Excerpt: It’s a truth universally acknowledged that any self-respecting book lover must stop by these amazing places in London.
From Hamlet to Harry Potter, London has been an endless fountain of inspiration for literary masterpieces of our society for centuries on end. Literary museums, often located on old writers homes in London, cafés and restaurants where iconic books were penned, landmarks immortalized on pages, stores that bring fictional magic to life, and bookshops with centuries of history and iconic places where literary history was made: these are just a few of the special places to visit London holds for the bookish inclined crowd.
Literature lovers that are looking for an especially bookish adventure around London, stay tuned for all of these must-stop spots!
Literary landmarks
When traipsing the streets of London keep an eye out for the blue plaques dotted across its many historical buildings - you could be passing by the old residence of your favorite author and not even realize!
Charles Dickens Museum
Such is the case with the Charles Dickens Museum, the London home of Charles Dickens, where he lived from 1837 to 1839. Dickens wrote classics such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol.
The Dickens’ museum preserves the rooms as the Victorian writer's apartment it used to be, with objects and furnishings belonging to Dickens and has been opened to the public since 1925. In true Christmas Carol homage, the museum will also have many Christmas events, virtually and in person.
- Location: 48 Doughty Street
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM
Bloomsbury
Alright, so Bloomsbury is a whole district, not a landmark. But its history is so entangled with literature, culture, and the arts, it is a must-visit for any self-respecting book lover - and it is dotted with literary and cultural landmarks. Set aside a day to explore this fascinating district!
Bloomsbury is located in London’s West End and was the namesake of the Bloomsbury Set, a group of writers, artists, and philosophers who lived, studied, worked, and produced art there, among them Virginia Woolf and E.M Forster.
In Bloomsbury, you can visit Bloomsbury Square, across Virginia Woolf's house, the British Museum, Bloomsbury Publishing House, and the University College London.
- Location: Bloomsbury District, West End
Baker Street and The Sherlock Holmes stops
Enter a world of exciting mysteries, magnifying glasses, Victorian gaslight lamps, and many, many Sherlock Holmes trinkets (and photo opportunities!).
Debatably the most famous address in London, 221B Baker Street actually used to be totally fictitious - though Baker Street was always real - but after the continued success and impact of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books, the area was built out of an old lodging building and opened as a museum in 1990, with a recreation of what Watson and Holmes’ apartment could have looked like, memorabilia and a dedicated store.
- Location: 221B, Baker Street (of course!), Marylebone
- Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM
Those who prefer a more interactive (and boozy) literary outing can visit the Sherlock Holmes pub, hosting a true Sherlock Holmes collection since 1951 and a bar recreating the 221B apartment.
- Location: 10 Northumberland Street, St. James
- Hours: Sunday - Saturday, 12 PM to 10 PM
Platform 9 ¾
Inside the King’s Cross Station, among the numerous trains and passengers, a
see the famous Platform 9 ¾ to reach the Hogwarts Express, a trunk carrier halfway through the magic barrier!
There is a queue and a photographer ready to take the photos of any visitors and scarves from any of the four Hogwarts Houses are available for choosing, and a few steps down the station a Harry Potter store with memorabilia, merch, and other fun products can be a fun spot for many fans.
- Location: King’s Cross Railway Station, Euston Road
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater
There is simply no way to make a literary tour of London without stopping by this iconic literary landmark: Shakespeare’s Globe Theater!
The original Globe was built in 1599 by Lord Chamberlain’s Men, William Shakespeare’s theater company, and was the theater where many of Shakespeare’s iconic, groundbreaking plays like King Lear and Macbeth were performed to its contemporary audience. The theater burned down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VII - reportedly no one was hurt, except for one man’s breeches, which were then put out with ale -, rebuilt that same year, and then forcibly closed in 1642.
Today, a few meters away from the site of the original theater stands the new Globe Theater, a reconstruction of the original Globe by Shakespeare’s Globe company, which opened in 1997. Guided visits, educational events, and, of course, theater plays by Shakespeare and others and always available. It is truly a unique chance to experience theater play the Renaissance way!
- Location: 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside
- Hours: Hours vary depending on what visitors are interested in!
Bookshops lit-loving tourists can’t miss
After all of this literary sightseeing, one might want nothing more than explore some new books to bring home. As a bona fide literary city, London is also stocked with must-visit bookshops.
Charing Cross Road is a street in central London dotted with specialty, antique, and second-hand bookstores to turn the heads of any bookworms out there.
Geeky-lit lovers will have a ball at House of Spells, the trinket-and-book shop at 69 Charing Cross Road, where you can find merch of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and more.
And last but certainly not least, The British Library, United Kingdom’s national library is a place to behold. One of the largest libraries in the world, it has about 14 million books, special events, exhibits, and a Treasures Gallery. In the Library, visitors can see historical items such as the Magna Carta, royal jewelry, and ancient letters between people of note.