Whether you’re a fan of Shakespeare, Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables or Rabindranath Tagore, these destinations offer a chance to step into the wor…
1/10Edinburgh, Scotland | Recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature, Edinburgh has strong literary associations with writers including Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle and J.K. Rowling. Rowling wrote portions of the Harry Potter series while living in Edinburgh, and several cafés in the city, including Nicolson’s Café and The Elephant House, have become closely associated with that period of her writing. Today, visitors can explore literary landmarks, browse independent bookshops and attend the Edinburgh International Book Festival, one of the world’s leading public celebrations of books, authors and ideas. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
2/10Hay-on-Wye, Wales | What was once a quiet market town has become one of the world’s best-known destinations for book lovers. Hay-on-Wye earned its reputation as the original “book town” after dozens of second-hand and independent bookshops opened there during the 1960s. Every year, the internationally acclaimed Hay Festival brings together acclaimed authors, historians, scientists, artists, policymakers and readers from around the world, transforming the town into a global hub for literature, culture and conversation. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
3/10Shakespeare’s Globe, London, England | A visit to Shakespeare’s Globe offers an opportunity to experience the works of William Shakespeare in a faithful reconstruction inspired by the 1599 Globe Theatre. The open-air playhouse stages classics such as Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, while its exhibitions and guided tours offer insights into Shakespeare’s life, Elizabethan theatre and the enduring influence of his work on world literature. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
4/10Prince Edward Island, Canada | For generations of readers, Prince Edward Island has been synonymous with Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved 1908 novel. The island’s rolling farmland, red-sand beaches and picturesque villages inspired the fictional setting of Avonlea and continue to draw fans from around the world. Visitors can explore Green Gables Heritage Place, discover landscapes closely associated with Montgomery’s work and learn about the author’s life through museums and literary events celebrating her legacy. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
5/10Dublin, Ireland | Dublin’s literary heritage is woven into the fabric of the city. It gave the world writers such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, W.B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Bram Stoker, whose works continue to shape modern literature. Every year on 16 June, readers from around the globe gather for Bloomsday, celebrating Joyce’s Ulysses by retracing the journey of its protagonist, Leopold Bloom, through the city’s streets. Literary museums, historic pubs and walking tours make Dublin a rewarding destination for anyone passionate about books. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
6/10The Lake District, England | England’s Lake District inspired some of the greatest works of Romantic poetry, particularly those of William Wordsworth, whose love for the region’s mountains, lakes and valleys is reflected in poems such as I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. The area is also closely associated with children’s author Beatrix Potter, whose stories and conservation work played an important role in preserving parts of the Lake District. Visitors can tour Dove Cottage, where Wordsworth lived, and Hill Top, Potter’s 17th-century farmhouse that inspired many of her beloved tales. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
7/10Verona, Italy | Although William Shakespeare is not believed to have visited Verona, the city has become inseparable from Romeo and Juliet, one of literature’s most enduring love stories. Visitors flock to landmarks such as Juliet’s House, complete with its famous balcony, while the city’s medieval streets and historic piazzas evoke the atmosphere that has captivated readers and theatre lovers for centuries. Verona’s association with Shakespeare’s tragedy has made it one of Italy’s best-known literary destinations. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
8/10Kolkata, India | Often regarded as India’s literary capital, Kolkata has nurtured generations of influential writers, poets and intellectuals, including Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and Satyajit Ray. Visitors can explore Jorasanko Thakur Bari, the ancestral home of Tagore, browse the iconic bookstalls of College Street and experience a city where literature, publishing and intellectual debate remain deeply embedded in everyday life. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
9/10Kyoto, Japan | Kyoto’s serene temples, bamboo groves, traditional wooden neighbourhoods and changing seasons have inspired Japanese literature for centuries. The city has strong literary associations with Nobel Prize-winning author Yasunari Kawabata, while its historic streets, gardens and cultural traditions continue to evoke the settings and atmosphere found in many classic and contemporary works of Japanese literature. Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage continues to inspire writers, artists and readers from around the world. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
10/10Concord, Massachusetts, USA | Few places have influenced American literature as profoundly as Concord. During the 19th century, the town became home to literary figures including Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Visitors can tour Orchard House, where Alcott wrote Little Women, visit Walden Pond, where Thoreau lived in a cabin on its shores and drew inspiration for Walden, and explore the homes and landscapes that helped shape the Transcendalist movement and some of America’s most enduring literary works. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
