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rom William Blake, who dreamed of building ‘Jerusalem/In Englands green and pleasant Land’, to Wordsworth , who wandered his beloved Lake District ‘Lonely as a cloud’, England’s poets have been greatly inspired by their environment.

Today, it means that certain poets tend to be synonymous with certain regions. A visit to Dove Cottage , Wordsworth’s home in Grasmere , is the perfect way to explore this beautiful part of the country while also finding out more about his career and life.

Further south, visit  Hardy's Cottage to find out about poet and novelist Thomas Hardy , who based his Wessex on the Dorset surroundings he was familiar with all his life. For a more modern poetic association with place, try the Larkin Trail in Hull, which seeks to celebrate Philip Larkin’s years on the Humber. It features 25 sites that inspired the poet during his time in the city.

However, don’t be fooled into thinking that England’s poetic heritage is all in the past. There’s a vibrant poetry scene today, led by writers such as Yorkshire's Simon Armitage and Liverpool's Roger McGough . Check their websites for details of upcoming tours and readings, for a taste of modern English poetry.