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The UK is known for having a hugely rich literary history, so as well as plot and characters another aspect that creates a successful piece of writing and also provides a great source of inspiration to most writers is the vast selection of locations and places of interest on offer. Regardless of whether it’s an industrial town, a bustling city, or breathtaking landscapes of countryside there is a huge variety of literary locations to visit in the UK that are bound to inspire you as much as your favourite creative writers.
15 Literary Locations to Visit in the UK
Bath
If Jane Austen is your author of choice then why not head to Bath for the Jane Austen Festival, offering you the chance to take part in writing workshops, listen to dramatic readings, go on city tours and even attend the Grand Regency Costumed Charity Parade where you can dress up in your best Jane Austen inspired costume and attend a evening dance.
Elsewhere in the city there are a variety of attractions, such as the iconic Roman Baths, the cathedral, the Royal Crescent and plenty of shops and tea rooms, all nestled amongst its picturesque buildings and parks, all ensuring Bath its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Edinburgh
I once read that it is estimated that the city of Edinburgh is the main location of around 500 novels, from Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, to The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, from One Day by David Nicholls to Ian Rankin’s Rebus novels.
In fact, Ian Rankin is probably the most successful Scottish author in recent years and in 2014 he was named Scotland’s favourite writer of all time due to his series of crime thrillers which, if you read them, have ultimately turned the city of Edinburgh into a character of its own.
Fowey
This tiny coastal town was home to the author Daphne du Maurier for many years and it provided huge inspiration for many of her novels, the isolated beauty of the coast was a large influence in the writing of The Birds. Her earlier novel Jamaica Inn was even inspired by a hotel of the same name in the town of Fowey which she often frequented.
Great MissendenÂ
Roald Dahl is one of the world’s best known children’s authors, so it is highly fitting that the fabulous museum at Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire was created in Dahl’s memory. With interactive galleries, his original writing hut and a story centre with activities to inspire future generations of young writers.
Hartfield
Better known to children’s literature fans as Pooh Country, Hartfield can be found in East Sussex with well known locations such as Poohsticks Bridge and The Heffalump Trap which can actually be visited by readers both old and young.
The characters of Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and friends were created by A.A.Milne who wrote the stories about the adventures of his only son, Christopher Robin. This little boy was said to explore the local countryside with his Nanny and then regale their adventures to his father when he was home from work each weekend. Nowadays the public can retrace these adventures and then enjoy a visit to Piglet’s Tea Rooms.
Haworth
Also known to literary fans as Brontë country, Haworth is a village found in the Pennines area of East Yorkshire. It was this unique landscape that was the main inspiration to the Brontë sisters who created a number of classic novels using this remote area of the UK as the gothic settings for Jane Eyre by Charlotte, Wuthering Heights by Emily, and Agnes Grey by Anne. With views like this it’s no wonder that Haworth is one of the most popular literary locations to visit in the UK.
Hay-on-Wye
With over twenty bookshops offering everything from second hand books to specialist bookshops, you may actually want to take along an extra bag on your trip for the new books you’re bound to be tempted by.
This Welsh market town itself is surprisingly small but every year it holds the Hay Festival, one of the world’s most famous literary festivals with a variety of events for all the family, writing workshops, and talks and signing from a wide range of famous authors.
The Lake District
The Lake District is known as one of the most naturally stunning areas of the UK, so its no surprise that over the years it has inspired a number creative people from artists to authors, these include those known as the Romantic Poets such as John Ruskin, Samuel Coleridge and William Wordsworth, whose home you can still visit in Cockermouth.
One of the most popular authors associated with the Lake District is Beatrix Potter, whose children’s books were famously located in the area, so it’s no surprise that there are plenty of landmarks you can visit to follow in her footsteps. Head to Bowness-on-Windermere where you’ll find The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction which has plenty of displays and fun activities based on the author’s beloved works and characters including Peter Rabbit.
Laugharne
Dylan Thomas was born and raised in Swansea but fell in love with the small town of Laugharne during a visit, not only did he move himself and his family here but he drank in many of its pubs and was finally buried in the graveyard of St Martin’s Church.
The Boathouse is a popular destination for fans of his work who wish to visit the place where he lived with his wife and family in the last years of his life, as well as seeing the writing shed where he wrote Under Milk Wood, which remains just as it was when he was last there.
London
It would be impossible to list suggestions of literary locations to visit in the UK without including London, just as it would be impossible to include every author and every novel inspired by this city.
From characters such as Sherlock Holmes to Paddington Bear, from Oliver Twist to Bridget Jones, from Mary Poppins to Harry Potter, London has been inspiring creative writers for centuries creating incredible locations including the dark and menacing backstreets, the beautiful parks and even the high rise buildings of the financial district.
Oxford
I can’t imagine that it would be a surprise to learn that Oxford has been an inspiration to writers for many generations, even it’s nickname as the “city of dreaming spires” came from the nineteenth century poet Matthew Arnold.
Over the years the city of Oxford has played host to writers such as Lewis Carroll, W.H. Auden, Philip Larkin, T.S. Eliot, C.S. Lewis and Philip Pullman, providing plenty of insights for a multitude of literary themed tours that take place around the city, as well as the annual Oxford Literary Festival which offers workshops, readings and author signings.
The Shetland Islands
You may think that the Shetland Islands are a recent addition to literary locations to visit in the UK due to the popularity of the series of novels by Ann Cleeves, subsequently adapted for TV. However, the islands first claimed literary attention in the nineteenth century following the visit of Sir Walter Scott in 1814 and the publication of his novel, The Pirate.
Stratford-Upon-Avon
While many literary locations are either home to or the inspiration for multiple writers I think it is safe to say that Stratford-upon-Avon is synonymous with just one, William Shakespeare. Having officially written 37 plays he is still subject to much debate over his identity, as well as his work being continuously studied, performed and adapted centuries after his death in 1616.
This market town is home to arguably the most well-known and influential writer in British history, and still offers visitors the chance to visit numerous farms and houses which he would have visited in his lifetime. There are also a variety of museums and theatres offering workshops, activities and even the opportunity to watch performances.
Whitby
This beautiful coastal town in North Yorkshire provided inspiration for one of the most famous gothic novels ever written. After visiting Whitby Bram Stoker was taken by the atmosphere of the town, and after finding a local history book in the library he found the perfect name for his title character, Dracula.
If you visit today there’s no doubt that you’ll be tempted to follow in his, and many other footsteps, and climb the steep stairs to take a tour of the abbey, wander the gloomy graveyard and admire the fantastic view from the top of the hill overlooking the stunning coastline.
Wigtown
Wigtown was officially designated as Scotland’s National Book Town in 1998 and is the home to the annual Wigtown Book Festival, with over twenty independent and second-hand bookshops, including The Bookshop which as the largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland became known to a wider audience thanks to the book Diary of a Bookseller by its owner Shaun Bythell.
Where are your favourite literary location to visit in the UK (and even further afield?)
Let me know in the comments.
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