Literary Tours of England

27/01/2024

Nancy from Arizona wrote: Stephen did an absolutely amazing job in creating the itinerary for our family trip to England! He planned out not only our “must see/do” places but offered memorable “off the beaten path” locations that were breathtaking! Those places were some of our favorite spots!! He was attentive to our requests and made sure all our needs were met. His attention to details was faultless in picking our lodging. He selected two beautiful private homes located in the Cotswolds and near Windsor. He coordinated our transportation, which comfortably accommodated our party. Hands down we will be using Literary Tours of England again!!

26/01/2024

Hannah from Arkansas wrote: We had a blast. Mark and Stephen were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about literary attractions. We took a personalized tour through Torquay, Bath and more to see everything connected to Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. The tour was a breeze and so fun thanks to them.

21/01/2024

Mary and Kate from Washington wrote: Our trip through Devon, with 3 nights in Bath and 3 nights in Torquay, was simply delightful! Stephen listened to our priorities and created a customized itinerary that focused on Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. Our guide Mark facilitated pleasant days with the right balance of activities and down time. All along the way, we learned about the religious, political, and trade influences that shaped the places we visited. Particular highlights were attending Evensong and a tour at Bath Abbey, as well as a full day guided tour of Bath with a local guide. A cruise on the River Dart afforded a different view of the landscape, and we enjoyed experiencing the stately yet "homey" feel of Greenway, Agatha Christie's country home.

20/01/2024

Larissa and Kathryn Roszell from Alberta wrote: “A wholehearted thank you to Stephen and Mark for organizing a most excellent, unique, and memorable experience touring the beautiful English countryside, discovering a plethora of literary treasures along the way; and many, many other interesting finds as well! Mark was a fabulous guide!!! He is extremely knowledgeable on many levels, and integrated the literary world contextually into the historical, political, and economic happenings of the times. An all-around holistic experience we will never forget!” "Stephen and Mark created a truly remarkable, once in a lifetime, experience for us. The memories made on this trip are ones that I cherish and think about almost daily. As both an avid English literary and history fan, this trip created the perfect blend of the two for an unforgettable adventure. I was able to deepen my understanding and appreciation for both the incredible authors and their works, while being creatively inspired the entire time. Mark was the perfect guide, eagerly sharing his wealth of knowledge with us and enhancing the experience by adding unique experiences in between our literary adventures. From fantastic food recommendations to finding the most sublime views, Mark covered it all! If I could go back and relive this trip over and over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. Thank you so much for making my dreams come true!"

15/01/2024

Is this how Agatha Chrstie got started? Interesting article:

The sensational case, which made global headlines, is said to have influenced Christie's first book.

14/01/2024

Lindsay and Aaron from Indiana wrote: We are so grateful to have spent some time with you. We loved the tour and have already recommended Literary Tours of England to many others. Here are a couple sentences our daughter wrote about our experience: ‘We had a wonderful trip. Stephen was very personable and knew the best restaurants and locations at every place we went! Would highly recommend to anyone who wants an authentic experience.’

12/01/2024

Justin and Alana from Colorado wrote: We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to Literary Tours of England for the incredible trip they organized for us and our daughter. It was an absolute delight from start to finish and, in Stephen, we couldn't have asked for a more knowledgeable and attentive guide.

From the moment we arrived, Stephen’s expertise and passion for the country's rich history and stunning landmarks shone through. His deep understanding of each site we visited brought the experience to life in a way that we never could have imagined. We truly felt like we were walking through history with a trusted friend by our side.

Not only did LTE meticulously plan every detail of the itinerary, their attention to our preferences made the tour truly memorable. Whether it was exploring iconic landmarks or discovering hidden gems off the beaten path, every moment was filled with awe and wonder.

Stephen’s dedication to ensuring our comfort and enjoyment was evident throughout the tour. His recommendations for local restaurants and charming accommodations added an extra layer of authenticity to our experience. We can't thank him enough for going above and beyond to make this journey exceptional. It was an honor to have him as our guide.

We highly recommend Literary Tours of England to anyone seeking a truly immersive and unforgettable travel experience.

06/01/2024

After the two-year hiatus caused by Covid, Literary Tours of England has concluded two successful years of operation. This is a good moment to express our thanks to our loyal partners and many supporters who helped make it happen.

Above all, we thank our clients. It’s been our privilege to craft your personalized itineraries and es**rt you on private tours that were educational, inspirational and, above all, enjoyable. We look forward to seeing you again soon and welcoming new travellers in 2024.

25/08/2023

A fascinating news story. Pooh has always been one of my favourite characters. My mother read all the stories to me when I was a small child and EH Shepard's beautiful illutrations are a joy to behold.

(Apologies if you have to negotiate all the adverts that CNN seem compelled to include in the piece!)

An original black and white sketch of Winnie the Pooh and his good friend Piglet which languished for decades in a drawer is expected to fetch thousands when it goes under the hammer next month.

20/10/2022

Rick and Sallie Shore from Arizona wrote: Jane Austen. Thomas Hardy. Agatha Christie. We loved visiting their homes. The tour also included a perfect mix of cathedrals, landscapes, castles and seascapes. Yet we never felt rushed. What fun it was to drive along curvy pencil-thin roads flanked by tall hedges, ending in a pub that always made us welcome. Many thanks to Literary Tours of England for an adventure of a lifetime!

17/10/2022

Sheri from Alberta wrote: When I arrived in London I was met by two of the most charming people I have ever met. Stephen and Judy made sure that my trip was going to be both educational and an adventure. My goal was a private literary tour with an emphasis on the Bloomsbury Group. I especially wanted to explore Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell. We started with a week in a small hotel in Bloomsbury, a perfect location for visiting the sights in the area as well as London more broadly. We went to plays, a cruise on the Thames, art museums, and more. We took a bus tour of the city and enjoyed great meals! Our excursions included a trip to Jane Austen’s home and a private tour of Oxford. Then we picked up our car and drove to Tenterden in Kent, where we stayed for a week at a marvellous B&B. This was an excellent base, from which we branched out to visit surrounding sights. These included Canterbury, where we had a private tour, then Sissinghurst, Knole, Smallhythe Place (home of Ellen Terry), Rye, and Monk’s House. Many trips took us through the South Downs countryside, which was beautiful. Our next destination was Rodmell, where we stayed at a B&B with a lovely hostess. From there we visited Charleston, which was the home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, both Bloomsbury artists. This was one of the highlights. We then went to Alfriston to Much Ado Books, which I loved. I bought a plant in memory of Virginia Woolf and placed it at a spot on the River Ouse. For sure, the trip was the best I have ever done. It was planned with great attention to detail: everywhere and everything I wanted to see and do. Throughout our journey there was lots of conversation and laughter: so much caring and great fun. I must plan another trip with Stephen and Judy and I thank them for making the journey the best of my life.

15/10/2022

Trisha from Ohio wrote: Words are inadequate to express the unforgettable experience Literary Tours of England provided us on our customized guided tour. Stephen was so easy to work with during the planning stage and he was a miracle worker in booking lovely accommodations at short notice. Our guide, Mark, was nothing short of amazing. He made sure we saw everything we wanted to see (even when it wasn't on the itinerary) and he managed to provide us with some extra special experiences we didn't even know were possibilities. There was ZERO stress for us on this trip, because Mark dealt with every detail. We felt like we were leaving a member of our family behind when we parted ways, but we will look forward to meeting again on our next literary tour of England!

15/10/2022

A successful season of literary tours has come to a close. Two client testimonials were posted earlier in the summer. Three more will be posted over the next few days. It was our pleasure to craft personalized tours for these clients and take them to fascinating sites all over England. We enjoyed their company and they have become fast friends. Our thanks and good wishes go to all of you.

03/09/2022

In one he says he would be "so hampered" by post stopping on Sunday he threatens to move away.

12/08/2022

Anita from Washington, DC wrote: This summer I had the pleasure of “meeting” Virginia Woolf in her home thanks to Stephen Margrett and Mark Barrett of Literary Tours of England (LTE). I found Stephen on the internet and, instead of being leery, I was excited. We talked over the phone and emailed. I shared my childhood dream; he crafted an itinerary to ensure I lived it. Not only did it include Woolf, but also my other artistic giants: Vita Sackville-West, Vanessa Bell, and Henry James. I soaked them up as I soaked up the countryside and medieval towns of East Sussex. Mark was my companion from morning until supper every day, making wondrous every moment of time spent. Living with a terminal genetic heart disease, this was the trip of my lifetime. I can’t express my gratitude to Stephen and Mark appropriately. They gave me my wish tenfold. To you dear traveler, as you contemplate whether to take the plunge and let LTE lead you on your literary journey, do it. Trust them to help you live your dream. The memories will last a lifetime. I promise.

10/08/2022

Jana and Renee from California wrote: Three years ago we found the website “Literary Tours of England” and started speaking with a lovely English gentleman, Stephen, who is the owner. He was patient and helpful, keeping in contact with us as our trip was delayed year after year due to Covid. Three years in the making, a customized tour became a spectacular trip. We met our tour guide Mark in Wi******er and he became like a brother to us. We highly recommend “Literary Tours of England"!

03/07/2022

Daphne du Maurier is one of England's most popular writers and one of my personal favourites. Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, and The Birds were all made into films by Alfred Hitchcock. Nicolas Roeg’s film of Don’t Look Now (1973) still haunts me! Here's a fascinating article about her French ancestry:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61985416

Rebecca writer Dame Daphne du Maurier discovered her apparent aristocratic past was not as it seemed.

30/05/2022

This looks like fun ... wonderful weather ... great photographs ... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-61597097

A total of 1,369 people attended Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire dressed as vampires, organisers say.

25/05/2022

She's the least renowned of the Bronte sisters, but a fascinating character nonetheless. Anne Bronte was a poet and novelist, arguably just as accomplished as Charlotte and Emily. Now we know she was also a rock collector!
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-61535074

The youngest Bronte sister built up a collection of specimens before her death in 1849.

28/04/2022

Whitby in North Yorkshire is a great place to visit. The town has fun with its connections with Bram Stoker and Dracula. See the attached article from CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/24/world/vampire-world-record-whitby-abbey-dracula-trnd/index.html
I have added two pictures that I took during a visit to Whitby a couple of years ago.

08/04/2022

We'll be following in her footsteps along with several LTE guests this summer ... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-61010043

The Duchess of Cornwall saw the shirt worn by Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice on her visit.

06/04/2022

This is a strange story about Darwin's 'stolen' notebooks. Thankfully, it has a happy (though strange) ending ... https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60980288

Two books owned by Charles Darwin are left outside Cambridge University library in a pink gift bag.

02/04/2022

Charlotte Bronte might be turning in her grave ... https://www.cnn.com/style/article/charlotte-bronte-rare-manuscript/index.html

A rare manuscript written by Charlotte Brontë when she was 13 years old will go on sale at a New York City book fair later this month.

06/11/2021

Next time you take a literary tour of London, be sure to visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street. It's a classic Georgian townhouse (actually at number 239) that’s filled with all kinds of Holmes memorabilia. A short walk away is a larger-than-life statue showing the great consulting detective in characteristic pose. Is it any surprise that Holmes is more famous than his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?