I am a typical Londoner when I travel into town. When I'm there, I walk at full speed from station to station, dodging tourists and other people who are in a rush to grab their morning coffee before the work day begins. That's probably why I've never really looked at London and its surrounding areas the way they deserve to be seen, particularly the literary aspects.
In October, Author Michelle Young came to visit from Canada, and I jumped at the chance to finally meet her. It meant I could visit the places I've seen only in passing or on social media with someone who is just as interested as I am in the bookish world. And that's what we did - we went on a 4-day literary book tour across London and surrounding areas.
This wasn't a tour around London as it is, with its double decker busses and red phone boxes, it wasn't just about Trafalgar Square or the London Eye. Instead, it was a tour filled with our passion for books, creativity and the world of literature.
Our itinerary was packed with literary places around London and Oxfordshire, we also visited The Making of Harry Potter at the Warner Brothers Studios, Leavesden, along with other Harry Potter filming locations as Michelle is a huge fan.
If you're like me, a book nerd who wants to see London but have spent years storming from A to B around London so fast that it becomes nothing but a blur, or if you're travelling to London like Michelle, here are some places you might want to add to your itineraries, including Michelle's thoughts.
Daunt Bookstore, London Marylebone
This gorgeous Edwardian bookstore was built in 1912 and is considered to be the world's first purpose-built bookshop after Francis Edwards moved his antique book business into 83 Marylebone High Street in 1860. The Edwards moved out in the 1970s, and Pharos Books moved in in 1982 before it was purchased by James Daunt in 1989.
The store boasts stained glassed windows and skylights, and oak bannisters and herringbone floors, and is still considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in London.
Michelle's Thoughts:
"This gem was such a pleasant surprise! You can’t tell from the outside what beauty is hidden inside. There are different levels to explore and a gorgeous staircase leading you upstairs to the sunlit glassed windows. Yes, of course we shopped for books while we were there, but the spectacular design is what I’ll remember and boast about whenever someone asks me what bookstore is a must-see in London."
Waterstones, Piccadilly
Not only does this flagship store in Piccadilly consist of 6 floors, it stretches over eight miles of bookshelves and is considered to be Europe's largest bookstore.
We loved the growing selection of independent books here.
Michelle's Thoughts:
"This bookstore felt like a literary museum of sorts for me. It was so fun to explore all the different levels, some of which even had café bars or restaurants. This place had everything a book lover could want! So many beautiful shelves, covered in a type of tapestry, which I may just need to DYI on mine at home. There was even a selection of independent books that we marveled at. The staff was so helpful and friendly and even if we got lost once or twice, it was more of the dream quality than nightmarish. I think we could have spent half a day exploring the books there."
Cecil Court
A unique little street, filled only with old little boutique book stores, some of which haven't had their store fronts changed in over 100 years. This is also the road that apparently inspired Diagon Alley, in Harry Potter. My video didn't do this little street any justice, so here's another I found on YouTube, which includes a very interesting background about the street.
Michelle's Thoughts:
"One thing I kept admiring during my trip to London is all the gorgeous store fronts and old buildings. Everywhere you look is one stunning shop after another. People must have thought me silly to be taking pictures of a post office or a grocery store front, but some of them are just so unique! Walking down Cecil Court was like an outlet mall but for books. Everywhere you looked was a window display of books, some old, some newer. There’s something for everyone."
Word on the Water
A gorgeous treasure bookstore that floats not too far from Kings Cross St Pancreas. How unique is that? We didn't get a chance to go here, unfortunately, as we had walked over 20,000 steps on the first day and were feeling extremely tired. But it's on my list if bookish places to visit. Here's a video I found on YouTube of the floating bookshop.
The British Library
The British Library is one of the largest libraries in the world and hold manuscripts and literary items that date back as far as 2000 BC.
Whilst we couldn't enter some of the rooms, we were able to see some of the original works of historic writers and their notes, original book binding and printing, and more.
I should have done my research, however, as what I expected to see was the large library with the big dome as seen in a range of films. If that's what you want to see, then be sure to visit The British Museum Library - this is a completely different building at an entirely different location from The British Library - they are not the same thing, as I now know.
Michelle's Thoughts:
"This building was definitely impressive! The stunning massive display of bookshelves standing guard in the middle of the building almost as a pillar holding up the ceiling was spectacular to see. I so wish we could have stepped inside and inhaled the scent of what must be century old manuscripts, but this wasn’t possible. The exposition they had open at the time was a nice surprise to walk through time and see how books used to be made. As book lovers and writers, this was particularly on-point! Also, I just want to take a moment to appreciate the level of delicate and precise cursive penmanship, a skill I wish would still be taught in schools. It was easy to appreciate and admire these old tomes and historic pieces."
Oxfordshire Literary Legends and Landmarks Tour
This literary tour took us to so many places across Oxfordshire that inspired Narnia, Middle Earth and Wonderland. Writers including J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Caroll, T.S. Elliott, Kenneth Grahame and more are known to have been inspired by many of the locations and buildings around Oxford. In the slideshow below, you'll find Christ Church, where Harry Potter first learns to ride a broom, and its gorgeous gardens. You'll notice the "Bridge of Sighs" that connects two main buildings of Hertford College in Oxfordshire that inspired a part of the Hogwarts building. You'll see the college where J.R.R. Tolkien taught, and the dome on the Radcliffe Camera which inspired Sauron's Temple for Morgoth in The Lord of The Rings. We also saw the Bodleian Library (known as the Hogwarts Library for Harry Potter fans). The Library also serves as the Infirmary in the Harry Potter films. Whilst visitors can enter the Infirmary at no cost, the rest of the library is only accessible as part of a tour. Unfortunately for us, the entire library was closed on the day we went so we were unable to go inside. We purchased the Oxford's Literary Legends and Landmarks" A Self-Guided Tour.
Michelle's Thoughts:
"This tour was so fun! We had flexibility to spend as much time as we wanted at each location. Great photo ops too! As a huge Harry Potter fan, I marveled at the stunning architecture and can definitely understand how a writer could find inspiration there. Everywhere we looked were gorgeous buildings and landscapes. We strolled around Christ Church, appreciating the fall coloured vines climbing the stone structure and even walked past a pasture with cows. We walked down cobblestone streets, pondering who had walked these same streets before us."
Harry Potter Filming Locations
For Harry Potter fans, the sights we visited included:
Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross
St Pancras International (where Weasley’s Ford flies across in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
the gorgeous Leadenhall Market (used as the exterior to Diagon Alley)
St Paul's Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, and Westminster featured in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. St. Paul’s Cathedral is also used as the Geometrical Staircase in the Prisoner of Azkaban
Black Park, in Hillingdon (where Voldermort drinks the blood of a unicorn in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)
as well as the HP Oxfordshire locations above!
We also visited The Making of Harry Potter at the Warner Brothers Studios in Leavesden - which receives over 6,000 visitors a day at peak times. The studio was unreal, and includes the sets, costumes, and props that were used in the production of the Harry Potter film series. This would make an inspiring experience for any reader and writer.
Michelle's Thoughts:
"I absolutely loved hunting down all the HP inspired locations and filming locations! I felt like a giddy child on Christmas morning. Harry Potter, for me is the perfect mix for my interest in literary works and film, but also about good defeating evil and light winning over darkness. As I’ve just introduced the series to my eldest daughter, it was so fun to go to the actual sites and stand for pictures to be able to show her once I got home.
The WB studio tour was exceptional! I had not expected this level of access into the HP world. At times, I was so overwhelmed, I got emotional and felt on the edge of tears. So many times, I had to pause and collect myself. It didn’t feel real. The sets were beautifully made with so much attention to detail it puts other movies to shame. Every single glass bottle had a handwritten label, every piece of furniture had been built and worn to appear older and used. The costumes were stunning and so fun to see in real life! It was like walking down memory lane.
Another remarkable feature of the tour, that wasn’t as splashy as the rest perhaps but just as impressive, was the architecture’s corner (not it’s real name, but one I’m calling it for reference). This was probably the smallest of displays, but it held plans of structures, models of buildings, binders and binders full of over 500 plans used to create the world of HP. The sets of the Great Hall and Gringotts’s bank (before and after destruction) were absolutely insane! It was hard to take in all the details. I still can’t believe I got to walk through all of it. The tour also provides a break half-way where you can taste Butterbeer and walk through various sets such as The Knight Bus, The Covered Bridge, The Dursley’s house, and the Greenhouse before the grand finally of the largest model; Hogwarts. I may have shed some tears here. Seeing this magnificent castle in all its glory was a dream come true."
Cotswolds
Cotswolds is beautiful, and just an hour's drive from Oxfordshire, so why not? We visited the beautiful Bibury and Bourton-on-the-Water. Tolkien and his family frequently visited Cotswolds, and it is said that various locations inspired his later writing. Stow-on-the-Wold was also on the list but due to timing, we didn't have the chance to visit. St Edwards Church, in Stow-on-the-Wold has a small wooden door encased with two large trees on each side, which is said to have inspired the doors at the entrance of the Mines of Moria in Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings. The Bell Inn, in Moreton-in-Marsh is also said to have been Tolkien's inspiration for The Prancing Pony pub from his books. Just outside of Moreton-in-Marsh is the Four Shire Stone - a 16th Century stone that marked the meeting place of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire, which is said to have inspired The Three Farthing Stone, in Lord of The Rings.
Michelle's Thoughts:
"This village was gorgeous! We arrived a little late, so we didn’t get to spend much time here but I loved walking past the little stone houses. Smoke was coming out of chimneys and the small doors were painted in a mint green. White swans swam in the lazy river, and we had to walk over a bridge to reach the stone houses. It was definitely charming and peaceful there and made for great pictures!"
About Michelle:
Michelle Young is a Canadian author of multiple books. She has been featured in The Globe and Mail, appeared on television and podcasts, and is passionately seeking new ways to bring invisible battles into the light through her stories. Young lives in the country on the outskirts of Ottawa with her family.
Follow Michelle on Instagram and Facebook
@michelleyoungauthor
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