. This monumentally dull Chatham dockyard dirge of a concept-less poorly excecuted shed was about £10 milion and an imagination short of what ...
...money to make any more Dickens Worlds. Please. In fact, if you are near him when he says 'I've got a great idea', have him put down. And for Gods sake don't invest in it. And value? If the average per head for your average destination is £30 then Dickens World should be charging no more than £5. Hell, they should be paying you to enter reading some reports. If you are advertising for an person whose job description reads 'bad ideas expert required' ...

adejames 22.11.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

We have just returned from Dickens world and I am sorry to say that is without doubt the worst and least value for money attraction I have ever been to. We arrived at Dickens World at 11.15 this morning and started queuing to be told by one of the team that there was a 2 hour wait max,.................. it turned out to be 2 and 3/4 hour wait just to get to the reception to pay. I asked the lady on the till if it was always like this and she replied ...
...and the atmosphere of the Dickens time ? it was non-existent. I see on the website says leave 4 hours for your visit, does that include 3 and a half hours queuing and the remaining half hour visiting the attractions. It cost the six of us £53 to get in and we all felt it was a complete let down, especially all the hype it has had. Of course I could not recommend it to friends and relatives and we will not be returning. ...

mblago 05.06.2007 (04.06.2007) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...there, pity they arn't at Dickens World! ************************************************************** Following on from my review earler today I have been asked to write up what IS there... Here goes! You queue up for a long time to get in. Not because it is eceptionally busy (Thorpe Park this isn't) but because very clevely they only let one group in at a time. There are three tills but only one takes credit cards so it probablytakes a couple ...
...a 10 minute cartoon of Dickens life. Yeh, REALLY interesting. "Charles and his wife sailed to Ameria, on the way they were seasick", cue 3D vomit coming at you. Except like teh rest of the place the 3D doesn't work as they have the wrong glasses designed for a muchlarger auditorium. I nearly forgot "Fagins Den". Take a 10 foot square ball pen. That's it! THAT is Fagins Den,and THAT is Dickens World! The "240 seater auditorium" (if it exists) is ...

DickensWorldSucks 04.06.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...exhibition information muddled up with Dickens information and a poor map. Signage poor. All design, branding and printed material poor to mediocre. Costumes mediocre. Boat ride mediocre - not much happens, not much to see. The attendant at the end of our boat ride didn't look up from her book or acknowledge our existence. The courtyard shows are highly missable. The haunted house was mediocre with overlong stories, apart from the chair. The show ...
...abrupt. Suggestion: Attend Dickens World only if and when it is relaunched with the above bad points fixed. I doubt they will bother, it's still going so they probably won't feel the need to spend any more effort. Further ideas to improve Dickens world: issue each visitor with optional costume. For staff / visitor costume ideas look at Gangs of New York and Sweeney Todd films. Don't start bleeding us for more cash as soon as we walk in through the ...

Nookya 27.06.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...something suitable came up with Dickens World as a relatively new and novel attraction. Fortunately, we were not greeted by the long queues bemoaned by many other visitors and there were acres of car park spaces. We walked straight in around 2pm, and down into the courtyard. Cradling a reasonable cup of coffee we sat down to enjoy the playlet. The subject matter could have been better, the action was confusing, the language 'high brow' and it dragged ...
...was good and actually brought Dickens to life as a historic icon. All the staff were very friendly and helpful and clearly trying their utmost to bring the concepts to life. It's just a pity that the attraction does not have enough charisma and adventure to generate the respect and admiration which Dickens should command. ...

suehome 23.09.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

A rather disappointing experience apart from the lovely Dickensian ladies. What food there was on offer for the casual visitor was overpriced. The 3D show was quite good though. To completely explore the whole attraction would take less than a couple of hours. ...

Betsbigboy 03.10.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...want to have a real Dickens experience then you should just go and watch a DVD of Oliver or Scrooge! Dickens World consists of mainly empty mock up buildings which would be more suited as pantomime stage props. This place really lacks attention to detail & could be so much better! Why did the owners not design and open it as a Dickens museum showing the charachters we have come to love in their settings & surroundings, with fine details from the ...
...Centre in York which displays the lives & times of the Vikings in an excellent, finely detailed and very capturing way. I have visited the Yorvik Centre 7 times & I would go there 7 times again. Take note Dickens World as I wont be coming to visit you again! ...

Cockleshell 20.12.2007 (19.12.2007) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

I am writing to tell you how much we enjoyed our visit to 'Dickens World' last Saturday. My wife is disabled and in a wheelchair, found the facilities very good and your staff were most helpful, please pass on our thanks to them. We brought our twin grandchildren who enjoyed everything - especially the water ride! I would like to compliment you with Dickens World. We enjoyed our day out. I especially would like to thank the rat catcher as we thought he was very thoughtful to everyone but in particular to my brother who is disabled and a blind gentleman He made sure he made the day pleasant for everyone! ...

Ward743 07.02.2008
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

when i took my family they found it somewhat slow and uninspiring, though i would rate it for educational purposes it is not a fun day out, the boat ride slow and uninspiring, and the rest not quite entertaning enough to hold my attention let alone any child that i had with me. ...

tetramorph 18.08.2008
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham

...suited for ALL the childen, Dickens World did have something for all of them. Even where the message was lost on the 3 year old and two 5-year olds, they still enjoyed the animations. I would say that this is a very modern, 21st Century museum about Charles Dickens. There is much use of visial effects to show Charles Dicken's life and his works ... with a water ride and soft play. Much attention has been given to present the sights and sounds for ...
...The workers, dressed in Dickensian costume, act and behave as if they really are straight out the Dickensian era. It is a great day out. There is some fun as well as much to learn. Next time I'd take my 11year on her own so that we could focus on the learning factor more. All my children want to go again and again. ...

Tigger466 04.06.2008 (08.06.2008) · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dickens World, Chatham