Literary Inspired Weekends
England’s literary landscapes and locations are as diverse as the writers they stirred. We love following in the footsteps of our favourite authors on literary holidays and seeing the places they knew and loved spring to life. Genteel strolls around elegant cities conjure up images of petticoats and parasols. Clambering to the top of a windswept crag brings dreams of dark, brooding heroes and love torn asunder. From organised trails to self-guided literary trips, there are chances for inspiration all over the country.
Top things to do in Norwich
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Find places to visit in England's very first UNESCO City of Literature.
Explore the ruins of Ashby Castle
Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel of 1819, Ivanhoe featured Ashby Castle as the backdrop to the famous jousting scenes.
Location: Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Visit the home of the Dymock Poets in the Forest of Dean
In the quiet village of Dymock, literacy history was being made by six of the finest poets of the early 20th century.
Location: Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
Be inspired by the grand Malvern Hills
Enjoy great views on top of the Worcestershire Beacon and follow in the footsteps of writers and composers including Sir Edward Elgar and C.S Lewis.
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire
Ride the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
This exciting heritage steam railway runs through the picturesque Yorkshire countryside where the classic movie The Railway Children was filmed.
Location: Keighley, West Yorkshire
Follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen
Explore the city that inspired one of England’s most famous novel writers.
Location: Bath, Somerset
Discover Charles Dickens’ Broadstairs
Go to the quaint part of Kent that was inspiration to novelist Charles Dickens and drew him to return time and time again.
Location: Broadstairs, Kent
Take a tour round Stokesay Court
Stokesay Court was the setting for the mansions scenes in the film version of Ian McEwan's best selling novel, “Atonement”.
Location: Craven Arms, Shropshire
Visit Shrewsbury Abbey, fictional home of Brother Cadfael
Visit Shrewsbury Abbey and follow in the footsteps of Cadfael, the monastic sleuth, where the books and TV series were set.
Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Step back in time and live like Wordsworth in Cumbria
A visit to Wordsworth House and Garden is a unique opportunity to experience late 18th-century life at first hand.
Location: Cockermouth, Cumbria
Take in 'Swallows and Amazons' landscapes on a relaxing cruise
Take a trip around the landscape used in the film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ and discover what inspired Arthur Ransome to write his famous book.
Location: Derwentwater, Cumbria
Go Walrus hunting at Sunderland Museum
Discover the inspirational statue behind the Lewis Carroll poem Walrus and the Carpenter.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Experience the locations that have inspired great literature
The constantly changing scenery, dramatic landscapes and distinctive character of Yorkshire’s people have all been sources of literary inspiration.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Discover DH Lawrence country
Discover DH Lawrence country on the edge of Nottingham and follow in the footsteps of the county's most controversial literary hero.
Location: Eastwood, Nottinghamshire
Find Byron's Nottinghamshire on the Byron Trail
Lord Byron was famous during his lifetime as a figure who could inspire love, romance, political change and liberation through his powerful works.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Lose yourself in Neverland at Nottingham Arboretum
The Arboretum just outside Nottingham’s city centre is said to be the inspiration behind J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s tale ‘Peter Pan’.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Discover Laurie Lee Country
Take inspiration from the BBC adaptation of the classic novel ‘Cider with Rosie’ and follow in the footsteps of author Laurie Lee through the Slad Valley.
Location: Slad village near Stroud, Gloucestershire
Find romance in the depths of Thomas Hardy Country
Enjoy woodland walks and cosy inns, and immerse yourself in the romantic landscape that this renowned writer called home.
Location: Dorset
September events: Live the sense and sensibilities of Jane Austen’s Bath
Step into a Georgian world and explore the City of Bath that inspired one of England’s most famous writers.
Location: Bath, Somerset
Celebrate Roald Dahl’s life and adventures at Tatton Park
Let imaginations run wild at Tatton Park this autumn on a magical journey exploring the lifeworks of one of Britain's most-loved children’s authors.
Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester
Pay homage to the written word in South Shields
Step inside The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, a state-of-the-art venue in South Shields.
Location: South Shields, South Tyneside
Enter the world of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria at Jarrow Hall
Discover the incredible story of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria and the extraordinary life of the Venerable Bede.
Location: Jarrow, South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear
