A Literary Vacation by Rail

The British Tourist Authority has dubbed 2017 as the “Year of the Literary Heroes” because of its many milestones:  the 200^th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death; the 20^th anniversary of the release of J. K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel; the 75^th anniversary of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five series and 120^th anniversary of her birth; the 100^th anniversary of the birth of the poet Edward Thomas; the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Matthew Arnold; the 50^th anniversary of the death of children’s author Arthur Ransome; the 125^th anniversary of the death of Alfred, Lord Tennyson; and the 125^th anniversary of the publication of the first Sherlock Holmes novel (http://media.visitbritain.com/?service=feature&action=show_content_page&language=en&feature=12107). 

To help celebrate this year, Rail Europe is offering a series of literary-themed itineraries from London to surrounding areas.  With the help of the rail company, you can see Jane Austen’s home, visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221b Baker Street, or hang out at the Edinburgh cafes where J.K. Rowling wrote her first books.

“’These stories and authors are treasured around the world, and now is the perfect time to celebrate them on their milestone anniversaries,’ Melanie Albaric, Marketing & Communications Manager for Rail Europe, told Condé Nast Traveler. ‘Many trains offer easy transportation to these stories’ settings or author’s hometowns, so travelers can truly immerse themselves in the worlds of their favorite books’” (http://www.cntraveler.com/story/take-a-train-through-the-lands-of-harry-potter-and-sherlock-holmes).