Top 10 Amazing Poetry Locations in the UK
Poetry locations in the UK are some of the most wonderful places to visit. Poetry lovers are often inspried by the places they grew up in, the places they studied and the places they visited.
If you’re a poetry lover like me, then you know all too well the desire to get into the heads of some of these poets UK.
Visiting the poetry sites that inspired them is one of the best ways to do this, while exploring some new and different parts of the poetry UK.
Table of Contents
- Poetry In The UK
- Why should you visit poetry locations in the UK?
- Top 10 Amazing Poetry Locations in the UK
- Conclusion
Poetry In The UK
Poetry has a long history in the UK. From the 17th century onwards, famous British poets such as John Dryden and Alexander Pope have been lauded for their works, which helped to shape the country’s literature and cultural identity.
Perhaps the most famous poem about England to come out of Britain is William Blake’s ‘Jerusalem’, which was published in 1794. The publication of this work signalled the dawning of Romanticism and a change in how poetry UK was produced, with poems about British culture being more personal and emotionally charged.
Today, poetry continues to play an important role in British national identity. From children’s books to poetry events, there are many ways you can engage with poetry activities and its many benefits.
As well as providing a way to express your emotions or creativity, poetry resources can also help improve your reading comprehension skills and vocabulary.
By reading famous British poems regularly, you can become familiar with their structure and develop an appreciation for their form.
Poetry can also help improve your writing skills by helping you learn how to structure a piece of prose or share your thoughts through words. While it might not be suitable for everyone, there are many benefits to poetry UK when it is done right!
Why should you visit poetry locations in the UK?
Poetry locations UK are great places to visit if you want to learn more about poetry and the writing process. You can meet the people who inspire you, get ideas for your own work, and find out what makes a poem about England special.
You can also enjoy the history and culture of a place that has played a significant role in literary history when you visit these popular locations in the UK linked to poetry in UK.
There are lots of different reasons to visit UK poetry locations, but here are a few of the most common ones:
- To learn more about the writing process. Poetry is all about taking time to think about what you want to say, so visiting heritage sites with a rich history in literature can help you learn more about how writers work. At the same time, learning about the writing process from people who are doing it day in and day out can teach you some valuable lessons.
- To experience the inspiration behind a poem about England or piece of writing. Poetry is more than just words on paper – it’s an entire world that can inspire you in all kinds of ways, including how different parts of your brain interact with each other. In addition to learning more about this world, visiting places that have been pivotal in literary history can give you a sense of where your own work belongs in it.
- To see how a poem about England makes people feel. When reading famous British poems and other pieces, the best ones will always reach a place inside you that is hard to articulate – unless you’re a poem. The places that inspired the best British poets will have inspired some feeling within them. The poets then tried to capture these feelings in their work. Visiting these poetry locations UK can give you an insight into how the poet’s feelings may have inspired the poem.
Without further ado, lets get into our list of locations in the UK.
Top 10 Amazing Poetry Locations in the UK
1. Lake District
- The Lake District has been extremely popular with famous British poets, especially those of the romantic period. It is one of the most significant poetry locations UK.
- The poets UK associated with the Lake District are referred to as the “Lake Poets”.
- William Wordsworth is the most famous of these, the Lakes directly inspiring “I wandered lonely as a cloud. Make sure to visit Dove Cottage, his prior home and now housing the Wordsworth Museum.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge was another poet heavily inspired by the Lakes. You are able to visit his former home, Greta Hall. He often walked from here to Dove Cottage to visit Wordsworth. You can still walk the same route.
- Robert Southey, the former Poet Laureate, also made a home for himself at Greta Hall. You may also visit his final resting place at Crosthwaite Church in Keswick.
- There are a number of great waterfalls in the Lakes, that Coleridge often visited and was inspired by. If you want to gain an insight into his time here, make sure to visit Moss Force and Lodore Falls.
For more info, check out my post on the Lake District.
Check Out Wordsworth’s Lake District
Check out this video exploring William Wordsworth in the Lake District, including his iconic Dove Cottage.
2. Winchester
- Winchester is the home to the beloved Romantic poet, John Keats, one of the best British poets.
- He moved here in 1819, and found a lot of solace in the city.
- His poem about England To Autumn was famously conceived of on a walk from Winchester to St Cross, and is a great walk for any Keats fan to walk.
- Walks in Cathedral Close are also said to have been important to the poet, and may have been an additional inspiration for this famous British poem.
- Another spot associated with Keats is St Catherines Hill, and is admired by him in his letters.
- Winchester is now also home to a yearly poetry map, so this would be a great time to visit for any poetry lover out there.
3. Stratford-upon-Avon
- Stratford-upon-Avon in the West Midlands is home to playwright and poet, William Shakespare, one of the most famous poets UK.
- The number one spot to visit in Stratford is the Royal Shakespeare Company. This theatre company stages Shakespeare’s plays throughout the year, often at affordable prices and sometimes with big names attached to the productions.
- While in Stratford, you are able to visit the writer’s childhood home and discover what his upbringing may have been like.
- You are also able to visit the beautiful cottage belonging to his wife, Ann Hathaway.
- Both of these houses are ticketed, so make sure to check prices and times before you go.
- There are often poetry events associated with Shakespeare taking place throughout the year, including additional performances and workshops, often also taking place at the RSC.
4. Oxford
- Oxford has been home to many famous British poets over the year, often while they were students or professors at Oxford University. This is one of the most historically significant poetry locations UK.
- One of the most famous of these is Percy Shelley, who studied at University College before being expelled for his atheist beliefs.
- Another is Lewis Carroll, who taught at Christ Church for most of his life. Make sure to visit the Alice in Wonderland shop while in the city.
- Oscar Wilde also studied here, at Magdelen College, after his time at Trinity College, Dublin. This was also the college of his beloved Lord Alfred Douglas.
- Another attendee of Christ Church was W.H. Auden. Despite getting a third-class degree, he later became Oxford’s Professor of Poetry.
- Phillip Larkin is another poet who attended Oxford, studying at St John’s College, before becoming a librarian at the University of Hull.
- Oxford colleges are often open to the public, so feel free to take a wander around the college your favourite poet attended. Just make sure to check the opening times before you go.
5. Dorset
- Dorset is most famously linked to the poet and novelist Thomas Hardy, one of the best British poets.
- He was born in a cottage in Higher Bockhampton, which you are now able to go and visit.
- After moving to London for a while, Hardy returned and lived at Max Gate, which is also open to the public. It is here that Hardy did a lot of writing. Many pieces of his furniture remain in residence.
- Explore the Hardy Trail, which features many heritage sites linked to his life and works.
- Another poet who lived in Dorset was William Barnes, who was a teacher and mentor of Thomas Hardy,
- Barnes’s statue stands proudly outside St Peter’s Church in Dorchester, his home for much of his life.
- Sylvia Townsend Warner also settled in Dorset for much of her life, and an archive dedicated to her memory is featured at the County Museum.
- The walk up to the round barrows in the hills of East Chaldon was a favourite walk of the poet, and is a great way to walk the paths that surely inspired her and her works.
6. Canterbury
- Canterbury is most well known for it’s connection to Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales, one of the most famous British poems.
- In the Tales, a group of pilgrims take a pilgrimage to the city to pay their respects to Lawrence of Arabia.
- The top place to head is to the Trinity Chapel at Canterbury Cathderal. Here you will find a wonderful stained glass window tribute to this story.
- Canterbury was also home to poet and playwright Christopher Marlowe, contemporary to William Shakespeare.
- The Cathedral is also linked closely to Marlowe, as this was where he was educated as a boy.
- Another great place to head is the Marlowe Theatre, named in his honour and also home to the Christopher Marlowe Memorial.
- The Museum of Canterbury also has a fascinating Marlowe Exhibition, as well a holding the only surviving example of Marlowe’s signature.
7. London
- London has inspired many famous British poets over the years, although there are a few very precise poetry locations UK that have inspired certain poems about England.
- The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot was directly inspired by London Bridge.
- Westminster Bridge is another bridge that has inspired poetry UK about London, namely, Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth.
- William Blake’s powerful and controversial poem about England Holy Thursday was inspired by St. Paul’s Cathedral, as he watched rows of children enter the church for service.
- George Eliot looked over Regents Park for inspiration for her poem about England In A London Drawingroom, giving a strong account of the industrial nature of the city.
- Alternatively, Keats paints a warm picture of Hampstead Heath in his poetry. His poem about England Ode To A Nightingale was composed under a tree in his garden.
- Keats House in Hampstead is now open to the public and is a great place in London for poetry lovers to visit.
- You can also head to a poetry shop in London to find your new favourite poets. LRB Bookshop has the largest poetry section in London, making it a great place ahead.
8. Alloway
- Alloway was home to the Scottish Bard, Robert Burns. Any fan would have a great time visiting this option out of all the poetry locations UK
- Based in Alloway is the cottage in which Robert Burns was born. This is now open to the public to visit and discover the place where Burns grew up.
- Not far from the cottage is the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. This tells the story of the poet’s life and holds over 5,000 artefacts related to his life.
- Connecting the cottage and the Birthplace Museum is the Poet’s Path, which features many different artworks dedicated to Burns and his memory.
- Also located in Alloway are the Burns Memorial Gardens and Monument. This is a lovely place to visit in the poet’s memory.
- Another highlight is Alloway Auld Kirk, portrayed in Burn’s poem about England Tam o’Shanter where the witches danced. This is also the final resting place of Robert Burns.
Discover Robert Burns BirthPlace
Andrew and Karen’s Adventures have recorded a beautiful video of Alloway. Check it out to explore the links the location has to Robert Burns.
9. Oswestry
- Oswestry was the birthplace and early childhood home of war poet Wilfred Owen, one of the best British poets.
- Head to the Broadwalk to see the plaque and stone bench dedicated to Owen’s memory.
- There is also a stunning sculpture of Wildred Owen in the park gardens, as a beautiful memorial to the poet.
- Another stunning location held in Owen’s memory is Wildred Owen Green, This is a beautiful group of wildflower meadows to spend some peaceful time in.
- A great spot linked with the poet’s history is Holy Trinity Church, where Own used to attend sermons and where he was christened as a baby.
- Finally, while not open the public you can observe Plas Wilmot on Weston Lane, which was Wilfred Owen’s childhood home.
10. Bromsgrove
- This is the location most closely associated with A.E. Housman, one of the famous poets UK.
- Christ Church is the first spot to head to. Housman’s grandfather was the vicar in this church, and there is a burial plot here for all the Housman family. It was where the poet was baptised and where he regularly attended service as a child.
- You are also able to see Housman’s childhood home on Valley Road, now named after the poet. While you cannot go inside, you are able to enjoy an external view of the place he called home.
- One the same street is The Clock House, in which Housman lived as a teenager. It is, however, not open to the public and remains a private residence.
- If you head onto the high street, then you will be able to see a statue of A.E. Housman. The fact that his likeness stands right in the centre of town just goes to show his significance and meaning to his old hometown.
Conclusion
This concludes my post on the top 10 most amazing poetry locations UK. These places can be really special for any poetry lover to visit.
If you’re a particular fan of any of these famous British poets, then I recommend spending some time in the places they did.
A great way to enjoy them is to take along one of their poetry websites and read in the places that inspired it.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you back here again soon.
Ta-ta for now! x
