Over the years (and even the centuries), UK holiday destinations have served as not just a relaxing escape for anyone looking to get away from it all, but as fertile grounds for the imaginations of writers of all kinds. With beautiful landscapes, a rich history, and unique cultural traditions, it’s no wonder that top holiday spots around the UK have served as inspiration for countless exciting and fascinating stories.

Under the current circumstances, of course, you won't be able to pay a visit to these locations yourself unless you live very close by – but why not look up some of these authors' books if you have some extra free time right now and let their words take you on a journey instead? Holiday Destinations of Famous Authors

Enid Blyton 's Dorset

Enid Blyton's quintessentially English adventure stories of the Famous Five were inspired by her own holidays in Dorset during her childhood and beyond, particularly within the evocative landscapes of the peninsula romantically known as the Isle of Purbeck. Her charming tales of excitement and mystery grew organically from her love of the county's gorgeous scenery, rich range of wildlife (she particularly loved nature), and friendly people.

Many of Dorset’s landmarks pop up in her stories under different names, such as Corfe Castle, which is believed to have inspired Kirrin Castle in the first Famous Five book, Five on a Treasure Island. Other real-life places which show up in the novels include the Blue Pool at Furzebrook, Brownsea Island, and Kimmeridge Bay.

Rosamunde Pilcher 's cornwall

Though not exactly a household name in the UK, Rosamunde Pilcher wrote many romance and family novels set in the Cornwall of the past, usually around the 1920s and 1940s. Oddly enough she is particularly well known in Germany due to TV adaptations of her stories, and an influx of German tourists to Cornwall in recent decades can be attributed to her.

Pilcher adored the rugged coastal cliffs, peaceful fishing villages and beautiful beaches in Cornwall where she had grown up, and used them as a backdrop for countless nostalgic stories of life in the past. Born in the village of Lelant in St Ives, she had an enduring love for this spectacular county. Favourite holiday destinations of authors

Beatrix Potter 's lake district

Childhood holidays in the wild setting of the Lake District inspired the now-classic children’s stories of Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggywinkle, and the other loveable animal protagonists that graced the pages of Beatrix Potter’s books. Stemming from a love of the Lake District’s landscapes, flora and fauna, she developed an interest in the science of natural history, and eventually her illustrations led to her penning the first of her famous stories, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, an instant success on its release. From the proceeds she began to buy property in the area, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Of course, it wasn’t just Beatrix Potter whose imagination was sparked by these stunning landscapes – a diverse range of literary giants found inspiration in the Lake District, including Arthur Ransome, author of the Swallows and Amazons books, Victorian art critic and philosopher John Ruskin, and famed poet William Wordsworth (whose factual yet evocative Guide through the District of the Lakes is thought to have caused the first mass tourism to the area).

Whether you’re a fan of any of these authors or have perhaps found inspiration in the UK’s landscapes yourself, there’s no denying that there are some truly beautiful and evocative places to visit when we take our holidays.


Words by Kate Thompson.