My Top Ten Literary Locations in the UK

This is the last time I mine my travels in the UK for blog ideas (for now), but what with the busyness of the school year so far, I never got to write a post of my favourite places I visited with links to some of my favourite authors. I didn’t set out for my trip to be a literary tour so the list is by no means comprehensive, but might be a source of inspiration for my fellow book nerds out there. For further information on each place, check out my posts on road tripping the North, South and London.

1. Harry Potter Studio Tour. Not intentionally the first point but this is a chronological list so I might as well embrace it. Located in Watford, just outside of London.

2. Chatsworth House. Don’t pretend you’re surprised these were my first two. Filmic home to Mr Darcy in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, and just as beautiful if you’re not a fan of Austen. Located near Bakewell in the Peak District, Derbyshire (appropriately).

3. Brontë House Museum. The home of the Brontë sisters, turned into a museum (exactly as it sounds). At the top of the picturesque Haworth high street and worth a visit even if you prefer your Austen to your Brontë’s. Located in Haworth, Yorkshire.

4. William Wordsworth house and museum. Both are in the same complex and an interesting insight into how the Wordsworth’s lived, with William and Dorothy’s house still standing. Located in Grasmere, in the Lake District.

5. CS Lewis everything in Oxford. I’d also done the Lewis highlights in Oxford last time I was there. And I did again. Notable places for Narnia fans in Oxford include the Eagle and Child pub and Magdalen College. Oxford is full of literary locations, for authors such as JRR Tolkien and Lewis Carroll, so definitely a good place for keen readers.

6. Jane Austen everything in Bath. This is one of the many things I love about England. You go to one town and there’s countless significant places for multiple authors, Bath being particularly known as sometime home of the Austen’s. Check out the Jane Austen museum and take a turn around the Royal Crescent
   

   Sydney Gardens, Bath, a favourite of Austen

7. Tintern Abbey. More Wordsworth. But his “Ode to Tintern Abbey” is one of my favourites, so this was a nice day trip. Located in Wales, just over the border.

8. Cornwall. I don’t have any particular locations to suggest for you. I’d always wanted to go to Cornwall as a child, mainly because Enid Blyton’s Mallory Towers series was set there, and I’m sure there’s plenty of inspiration for novels around, but one clearly reigns supreme in Cornwall itself: Poldark. The signs for Poldark related locations and souvenirs were boundless, or as boundless as you get in the far corner of a country. I’ve only seen the TV adaptation, but the Cornish countryside is just as pictured there, only with less Aidan Turner brooding on the cliffs.

9. Shakespeare’s Globe. The rebuilt playhouse of one of the most influential writers to ever exist. I felt like I’d heard about it so much that sitting in the open-air theatre felt oddly familiar. Located in London.

10. Charles Dickens Museum. Set among the blue plaque laden homes of Bloomsbury, visiting this museum just before Christmas seemed appropriate. Located in London.

There are so many places to visit around the UK related to various books and authors, so this was just a small selection. Whether you plan a whole literary tour or just visit some places you’ve always wanted to see on the way, this is a great country for such a trip.