London has been home to some of the greatest writers who have ever lived. The city provided a backdrop for some of the most memorable characters ever created, and it inspired some of the best literature ever penned, from the wonderful novels of Woolf to the perfect poetry of Wordsworth and the gripping insights of Dickens.
A literary tour of London is an excellent way to explore the city; however, with so many options to choose from, knowing where to start (and stop) can be tricky. The following highlights offer great insight into the British capital’s bookish history.
Top Page-Turners
If you have just a few hours to dedicate to literary London, there are three key points of interest that can provide an excellent overview.
Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey
Commemorating the most celebrated literary figures from the country at large, Poets’ Corner in the South Transept of Westminster Abbey is a moving monument to the all-time greats. Numerous writers are interred here, including ‘father of English literature’ Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400), the poet and author who wrote The Canterbury Tales, and Charles Dickens (1812–70), one of the greatest novelists of all time.
Many other writers have memorials in the form of slabs, busts, and monuments, including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne), TS Eliot, William Wordsworth, Elizabeth Browning, Robert Burns, CS Lewis, Oscar Wilde, and John Keats. That these common folk are interred and memorialised in the most important religious building in the country is a mark of the lofty esteem in which they’re held.
The British Library
A mesmerising trove of written wonders, the British Library is a compulsory stop for all bibliophiles and literature lovers. Containing between 150 million and 200 million items from around the world, including around 14 million books, it’s by far the largest national library on the planet, boasting about 400 miles of shelf space – about twice the distance between London and Paris.
Treasures include copies of the Magna Carta and Shakespeare’s First Folio, Da Vinci’s notebook, original handwritten Beatles lyrics, 3000-year-old Chinese oracle bones, and a first edition of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
Charing Cross Road Bookshops
Charing Cross Road, which meanders through the buzzing heart of London’s West End, is packed with bookshops, making for a wonderful amble. The northern section, from Cambridge Circus to Tottenham Court Road, features general outlets, including the mighty Foyles (London’s most famous bookshop). Further south, you can leaf through specialist and secondhand bookshops, like Watkins on atmospheric Cecil Court, which contains everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the occult.
Other notable bookshops in London include Jarndyce, which stocks all manner of antiquarian titles near the British Museum; Persephone Books, focusing on female writers from the 20th century; and children’s bookshop Tales on Moon Lane in Herne Hill.
Writers and Works: The Best of the Best
Many world-famous writers have lived in London and/or been inspired by it; therefore, while we’d need an encyclopedia to give them all the attention they deserve, we can highlight a few literary giants.
Not of an Age, But for All Time: William Shakespeare
Shakespeare (1564–1616) is widely regarded as the best playwright of all time. He emerged as the preeminent figure during a golden literary age for London, alongside contemporaries like Edmund Spenser, John Donne, and Ben Jonson. Born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, he moved to the capital in his 20s. Over the next couple of decades, Shakespeare wrote many plays, including masterpieces like Hamlet, Othello, and Macbeth. His work was immediately acclaimed by Londoners, including Queen Elizabeth, and was mostly performed at the Globe Theatre in present-day Southwark, built by Shakespeare’s own company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.
The original Globe was destroyed by fire in 1613; however, a reconstruction called Shakespeare’s Globe, complete with a medieval-style open roof, opened in 1997 and has been a major success, with its performances of the Bard’s plays generally selling out. Nearby, Southwark Cathedral features a stained-glass window dedicated to the great man.
Pepys and Johnson: Sam Sam but Different
London has endured some tumultuous times throughout its long history; however, the decade of 1660–70 was particularly eventful, marked by the Restoration, the Great Plague, and the Great Fire, which devastated the medieval City. Samuel Pepys (1633–1703) lived through it all and kept a highly detailed, entertaining diary. Pepys’ Diary is now one of the most celebrated works of English literature, containing eyewitness accounts of these significant events. The diary itself can be seen in Cambridge’s Magdalene College.
Samuel Johnson (1709–84), known as Dr Johnson, had an insatiable interest in the English language. His genius resulted in some of the most important literary works ever produced, including A Dictionary of the English Language, considered by many a monumental scholarly achievement. You can discover more about him at his former residence, Dr Johnson’s House.
Masters of the Verse: Keats, Blake, and Wordsworth
London has not escaped the discerning eye of poets, particularly during the Romantic era (roughly 1800–50). John Keats (1795–1821), born in London, wrote several famous odes around the city, including Ode on a Grecian Urn, inspired by Greek antiquities he admired in the British Museum. He was inspired to write Ode to a Nightingale after hearing one sing from the garden of his home, now known as Keats House, at the edge of Hampstead Heath.
William Wordsworth (1770–1850) never lived in London but famously wrote one of the most beloved poems about it during his visits. Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802, describes the city’s beauty at dawn. Similarly, William Blake (1757–1827), also born in London, is now revered as a key figure of the Romantic era. His famous poem London critiques the society of the Industrial Revolution.
However, when it comes to social commentary on 19th-century London, one name towers above all others…
The Inimitable Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was the most prolific writer of the Victorian era, producing 15 novels and five novellas, mostly set in London. This tumultuous period saw the Industrial Revolution lead to growth and severe poverty, conveyed impactfully in his second novel, Oliver Twist. Other notable works featuring Victorian London include A Tale of Two Cities, Little Dorrit, and A Christmas Carol, introducing the timeless character Ebenezer Scrooge. The Charles Dickens Museum, located in his former home, is the best place to connect with the literary genius.
Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Set
Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) was a celebrated author of the early 20th century, with works like Mrs Dalloway influencing the feminist movement. Originally from Kensington, she became part of the Bloomsbury Group, a collective of influential intellectuals and artists. The garden squares and elegant terraces of Bloomsbury have remained largely unchanged, and visitors can find the author’s former residence at Gordon Square, marked by a blue plaque.
Contemporary Literature in London
London’s literary scene continues to thrive, attracting contemporary writers like Zadie Smith, Peter Ackroyd, and Will Self. Literary events, such as the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, are as integral to the culture as the iconic Thames.
Characterful Locations
Some fictional London characters have been so convincingly portrayed that they now form a part of the cityscape.
In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books, the famed detective resides at 221B Baker Street, where you can immerse yourself in his world at the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
To the southwest, in Kensington Gardens, stands a charming statue of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan. Barrie himself commissioned the bronze sculpture in 1912, making it seem as if it was placed by fairies for the delight of children.
In Paddington train station, you will find a delightful statue of Paddington Bear, the creation of Michael Bond, while south in Chelsea, the former residence of PL Travers at 50 Smith Street served as inspiration for the Banks’ family home in her stories.
Finally, we cannot forget Harry Potter’s connections to London, particularly at Kings Cross station, where young wizards dash through a brick wall to access platform 9¾ for the Hogwarts Express. This magical spot has become a significant attraction, highlighting the impact of London’s literary heritage.
