The 7 Best Literary Locations for Book Lovers in the UK

It’s safe to say that a great many authors throughout history have shaped and created the building blocks of literature as we know it today, and some of whom achieved the peak of their popularity posthumously. From Shakespeare to Virginia Woolf, there are tonnes of famed authors whose works are still relevant and popular today, and their memory is kept alive through historic streets or buildings, monuments or museums. 

So, whether you’re a literature fanatic or you want to learn more about history’s most celebrated authors and their most famous literary works, let’s delve deeper into the best locations to visit to immerse yourself in the literary world. 

Book lovers' dream locations across the UK

7. Kensington Gardens, London

Kensington Gardens has long been associated with the fictional forever-child Peter Pan, who was first introduced in the 1902 novel ‘The Little White Bird,’ written by J.M Barrie. Since this book was published, Peter Pan was developed into a 1904 play and later a book titled ‘Peter and Wendy’ in 1911. 

Although Peter Pan was created in the early 20th century, it has since achieved further fame in popular culture, with several films being made. Peter Pan has since not only become popular with literature enthusiasts, but he has also become a physical symbol in the form of a statue that resides near the Long Water Lake in Kensington Gardens, London. London is rife with literary symbols and sites, and this one is certainly one of the most celebrated. 

6. Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire

Another place to add to your literary UK tour is Great Missenden, or more specifically, the Roald Dahl Museum. Roald Dahl was perhaps best known for writing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and The BFG, among many others, and is celebrated via exhibits and museums in both his birthplace of Cardiff, and where he lived in Gipsy House in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. 

Great Missenden celebrates the author through the Roald Dahl Museum, which features a number of biographical and interactive exhibits relating to his early life and his books. Unlock your inner childhood at this museum, or bring along your kids for a fun and nostalgic experience. 

5. 221b Baker Street, London

You’ll likely have already heard of this address before, as it is probably one of the most famous literary addresses created, thanks to it being the home of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle, a Scottish author, first introduced the detective and his sidekick John Watson in the 1887 novel ‘A Study in Scarlet.’ 

Since the novels were published, Sherlock Holmes has been integrated into popular culture through a TV show, a film series and of course, the famous Sherlock Holmes Museum in London. Head to Baker Street, and you can find this museum that depicts Sherlock’s ‘life’ and his home, as well as themed memorabilia and souvenirs. 

4. Chawton Cottage

Perhaps best known for being the final home of Jane Austen, and where she wrote some of her most famous works, Chawton is highly regarded in the world of literature. Jane Austen lived here until her death in 1817, and both the village and the house she lived in have since become a literary symbol, with the house being turned into a museum. 

The museum features many tours and trails surrounding her books, and memorabilia relating to Jane and her personal life. We’re sure you’ve most likely got Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice in your book collection, and you can discover a lot more about the world that is said to inspire them at the museum.

3. Haworth, Yorkshire

Another village that has strong literary ties is Haworth, which was the home of the Brontë sisters Charlotte, Anne and Emily and their family, the former of whom are best known for writing the novels Jane Eyre, Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Wuthering Heights respectively. Their home, the Haworth Parsonage, is now a museum dedicated to their lives, and features various items and artefacts from their lives. Haworth is also characterised by its historic feel, with cobblestone streets, old fashioned buildings and a quaint village feel. 

2. Edinburgh, Scotland

We’ve included the entire city here, as it is rife with sites relating to some of the best known authors and works in the world. Edinburgh is a UNESCO City of Literature, and is considered as the birthplace of Harry Potter, as the franchise’s author JK Rowling wrote several of the novels in the city; Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes, was also born in Edinburgh. 

Edinburgh also hosts an annual Book Festival, and is home to a number of renowned libraries, making it a firm favourite and must-visit destination for literature aficionados! Stroll along any street in Edinburgh, and you’re guaranteed to find a bookshop of some kind too. 

1. Stratford-Upon-Avon

Number one on our list is Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of the world’s most influential author and playwright, William Shakespeare. Not only are Shakespeare’s works still studied and celebrated today, more than 400 years later, but he is also said to have created thousands of words that we still use in our everyday vocabulary to this day. 

Stratford-Upon-Avon is very proud of its ties to Shakespeare, and you can still visit the Anne Hathaway house now museum, who was the wife of Shakespeare, as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre. You can also visit Mary Arden’s (Shakespeare’s mother) house and the house where Shakespeare was born, both of which have been turned into museums. There really is no better place to visit if you’re a literature lover.