A mouse took a stroll via the deep darkish wooden… and after checking for Gruffalos, went searching for the Faraway Tree, earlier than searching for a river to play Pooh sticks, looking for Peter Rabbit’s burrow and ensuring no giants had come down any beanstalks. When you have children who love books, this imaginary world will really feel very acquainted!
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I’ve written earlier than about the way in which that for me, books are a gateway to new worlds and the way that’s impressed my love of journey – and I’ve been rediscovering so many aged favourites as I introduce my daughter to the tales. It’s fascinating to look at her creativeness flourish, mixing the fictional world with our personal, including a serving to of magic to the best stroll within the woods.
However that’s solely the beginning relating to days out with children who love books – there are some improbable locations to discover round England alone, with hyperlinks to some nice kids’s authors, to places from traditional tales, and different enjoyable locations to go to for teenagers who love studying. Whether or not you’re travelling with preschoolers or teenagers, you’ll discover one thing for each age and studying style amongst my high picks.
Spot the Gruffalo
The deep darkish woods round England have been stuffed with a Gruffalo or two for fairly a number of years now, because the Forestry Fee began creating walks to tie in with Julia Donaldson’s best-loved tales.
And with the Gruffalo celebrating his twenty fifth birthday final yr, there have been a complete string of latest occasions to get children open air and having enjoyable.
Whereas these at the moment are ended, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover big Gruffalo statues dotted across the nation, together with at Wendover Woods the place we’ve been following the Julia Donaldson trails since earlier than my daughter might learn.
For extra Gruffalo-themed enjoyable, take a look at my overview of the Gruffalo Clubhouse in Blackpool
Sleep with the Gruffalo at Chessington World of Adventures
If a stroll within the woods isn’t sufficient, mini followers can come nose to nose with the purple prickled one at Chessington World of Adventures.
In addition to the world’s first Gruffalo riverboat journey, you’ll be able to snuggle down in a Gruffalo-themed bed room at Chessington’s Azteca Safari Resort lodge, with a particular Gruffalo present, and the possibility to make use of the Reserve & Experience service to get sooner entry to at least one attraction on the theme park too.
There’s additionally a Room on the Broom themed room if you happen to favor that individual Julia Donaldson story to ship you to sleep, together with an opportunity to see the story come to life in Room on the Broom: A Magical Journey.
Ting from My Journey Monkey tried out the Gruffalo riverboat journey along with her five-year-old… And just like the mouse, they bought away uneaten.
Discover Room on the Broom in Yorkshire
The witch had a cat, and a really tall hat – and you may see each, together with the opposite characters from Room on the Broom at Anglers Nation Park in Yorkshire.
The stunning path across the lake is celebrating 15 years this yr – we had a good time after we visited, one in every of my favorite days out with younger children who love books.
Try my overview of our Room on the Broom day trip at Anglers County Park
The Gloriumptious Roald Dahl museum in Buckinghamshire
When she first found Roald Dahl, my daughter requested a go to to Wonka’s Chocolate Manufacturing facility – and who can blame her? I wager most of us secretly fancy assembly assembly Oompa Loompas and ingesting sizzling chocolate straight from a river…
The closest different is the award-winning Roald Dahl Museum in Nice Missenden, which has all the pieces from the writer’s unique writing hut to a string of hands-on reveals, actions and story classes – among the best days out with children who love books.
Geared toward six to 12-year-olds, there are additionally Chiddlers’ Hour classes for little ones and trails across the village of Nice Missenden the place it’s set. Preserve a watch out for normal occasions particularly throughout college holidays such because the Terrific Twits Backyard and Squiffing Speedy Science.
Try what we thought on a go to to the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, plus a Dahl-themed path via the village
Quentin Blake and Me at The Lowry, Salford
The enjoyable new household exhibition on the Lowry will likely be celebrating the work of Quentin Blake, probably the most standard and profitable writers and illustrators of kids’s books.
Maybe best-known for working with Roald Dahl, he’s written or illustrated over 500 books in whole, together with Michael Morpurgo and David Walliams as properly, bringing a few of finest best-loved characters in kids’s fiction to life.
The Quentin Blake and Me exhibition options an enormous assortment of Blake’s work and plenty of interactive enjoyable, together with video games to play, and loads of alternatives for younger guests and their households to write down and draw their very own tales.
Play Poohsticks within the Hundred Acre Wooden, Sussex
Ashdown Forest impressed the placement of the Winnie the Pooh tales, and Pooh Bridge itself – the place Pooh invented Poohsticks – is close to Cotchford Home, house to AA Milne and Christopher Robin.
Gather loads of sticks as you stroll via the woods and when you’ve had a number of video games, how a couple of heffalump hunt, or an expotition to the North Pole, whereas conserving a cautious eye out for woozles and wizzles in fact.
Claire from Suitcases and Sandcastles has some nice recommendations on exploring the forest or strive among the best locations to play Poohsticks within the UK – not forgetting Morden Corridor Park, the place we’ve loved quite a lot of video games
Winnie the Pooh turns 100 in 2026 so there’ll be loads of further possibilities to have a good time then as properly (honey non-obligatory).
The Wind within the Willows – Haningfield Reservoir, Essex
In search of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Mr Toad? Head to Hanningfield Reservoir in Essex the place you’ll discover the Wind within the Willows sculpture path, made up of picket sculptures of the preferred characters from the traditional e book.
At every sculpture there’s a brass rubbing of the animal that the sculpture depicts and you may borrow crayons for the brass rubbings on the customer centre, in addition to shopping for a path map.
Sadly the River and Rowing Museum in Henley, which had its personal Wind within the Willows show, has now closed to the general public
Discover the door to Narnia in Oxford
You may not uncover everlasting winter (hopefully) or too many lions in Oxford, however you’ll be able to see the door which is claimed to have impressed the doorway to the land of Narnia – CS Lewis studied and taught within the metropolis and would have typically handed the intricately carved door reverse the College Church of St. Mary the Virgin.
In case you can go to Magdalen School as properly, the animals carved on the pillars are additionally mentioned to have impressed the part the place Aslan brings the frozen animals again to life.
Don’t miss The Story Museum as properly, with its Enchanted Library rooms bringing favorite tales to life, together with an opportunity to step inside Narnia.
Uncover Harry Potter’s Oxford
From filming places like Christ Church school to the cloisters of New School, in addition to historic streets which really feel tailored for wizards, Oxford is a superb place for teenagers who’re followers of Harry Potter.
We took a Harry Potter strolling tour of Oxford, taking us contained in the Bodleian library the place some extra scenes had been filmed, in addition to mixing trivia quizzes with tales of pranks that the Weasley twins would have been pleased with, a statue that impressed Almost Headless Nick and extra behind-the-scenes tales.
For extra Harry Potter days out within the UK, and Harry Potter places in London, take a look at these posts
Enterprise into the Forbidden Forest in London
For Harry Potter followers, there may be nothing fairly as magical because the Warner Bros Studio Tour – having visited a number of occasions, together with when the Hogwarts Categorical was first added I’ve fairly actually spent all day exploring there.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll be able to step into the Forbidden Forest the place you’ll be able to uncover improbable beasts – be careful for Aragog although – in addition to stepping inside Gringott’s Financial institution (watch out for dragons right here), assembly creatures galore from the films, waving your personal wand, using a broomstick and much more.
Fly a broomstick over Hogwarts in Northumberland
Alnwick Fortress in Northumberland is famously one of many predominant filming places for Harry Potter, to not point out a magical place to discover in its personal proper – however the enchanting icing on the cake is the possibility to fly a broomstick there, on the spot the place Harry had his personal first flying lesson within the movie.
There’s a tour taking you to a number of the filming places across the grounds as properly, or you could find data as you discover by yourself. Don’t miss the citadel’s personal dragon too.
We had a go at levitating their very own brooms there – take a look at my overview of a day at Alnwick Fortress with children
Go to Hobbiton’s inspiration close to Birmingham
With dragons, elves and journey, I beloved studying The Hobbit once I was youthful – though I didn’t get quite a lot of pages in to The Lord of the Rings for fairly a number of extra years.
And whereas JRR Tolkein wrote his well-known novels in Oxford, a number of the places had been impressed by his early years residing in Birmingham.
Head exterior town to Sarehole Mill the place the Tolkein boys used to play, and whose miller used to chase Tolkein and his brother away, simply because the hobbits had been from the Nice Mill. The countryside and the rising industrialisation of the world all went on to play a component when Tolkein was creating Center Earth.
There are additionally strolling excursions in Oxford which embrace JRR Tolkein in addition to CS Lewis
Chase Peter Rabbit in Cumbria
Residence to Beatrix Potter, who wrote her tales in seventeenth century farmhouse Hill Prime, there’s a Beatrix Potter path across the lakeshore grounds of Brockhole – itself house to a number of the creatures which seem in her books.
However better of all for followers of her fluffy creations, simply alongside the lake shore, you’ll additionally discover The World of Beatrix Potter, the place you’ll be able to discover Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’s kitchen, Jemima Puddle-duck’s woodland glade and Peter’s backyard.
Discover Mr McGregor in Hertfordshire
For much more Peter Rabbit, there’s an opportunity to fulfill him at Willows Exercise Farm not removed from St Albans – and play in his journey playground.
To not point out raiding the large radishes in Mr McGregor’s backyard. Regardless of the Christmas sights on throughout our go to, that was nonetheless simply one in every of my daughter’s favorite components.
It’s expanded since we visited, with the Lily Bobtail Nature Discovery Space, the kitchen and laundry of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and the state-of-the-art Nice Invention Sensory recreation, created by Mr Bouncer. You’ll be able to step into Mr Tod’s Lair if you happen to’re courageous sufficient, whereas the Peter Rabbit Secret Treehouse is the right place to identify Previous Brown!
Watership Down on the Downs
For a distinct story of bunnies, head to the North Wessex Downs in Hampshire. Right here sits a hill at Ecchinswell, named Watership Down – giving its identify to the story of rabbits discovering a brand new house.
I keep in mind being in absolute floods of tears on the finish of the movie, and considering of Hazel, Bigwig, Bluebell, Fiver et al nonetheless brings a slight lump to my throat (so I haven’t learn it to my daughter simply but) however it’s a lovely place for a stroll regardless.
There are numerous strolling trails, together with one which passes Nuthanger Farm – hold your eyes out for wild rabbits hopping round if you happen to’e quiet.
Observe the Well-known 5 and go wild in Dorset
You’ll be able to observe within the Well-known 5’s footsteps in Dorset the place Corfe Fortress was the inspiration for Kirrin Fortress, which seems together with Kirrin Island in a number of books.
The break which Enid Blyton visited in 1941 continues to be there, together with a portray of the 5 in Corfe Station – steam trains nonetheless puff alongside the route from Swanage too, and you may even mix it with a ship journey to Poole for a correct old style journey.
Close by Brownsea Island, with its crimson squirrels and timeless air, additionally helped encourage Kirrin Island – solely accessible by boat, it makes a fantastic day trip with children in Dorset.
Learn what we considered a day trip on Brownsea Island, Dorset
Spot Paddington in London
Alongside Platform 1 at Paddington Station, there’s a steel statue of a really well-known bear – sitting on a bench, ready for somebody to take care of him. And it’s exhausting to beat Paddington relating to youthful children who love books.
With a embellished bench not far-off, present store and loads of locations to get a sticky bun (marmalade sandwiches are a bit trickier), it’s a enjoyable go to by itself for mini Paddington followers – together with my daughter.
For extra locations to search out Paddington in London, take a look at this publish for inspiration
It’s removed from the one statue of the lovable bear from darkest Peru, with one other one in Leicester Sq., in addition to two on the banks of the close by canal.
Add within the new immersive Paddington Expertise on the South Financial institution, Paddington strolling excursions and a complete lot extra, and you may theme a whole London journey round Paddington Bear. There’s even a Paddington afternoon tea bus tour – get 5% off all normal seats if you happen to e book utilizing my code MumTravels5.
Spot ghosts in Salisbury
An awesome choice for older main college age children, Cornelia Funke’s Ghost Knight e book was impressed by a go to to Salisbury Cathedral and its college – you’ll be able to nonetheless see the effigy of William Longspee, who makes an look within the novels.
Whereas there was once a path to take you to numerous places with hyperlinks to the story, this not appears to exist, however followers received’t wrestle to establish locations they recognise from the e book. Don’t miss Magna Carta when you’re there.
Swallows and Amazons adventures, Cumbria
If Peter Rabbit doesn’t tempt your children to the Lakes any extra, Swallows and Amazons is the right journey for older main age kids. There are places galore from the movie – one of many unique stars, Sophie Neville, revisited a number of together with many from the current film film too.
And you’ll have your personal lake journey on Coniston – strive Stand Up Paddle Boarding on the Coniston Boating Centre. On close by Ullswater, Glenridding Crusing Centre has Swallows and Amazons day adventures for aged 6+ too.
For a extra relaxed model, you’ll be able to cruise aboard Steam Yacht Gondola too, which impressed Captain Flint’s houseboat.
For extra concepts of the most effective issues to do within the Lake District with children, take a look at my high picks
Path Dracula in Whitby
In case your children have moved on from kids’s tales to traditional literature, there are few extra evocative locations to deliver a narrative to life than Whitby, the place Dracula famously got here shore within the form of a canine.
Climb the 199 steps from the Previous City to St Mary’s Church, and look out for the grave of Mr Swales, one other character in Dracula, within the graveyard (together with real-life Arctic explorer William Scoresby).
There are sometimes performances of Dracula at Whitby Abbey close by, though the atmospheric ruins are price a go to everytime you’re in Whitby. Or for one thing distinctly extra kitsch, experience all issues vampire on the Dracula Expertise. Geared toward 13+, the attraction mixes animation and particular results with dwell actors to introduce guests to Dracula’s connection to Whitby, plus the possibility to see Christopher Lee’s cloak.
For concepts of extra issues to do in Whitby with children, take a look at my high picks
Go to Seven Tales in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Preserve heading north east to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for a go to to Seven Tales: The Nationwide Centre for Kids’s Books – the free museum is devoted to amassing, preserving and celebrating kids’s books.
Whereas there are sometimes altering exhibitions, there’s a fantastic show asking ‘The place do Tales come from’, wanting on the manner comparable plots seem in several occasions and cultures world wide – and the concept that there are solely seven sorts of story.
Elsewhere, you’ll be able to step into Judith Kerr’s kitchen (the place the Tiger famously got here to tea) and meet Mog the forgetful cat. However that’s solely the start… exhibitions additionally characteristic Elmer and Associates, in addition to common storytime and craft classes.
Uncover Kids’s Story Centre
You don’t have to have the ability to learn to get misplaced in tales at Uncover: Kids’s Story Centre in London’s Stratford, geared toward children aged from 0 to 11.
This improbable multi-sensory play house in east London is ideal for younger kids, full with two flooring of magical Story Worlds and a Story Backyard, that includes all the pieces from a pirate ship to a spacecraft and loads of different enjoyable imaginary lands for teenagers to discover.
There are numerous timed actions and you may construct your personal session, together with any particular exhibitions and storytelling, plus the play areas throughout the 2 predominant flooring.
The Scottish Storytelling Centre
Devoted to preserving and recounting tales, there’s all the time one thing to find at The Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, with further occasions in the course of the Edinburgh Pageant however a lot to entertain children year-round.
Count on dwell storytelling, in addition to workshops and exhibitions, to not point out theatre, dance and music performances for all ages on the web site within the coronary heart of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile.
If you’re visiting Edinburgh with children who love Harry Potter, there are hyperlinks galore to the tales which JK Rowling wrote within the metropolis – discover one inspiration for Diagon Alley, take a Potter-themed strolling tour and extra.
Be careful for…
Charlie & Lola
There are frequently exhibitions on Lauren Childs’ work across the UK – and whereas there’s nothing presently lined up for followers of Charlie & Lola (or Clarice Bean and Ruby Redford), it’s price conserving a watch out
We went to an exhibition at Mottisfont when my daughter was younger, whereas there was one other exhibition at Newby Corridor a number of years in the past, amongst others.
*First printed 2017, final up to date 2025*
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Disclosure: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee. All opinions on the most effective days out for teenagers who love books are my very own (and my daughter’s)
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