The London home where Dickens spent much of his adult life gives a better feeling for the man and his times. Still, if you're in Portsmouth, you may find a visit to this 1804 home interesting. The famed writer was born here in 1812 and spent his toddlerhood in the home. It's been restored and furnished to illustrate what middle-class life in the early 19th century would have been like. Periodically, the museum hosts readings and discussions of Dicken's work.