Reading is one of the best, most relaxing activities one can do. Of course, Britain has a massive wealth of literature and great writers stretching back hundreds of years. With all the museums in the country, you can guarantee that a number of them are dedicated to these literary greats. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, it does draw attention to some of the best scattered about the UK. If you’re a fan of one of these authors, you may want to stop here.
Jane Austen’s House Museum – Chawton
One of the greatest authors of the 19th century and one of the first truly prolific female writers in Britain, Jane Austen is credited with creating some of the greatest social commentaries of her time. Formerly a public house before it was let to her brother, Edward Austen Knight, as a place to live after her father had died and the family left Bath. It is said that she revised her novels Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Northanger Abbey here, as well as writing Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Emma. The museum has a number of exhibits not only dedicated to her works, but also the time in which they were written and can feature anything including lacemaking, bookmaking, and bonnet crafting. What’s more, the Learning Centre houses interactive exhibits that can let visitors get inside her creative mind.
Visiting Information
The house is open daily, except in January and February when it is only open on the weekends. Hours vary based on the season but generally it’s open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The house is a very popular tourist attraction, so we recommend arriving early in the hopes that you avoid a tour bus crowd. The house is quite small, and it gets crowded quite quickly when a tour bus arrives. The house will also be closed completely in January and February 2017 as the house prepares for Austen Bicentennial Celebrations. There’s a small shop on site where you can find ample Austen books and souvenirs. Across the street is a lovely tea room worth a stop if you’re hungry after exploring the house. Chawton is a bit of a remote village, so you’ll need a rental car to reach it unless you come on one of the aforementioned guided tours.
The Writers’ Museum – Edinburgh
Scotland has given the world its fair share of legendary scribes, and the Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh is dedicated to their lives and works. Walking through a passageway next to Deacon Brodies Tavern on the Royal Mile, you’ll find the museum in Lady Stair’s House in the Lawnmarket. The museum focuses on three of Scotland’s best: Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Sir Walter Scott. It houses collections dedicated not only to their writings but to items from their lives that inspired them. The museum has regular events where performers bring some of the works to life. There are also plenty of opportunities for children to learn through games and activities, so it can be a great destination for the whole family.
Visiting Information
The Writers’ Museum is located in Edinburgh’s Old Town and is easily accessible by foot. Admission is free. They are open daily and general opening times are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and on Sunday 12-5 p.m. There is not an on-site cafe, but there is a small gift shop.
Charles Dickens Museum – London
Another home of a famous writer, the Charles Dickens Museum in London was his residence from 1837 to 1839. The building was actually set for demolition in 1923, but the Dickens Fellowship saved it by purchasing the property and converting it into a museum. Inside, visitors can find exhibits dedicated to the themes of his novels, his wife Catherine, and his literary tours as well as events such as festivals, Dickensian walks, and live readings by lookalikes (much as Dickens would do himself). There’s also a peaceful garden café where you can sit with one of his books and enjoy it with some nice cakes. A visit here is very much a trip back in time and a window into what inspired one of the greatest writers of the 19th century.
Visiting Information
The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. They are always closed on Monday unless it is a Bank Holiday Monday. Admission to the museum is now on a timed entry system, so we advise booking your time and place in advance on their website (http://dickensmuseum.com/). Admission charges are £9 (about $15) for adults and £4 for children (about $6).
Bronte Parsonage Museum – West Yorkshire
Along with Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters were some of the best female authors in the early 19th century, and nearly all of them produced a memorable novel or two. The home in which the museum is located was originally the parsonage for St Michael and All Angels Church in Haworth, where their father, Patrick Bronte, was the pastor. Run by the Bronte Society, the museum is as much about the lives of the Bronte family as it is about the daughters’ novels. The museum continues the family’s literary legacy by sponsoring a contemporary arts programme to encourage current and future writers. Anyone who visits will be magically transported into the lives of Emily, Anne, and Charlotte, coming away with an even greater understanding of their works.
Visiting Information
The Museum and shop are open daily, usually from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (though open until 5:30 p.m. in the summer). Admission is £7.50 for adults (about $11) and £3.85 for children (about $5). Haworth is rather remote and will require a car to visit. A drive through the Yorkshire hills will always be a joy.
Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – Great Missenden
This is a great museum for children and adults alike. The works of Roald Dahl have touched many lives. The museum has exhibits covering all his works from the BFG to Matilda, as well as interesting facets of the author’s life, including his co-development of the Wade-Dahl-Till Valve to treat hydrocephalus. The galleries feature important moments from Dahl’s childhood that would inspire his works, a replica of his famous writing chair, and the author’s time serving in the RAF during World War II. With his life being as exciting and interesting as his stories, the Roald Dahl Museum is one of the best literary museums in Britain. Be sure to check out their upcoming events to see what might be most fun for you and your family.
Visiting Information
The museum is open Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is £6.60 (about $9) for adults and children are £4.40 (about $6). The museum is located Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire and is easily accessible by train; the museum is a lovely short walk from the station.
I used to live 5 minutes away from Jane Austin’s house and oh how I took it for granted, only went around it once.
I now live on Vancouver Island, Canada, it is beautiful here but I miss the wonderful history of my homeland.