Famous literary homes to visit this summer

The travel insurance team at Quotezone have researched and revealed which famous author homes and birthplaces you can still see today.

Visiting bookish settings in the UK is a great activity for couples and families looking for something a bit different to do with the summer holidays.

Whether strolling through the gardens at Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top or visiting the birthplace of the world-renowned bard, William Shakespeare, these settings offer visitors a chance to step back in time and immerse themselves in the locations that inspired some of the world’s most beloved stories.

Many of these sites also offer affordable family tickets, with some even offering free entry for members or low cost walking tours in towns like Whitby, making them a cost effective option for a family day out.

And as literary lovers across the world celebrate 250 years since the birth of one of England’s most beloved authors – Jane Austen – there’s no better time to take a literary inspired trip of the UK.

Helen Rolph, travel insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “Visiting these locations is a fun, educational, and affordable way to explore the UK and spend quality time with your family.

“From admiring Wordsworth’s charming 17th-century cottage to delving into the life and works of Charles Dickens, these destinations allow you to immerse yourself in the stories that have shaped the literary world.

“With many attractions offering free entry for members or discounted family tickets, these day trips are perfect for families looking to make the most of their time off while keeping costs down.

“As families plan their literary adventures, they may want to consider hiring a car or planning a couple of overnight stays, even for a staycation, it’s worth considering travel insurance for peace of mind.  Just make sure that any extras you need, such as car hire insurance, are added to the policy as they don’t always come as standard.  While these trips are a great way to enjoy time together, travel insurance can help cover any unexpected issues, like holiday curtailments or cancellations, that might crop up during your journey.”

Eight author homes to visit in the UK:

1. Jane Austen’s House – Chawton, Hampshire

The cottage where Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility is now a museum filled with her belongings. See the very writing table where she wrote her most famous books, view personal objects including her letters, jewellery, and first editions of her books, and walk through the rooms that give a glimpse into Austen’s daily life. General admission for adults is £15.

2. Shakespeare’s Birthplace – Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

Take a tour of the beautifully preserved home where William Shakespeare was born and raised. You can walk through the half-timbered Tudor house and even visit the room where Shakespeare is believed to have been born. The price to tour the home is £20 for adults and £10 for children, but you can pay extra to discover the full story of Shakespeare across his family homes (Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespeare’s New Place).

3. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Whitby, Yorkshire

Famously the setting for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Whitby, offers visitors the chance to explore the ruins of Whitby Abbey, which play a significant role in the novel. The dramatic location, overlooking the sea, is believed to have inspired the depiction of Count Dracula’s arrival in England. Be sure to visit the Dracula statue on the West Pier, which commemorates Stoker’s connection to Whitby. You can also join a Gothic walking tour, where expert guides take you through key locations featured in Dracula, including the Old Cemetery and the harbour where Dracula’s ship, the Demeter, is thought to have arrived.

4. William Wordsworth’s Home, Dove Cottage – Ambleside, Lake District

Dove Cottage was the home of William Wordsworth and inspiration for much of his poetry. Take a trip through the candlelit rooms of this charming 17th-century cottage, see original artefacts and manuscripts, and visit Wordsworth’s writing room, where he composed much of Lyrical Ballads and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. To access Dove Cottage, Museum, Garden-Orchard & The Woodland, you can expect to pay around £15 for an adult ticket. National Trust members can visit for free.

5. Thomas Hardy’s Cottage – Higher Bockhampton, Dorset

Visit the birthplace of Thomas Hardy, where he wrote Far from the Madding Crowd. Hardy was born in this thatched cottage in 1840, and you can visit the tiny room where he wrote his first novels. Entrance is free for National Trust members and includes a guided tour. Otherwise, general admission is around £10 for adults and £5 for children. This property is normally closed across the winter season.

6. Beatrix Potter’s Holiday Home, Hill Top – Sawrey, Cumbria

Beatrix Potter’s charming farmhouse inspired many of her famous stories and is filled with her belongings. In fact, the interiors of Hill Top feature in many of Beatrix’s books. In The Tale of Tom Kitten it is home to Tabitha Twitchit and her three mischievous kittens, Moppet, Mittens and Tom, and in The Tale of Samuel Whiskers, Tom Kitten is captured by rats who scamper up Hill Top’s staircase. Entry and parking is free for National Trust members. General admission is £17 for adults and £8.50 per child.

7. Charles Dickens’ Home and Museum – London

Occupying a typical Georgian terraced house, this was Charles Dickens’s home from March 1837 to December 1839. Visitors can step back in time to explore the life and works of one of England’s greatest novelists. Now filled with personal artefacts and manuscripts, this is where Dickens wrote Oliver Twist. The Charles Dickens Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and tickets are £12.50 for adults, £7.50 for children.

8. Rudyard Kipling’s Bateman’s – Burwash, East Sussex

Built in 1634, this Jacobean house was the family home of world-famous writer Rudyard Kipling, known for The Jungle Book. Step inside the impressive home, which remains much as Kipling left it, with personal items, furniture, and decor that give insight into his life. Entry is free for National Trust members. General admission is £15 for adults and £7.50 for children.

Quotezone.co.uk can help holidaymakers compare and find savings on travel, car and breakdown insurance.

References:

Prices and opening details have been sourced from each property’s website and are accurate as of Tuesday, 18 February 2025.