This summer, my family and I traveled to Europe for the first time. We went to all the popular European countries one would expect tourists to go to: England, France, Germany, Austria, Czechia, and technically Denmark. (I say technically because we spent a few hours in the Copenhagen Airport while waiting for our second flight).

But our motivation—that was entirely different. You see, we had planned for this journey to revolve around literature, researching and jotting down all the sites and birthplaces of my favorite classic novels. In the weeks preceding our flight to England, which would be the starting point of it all, I went over the classic books that I’d read, cataloging them in my mind and preparing for the long exploration ahead.

England

My mother, my father, and I began our expedition in none other than England, home to the dapper British gentleman and literary legends like Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, and the Brontë sisters. We arrived at Gatwick Airport in the afternoon, if I remember correctly, and I was promptly astonished by the dilapidated state of the interior. I was actually quite shocked by how dirty the entirety of London was, but I shouldn’t have been, since I’d been warned by multiple sources about it.

After arriving, we traveled to Central London by train, and shortly after arriving at our hotel, my dad and I ventured out on foot to eat at a traditional British restaurant. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the food I ate there was the worst I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. What they say is indeed true: Do NOT eat British food in Britain. Except maybe tea and bread. Their tea was quite good.

That said, England has many sites that are important to literary history, which was the focus of our trip. We visited numerous sites while in England, and I’ll discuss the locations and corresponding books I read throughout our time there.

1. 221B Baker Street

Book: The Adventures & The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Ah, the one and only 221B Baker Street: the legendary residence of Mr. Sherlock Holmes. The whole thing was set up beautifully. It’s an authentic flat on Baker Street, surrounded by other apartments with people living in them. It’s hard to miss because, on the outside, there are signs near the windows that have “Sherlock Holmes” written on them and, of course, tons of tourists milling about. There’s a guard outside that you can take a picture with, and they provide Holmesian hats for you to wear in the photo.

Inside the two-story flat, the first floor is a gift shop that has anything a Holmes fan could desire, ranging from little key chains to Sherlock (the British show) posters. We bought our tickets there so that we could go upstairs and explore the rooms up close. The way they have it set up is absolutely amazing! There’s Holmes’ chair, Watson’s chair, and also Sherlock’s violin along with his chemistry sets, letters, and other belongings. If you’re a Sherlock Holmes fan, which I’m sure you are, then you will NOT be disappointed in 221B Baker Street, London, England.

2. Brontё Parsonage Museum

Book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontё, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontё

I loved this place so so so much. The Museum is just the Brontёs’ property, including the house they grew up in and the moors that stretch far behind it. It’s located in Haworth, which is a quaint little English town that you can reach only by taking multiple trains from London. Or, at least, that’s how we got there.

It took the entire day to go there and come back to our place in London. The moors behind the house are like something right out of Wuthering Heights, and it’s easy to imagine Heathcliff and Catherine playing there as children.

3. Bodleian Library of Oxford University + Monk’s House

Book: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien + Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

It’s a good idea to stay in Oxford because it is in close proximity to several literary destinations. From there we went to two of our other sites: Stratford-on-Avon, for Shakespeare, and Monk’s House in East Sussex, for Virginia Woolf. I got some nice Middle-Earth themed trinkets at the Bodleian Library, including a special kind of bookmark that a lot of places in England seemed to sell.

Monk’s House held a similar atmosphere to the Brontё Parsonage Museum, except darker and more melancholy. The house itself is beautiful and looked after by volunteers, who are very informed on Virginia Woolf’s history, and answer any questions that you may have for them. While my family didn’t have the time, I think it would be nice to take a walk on the trails that are set up behind the house. They provide a good view of the green hills in the town and also a breath of fresh air.

4. Stratford-on-Avon/The Globe Theatre

Plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

Stratford-on-Avon and Globe Theatre are a must-see for any Shakespeare fans out there. A lot of tourists come to Stratford-on-Avon, unlike most the other places (except 221B Baker Street). The town itself is very nice, with a lot of food stalls throughout the streets so that you can’t go hungry.

We got to see Shakespeare’s actual childhood home and even saw the exact room that he was born in. It was entertaining to go on a tour in the Globe Theatre, which lasted for about an hour. They give you detailed information on the history of the Theatre and answer any questions about it.

When I went on the tour I actually saw actors practicing for the plays. The Globe still functions as any other theatre to this day, with an extensive play schedule that can be found on their home website. I learned on the tour that the theatre is casting a more diverse array of actors for their plays, so that a greater number of women and people of different ethnicities can audition. The plays are quite popular and tickets usually sell out, according to my tour guide.

5. Charles Dickens Museum

Book: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

If I had to choose a least favorite place, it’d be the Charles Dickens Museum. It’s not that the site itself was badly run—all the literary spots in England are impressively managed. I just think that the location was the least exciting since it was right smack in the middle of London. I suppose there was something underwhelming about exploring a historical site in such a modern climate; it felt surreal. But, it doesn’t take a lot of trouble to visit the museum, so I would still definitely go here, because Charles Dickens has written many literary masterpieces.

My Overall Thoughts on England

Well, I’m going to be very, very honest with you. London is dirty, crowded, and dirty. But would I go to London again? Absolutely. While I may have spotted a rat in the tragic Underground Metro, I did sense the charm that the City of London holds, and the fascinating and long history behind those cobblestone streets.

I only spent a week in England but I think that there is so much more to explore and learn in London, especially that complex British accent I tried to copy and failed. I know I could grow to hate the noise, but I do want to try living in a London flat for a couple years and see how I like it.

With metropolises like London, it’s important to really dig down and immerse yourself into the soul of the city. Otherwise, you can’t really feel it. I got an inkling of that peculiar emotion you get when you’re in a large city with hundreds of people milling around about you, and you realize you could do anything and be alone, but to really earn all that London has to offer me, I’d for sure have to be with her for a much longer while.