If you’re looking for ideas of family days out, what could be better than the imaginative worlds and exciting adventures of children’s books?
That is to say, the real-life locations behind the stories. We’ve put together a list of places to visit around the UK, so you and your kids can relive your favourite moments and discover the inspiration behind some of our most beloved tales.
Peter Rabbit
Many of us grew up on Beatrix Potters’ stories and characters – from the ever-cheeky Peter Rabbit to the kindly Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle – and today you can go to visit the inspiration of her stories.
Beatrix Potter and her family would often visit the Lake District, and it’s here that Beatrix found her fondness for wildlife and the natural world which inspired her many stories. She would later move there from London to Hill Top, a 17th-century cottage in Near Sawrey, about a 30-minute drive outside of Windermere.
Today, Hill Top is looked after by the National Trust and visitors can explore the cottage and the garden, spotting scenes from ‘The Tale of Tom Kitten’ and ‘The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck’. The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness-on-Windermere is also a great place to discover her works and hosts regular events for kids.
Treasure Island
For the little ones going through their pirate phase, what better place to take them for a day out than the place where Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver and the crew set sail on their quest to find buried treasure – Bristol.
We are, of course, talking about Robert Luis Stevenson’s Treasure Island – a novel that went on to influence many of the iconic aspects of pirate-hood, from wooden legs to buried treasure and even the Jolly Roger.
Bristol itself has a long maritime history and while it looks completely different today as it would have to buccaneers back in the 18th century, there are plenty of ways to get involved. You can relive Stevenson’s tale in the interactive Treasure Island Trail as well as discover other pirate-themed attractions, restaurants and cafes.
Winnie the Pooh
Who could ever forget the adorable Pooh bear and his friends exploring the Hundred Acre Wood, playing Pooh Sticks, eating lots of honey and generally getting up to mischief? In real life, the Hundred Acre Wood is actually Ashdown Forest in East Sussex and rather 100 acres, it’s actually over 6,500 acres.
Pooh’s creator, A.A. Milne, lived on the edges of Ashdown and often spent time wandering the forest with his son Christopher Robin, who would appear in the stories as a character with the same name.
Today, visitors come from across the globe to walk in the footsteps of these beloved characters, exploring places like the Pooh Sticks Bridge, Galleon’s Lap and other highlights. If you want to plan, walking routes are available from the Ashdown Forest website. Don’t forget to pack one of our kids’ umbrellas just in case you end up going on a rainy ‘Windsday’!
The Chronicles of Narnia
Readers of CS Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia will know the feeling of stepping through into the fantastical world of Narnia. But did you know you could also visit the inspiration behind the magical land without having to step through a wardrobe?
In real life, Narnia was inspired by the Mourne Mountains in County Down in Northern Ireland, where Lewis used to take regular trips. At one time, he described the beautiful and wild landscape as making him feel like “at any moment, a giant might raise its head over the next ridge”.
Today, the area has become a popular spot for hikers and families alike, with activity centres, adventure playgrounds, woodland trails – including a kid-friendly Narnia Trail – and cafes to grab a bite to eat at. Fans of CS Lewis might also want to head into his home city of Belfast and find the Narnia-inspired sculptures and the tour that takes you through the author’s life in Ireland.
The Railway Children
Edith Nesbit’s ‘The Railway Children’ is a heartwarming tale of three siblings who are forced to move their comfortable home in London to a much simpler life in the countryside.
While Nesbit doesn’t mention where exactly the children go to in the story, the classic 1970 film adaptation uses West Yorkshire as the backdrop. Here, you can make your way to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, where you can still take a ride on the heritage steam railway’s scenic route around the countryside, nicknamed ‘The Railway Children Line’.
While you’re visiting, you can also spot other locations from the film, including Oakworth Station, which has largely been restored to how it would have looked during the story, and Mytholmes Tunnel where the children alerted the train driver to danger using red petticoats.
Check out our blog for other travel and daycation inspiration. Or, if you’ve already decided on your next family trip, make sure to prepare for the weather and take a look at our full range of kids’ umbrellas.