TripAdvisor’s top five literary destinations in the world, locations that have either been the home or inspiration to many of the greatest writers in Western civilization, and feature remarkable attractions as tributes to those authors, for travelers to enjoy today.
1. London: The birthplace or home of many of the greatest authors of all time — Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton, John Keats and H.G. Wells, to name a few. Visitors can stop by the home of Dickens, see the house where Benjamin Johnson wrote the first comprehensive English dictionary, or go on one of many guided walks that let you follow in Sherlock Holmes’ footsteps.
2. Stratford-upon-Avon, England: Birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is a mecca for the literature enthusiast. Travelers can catch a glimpse into The Bard’s early life, see the magnificent Royal Shakespeare Company perform, or pay tribute to the father of modern literature at his final resting place.
3. Edinburgh, Scotland: We have Edinburgh authors to thank for some of the world’s most beloved stories and characters, from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. Take a walking tour of Edinburgh’s medieval Old Town to learn about Scottish literary characters and history, or celebrate the contributions of authors Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson at the Writers’ Museum.
4. Dublin, Ireland: Dublin’s greatest authors, from Yeats to Heaney, have often used their home city as their inspiration, evident in James Joyce’s “Dubliners” and Jonathan Swift’s satirical “A Modest Proposal.” Literature enthusiasts will want to make the pilgrimages to the James Joyce Tower and House, as well as visit the Dublin Writers’ Museum and the National Library of Ireland.
5. New York City: Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg once hung out in New York’s White Horse Tavern, Arthur Miller, Norman Mailer and John Ashbery called the city home, and the Harlem Renaissance surfaced African- American literary greats like Richard Wright and Langston Hughes. Take a literary walking tour of Greenwich Village or immerse yourself in the New York Public Library’s immense collection.
