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.
Visit the dramatic landscape that inspired John Constable
Follow in the footsteps of John Constable and explore Dedham Vale and Stour Valley an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Location: Dedham, Colchester
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
June events: Step back in time at Broadstairs Dickens Festival
The usually quiet coastal town Broadstairs comes to life to celebrate the life of Dickens at this week-long, eclectic festival.
Location: Broadstairs, Kent
Take a Notting Hill Walking Tour
Walk in the footsteps of the rich and famous.
Location: London, Greater London
Eat and drink by the riverside, at The Trout pub, Wolvercote
Sample local Oxfordshire food at this famously good pub on the banks of the River Thames.
Location: Wolvercote, Oxford
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
July events: Alice's Day
Rediscover the charm of Wonderland with a fun-packed day of events on Oxford’s unique Alice’s Day.
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Discover Hampshire's famous film and TV locations
From War Horse and Les Misérables to Wolf Hall and Downton Abbey, visit the sets of some of our best-loved film and TV programmes, all based in Hampshire.
Location: Winchester, Hampshire
Play Pooh sticks in Ashdown Forest
Take a walk through the magical wood where Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Tigger and Eeyore roam.
Location: Hartfield, East Sussex
Pay a visit to Virginia Woolf’s Monk’s House
Travel back in time to see how the poets, artists, intellectuals and philosophers of the Bloomsbury Group lived.
Location: Lewes, Sussex
August Events: Take in the big screen at Hertford Castle Open Air Cinema
Grab your popcorn and enjoy a weekend of open air cinema under the stars with the beautiful Hertford Castle providing a suitably dramatic backdrop.
Location: Hertford, Hertfordhsire
Discover Charles Dickens’ Medway
Discover how Medway inspired novelist Charles Dickens, who lived in Chatham as a child when his father was transferred to Chatham Dockyard in 1812.
Location: Kent