London is a city that’s inspired so many novelists and poets over the years, and now it’s a city that’s packed full of literary attractions, making it the perfect destination for any book lovers.
Here are some must-see literary attractions in London. Walk in the footsteps of your favourite authors, stroll through the settings of your favourite books, even drink in the same bars as some of the biggest figures in literary history.
If you want to explore London’s literary history whilst grabbing a drink though, check out our article on London’s greatest literary pubs.
1: Shakespeare’s Globe
For any Shakespeare fans visiting London, this is a must-see. Whilst it’s the not the original globe theatre, as that was destroyed by a fire in 1613, the modern reconstruction is styled on the original, and is bound to throw you back in time.
Located on the South Bank of the Thames, the area surrounding the Globe has an amazing atmosphere. There are buskers and street artists all around, markets to browse and quaint little cafes and restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat.
As for the Globe itself, if you can, catch a performance of one of Shakespeare’s plays. It’s unlike any theatre you’ve been to before. In order to keep the Globe authentic, as it would have been in Shakespeare’s time, the general admission area has no seats, and is instead a large standing area. Standing to watch a play might sound a little tiresome, and it might not be the most luxurious of theatres, but it’s definitely an experience. Plus, you’ll be as close to the action as you can get, with actors taking the performance off the stage and into the crowd.
Don’t worry though, if you don’t fancy standing, you can always pay a little more the circle seats. This is where the more wealthy families would have sat to watch Shakespeare’s plays.
If you don’t have the time to fit in a play at the Globe, it’s still worth a visit. You can still see some of the globe, and explore the Shakespeare shop.
2: Sherlock Holmes Museum
Whether you’ve read Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books, or you’ve just seen the film and television adaptions, the Sherlock Holmes Museum is the perfect place to visit.
The museum is located, of course, at 221B Baker Street (the world’s most famous address), so you can visit the actual home of the world-famous fictional detective.
There are life size wax works of Sherlock Holmes, and rooms showcasing some of the adventures of Holmes and Watson. You’ll have the chance to step into a recreation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s world, and do some deduction of your own. And you won’t be disappointed with the souvenir shop either!
3: The British Library
Any book lover will want to visit the world’s largest library, The British Library. There are over 150 million items catalogued from all over the world, some as old as 4,000 years old. There are even original copies of Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Jane Eyre and so much more.
Whilst you can’t explore the entire library, as much of it is underground, it’s still an impressive sight to see. As soon as you walk in, you’ll spot the six-story glass column in the middle of the library, containing 65,000 of some of the library’s oldest and most important items.
4: Keats House
This house, where John Keats once lived and wrote Ode To A Nightingale, is just across from the Keats Museum.
You can attend one of the many literary events and exhibitions held here, or if there’s nothing on on the day of your visit, there’s an impressive collection of items that give a little insight into Keats’ life. From Keats’ letters, to the engagement ring he gave his fiancee, there’s plenty for you to see and discover.
5: The Garden Squares Of Bloomsbury
Open, green spaces offer a welcome break from London’s mostly urban environment. And the Garden Squares of Bloomsbury are one of the most idyllic green spaces London has to offer, especially for literary fanatics and aspiring writers.
The Gardens are famous for being the meeting place of many writers and artists in the 1920s and 30s, in fact it was the meeting place of the famous Bloomsbury Group. Several famous writers also had homes around the gardens. You can enjoy the beautiful gardens and the fountain plaza, and walk in the footsteps of famous writers, including Mary and Percy Shelley, Virginia Woolf, T.S Eliot, John Maynard Keynes and many more.
Because of its rich literary history, you’ll often find people relaxing in the park with a book. It’s the perfect place to sit and read, if you have a spare afternoon.
6: Platform 9 ¾, Kings Cross Station
Harry Potter fans from all over the world come to visit the real-life location of Platform 9 ¾, so if you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth a visit.
You can pose with a trolley, that’s half disappeared into the wall, and shop until you drop at the Harry Potter shop there.
7: Charles Dickens Museum
The Charles Dickens Museum is located at Dickens’ old house, and gives visitors the chance to step back into time to the Victorian era, to Dickens’ time. The rooms are reconstructed to how they would have looked when Dickens lived there, and you can explore his library, and discover the books that inspired him.
You can also listen to the audio guide, and learn more about Dickens, his stories, and the Victorian era.
8: Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a sight to behold in itself, but if you want to satisfy your love of literature whilst visiting this beautiful landmark, head to the Poet’s Corner in the South Transcept of the Abbey.
Here you’ll find Chaucer’s tomb, and floor stones commemorating writers including Ted Hughes, C.S. Lewis and Philip Larkin. There are also carved stone monuments, and figurative busts in memorial of writers and poets. 
9: Highgate Cemetry
Cemeteries are obviously a fairly morbid place to visit, but this one is worth it if you want to pay your respects to some key figures in history. Some of the tombs and graves are fairly ornate as well.
You can see the graves of Karl Marx, Henry Gray, and George Elliot, and explore the graveyard that is so often mentioned in films, TV shows, and books.
I live in the UK, in the country’s most uneventful city, where the most interesting story in the local paper is about banning dressing gowns in supermarkets.
I travel and I write, because surely there are more interesting stories than that to write about and share.