Summer is right around the corner and we’re all looking forward to basking in the sun, hitting the beach, and enjoying warm evenings with friends. No doubt many of you are looking forward to a quick getaway for a week or two and there are certainly many far off and interesting places to visit. From the seemingly buoyant city of Venice to the breathtaking national parks found across the United States, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to the real world but, for bibliophiles, there are also many other special places to visit, places that can only be explored via the books within which they exist.
What if you really could go and visit the places you’ve read about? How exciting would it be to go for a picnic in the Hundred Acre Wood, or to spend a long weekend in The Shire drinking with Hobbits in The Green Dragon Inn? Here are our top picks for literary locations we’d love to vacation to this Summer.
Narnia – The Chronicles of Narnia
For many of us, C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia was the first fantasy series we explored. The books may be suitable for younger readers, but the first class world building and wealth of interesting creatures and characters makes the series just as enjoyable for adults.
When we first enter Narnia in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it appears to be a beautiful snowy wonderland, but all is not as it seems. The evil White Witch has gained control over Narnia and keeps it in a constant state of winter. Luckily her downfall at the hands of the Pevensie children (with some help from Aslan) restores the land to its natural state. Far from a frozen tundra, Narnia is revealed to be a beautiful land of rolling hills, lush forests, and majestic castle of Cair Paravel. A trip to Narnia would have to include a visit to Mr. Tumnus’ home for tea, a tour of the grand Cair Paravel, and of course a trip to the lamppost that stands nearby the magical wardrobe itself. There are plenty of magical creatures to meet from centaurs to talking beavers and, who knows, should you prove worthy, you may even get to meet the great Aslan himself. Time also appears to exist on a different plane to our own world so you could spend as long as you wanted in Narnia and still be home in time for tea!
Jurassic Park – Jurassic Park
Located on the fictional island of Isla Nublar, Jurassic Park explores the idea of what it would be like if humans were able to bring back the ancient giants that once walked the Earth. Dinosaurs have sparked our imagination ever since we were children and, were it not for the fact that they actually existed, we would rank these enormous and often fierce beasts with the likes of dragons and trolls. How exciting would it be if science allowed us to bring these giant reptiles back to life, and how would they exist in a world now dominated by mammals? Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park explores what happens when an eccentric billionaire opens a park where visitors can come face to face with dinosaurs.
Crichton’s novel serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when humans overreach themselves and try to play God, and it ends in a grisly death for many of the book’s characters, but what if proper care had been taken to ensure corners weren’t cut, that the employees weren’t disgruntled, and that the fences were definitely T-Rex proof? A Jurassic Park run by people who paid more attention to health and safety would be the most interesting park on Earth and would allow visitors to travel back through time and see dinosaurs, not as skeletons in a museum, but as living flesh and blood. Imagine watching a herd of triceratops grazing peacefully, or walking along a tree-top walkway as diplodocus nibble at the leaves. Braver visitors will also be eager to witness feeding time at the Tyrannosaurus Rex enclosure (not for the squeamish), and we also like to think that there will be a petting area with smaller dinosaurs. Sure, the original Jurassic Park didn’t go as planned, nor did the recently opened Jurassic World, but third time’s the charm, right?
Ankh-Morpork – The Discworld Series
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series spans over 40 books and introduces readers to a fantasy land filled with humour and satire. There are many amazing locations to be found upon the Disc, but the crown jewel of Pratchett’s world is arguably the city-state of Ankh-Morpork. With over a million inhabitants (ranging from humans, dwarves, vampires, gnomes, boogeymen, and zombies), Ankh-Morpork is the beating heart of the Disc and sees the weird and wonderful inhabitants living shoulder to shoulder in the bustling city. Many key scenes throughout Pratchett’s books take place there and it’s a must-see for any Pratchett fans holidaying on the Disc.
Inspired by real cities such as Tallin and Prague (with a dash of 18th century London and 19th century Seattle), Ankh-Morpork is the multicultural hub of the Disc and races from every corner go there to seek their fortune. On the surface, Ankh-Morpork doesn’t seem like a particularly nice place to visit. The city sits on the River Ankh which is described as the most polluted river on the Disc and you’re apparently more likely to suffocate in it than drown. The city itself is full of corruption and comedic violence and yet there’s something undeniably compelling about it all. The city feels alive and readers can sense the hustle and bustle of daily life as thousands of inhabitants go about their business. A trip to this sprawling city would include drinks at the Biers pub (where everybody knows your shape), a look at The Dwarf Bread Museum, catching a show at The Dysk Theatre, then grab a ‘sausage-inna-bun’, and continue on for a tour of The Unseen University, Ankh-Morpork may not be the most obviously attractive location to visit, but we wager you’d have some great stories to tell when you got home.
The Hundred Acre Wood – Winnie-the-Pooh
Many of us grew up with A.A. Milne’s wonderful stories of a young boy named Christopher Robin who regularly visits the Hundred Acre Wood to see his dear friend Winnie-the-Pooh and the other inhabitants such as Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, and Rabbit. The stories of Christopher Robin and Pooh are synonymous with childhood imagination and takes us back to a more innocent time when our stuffed toys were real and when a walk through the country was full of mystery and excitement.
No visit to the Hundred Acre Wood would be complete without meeting the wonderful folk who inhabit it. Chritopher Robin would serve as an excellent guide and introduce us to his special friends. First stop would be a visit to Pooh’s house, where any polite visitor would come bearing a pot of honey, then onwards to meet Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Lottie the Otter, and of course Tigger! We’d help Pooh set up his traps for the elusive Heffalumps, play Poohsticks on the Poohsticks Bridge, visit Where the Woozle Wasn’t, and spend some quiet time sat in Pooh’s Thoughtful Spot. We can’t imagine a more relaxing getaway than spending a week with Pooh and his pals and it’s a place we couldn’t resist visiting as often as possible.
Hogwarts – Harry Potter Series
Most children at school spend most of their time looking forward to the holidays, but then most children don’t get to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We assume that, at some point, students are taught subjects such as maths, English, and history, but most of their time appears to be spent honing their magical powers, learning how to ride broomsticks, and encountering magical creatures. The idea of going to school for a holiday may seem like the opposite of a break, but for us mere muggles, a visit to Hogwarts would be the trip of a lifetime.
Those who are particularly eager could use a Portkey to instantly arrive at Hogwarts, but surely travelling onboard the Hogwarts Express would be an experience in itself, just make sure you don’t run into the wrong platform column! Visitors could then enjoy the scenic view whilst chatting with friends and feasting on treats such as Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and Butterscotch Beer. Upon arrival, you would gaze up at the ancient castle in all its glory and then enter the great hall where a feast awaits you. From there there’s no end of things to see and do. Hours could be spent exploring Hogwarts and its grounds, chatting with the portraits and ghosts, and watching the House-elves go about their chores. No doubt many of you would want to check out the library (no sneaking into the restricted section!) and evenings would be spent getting cosy in the snug common rooms. The more adventurous visitors may want to go camping with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest and of course we’d all need to have a go at playing Quidditch. Time would fly by, and we’d be sorry to leave Hogwarts, but at least we don’t have to go back to the Dursley family.
The OASIS – Ready Player One
If there’s one downside to going on holiday, it’s the time it takes to get to far off places. Sure, a trip to Australia sounds great, but it will also include two flights that can take up to 17 hours depending onm your location. Such a trek can be off-putting for some, or downright impossible for others when considering the cost, but that’s what’s great about the OASIS, you can live your wildest dreams without even leaving your house.
As a massive online virtual world, all one needs is a virtual reality headset to enter the OASIS. Millions of other users spend their time there and the fact that real world rules don’t apply means that you can do whatever you want and be whoever you want to be. You can create your own avatar and meet up with friends or join up with strangers to embark on epic quests and explore your wildest fantasies. There’s a ton of pop-culture to enjoy and you can do whatever you want without having to deal with the limitations and consequences of the real world. The possibilities really are limitless and the OASIS serves as a safe haven for those needing some time out from the real world. Given how fast technology is evolving, it seems possible that a cyber getaway like the OASIS may well exist in the future.
Westworld – Westworld
Michael Crichton really seems to have a knack for coming up with great ideas for theme parks, doesn’t he? As if Jurassic Park wasn’t enough, Crichton also wrote and directed the 1973 film Westworld (the screenplay of which was published as a tie-in novel so it counts). Westworld is an enormous park where visitors can go to live out their fantasies of being a rugged cowboy/girl in the harsh frontier. The park is populated by incredibly lifelike androids who engage with visitors by providing adventures to go on, simulated fights to the death, and even sexual encounters. Being a Crichton novel, things inevitably go wrong and the androids begin killing the humans but, like we did with Jurassic Park, lets imagine how exciting this place would be to visit provided things didn’t go wrong.
The Wild West is a period of history that has captured our imaginations and is often viewed through rose tinted glasses as the last time humanity had a frontier to conquer and a land to settle. Sure, the reality was a lot bloodier and harsher than we tend to believe, but Hollywood has done a great job of turning that time into an almost mythical era where duals were commonplace and saloon fights were just another Monday evening. Westworld succeeds as an idea because, like Jurassic Park, it’s an adventure that would appeal to many. Imagine being able to live out your fantasy of being a lone ranger who rides into town, shoots down a band of outlaws robbing the bank, then relaxes in the evening by putting your spurred feet up on a table and enjoying a strong whisky, all whilst saying as little as possible. Like the OASIS, the idea of Westworld is to provide an experience where visitors can live out their dreams without consequence. Maybe playing cowboys isn’t to your taste? Well there’s also Medievalworld and Romanworld…
The Nautilus – Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
So far, every location on our list has been land based, but what about those of us who wish to take to the high seas? Cruises are all the rage nowadays and surely there’s no vessel grander than Captain Nemo’s Nautilus. As featured in Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the Nautilus is a futuristic submarine that can dive to perilous depths for days on end and features advanced technology far ahead of the submarines that were first being experimented with at the time of the novel’s publication.
The Nautilus is described as “a masterpiece containing masterpieces” and features the sort of luxuries you wouldn’t find on a first class cruise today. All you bibliophiles will be pleased to learn that there’s a large library to be explored and the ship is furnished to the highest quality with expensive paintings, a lavish dining room, and even an organ to play. The Nautilus is so fantastic to behold that the few sailors who catch a glimpse of it at sea believe it to be some kind of great sea creature unknown to science. A trip on the Nautilus means you’re free to travel anywhere in the world and its ability to dive means you can also explore underwater wrecks and coral reefs. There’s so much to see and do on the Nautilus but, if you fancy a few days on dry land, you can easily dock up and spend time on pretty much any country with a coastline. As soon as you’ve had enough, you can jump back on board and be halfway around the world in no time.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea US
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea UK
Middle-Earth – The Lord of the Rings
Of all the fantasy worlds created, J.R.R. Tolkien’s is arguably the most real. With a staggering history and epic cast of characters, Tolkien’s creation feels as alive as our own history. Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings brings us an absorbing fantasy land full of strange creatures, engaging myths, and awe-inspiring locations, but those two books merely scratch the surface when compared to the in-depth lore that is revealed in The Silmarillion. Truly Tolkien is one of fiction’s finest world builders and it’s not hard to see why so many people regard his writings with such esteem.
There are so many places in Middle-Earth we’d love to visit that it’s impossible to choose just one. We can safely say we’d give Mordor a miss but the rest of Middle-Earth is fair game. An obvious stop would be Hobbiton, we’d love to spend time wandering the beautiful countryside, drinking in The Green Dragon Inn, watching Gandalf’s fireworks, and then snuggling up in a cosy Hobbit hole. We’d also love to check out some of the Elves’ hideouts, from the tranquil realm of Rivendell to the tree-top heights of Lothlorien. Then onto Rohan for a ride on some of the finest horses in Middle-Earth, and of course we’d have to check out the grand city of Gondor. No trip would be complete without seeing some of the famous landmarks so a quick stop at Helm’s Deep, the Tower of Orthanc, and the Misty Mountains would be in order. Middle-Earth is so rich with things to see and do that we imagine a person could visit there once a year every year and still find new wonders after decades of exploring.
Westeros – A Song of Ice and Fire
It may be a fantasy land, but Westeros is known for being very much grounded in reality when it comes to the gritty harshness of life. George R.R. Martin’s books don’t shy away from the true horrors of war and no character, no matter how important, moral, or powerful, is ever truly safe. With that said, Westeros may seem about as attractive as a vacation spot as Germany in 1945, but the fact is that while Westeros may be full of turmoil, it’s also full of beauty.
Like the real world, Westeros is often plagued by factions that can’t stop killing one another, but that shouldn’t be allowed to overshadow the fact that Westeros features some striking landscapes, both manmade and natural. In fact, if everyone could just deal with those pesky White Walkers and then get along, Westeros would actually be a pretty sweet place to live. Unlike our own world, the seasons in Westeros last for years and so both Summer and Winter can last of almost a decade each. We agree that years of either climate might become a bit overbearing but the beauty of Westeros is that it’s a massive continent where different regions vary in their degree of weather. Are you the sort of person who loves to lie in the sun and work on that tan? Then you’ll want to head down to Dorne where the nights are hot, the wine is first rate, and the beautiful water gardens serve as a refreshing relief from the heat. Prefer colder temperatures? Then head up North where it snows even in Summer. The North may be colder in climate but it also features stunning architecture from the mighty hold of Winterfell to the enormous wall that has kept all manner of monsters at bay for centuries. Want the best of both worlds? Head on to Highgarden, a region known for its natural beauty and warm, but not overwhelming, climate. Like the idea of exploring an urban metropolis? Then a trip to the capitol of Westeros, King’s Landing, is in order, where the Iron Throne sits and the mighty Sept of Baelor stands. When you consider just how marvellous the world of Westeros is, it’s frustrating to see its characters causing endless war and destruction. Though the same could be said about our own history!
So there you have it, 10 locations from literature that we’d love to visit if only we could. We may never physically get to wander through Narnia or play Quidditch at Hogwarts, but that’s the magic of books, we get to visit these far off places without ever leaving the comfort of our homes.
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