The British are getting quite excited this year.  Charles Dickens is 200 years old! Well, not exactly 200 years old, modern science would have to achieve miracles for that but he was born 200 years ago on 7th February in 1812.

From a wreath laying ceremony in Westminster Abbey to a Dickens on-screen retrospective heading out on an international tour, it’s a real Dickensian fest.

But what if Charles Dickens isn’t your favorite author ever? What if reading Hard Times gave you a hard time and Uriah Heep was just a creep?

Fear not, if you’re considering educational literary tours in England this year, here are a few alternative authors to celebrate.

Jane Austen (Bath)

Take a trip to Bath to the Jane Austen museum and exhibition.  Renowned for novels like Emma and Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen was a resident of this historic town from 1801 to 1806. You can also see the houses where she wrote Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.  Jane Austen aside, Bath is one of England’s three (yes, just three) World Heritage Cities, mainly for its architectural grandeur and Roman remains. Take a trip to the Roman baths, built around the natural hot spring which were at the center of Roman life in the 4th and 5th centuries. Visit its 15th century abbey and stroll along the aptly named Royal Crescent. Apparently there’s a new edition of Pride and Prejudice that’s been unearthed after all these years. What do you mean you’ve never heard of it? Natalie Portman is starring in a movie of the same name – Pride and Prejudice with Zombies!  I never knew Jane had it in her.

William Shakespeare

No literary tour is complete without a trip to Stratford on Avon, the birthplace of the bard.  Visit the five houses of Shakespeare including his birthplace on Henley Street and the picturesque thatched cottage of Anne Hathaway. Imagine the drama of the time, a man below the age of consent marrying an older woman who also happened to be carrying his child!  Now, there’s a scandal. There’s also Nash’s House, a Tudor building owned by the husband of Shakespeare’s granddaughter. Next door to Nash’s House you’ll find the remains of New Place, Shakespeare’s last home. Rumor has it that Shakespeare wrote some of his later plays here, such as the Tempest.  Get in early this year and join in the archaeological dig that’s taking place. Who knows what you might find? Don’t forget your galoshes and a good shovel though, you’ll need them in springtime England.

J K Rowling

OK, this is cheating slightly.  It’s not actually the author’s residence or birthplace we’re visiting here.  Well don’t tell me you’ve never bent the rules before! Head for London and take a walking tour of Harry Potter movie sites. Follow in the footsteps of Harry and Mr Weasley to the Ministry of Magic for Harry’s hearing on charges of using magic in front of Muggles in the movie The Order of the Phoenix. The descending ‘phone box was actually a prop especially made for the movie but there are plenty of red ‘phone boxes to pose in if you want a photo to take back home! Visit King’s Cross Station in search of Platform Nine and Three Quarters and the Hogwarts Express.  Or if you have the time and you’re feeling really adventurous, take a trip up to Northumberland (around 260 miles from London) to visit Alnwick Castle, the actual Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter movies!  The scene of flying broomsticks in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was filmed here. (It’s also been the site of other movies like Elizabeth and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves).

Kate Smedley loves to visit the haunts of the literary greats on her educational tours and says “whoever your favourite English writer, at least you have a few ideas to whet your educational tours and literary tastebuds”