Follow in the footsteps of England’s greatest storytellers on this five-day Literary, Film & TV journey, which has been put together by England Originals. Travel by car or train through the iconic cities of York, Cambridge, Oxford, Stratford upon-Avon and Bath, where historic streets, famed authors and unforgettable film and TV locations bring beloved stories to life.

Blenheim Palace near Oxford has starred in many films and TV shows © Blenheim Palace

Janet Redler Travel is proud to be a trade partner for England Originals, which is brought to you by England’s Historic Cities – a partnership of 12 historic cities in England. This delightful itinerary is a must for fans of blockbuster movies, TV extravaganzas and literary classics inspired by or created in England.

York

We begin our tour in historic York, in the north of England. The city’s rich heritage, from medieval churches to stately homes, has made it a favourite for filmmakers and storytellers, with highlights like the 15th-century Holy Trinity Church, featured in the BBC’s Gentleman Jack.

Sightseeing cruise in York © York City Cruises / Milner Creative

Step aboard City Cruises York, which served as a filming location in Netflix’s series Bodies. The boats and the city’s riverside scenery became integral to the drama, and you can enjoy the same views on a cruise along the River Ouse.

Castle Howard © VisitBritain / Laurent Derossi

Or travel out of the city to the magnificent Castle Howard, whose opulent halls and sweeping grounds have graced both the big and small screen. From Sophia Loren’s Lady L to Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon. It famously became Brideshead in Brideshead Revisited, and appeared in the BBC’s Death Comes to Pemberley, ITV’s Victoria, and even the Arctic Monkeys’ Four out of Five music video.

Cambridge

Next stop is the ancient university city of Cambridge, which can be reached from York by rail or car in just under three hours. With its spires, courtyards and riverbanks, Cambridge’s historic grandeur has inspired writers and filmmakers alike, from E.M. Forster to The Theory of Everything.

Trinity Lane, Cambridge © England Originals

Begin your day with a Cantab Guided Walking Tour covering the historic city centre and some of the most recognisable sights from film and TV - specific literature themed tours can be booked too. Longer tours can include entry to some of the University of Cambridge’s most iconic colleges. For example, King’s College Chapel’s soaring fan vaults have graced films such as The Theory of Everything, Trinity College was where Lord Byron, A.A Milne and Isaac Newton studied, and St John’s College has been a favourite filming spot for period dramas. These iconic settings alongside many of the historic streets have appeared in everything from BBC documentaries to adaptations celebrating Britain’s academic traditions.

Punting in Cambridge

Wander through the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, where E.M. Forster, author of Howards End, once strolled for inspiration. In the afternoon, experience the city on the River Cam. The Cambridge Rowing Experience allows visitors to relive the Boat Race rivalry made famous in countless books and dramatizations. Or join Scudamore’s Punting for the city’s most quintessential experience: drifting under historic bridges and past manicured college lawns. The gentle pace and timeless scenery have made these waterways a natural stand-in for period settings in film and television.

Oxford

Take the two-hour journey from Cambridge to Oxford to discover many more iconic places that have inspired your favourite films, TV series and books.

Discover Alice in Wonderland in Oxford © England Originals

Start with an Oxford On Screen Walking Tour by award-winning Oxford Official Walking Tours and see the city’s most famous filming locations, or pre-book a private literary tour to hear about inspiring authors including C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Philip Pullman.

Alternatively, join a City Sightseeing Oxford open-top bus tour, with commentary in 14 languages and 20 stops across the city. Visit the Bodleian Libraries, the largest academic library system in the UK and a must-see cultural destination in the heart of Oxford, voted the number two UK attraction by TripAdvisor users, with the Divinity School and Duke Humfrey’s Library appearing in screen productions including Harry Potter.

Balliol College in Oxford © England Originals

For lunch, book a table at Treadwell in The Store, Oxford’s new luxury hotel. In the afternoon, don’t miss the stunning Christ Church, Oxford, one of Oxford University’s largest colleges and a filming location for Harry Potter, X Men: First Class and Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavour. Time allowing, head to Blenheim Palace, just 30-minutes from Oxford, which has played a starring role in The Diplomat, Bridgerton, BFG, Spectre, Gulliver’s Travels and many more.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Just an hour away from Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and a town known for its history and performance with its streets and stages steeped in centuries of storytelling that have inspired stage, film and TV for years.

‘The Bard’ William Shakespeare © England Originals

Discover the roots of the world’s greatest playwright and step into the very room where Shakespeare was educated at Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, a setting so perfectly preserved it could be a film set.

Continue your literary journey with the Shakespeare Family Homes: stand inside the humble timbered rooms of Shakespeare’s Birthplace and wander the fragrant gardens of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, an idyll often depicted on screen for its timeless English charm.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace © England Originals

Head to the Royal Shakespeare Company for lunch in their Rooftop Restaurant and then spend the afternoon with the company, whose productions have shaped stage and screen adaptations around the globe. Take your seat for a matinée performance; step behind the scenes on an exclusive tour or take a trip up the theatre tower, which boasts panoramic views of the city. You’ll be following in the footsteps of actors whose careers have spanned the West End, Hollywood and acclaimed TV dramas.

Bath

We finish our tour in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath, whose rich literary heritage and elegant Georgian streets have inspired great authors and lured filmmakers alike. Hollywood productions such as Les Misérables, Wonka, The Duchess and Vanity Fair have captured its beauty, while Netflix hits Bridgerton, Rebecca and Robin have brought the city’s architectural splendour to global audiences.

The Georgian Royal Crescent in Bath © England Originals

Begin your morning at The Jane Austen Centre, where Regency fashion, food, and society set the scene for the novels Austen penned during her time in Bath. Don’t miss The Jane Austen Festival (September), with its famous Regency Costumed Promenade filling the streets. Just a few doors away, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein reveals the life of the Frankenstein author and her dark creation through immersive exhibitions and escape rooms.

The Holburne Museum – Lady Danbury’s house in Bridgerton (photo courtesy of The Holburne Museum)

In the afternoon, step into Bath’s cinematic world with a Bridgerton tour from Fred Mawer, City of Bath Guides, or Bath Adventures’ Bridgerton Sights & Music Tour, complete with behind-the-scenes stories. Key stops include No. 1 Royal Crescent (the Featherington home) and The Holburne Museum (Lady Danbury’s mansion). Inside the Holburne, explore Sir William Holburne’s fine art collection alongside contemporary exhibitions. Pause for a refined afternoon tea at The Pump Room, adjoining the historic Roman Baths and once the beating heart of Georgian high society.

Of course there are many, many other locations across England associated with TV, the movies and literature. For additional cities with such links, consider visiting magnificent Canterbury home of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales; Chester the city that inspired Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley; Durham well known for Harry Potter filming and the Downton Abbey movies; Lancaster for Peaky Blinders and Salisbury for Jane’s Austen’s Sense & Sensibility filming at Mompesson House and of course Stonehenge, which has featured in many pre-historic tales for film and TV productions. 

To enjoy a TV, film and literature tour of some of England’s finest cities, please contact our friendly team today and we will put together the perfect itinerary for you or your group.

Find out more about our England Originals tours and our Location Tours.