Britain has a long literary history, and it’s here where some of the world’s most-loved characters were dreamt up, and most recognisable lines written.
Over the centuries, great poets and authors eloquently put words to paper and made their homes in quaint hamlets such as Lake District, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cardiff and Haworth, while also writing themselves into the books of history.
Perhaps the most famous playwright of all, William Shakespeare’s masterpieces include Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
To this day, schools across the globe study the words of Shakespeare. His plays graced the stages for centuries, long before the silver screens of the 20th century.
Shakespeare spent his last nineteen years in the town of his birth, Stratford-upon-Avon. Just a two hour drive north-west of London, visitors can tour his home for a look into his early years, and take a seat in the Swan Theatre to watch the Royal Shakespeare Company perform many of his plays.
In northern UK, east of Lakes District, a young poet and novelist lived with her two sisters in the town of Haworth. Her sisters Emily and Anne would also go on to be celebrated writers themselves, but it was the young Charlotte Bronte who bought the family name to fame with the much-loved character of Jane Eyre.
Visitors can tour the Bronte house, where the rooms and furnishings have been well preserved. Peek into Charlotte’s bedroom and view her writing desk where she penned her famous works. The home is now the Bronte Parsonage Museum and open to visitors year-round.
Just a short distance from Haworth is Lake District, home to one of the world’s most adorned children’s book author, Beatrix Potter.
The book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, perhaps her most famous, was written at Hill Top Farm, Potter’s family home, now a preserved time capsule of her life.
Stroll the beautiful gardens here and any fan of the children’s book may actually recognise much of the property from her other writings such as The Tale of Samuel Whiskers.
In the nearby town of Bowness-on-Windermere, you’ll find an interactive museum of Potter’s work with a fascinating look into the author’s life. The nearby Wray Castle, where a young Beatrix would holiday with her family, is also open for tours.
If there is one children’s book author of even greater fame, it would have to be Roald Dahl. For generations, stories such as BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda, have delighted readers and entertained us on both the silver screen and theatre stages.
For many, he is the world’s number one storyteller, but this accomplished author’s first book, James and the Giant Peach, was not printed until 1961, when he was 45 years old.
Before he was known for his literary achievements, Dahl had been a fighter pilot in World War Two. Later, after a posting to Washington DC, Dahl was also a spy for MI6.
Post war, Dahl was a chocolate historian and medical inventor, before becoming one of the greatest storytellers of his time. Although originally from Cardiff, Wales, the Roald Dahl Museum is located in the village of Great Missenden, in the heart of Buckinghamshire countryside, about 32-kilometres (20-miles) northwest of London.
Visitors to his museum will experience three galleries; Boy Gallery, where his childhood is explained along with his love for chocolate; Solo Gallery is a recreation of his writing hut, with secrets and surprises in peep holes and drawers; and The Story Centre, the museum’s creative hub where you can learn how to become a writer with tips from your favourite authors.
Tour the towns of literary greats
The historic towns and villages of these famed writers can be explored with Back Roads, the leading specialist in immersive, small-group tours.
You will travel in style around the UK onboard your luxurious Mercedes motor-coach, with comfortable leather seating – just you and 17 or fewer like-minded travellers.
A Back-Roads tour doesn’t mean you will miss those must-see attractions though, it merely means that your tour highlights will include both the tourist hotspots and those often-missed attractions in the surrounding villages and towns, the ones typically overlooked by the larger coach trips.
Back-Roads shuns the motorways for the scenic routes to immerse you in a destination, allowing for plenty of free time to explore on your own. You will stay in quality local accommodation, dine in family or locally owned restaurants that specialise in the tastes of the region, and visit attractions that reflect the destination’s culture and heritage; all at a leisurely pace.
MORE BACK-ROADS STORIES…
- Battle of Britain tour
- What to expect on a small-group tour
- Life on the road with a Back-Roads tour leader
The following tours will take you to the famous authors birthplace, homes and museums.
Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon – Royal Tour of Britain
Travel Britain over nine incredible days and discover the rich history, tradition, villages, rolling green hills and jagged coastlines of the UK.
This tour includes Royal connections from the historic streets of Edinburgh to the excitement of London, plus a stop in Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the birthplace of Shakespeare.
Tour Inclusions:
- 8 nights in boutique accommodation
- Experienced Back-Roads Driver/Tour Leader
- Premium mini-coach transportation
- Breakfast daily (B), 5 evening meals (D)
- Entrance included to: St Andrews University & Golf course, Balmoral Castle, Crathie Church, Crathie Graveyard, Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile Walk, Royal Yacht Britannia, Rosslyn Chapel, Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace & Clarence House, Braemar Castle, Lochnagar distillery. Kensington Palace, York Minster, Princess Diana & Albert Memorial, Windsor Castle and Hampton Court.
Charlotte Bronte’s Haworth & Beatrix Potter’s Lake District – Highlights of Britain
This 10-day adventure delves deep into Britain’s history and culture, celebrating not only the ‘Great British Pudding’, but also walking in the footsteps of writers and poets.
Stops include a day in Haworth with a visit to the Bronte Parsonage Museum, and two nights in Lake District, including a tour of Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top Farm.
Tour Inclusions:
- 9 nights in boutique accommodation
- Experienced Back-Roads Driver & Tour Leader
- Premium mini-coach transportation
- Full English breakfast daily (B), 5 evening meals (D)
- Welsh cookery demonstration and lunch (L)
- Walking tour of Oxford
- Cruise on Lake Windermere
- Entrance included to: Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Worcester Cathedral, Bronte Parsonage Museum, Castle Howard, Beatrix Potter’s Hilltop Farm, Dove Cottage & Hawkshead Grammar School, Abbotsford House, Rosslyn Chapel.
Cardiff – birthplace of Road Dahl
Snow-dusted mountains, deep green valleys and an unforgettable coastline – go high and low on your journey in search of Wales’ most captivating sights.
Walk the ancient lands of Celts and Romans and become immersed in this beguiling country’s contemporary culture over eight spectacular days.
Tour Inclusions:
- 7 nights in boutique accommodation
- Experienced Rack-Roads Driver & Tour Leader
- Premium mini-coach transportation
- Full Welsh breakfast daily (B), 4 evening meals (D)
- 1 afternoon tea
- A Welsh wine tasting experience
- Visit the first Welsh bookshop
- Enjoy a performance by a Welsh Choir and language taster session
- Entrance included to: Cawd Explorer pass, St Fagans Museum, Big Pit Museum, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Llanberis Slate Mine, Caernarfon Castle, Nant Gwrtheyrn, Hedd Wyn home, Cenarth Coracle Centre, Rhiannon Welsh Gold Centre; Castell Henllys, Lovespoon Workshop
BOOK YOUR BACK-ROADS TOUR HERE
