Sometimes in life you’re lucky enough to combine two of your favorite things into one experience. Think chocolate and peanut butter, or the internet and cats. In this case it’s travel and books. These are the top 5 travel destinations for book lovers.
The Hobbit Motel – New Zealand
If you’re crazy about the Lord of the Rings, then you don’t want to miss a chance to live like a Hobbit in your very own underground Hobbit cabin. Set on a working farm, the motel is made from a combination of natural and recycled materials. The underground Hobbit cabins are made from natural timbers and natural materials are used for the curtains. And if you’re worried about the bed, don’t be – all the beds are “regular” sized, so you don’t have to worry about your legs hanging off the end.
Shakespeare and Company Bookshop – Paris
Whether you’re a big fan of Shakespeare or not (who isn’t?), if you’re a book lover then you won’t want to miss out on visiting the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris, France. The bookshop is extravagantly cozy and quirky and has English-language books (not just French). It’s only 3 minutes away from the Notre Dame Cathedral, so if you’re planning a trip to the French capital, there’s no reason to miss it.
Hay-on-Wye – United Kingdom
Every book lover needs to visit the charming little town of Hay-on-Wye at least once in their lifetime. As the most famous book town in the world, it has only 1,500 inhabitants and has as many as 24 bookshops. Each and every bookshop in town is well worth a visit, but you definitely cannot miss the open-air bookshop in the Hay Castle. Try to visit during the Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, which is held between May and June every year. Hay-on-Wye is on the Welsh-English border, just a little over 3 hours from London or 1.5 hours from Bristol.
The One Room Reading Cabin – New York
All book lovers know that nothing is better than snuggling up with a good book. And the architects at Studio Padron are certainly book lovers themselves. They created a one-room reading nook in upstate New York. The little tiny wood cabin library is snuggled in the middle of the woods and features walls lined with books, a cozy bed and chairs, and a little fireplace to keep warm. Nothing could be better.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter – London
Of course we can’t make a list of the top places to travel to for book lovers without including the Warner Bros. Studio Tour of The Making of Harry Potter in London. Get up close with the movie sets, costumes, and props used in all the Harry Potter films. You’ll even be able to step inside some of the famous locations, including the Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office, Hagrid’s Hut, the boys’ dormitory, the potions classroom, and Professor Umbridge’s office at the Ministry of Magic.
