Literature, film and TV
Many of our famous writers have been inspired by the drama of the landscape. Wordsworth loved the light on a Cumbrian lake. The wildness of the Yorkshire Moors compelled Emily Bronte to write Wuthering Heights. The misty marshlands of Kent feature in many of Charles Dickens’ novels, and the rural idylls of Dorset were beloved by Thomas Hardy. But if writing a great English novel is not on your agenda, visit one of the many stately homes which are regularly used for film locations and TV locations. Make your own costume drama at houses like Highclere Castle, the setting of the fictional Downton Abbey.
Enjoy splendiferous fun at the Roald Dahl Museum
Ever wondered where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory started? This family-friendly museum has answers for children and adults of all ages.
Location: Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
Visit the home of the WWII codebreakers at Bletchley Park
Once Britain’s best kept secret, this major visitor attraction was also the filming location for The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
Location: Bletchley, Milton Keynes
Discover Jane Austen’s legacy in Hampshire
Celebrate Jane Austen at the Jane Austen Regency Festival in June and visit her much loved home in Hampshire and the countryside that inspired her.
Location: Alton, Hampshire
Nine floors of silver-screens
A visit to the National Media Museum is a must if you love photography, film, television, animation, gaming or the internet.
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Walk in the footsteps of the famous Brontë sisters
Visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum and explore the beautiful home and surroundings that inspired classic Brontë novels.
Location: Haworth, West Yorkshire
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
Go Walrus hunting at Sunderland Museum
Discover the inspirational statue behind the Lewis Carroll poem Walrus and the Carpenter.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Investigate the origins of Sherlock Holmes at Portsmouth Museum
Discover more about the creator of the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes at Portsmouth Museum.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Uncover the mysterious world of Sherlock Holmes
Spend a day on the trail in London of the world’s most famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his sidekick, Dr Watson.
Location: London
See Harry Potter and Downton Abbey sets in Alnwick
Relive scenes from hit TV shows and movies in the magnificent setting of Alnwick Castle, a popular destination for film crews.
Location: Alnwick, Northumberland
Visit poet William Wordsworth's most famous home
See where the author of ‘Daffodils’ was inspired to write most of his work and take a guided tour of Dove Cottage, his home.
Location: Grasmere, Cumbria