Exciting news! For the next two weeks, I’ll be taking an academic trip / vacation to England! Having never been to Europe before, I am ridiculously excited about the prospect. In honor of all things British, therefore, this post and the two following it will feature a list of literary English places and their associated works of literature that I intend to spend far too much time enjoying.

This week: three places in London!

1. 221B Baker Street.

A once-fictional address made famous by Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books, 221B Baker Street is known as the study and residence of the detective whose superpower is the power of deduction. In real life, it is now the site of a Sherlock Holmes museum that absolutely must sell deerstalker caps.

2. King’s Cross Station

Once just one of many train stations in London, King’s Cross is now known as the departure place for the Hogwarts Express, which leaves from Platform 9 3/4 to take young witches and wizards to school. Now, even Muggles can experience the magic of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, as a monument to the books – a trolley half-transported to the magical platform – now stands between platforms 9 and 10 at the station.

3. The Tower of London

Dangerous prisoners, daring escapes, dreadful murders – all have been written to take place in the Tower of London, England’s most famous prison. One such work, for instance, is Shakespeare’s Richard III, in which the evil Richard of Gloucester has his enemies imprisoned and then murdered there. Of course, his enemies include his brother and two young nephews, which gives the play a rather gruesome twist. The Tower of London is a rather gruesome place, though, so it isn’t out of character.

There are many others, of course, but these are three I’m going to make sure to see while I’m abroad. Tally ho, sally forth, and what not – I’ll be back soon!