You don't need me to tell you that Great Britain is steeped in history. The island is filled with public houses (fancy way to say "pub") twice the age of The Declaration of Independence. There are city walls built by the Romans, churches still standing after being ravaged by conquering Danes, and archaic stones with mystical origins (I'm talking about you, Stonehenge). It's no wonder that the country has produced many visionary architects, writers, and artists.
I've found it quite common to be walking along a bustling city street to find a house with a blue circular plaque beside the door marking the historical significance of the building. For example, "Sir Alfred Hitchcock | 1899-1980 | Film Director | Lived here 1926-2939"is on a plaque that adorns Hitchcock's South Kensington home in London (English Heritage). This is one of hundreds of sites around England marked for their significance.
If you're interested in English literary sites, there are many! My favorites include:
The Elephant House in Edinburgh where J.K. Rowling wrote the first few Harry Potter novels, and where fans leave notes on the walls of the bathroom (pictured below).
The Eagle & Child in Oxford is where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien wrote their famed novels. This is a great pub to grab a bite and brew. Just remember what Pippin said: "It comes in pints? I'm getting one!"
The Admiral's House in Hampstead, which was highlighted in P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins series.
Platform 9 3/4 in Kings Cross Rail Station is a great place to get an iconic, albeit touristy, photo. My recommendation is to go late at night to avoid the long lines.
Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, is a Mecca for fans of The Bard, but Shakespeare's Globe Theater in London is a great spot to see a Shakespearean play during the summer.
When in London, you can enjoy walking tours spotlighting the homes of famous writers and the sites where your favorite films were shot. Beware of tourist traps like 221B Baker Street, the fictional character, Sherlock Holmes' home (and gift shop). Oxford is the place to visit if you're a fan of Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien, and Bath is where you'll find a few good Jane Austen sites. Speaking of Austen, Chatsworth House, which you may recognize as Mr. Darcy's mansion, is high on my list of English estates to visit (one day).
When researching places to stay in the Cotswolds, I was delighted to find The Bell Inn at Moreton-in-Marsh. The inn is marked with one of these iconic blue plaques (pictured), as this is said to be the site that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's The Prancing Pony in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Regardless of the inn's literary significance, the property was warm and inviting, which I realize you can expect for most places in the idyllic Cotswolds. It was like walking through the pages back in time.
For more information about The Bell Inn, check out my 24 Hours in The Cotswolds blog post.
Planning your trip to Great Britain? Visit the Great Britain page on my blog for tips, videos and recommendations.
AB
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