To celebrate World Book Day, the book worms at holiday letting agency www.cottages.com are offering a collection of Roald Dahl books to help fill the bookcases of your little readers!
There are so many places in the UK connected to some of our favourite authors and stories, the cottage company has put together a map to help find your next day out to visit. In fact, if it’s inspiration you are after, why not take a peek at the Inspire and Explore regional guides available on the website to help plan your next self-catering break.
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If you’ve always wanted to explore the places that inspired your favourite authors or keep the family entertained by their favourite characters coming to life, why not use this handy guide to plan your next outing?
What You Will Find Here
Marvellous Museum for Roald Dahl Fans
See the fantastical world of author Roald Dahl come alive at the museum created in his honour. Featuring three interactive galleries, find out about Roald Dahl’s school days, see his original Writing Hut and in The Story Centre put your imagination centre-stage with fantabulous activities to inspire your little writer.
Roald Dahl Museum, HP16 0AL
Find Stick Man, Stick Lady and Family Three
The latest hit from favourite Julia Donaldson has been brought to life by The Forestry Commission which has created a series of Stick Man Trails throughout the UK. Not only is the trail a great way to explore nature, with a host of downloadable activities from their website, you can even have fun on rainy days!
Breathe in the stunning countryside which inspired Beatrix Potter
A visit to the Lake District is a great experience in itself, but with such a strong association to the stories of Beatrix Potter, it’s the perfect opportunity to find out more about this incredible author. Younger children can enjoy the Beatrix Potter Lake District Trail, following the clues to find her iconic characters amongst the countryside and for older children, a visit to her house is a brilliant insight in to the writer’s life.
Visit Hampshire And See Chitty Bang Bang At National Motor Museum, BeaulieuÂ
There is so much to see and do in Hampshire for book lovers including visiting Chitty Bang Bang, Jane Austens House and follow the footsteps of King John, this guide to Hampshire will tell you all you need to know.
Wonderful Wizardry And Harry Potter Things To Do
For Harry Potter fans, there are so many places to visit across the UK, all with magical connections to the wizard world of Harry and Hogwarts. Whether it’s a trip to Alnwick Castle or Durham Cathedral to see the locations from the film or a day at Harry Potter World where you can sample Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans straight from Diagon Alley, there’s plenty to suit every J.K Rowling fan.
Visit London And Paddington Bear
The classic stories of Paddington Bear, and the more recent film adaptation can be brought to life with a trip to Paddington Station. See where Michael Bond’s fictional bear was found and if you have time, why not take the Paddington Bear bus tour which takes in some of the famous locations from the film.
Spend a Day with Peppa Pig and Friends
For fans of Peppa, a visit to Peppa Pig World is a perfect day out with the family. Have fun on the rides, meet some of your favourite characters and jump in some very muddy puddles
Visit Thomas Land
For most Thomas fans, a trip to the local train station is a great way of spending an hour, but if you’re looking for a family day out, with 12 wonderful themed rides and a spectacular indoor play area why not visit Thomas Land at Drayton Manor?
Thomas the Tank Engine, Thomas Land, B78 3TW
Step back in time with the Railway Children
A trip to the picturesque Yorkshire town of Haworth offers the chance to see the train station featured in the film versions of E. Nesbit’s Railway Children. A real glimpse into the past, the traditional station is a great introduction to the classic book of adventure. Haworth also has a wealth of literary history with connections to the Bronte sisters for slightly older readers.
Messing about on the River With Wind In The Willows
Join Ratty, Mr Toad and Badger at the River and Rowing Museum, just off the Thames. See the characters of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows come alive and learn more about the river systems and environment in the process. You can also enjoy watching the boats and rowers take on the water outside.
The Wonderful World of Winnie the Pooh
A.A Milne was inspired to write his endearing collection of stories by Ashdown Forest, close to his home of Hartfield in East Sussex. There are a number of Pooh Walks to help guide you through the settings for some of his favourite tales and see Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet and Eeyore come to life.
Famous Five and Secret Seven Come Alive
Enid Blyton is synonymous with Dorset, which with an array of beaches and countryside is a great holiday destination in itself. The town of Purbeck is a great place to start, as the area which inspired the Famous Five stroies. There are a number of local activities available including a location tour and museum to learn more about the author. Make sure you stop for some fantastic ice cream and ginger beer!
See the Tartan Bear
Author Mary Tourtel wrote and illustrated the Rupert Bear stories and at the Canterbury museum, fans can see original artworks, as well as memorabilia and images of the latest animated Rupert Bear.
And there you have it a round up of educational but beautiful places to visit with kids, to really make literature come alive.
a book my mum used to read me called mervyn the mouse
A Hundred and One Dalmatians
James and the Giant peach
Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo!
The Famous Five books were always my favourite
Mallory towers by Enod Blyton
Sorry meant Enid Blyton
Oh I loved Mallory towers x
The Enchanted wood
I think that has to be my favourite childhood book, so magical, I used to wish it was real, I still do ha ha x
Roald Dahl’s fantastic Mr Fox.
Swallows and Amazons
peter rabbit xx
Aw I loved Peter Rabbit x
James and The Giant Peach
What is your favourite childhood book . . . . .Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales and my favourite was . . . . . The Emperor’s New Clothes
Ooh I had the Ladybird version I loved it so much x
I found my favourite book last week hidden away. It was called ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’. Just magical, I loved the pictures of exquisitely made shoes!
Oh I loved this xx
I love the Magic Faraway Tree Books
Oh me too, my all time favourite x
The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar
I loved the Malory Towers series xx
Oh I used to love these, and ST.Claires x
Enid Blytons, famous five.
I loved The Farway Tree Adventures!
Georges marvellous medicine
Absolutely anything by Enid Blyton – although sadly I don’t think they’ve aged well:(
The BFG
Matilda 😀
Matilda, loved Roald Dahl books x
I’m not sure how well known they ever were, but I loved ‘What a Mess’! xx
Ooh never heard of that one x
We loved The Hobbit xx
I love the Dr. Dolittle books x
my favourite was Anne of Green Gables 🙂
the magic faraay tree
My Fave x
I loved reading so it’s hard to pick just one, One that I can remember reading a lot is Matilda by Roald Dahl 🙂
I love Matilda too x
Five Go to Mystery Moor Book by Enid Blyton
The lion, the witch and the wardrobe
Wind in the willows
The magic faraway tree.
Same here I love it x
The Hobbit, just loved it, and still do 🙂
I have never read the Hobbit, will have to put it on my list x
The Magic Finger was my intro to Dahl and I loved it
ooh never heard of that one
Danny the champion of the world, i loved that story so much!
velveteen rabbit
Noddy books by Enid Blyton. I loved the Twits by Roald Dahl too as well as Matilda.
Ah I used to love Noddy
Can’t remember who wrote it but it was called ‘Gobbolino the witches cat’
i loved the twits as a child
The Famous Five / Secret Seven series.
Mine was The Saddle Club series by Bonnie Bryant! Though I was a real bookworm and there were so many I enjoyed.
Rufty Tufty
The Worst Witch
The Owl who was Afraid of the dark by Jill Thomlins. I have fab memories of being at primary school and my favourite teacher reading it to us
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, then when I was older I loved Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume 🙂
A Hundred and One Dalmatians
my favourite book as a child was The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
The Hobbit
gobolino the witches cat
Peter & Jane
The book of brownies Enid blyton
the gruffalo
I used to read loads of Enid Blyton. My favourites were The Famous Five, and The Twins at St Clare’s. I read them all several times!
The babysitter club was my favourite
I loved the ‘What Katy Did’ books.
It’s easy to see what inspired such fabulous authors when you see what they did. Britain really does have some beautiful places, doesn’t it?