Fiction has the power to transport us to other worlds. As they say, truth is stranger than fiction, and you may not know that, more often than not, the fictional worlds you love are based on real places, and you can explore these real places from fiction. Yes, even Derry from the hit novel IT!
Visit Events in Your City or Country
Not all fictional places set in the real world are located on a bustling city street or windswept moor. Some are created by enthusiasts and ride operators as attractions for the fans. Harry Potter and Jurassic Park exhibitions are a perfect example. When visiting these places, it is best to travel light and use the services for left luggage at the British Museum and other spots around London. Further to London, this rich city is home to many iconic places from classic literature.
Stay at the Real Places from Fictional Stories
Because many of the iconic locations from the books you love are set in the real world, you can stay there! Perhaps you can’t stay in the actual places, but there are many hotels in and around unique places related to the world’s greatest books and movies. Disney is all too keen to capitalize on this and make your Star Wars and Marvel dreams come true. When it opened, Avengers Campus pushed Disneyland Paris visitors to over 16.1 million, breaking their record.
Choose a Theme for Your Trip
Taking a trip to a far-flung fictional location helps bring you closer to the stories you love. Whether it’s a TV set like Friends or Gilmore Girls, a theme park such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or an inn on the Yorkshire Moors for Emily Bronte fans. These are stunning places to visit on their own. But getting fully immersed in an unforgettable experience brings your trip to a whole new level. Lose yourself and get stuck in by theming your trip around the subject matter.
Enjoy the Immersion as a Group
There’s no rule stating that you can’t solo trip to the places you love based on your favorite stories. But there is so much fun to be had when you go with a group of like-minded and appreciative fans. Friends, family, and organized strangers alike, you will have tons of fun getting to know other people with the same interests. This also gives you the chance to discuss the books you enjoy and debate varying perspectives and interpretations of classic stories.
Choose the Best Real Places from Fictional Stories
There are literally millions of places in the world’s best-selling stories. Many are purely inspired, while others are almost entirely exactly the same as their real-life counterparts. These are the best locations to visit, and many of them remain unchanged today. Here are some of the best:
- Great Maytham Hall: The inspiration for The Secret Garden
- Fort House: The inspiration for Bleak House
- Ashdown Forest: The inspiration for the 100 Acre Wood in Winnie the Pooh
- Moat Brae: The inspiration for Neverland in Peter Pan
- The Pump Rooms: The inspiration for Northanger Abbey
- Top Withens: The inspiration for Wuthering Heights
- The Hotel Bristol: The inspiration for Malory Towers
- Baker Street: The inspiration for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson
You may agree that almost all of the best places from classic literature are from British stories such as in Dickensian London. Of course, the US, Romania and Germany are full of locations from creepy stories such as Poe’s Boston, Transylvania (Dracula) and Ingolstadt (Frankenstein).
Check Busy Times to Avoid Disappointment
Some of the greatest stories ever told, of course, have millions of fans worldwide. Because of this, the real-world places they are based can attract a lot of visitors. Owners and operators are usually keen to cash in on this and hold tours of famous locations from popular books. One such example is 221B Baker Street in London, famous as Sherlock Holmes’ residence from Arthur Conan Doyle’s immortal series. Today, it sits as the official Holmes Museum, ready for your visit.
Learn About the Real Story Behind the Fiction
When you love a specific story or even an author, it can border on obsession. Stephen King could probably command an army! Yet as immersive as some of the stories we love are, they sometimes aren’t enough and we crave more. There are some ways to feel closer to the books we love. This includes learning about the inspiration for them and how they came about, which is often as fascinating as the stories themselves, such as King’s inspiration for The Shining.
Real Places from Fictional Stories as a Gift
Maybe you love fiction and literature, and perhaps you don’t. But it is almost guaranteed there is someone in your life who thinks they are a Hufflepuff, dreams of a galaxy far, far away, or would love to live in Victorian England. Books such as those by Dickens are among the most popular, and even in 1852, Bleak House was selling 32,000 copies each month. Today, Dickens is as popular as ever, and gifts such as museum or tour tickets make a wonderful gesture to a fan.
Support the Continued Efforts of Volunteers
Getting to the places you have dreamed of from your favorite stories is a dream come true. And as popular as some of these places are, the fact is they often hold on by a thread. Waning interest in some authors means attractions such as the Poe museum are in jeopardy as they rely on donations. You can support the ongoing efforts of passionate volunteers who keep the past and dreams alive by visiting these places and leaving donations so they can keep going.
Summary
Getting out to special events such as the Jurassic World Exhibit is one way to explore real places from fictional stories you love. However, there are also real world places you can visit and even stay that were the inspiration for classics such as Wuthering Heights. The museums and tours, such as Holmes, Dickensian and Poe can’t survive without the ongoing support of fans.