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Literary England

Literary England tour - Oxford Bodleian Library

Tour Overview

6 Days
$1,200/person
Max 16
English
Easy

A journey through places that inspired and were immortalised by England’s greatest writers. Walk in the footsteps of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien and J.K. Rowling across six unforgettable days of literary discovery.

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About This Tour

England has produced some of the world’s greatest writers, and the places that inspired them — the streets, houses, pubs and landscapes — remain remarkably intact. This 6-day Literary England tour takes you to the heart of that extraordinary heritage, connecting real locations with the works they inspired.

Begin in literary London and Bloomsbury, where Charles Dickens wrote his most enduring novels and J.K. Rowling’s Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross sends Harry Potter to Hogwarts. Travel to Hampshire for the world of Jane Austen — her cottage in Chawton where she revised Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, and Winchester Cathedral where she is buried. Head to the Midlands for Stratford-upon-Avon and the world of Shakespeare, then to Oxford — city of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Alice in Wonderland. Conclude in Edinburgh, where J.K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter novel in a city café.

Each site is brought to life by an expert literary guide who makes the stories and their authors vivid and accessible to everyone, whether you’re a passionate reader or simply curious about the places behind the books.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Arrive in London and check into your hotel in the Bloomsbury area — the heart of literary London, home to the British Museum, the University of London and the publishing houses that shaped English literature for two centuries. In the evening, join your guide for an orientation walk around Russell Square and the magnificent British Library on Euston Road. The Library’s permanent Treasures Gallery holds original manuscripts by Dickens, Carroll and Austen, Shakespeare’s First Folio, and original Beatles lyrics — a fitting first immersion in the literary heritage that will fill the days ahead.

A full day of iconic London literary landmarks. The Charles Dickens Museum at 48 Doughty Street is the world’s most important Dickens site — the only surviving London home of the author, where he wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. The Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street brings Arthur Conan Doyle’s Victorian detective vividly to life. King’s Cross Station Platform 9¾ marks the magical departure point for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. End the afternoon at The Cheshire Cheese pub on Fleet Street, where both Charles Dickens and Dr Samuel Johnson were known to drink — one of the oldest and most storied pubs in London.

Drive south into Hampshire for the world of Jane Austen. The Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton is the cottage where Austen spent her most productive years, revising Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice and writing Mansfield Park and Emma. Her small writing table, the creaking door she asked not to be oiled (so she could hide her writing when visitors arrived), and her personal effects make this a deeply moving visit. Afternoon in Winchester: the magnificent Winchester Cathedral where Jane Austen is buried beneath a simple nave gravestone, and nearby Winchester College — one of England’s oldest and most prestigious schools, founded in 1382.

Drive to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace and burial place of the world’s greatest playwright. Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street is one of the most visited literary heritage sites in the world. Visit Holy Trinity Church on the banks of the River Avon, where Shakespeare is buried beneath a simple stone slab bearing his famous curse. Walk through the town to the thatched Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Shottery, surrounded by a beautiful heritage garden. Conclude with a visit to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the Avon riverside — the world’s premier venue for Shakespearean performance.

Drive to Oxford for a day of extraordinary literary pilgrimage. Tour the magnificent Bodleian Library, founded in 1602 and among Europe’s oldest libraries (it served as a Hogwarts filming location). Visit Christ Church college, whose dining hall inspired the Great Hall of Hogwarts and whose grounds provided the setting for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Drop into The Eagle and Child pub on St Giles’ — where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien met weekly with the Inklings literary group to read early drafts of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. Conclude at Tolkien’s grave in Wolvercote Cemetery, marked with the names Béren and Lúthien.

Our final day takes us to Edinburgh, where J.K. Rowling wrote the early chapters of Harry Potter. Visit The Elephant House café on George IV Bridge — famous as the birthplace of the Wizarding World, now covered in fan tributes from around the world. Walk through Greyfriars Kirkyard, the atmospheric cemetery whose gravestones — including one bearing the name “Tom Riddle” — are said to have inspired Harry Potter character names. Stroll along Victoria Street, the curving, shop-lined cobbled street widely credited as the inspiration for Diagon Alley. Departure transfers to Edinburgh airport.

Tour Gallery

Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare birthplace
Oxford Bodleian Library literary tour
Jane Austen Chawton House Museum

Price & Inclusions

What’s Included
5-night hotel accommodation
Daily breakfast
All transport between destinations
Expert literary guide throughout
Entry to all listed attractions
Dickens Museum, Shakespeare’s Birthplace & Jane Austen’s House
Not Included
International flights
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Lunches and dinners
Personal expenses & book purchases
Tips for guides (discretionary)
Price from $1,200 per person

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. Even without a deep knowledge of the authors, the places themselves — the cottage in Chawton, the streets of Stratford, the Oxford pub where Tolkien and Lewis met — are fascinating and beautiful. Many visitors find the tour inspires them to pick up books they’d never tried before. Our expert guide makes every author accessible and entertaining for all ages and levels of literary knowledge.

Several sites on this tour inspired or were used in the Harry Potter films. Christ Church dining hall in Oxford inspired the Hogwarts Great Hall and appears in the films. The Bodleian Library appears as Hogwarts interiors. King’s Cross Platform 9¾ and Victoria Street in Edinburgh (the Diagon Alley inspiration) are also included. For the Warner Bros. Studio Tour (which features actual props and sets), this can be added as an optional pre-tour day from London.

Yes — all literary museums and heritage sites on this tour have excellent gift shops stocking the author’s works, biographies and related titles. The Charles Dickens Museum, Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust and Jane Austen’s House all sell beautifully produced editions and site-specific titles. Oxford has exceptional independent bookshops including Blackwell’s on Broad Street — one of the world’s great bookshops. Budget space in your luggage.

Yes — particularly for families with children aged 8 and above who enjoy reading. The Harry Potter connections (King’s Cross Platform 9¾, Christ Church, Bodleian Library, Victoria Street in Edinburgh) make this tour enormously appealing to younger visitors. The Sherlock Holmes Museum and Shakespeare’s Birthplace are also child-friendly. Our guide adapts storytelling to suit mixed-age groups.

The Literary England Tour has a maximum group size of 16 people, ensuring an intimate and personalised experience. Smaller groups allow for more flexible pacing at each site and more time for discussion with your guide. If you would like to arrange a private tour for a smaller group — such as a book club trip — please contact us to discuss a bespoke itinerary.

Book the Literary England Tour

Six days. Six authors. The places that made the stories — all waiting to be discovered.

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