There’s no doubt about it, the UK has to be one of the most bookish countries in the world, and has produced some of the greatest writers of all time. From the wild and windy moors of Yorkshire to the peaceful Devonshire countryside, our writers have found inspiration from coast to coast - whether that’s cracking out a Georgian novel on society etiquette, bringing to life Belgian sleuths to solve murders and intrigues, or breathing life into the most famous undead monster of all time, we can thank this green and pleasant isle for being their muse.
In honour of this extraordinary achievement, here’s our choice of top holiday destinations in the UK for book lovers to inspire your next holiday chapter…
Whitby, North Yorkshire
The picture-perfect seaside town of Whitby is a truly beautiful spot and a must-visit when exploring North Yorkshire. Take time to stroll around its cobbled streets, have a walk along Whitby Sands, and pop into one of its welcoming tea rooms or famous fish and chip shops.
However, if the imposing ruins of Whitby Abbey send a shiver down your spine on an otherwise sunny day, there may be a reason – for this is the spot that Bram Stoker’s undead Count, Dracula, landed on British soil (well, crashed really – the Demeter ran aground as Dracula had eaten all the crew). Indeed, the abbey was actually the inspiration for the entire tale, sparking the creation of one of the greatest literary characters of all time.
Jumping off the ship in the form of a large dog and running up the 199 steps to St Mary’s churchyard, Dracula vanished into the night, plotting his hideous revenge on Jonathan Harker and his friends. Today, you can climb those self-same steps and explore the graveyard, and the ruins of the abbey too – if you dare!
Ashdown Forest, East Sussex
Taking a gentler turn, we head to East Sussex and the home of everyone’s favourite honey-loving bear, Winnie the Pooh. A. A. Milne, the creator of Pooh, took his son Christopher (always accompanied by his stuffed bear) to Ashdown Forest to wander amongst the trees, walk alongside the babbling streams, and climb the forested hills, and it was here that he created the world of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and all the inhabitants of One Hundred Acre Wood.
Today, visitors can explore over 6,500 acres of woodland, which was once used by Henry VIII for hunting (and wooing Anne Boleyn, if rumour is to be believed). To us, though, it’s Pooh’s forest, and you can find Pooh Sticks Bridge, the Heffalump Trap, and the Enchanted Place where Christopher, all grown up, says goodbye to Pooh (sob). For the full Pooh experience, you should definitely take a picnic with you (complete with honey sandwiches, of course).
Hill Top, Lake District
If you pay a visit to this chocolate-box pretty farmhouse in the heart of the Lake District, keep an eye out as you pass the vegetable garden, as you may well spot a rabbit called Peter nibbling on a carrot or pulling a cabbage out of the ground to take home with him! Hill Top is the former abode of the beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter, who wrote over half of her books here, including the Peter Rabbit collection.
Built in the 17th century, Hill Top is now a museum where you can wander through the rooms, and visit her library on the first floor, where she created her anthropomorphic characters and brought them to life while looking at the beautiful views from her window. Beatrix Potter, as well as a writer, was an important part of local life in Victorian Cumbria, and the house has been preserved just as it was when she lived in it, making it an extraordinary piece of living history to visit. To continue your literary adventure, we recommend visiting The World of Beatrix Potter attraction in Bowness-on-Windermere or Coniston Water, which inspired Arthur Ransome’s beloved classic, Swallows and Amazons.
Bath, Somerset
The beautiful city of Bath is not just famed for its stunning Georgian architecture, mystical Roman Baths, and frankly delicious Sally Lunn buns, it’s also where novelist Jane Austen is most associated, with its very own Jane Austen Centre (not far from that most Georgian of streets and Bridgerton favourite, the Royal Crescent) and even a Jane Austen Festival, which takes place in September and includes a Regency costumed promenade through Bath’s historic streets, various costumed balls, theatrical performances and walking tours.
It’s funny then, that Jane Austen actually disliked Bath (clearly seen through its description in her novel Northanger Abbey), but the Somerset city has nevertheless taken Austen on as one of their own and proudly celebrates her every year. So don your finest attire, take out your appointment book, and relish the fascinating world of Regency city life in Somerset’s beloved city.
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Birthplace of the bard himself, it’s no literary wanderlist without Stratford-upon-Avon. Oh yes, Shakespeare began his life in this picturesque town in 1564, before meeting and marrying Anne Hathaway in 1582. Although he moved to London to become a famous playwright, he later returned to enjoy Stratford in his retirement, and is actually buried at the Holy Trinity Church.
Today, Stratford-upon-Avon remains a book-lover's haven, with the beautiful Tudor-style buildings adding to the character and charm. There are lots of tours for those seeking to delve deeper into the town’s history, or you can explore the winding streets yourself - just be sure to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage for a fascinating glimpse into Shakespeare’s world. We also recommend catching one of Shakespeare’s plays performed by the fantastic Royal Shakespeare Company, which are often found in the theatres that line the river.
Dorchester, Dorset
If there’s one author synonymous with the historic city of Dorchester and the surrounding countryside, it has to be Thomas Hardy. Born and raised in Higher Brockhampton on the outskirts of the city, he was much influenced by where he lived. The cottage in which he grew up still stands today and is now owned by the National Trust and is open to visitors. Built by his great-grandfather, Hardy lived in the house until he was 34, and it was where he wrote Far From the Madding Crowd and Underneath the Greenwood Tree.
After this, he designed and built his own house, Max Gate (also owned by the National Trust), just outside Dorchester and lived there until he died in 1928. If you visit either of these properties, you’ll catch a glimpse of 19th-century rural life in Dorset that formed the backbone of Hardy’s extraordinary work. Make sure to take the time to visit Hardy’s homes when exploring Dorchester - it’s worth it!
Bodmin Moor and The Helford, Cornwall
Conjure up romantic tales of smuggling, wild and rugged countryside, and romance in Cornwall, and there’s only one name that’ll be on your lips – Daphne du Maurier. Although a contemporary of the 20th century, du Maurier’s (mainly) historic tales traverse moor to shore, from the likes of Jamaica Inn set on moody Bodmin Moor with its evil innkeeper Joss and brave heroine Mary, to Frenchman’s Creek, du Maurier’s only romantic novel set along the beautiful Helford River about an impulsive, married English woman and a French pirate and their doomed affair.
To really immerse yourself in the writer’s works, a walk is a brilliant way to soak up the atmosphere. There’s a lovely stroll from Helford to Frenchman’s Creek that takes in the tree-lined edge of the river, or for a wilder walk, explore the Tors of Bodmin before taking yourself off to Jamaica Inn for a pint and a bite to eat.
Greenway, Devon
The beautiful Dart Estuary and idyllic Devonshire countryside are not, perhaps, where you would expect to find Britain’s most famous crime writer, but they were for many years the home of the much-loved author Agatha Christie and where she penned the tales of Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Tommy and Tuppence. Greenway House and Garden, near Brixham and now owned by the National Trust, is a gorgeous Georgian home with stunning gardens and woodland to explore, making it a lovely day out, perhaps combining it with a walk along the River Dart.
Inside, you’ll find fascinating archaeological collections from the Middle East from when Christie accompanied her husband (and maybe where she got inspiration for her novel Murder on the Nile) and a host of artefacts, all unchanged since Christie lived there in the 1950’s. While there, make time to explore the picturesque gardens, complete with a boathouse, which appears as the scene of the crime in Dead Man’s Folly. For another murderously good time, visit Burgh Island in South Devon, which inspired Christie’s terrifically tense tale, And Then There Were None.
Lyme Regis, Dorset
This spectacular seaside town has several literary links, but perhaps the most well-known, and certainly the most iconic after the release of the 1981 film, is The French Lieutenant’s Woman, by John Fowles. Although only written in 1969, the story is set in the mid-19th century and tells of Charles, a well-to-do chap, who falls under the spell of Sarah, a tragic, disgraced woman (after having an affair with a French officer) who wanders the streets of Lyme Regis and haunts The Cobb, the iconic stone jetty that juts out to sea.
It’s an unusual tale as it offers three alternate endings, none of which are particularly hopeful. Nonetheless, Lyme Regis offers an atmospheric backdrop to this postmodern novel, and today still clings to the Victorian romanticism; take a stroll along the promenade, wander along The Cobb (a la Meryl Streep from the 80’s film adaptation), take afternoon tea in one of the many tea rooms and definitely end the day with some freshly caught fish and chips.
Haworth, West Yorkshire
Tucked away in a stone cottage in the village of Haworth, West Yorkshire, three sisters wrote seven novels, three of which – Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – have become cornerstones of Gothic English literature. Written by Emily, Charlotte, and Anne Brontë respectively, these gorgeous novels epitomise the brooding romance of Yorkshire and its rugged yet beautiful moors. Whether you’re more a passionate Cathy or a quietly independent Jane, you’ll definitely fall in love with the wilderness here that boasts so much to see and do.
Whatever you do, make sure to take time to visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum, where you can explore the very house they lived in, with rooms left exactly as they would have been when they lived there. You can also take a turn around the village, where you’ll also find the church where the whole Brontë family are buried (except Anne, who is buried in Scarborough).
Lewes, East Sussex
Deep in the heart of rural East Sussex in the sleepy village of Rodmell, you’ll find the pretty 17th-century Monk’s House, once home to the novelist Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard. Bought so they could escape the busyness of Bloomsbury in London, they moved in permanently after their London home was damaged during an air raid during the Second World War.
Their home boasted many visitors from the literary world, including T.S Eliot and E.M Forster, but Virginia missed London, despite her fragile health. Pay a visit to Monk's House, and you’ll find the ground floor on display as the Woolfs had lived there, with Virginia’s writing lodge at the bottom of the garden particularly fascinating, where she wrote Mrs Dalloway, To The Lighthouse, Orlando and other important works. Take a stroll around the gardens that Leonard created and discover why a visit here is one of the must-dos when in Sussex.
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire
Where Stratford-upon-Avon has Shakespeare, Laugharne, on the edge of the beautiful Taf Estuary in Wales, has the literary icon that is Dylan Thomas. Although he was born in Swansea, Thomas’ family came from Carmarthenshire, and it was here that he returned towards the end of his life. One of the greatest Welsh writers and a literary giant of the 20th century, he lived in a house on the edge of the estuary called The Boathouse, and it was here that he wrote many of his major works, including Under Milk Wood.
When visiting Laugharne, don your walking boots and take a stroll along the waterfront before exploring the Boathouse itself (which is also just a short walk from the Wales Coastal Path), and pay a visit to the church of St Martin, where Dylan Thomas and his wife are buried. The Boathouse also has a tea room, so make sure to stop off and wet your whistle. A visit here is a definite must when planning things to do in Carmarthenshire.
Hay-on-Wye, Powys
Although not attached to a writer as such, you can’t really call yourself a book lover until you’ve visited the glorious market town of Hay-on-Wye, home to the world’s largest second-hand and antiquarian book centre (Richard Booth’s), as well as a plethora of other bookshops to discover. While some bookshops cater for all genres, you’ll find others that are super specialist (Bookshop 451 specialised in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, for example, or Murder and Mayhem, which – you’ve guessed it – specialises in crime fiction).
Nestled right on the England/Wales border between Powys, Herefordshire and the dramatic Brecon Beacons, it’s the perfect spot to visit when exploring the countryside, and has a spectacular, world-renowned annual Literary Festival at the end of May. It’s very easy to spend a day here, flitting from bookshop to bookshop, but don’t worry, there are also some great places to eat here too, perfect for a break when you’re all booked out.
Feeling inspired? Quench the thirst of your literary heart by treating yourself to a beautiful holiday cottage in the UK and start planning your bookish break today…
