England is home to some of the most iconic writers in literary history. Visiting their historic homes offers a fascinating glimpse into their lives and works. From Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon to Charles Dickens’ charming residence in London, each house tells their unique story, their legacy. Read on to explore the homes and birthplaces of some of England’s most celebrated writers who created some of the world’s most beloved works of literature.
William Shakespeare – Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire
Visit the birthplace of the world’s greatest playwright in the charming market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, nestled on the banks of the River Avon in Warwickshire. Shakespeare’s birthplace, a half-timbered house on Henley Street, immerses visitors into the Elizabethan era, with a picturesque backdrop of the quaint, rural town that provided the foundation for the UK’s established history of literary excellence.
William Shakespeare, born in 1564, lived in Stratford Upon Avon for most of his life, meeting and marrying his wife, Anne Hathaway, in the town, and starting a family there. Later in life, Shakespeare moved to London to fulfil his career as a playwright and poet, but Stratford Upon Avon was the inspiration for many of his most famous works, including The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night.
Visitors to Shakespeare’s Henley Street home can explore exhibits detailing his family, his formative years, and the global legacy of his work. The town is also home to other significant Shakespearean landmarks, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (the home of his wife), and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Charles Dickens – Doughty Street, London
Visit Charles Dickens’ house on the broad, tree-lined avenue of Doughty Street in King’s Cross to explore the very home where one of the 19th century’s greatest writers created captivating and endearing stories of redemption, resilience, and retribution on a backdrop of Victorian era London.
Charles Dickens, born in 1812, is renowned for his lifetime of works as a journalist, social critic, novelist, and short story writer. He created some of literature’s most well-known characters including Ebenezer Scrooge and the Artful Dodger.
Dickens’ home at 48 Doughty Street, where he wrote one of his most acclaimed novels, Oliver Twist, now operates as the Charles Dickens Museum and is open to the public all year round from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
Jane Austen – Chawton, Hampshire
Visit Jane Austen’s home in the quintessential English village of Chawton to step back in time into a world of dowries, social hierarchy, and the famous Mr Darcy.
Jane Austen, born in 1775, is universally celebrated as a shrewd social observer, a moralist, a comic genius, and one of the greatest novelists of all time. Austen lived in this quaint little cottage in Chawton, Hampshire for the final eight years of her life, and wrote and revised all six of her major, globally beloved novels here: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park.
Today, Austen’s cottage is a public museum, along with Chawton House, a much larger neighbouring property which was owned by Austen’s brother during her lifetime. The museum is open daily, with opening hours which differ slightly season to season. Visitors can explore rooms filled with personal artifacts, original manuscripts, and exhibits that provide a deeper understanding of Austen’s life and enduring legacy.
