World Book Day: 5 literary destinations for bookworms around the world

If you’re someone who loves to read and travel, this World Book Day (March 6), why not take the opportunity to explore some of the most incredible literary destinations around the world? Whether you are looking to attend literary festivals and retreats, want to walk through the life of Jane Austen or experience the grandeur of The Great Gatsby, here are five literary destinations around the world that every bookworm should visit.Step into the world of Jane Austen in Bath, Somerset

Start off closer to home by celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary in Bath, Somerset. Guests can step into Jane Austen’s world with a duo-destination package, thoughtfully crafted at two of Exclusive Collection’s country house hotels: The Manor House near Bath, and Lainston House near Winchester. From Manor House, guests can head to Bath, where Austen spent six influential years. A visit to the Jane Austen Centre (included in the package) offers a glimpse into her time in the city surrounded by its stunning Georgian architecture.

Then, head to Lainston House, a beautiful country manor just moments from the vibrant city of Winchester. Here, guests can enjoy a restful night before visiting the historic Winchester Cathedral, where Austen is buried. Perfectly situated to explore Austen’s world, Lainston House is also just minutes away from Chawton, where she penned some of her most famous works, and Steventon, where she was born.  

The experience will be enhanced for Austen fans with dedicated rose reading spots within the grounds, which will be adorned with potted Harkness ‘Jane Austen’ roses. Here, you can bring your favourite title or borrow one from the hotels’ Austen library collection, and enjoy reading Austen in a picturesque setting, with a gifted Jane Austen bookmark to take home. There will also be a seasonal themed Jane Austen afternoon tea throughout the escape package period, as well as a special outdoor screening of a Jane Austen adaptation in the summer at Lainston House. In the footsteps of The Great Gatsby in Kentucky and Long Island, USA

This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, making it the perfect year for a pilgrimage to where the novel was inspired from. The characters of this book were inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s time in Kentucky when he was stationed in Camp Taylor during World War I. The Seelbach Hilton hotel in Louisville was one of Fitzgerald’s favourite haunts and it is here that he first rubbed shoulders with Cincinnati mobster George Remus, on whom Jay Gatsby is based. This is also the setting of Tom and Daisy’s fictional wedding. 

To commemorate this anniversary, the hotel is unveiling a newly renovated suite inspired by the old world glamour that Tom and Daisy exuded. Daisy Buchanan’s birthplace was also in one of the exclusive neighbourhoods of old Louisville. Today, visitors can take a walking tour of the historic part of the city, particularly Cherokee Triangle, which is lined with elegant Southern mansions.

Fans of the novel should also head to Long Island’s Gold Coast in New York State where the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg are the real-life communities of Great Neck and Sand Point. Stay at the Oheka Castle and for a taste of the lavish and glamorous lifestyle of the 1920s and visit the surrounding historic estates and Gilded Age mansions that Fitzgerald describes so beautifully in The Great Gatsby. Meet the authors in Charleston, South Carolina

The Charleston Literary Festival in South Carolina has its roots in the UK’s Charleston House — home of the radical writers, artists and thinkers of the Bloomsbury Group. This festival aims to keep this free-thinking and creative spirit alive by bringing together revered and emerging authors and thinkers for thought provoking and perception shifting conversations. Previous speakers have included Joyce Carol Oates, Imani Perry, Tina Brown and Hernan Diaz. This year, it is taking place from 7 to 16 November, with the line-up is set to be announced in June. 

Founded in 2017, the festival has quickly gained a loyal and growing following not just for the calibre of programming but also due to its location. This is the literary festival for travellers who want to combine great reads in a beautiful setting. As one of the founding cities of the USA, Charleston is easily walkable. Its cobbled streets are filled with history, charming boutiques, incredible dining and endless gardens — making for the perfect reading spot. 

There is also a vibrant riverside culture which is set to get more exciting with the opening of The Cooper this October. This will be the only luxury waterfront hotel in the heart of the Charleston peninsula, offering guests a choice of five restaurants, a 7,000 square-foot wellness center, an infinity-edge waterfront pool with unobstructed views of the harbour.Read yourself happy with Daisy Buchanan in Greece

From 28 September to 4 October, you can take part in a luxury reading retreat in Greece thanks to award winning journalist and author Daisy Buchanan and Aweventurer.Set in a private villa on the idyllic Greek island of Zakynthos, this is an ideal activity for book lovers and budding writers. Over the course of seven days, attendees will have the time and space to indulge in their favourite books, refine their own writing skills, share their work with the group as well as have one-on-one time with Daisy for feedback and discussions. There is also plenty of time for R&R with yoga classes, hikes to hidden beaches, sailing on the Mediterranean and traditional Greek cookery classes. Let Out of Africa inspire your next Safari holiday in Kenya

There is no better time to re-read Out of Africa and lose yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the African landscape before jetting off to Great Plains’s newest property: Mara Toto Tree Camp in Kenya. Located in the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve and overlooking the Ntiakitiak River, this is the perfect base to take advantage of the renowned annual southern migration and the green season migration. Each of the four light and airy canvas tree canopy-tented suites is set on a raised deck built up into the canopies of trees. Here, guests will have spectacular bush views and witness the action of the passing wildlife from their outdoor verandahs. After the Maasai Mara safari drives, retreat to your suite and into the deep cooper baths for more indulgent reads.

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