Enchanted by England
LITERARY TOURS, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2025
Immerse yourself in the worlds of your favorite authors and books on an unforgettable literary adventure including 25+ tours, rare experiences, afternoon teas, and more!
September 21st – 29th, 2025
TOUR 1: Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis, Shakespeare, Elizabeth Gaskell, the Brontës
September 29th – October 5th, 2025
TOUR 2: Beatrix Potter, James Herriot, William Wordsworth
*Guests have the option to book one or both tours
TOUR 1 itinerary
DAY 1
chawton village
Meet in London and travel to Chawton Village
(38 miles by private coach)
Private tour of Jane Austen’s home & viewing of Austen artifacts not shown to the public
Guided tour of Chawton House, home of early women’s writing (owned by Jane Austen’s brother). Includes leisure time for lunch and exploring the gardens.
Visit St. Nicholas Church
Where Jane Austen’s father and two of her brothers and her nephew William Knight served as rectors.
Then travel to Bath (67 miles by private coach)
Enjoy welcome dinner amongst kindred spirits and overnight accommodations at Hotel Indigo Bath.
DAY 2
Experience THE STUNNING CITY OF BATH
with a guided walking tour
Tour No. 1 Royal Crescent
Decorated and furnished just as it might have been during the period 1776-1796
Visit Sally Lunn’s for a Sally Lunn Bunn with jam and cream and tea
This historic building is one of the oldest houses in Bath. Their kitchen museum is believed to originally have been the bakery of the young baker (today their namesake patron) who created the first Bath bun: a regional speciality now known all over the world.
Visit St. Swithun’s Church
The only surviving 18th century church in Bath, where Jane Austen’s parents were married in 1764, and where her father was buried in 1805. Reverend Austen’s gravestone is in the churchyard.
Enjoy afternoon tea at the Gainsborough Hotel followed by leisure time
Overnight accommodations at
Hotel Indigo Bath
DAY 3
EXPLORE THE CITY OF BATH AT YOUR LEISURE
Persephone Books warmly welcomes our group with a special introduction. This unique bookstore & publisher exclusively offers neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly written by women writers of the mid-twentieth century.
Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Recommendations include:
• The Jane Austen Centre
• Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein
• Roman Baths
• Thermae Bath Spa
Overnight accommodations at Hotel Indigo Bath
DAY 4
WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF
C.S. LEWIS IN OXFORD
Travel to Oxford (82 miles by private coach)
Guided walking tour of Oxford includes:
• Exterior of Exeter College, where Tolkien was an undergraduate 1911-1915
• Bodleian Libraries
• University Church, where C.S. Lewis often preached
• Magdalen College, where C.S. Lewis was a fellow from 1925-1954 and the Inklings met
• Exterior of Merton College, where Tolkien was Prof. of English Language and Literature 1945-1959
• Exterior of Pembroke College, where Tolkien was Prof. of Anglo Saxon 1926-1945
Visit Alice’s Shop (includes free time for lunch)
The real-life shop that Alice visits in Lewis Carroll’s Alice Through The Looking Glass
Overnight accommodations at The Cotswold Lodge
DAY 5
VISIT C.S. LEWIS’S HOME AND
EXPLORE THE WORLD OF SHAKESPEARE
Guided tour of the Kilns, home of C.S. Lewis, where he wrote the Narnia series
Guided tour of Holy Trinity Church
C.S. Lewis worshipped here for over 30 years and is buried in the churchyard. Features inside the church, built in 1849 and designed by the celebrated architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, include the Narnia Window and the pew where the Lewis brothers used to sit.
Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon (58 miles by private coach)
Lunch at leisure followed by visits at own pace to:
• Shakespeare’s New Place
Family home from 1597 until he died in the house in 1616. The house was demolished in 1759, and a registered garden has been designed on the site where New Place once stood.
• Holy Trinity Church
The church where William Shakespeare was baptised and is buried.
• Shakespeare’s Birthplace
• Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
Family home of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife-to-be. It is here that Anne was born and raised and where the young Shakespeare would have visited her during the early part of their relationship.
Dinner and overnight accommodations at
Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon
DAY 6
tour the emma bridgewater factory and visit pemberley
Check out of hotel and travel to Emma Bridgewater Factory (80 miles by private coach)
Visit Emma Bridgewater Factory including: factory tour, afternoon tea, and mug decorating session.
Emma Bridgewater is a beloved British ceramics manufacturing company producing a collection of darling mugs and dishware.
Travel to Chatsworth House
(33 miles by private coach)
Explore Chatsworth House at your leisure
Chatsworth House is a historic English country house known for its art and stunning gardens. It was used as Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley in the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Travel to Manchester (41 miles by private coach)
Dinner and overnight accommodations at
Hotel Indigo Manchester
DAY 7
VISIT ELIZABETH GASKELL’S HOUSE AND
THE MANCHESTER CENTRAL LIBRARY
Tour Elizabeth Gaskell’s house
Exploring the stunningly preserved Victorian house and garden will introduce you to the world of Elizabeth Gaskell and her family, so you can see what inspired some of her works like “Mary Barton,” “Cranford” and “North and South.” The house has welcomed prolific names like Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë, Florence Nightingale and Charles Darwin. Step back in time, browse the extensive bookshelves, see where Elizabeth penned her novels and take in the life of a true Manchester literary icon.
Enjoy afternoon tea at the Richmond Tea Rooms
Attend a private talk at Manchester Central Library on the archive with a special focus on Gaskell and Brontë collections
Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, exploring Manchester, a UNESCO City of Literature
A UNESCO City of Literature is awarded the title based on their dedication to pursuing excellence in literature locally, and work together to promote new national and international literary links
Overnight accommodations at Hotel Indigo Manchester
DAY 8
visit THE home of the brontës
Travel to Brontë Parsonage Museum
(44 miles by private coach)
Tour home of the Brontë sisters
Enjoy free time for souvenir shopping and lunch in the quaint countryside town of Haworth
Return to Hotel Indigo Manchester for online book club meeting and dinner
*Depart the next day OR continue on to Tour 2
TOUR 1 INCLUDES:
Breakfast everyday, 2 lunches, 3 afternoon teas, 4 dinners
8 nights of hotel accommodations
Entrance into 16 attractions
Local guides for tours in Bath and Oxford
Rare experiences not available to the public such as private tours and talks
Private coach travel
Enrich your experience by traveling alongside a delightful group of kindred spirits
Surprises along the way!
Cost: £3480 (single supplement)
or £2780 (to share a room)
£595 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation. The remaining cost is due 60 days prior to the tour.
*Flights not included
*The option to share a room will depend on whether other guests are also interested in room-sharing. Once we have confirmed the preferences of all participants, we will do our best to match guests who wish to share accommodations.
*Guests must be able to comfortably walk two miles
TOUR 2 itinerary
DAY 1
experience the beauty of york
Meet at The Grand York
Delight in a half day walking tour of York which includes a guided visit to one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals, York Minster
Enjoy welcome dinner amongst kindred spirits and overnight accommodations at luxury 5-star hotel, The Grand York
DAY 2
VISIT YORK MINSTER LIBRARY & CASTLE HOWARD
Visit York Minster Library Medieval Upper Hall for an exclusive literary experience—enjoy a handling session with the Library Rare Books Specialist who will guide us through the history of printing with access to their rare collections.
Travel to Castle Howard by private coach (15 miles)
A leisurely visit and lunch at Castle Howard and its stunning gardens.
Castle Howard is a stately home with works of art of international significance, displayed within the state rooms. The Castle’s interiors featured in BBC’s production of P.D. James’ “Death Comes to Pemberley” and has also been used a film location for Bridgerton. The Castle Howard archive contains vast range of material including books, correspondence, diaries, papers, bills and notebooks, which document the life and times of Castle Howard and its inhabitants over the centuries.
Overnight accommodations at The Grand York
DAY 3
for fans of all creatures great and small
Travel to “The World of James Herriot” by private coach (23 miles)
Guided visit to “The World of James Herriot”
The fully restored 1940’s home & veterinary practice of James Herriot, where he worked and wrote the “All Creatures Great and Small” series.
Travel to Grassington by private coach (35 miles)
Explore Grassington with free time for lunch at leisure
“All Creatures Great and Small” is set in the glorious Yorkshire Dales. It’s filmed across a range of locations in Yorkshire, including the beautiful and historic market town of Grassington, which plays a central role in the drama as “Darrowby” Village.
Travel to The Old Swan Harrogate by private coach
(23 miles)
Enjoy afternoon tea at The Old Swan Harrogate, where Agatha Christie made her famous 11-day disappearance
Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight accommodations at The Grand York
DAY 4
INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SECRET GARDEN AND ENGLAND’S “BOOK TOWN”
Travel to Helmsley Walled Garden by private coach (25 miles)
Explore Helmsley Walled Garden
Helmsley Walled Garden is the film location for the latest adaptation of “The Secret Garden,” and is located in the North Yorkshire Moors, where the beloved classic book is set.
Enjoy a scenic drive through the North Yorkshire Moors with local guide
Includes stunning viewing points and All Creatures Great and Small filming locations. See the best of North England, two National Parks, moorland, and mountain scenery, as well as several beautiful villages and market towns. Also includes stop for lunch at leisure.
Visit England’s official (and only) “Book Town”
With a village population of less than 3000, this charming town has 5 bookshops selling new and used books.
Arrive at the Lake District and enjoy dinner and overnight accommodations at The Swan, Grasmere
DAY 5
Steam Yacht Gondola Cruise
& wordsworth museum
Travel to Coniston Water jetty by private coach
(12.8 miles)
Steam Yacht Gondola cruise
Embark on a historic cruise across Coniston Water aboard a beautifully restored Victorian steam-powered yacht. This captivating 1-hour “Heart of the Lake” tour takes you to “Wild Cat Island” and other iconic spots that inspired author Arthur Ransome’s beloved tales, offering a unique glimpse into the world of “Swallows and Amazons.”
Tour Brantwood, home of John Ruskin
John Ruskin was one of the greatest figures of the Victorian age – poet, artist, critic, social revolutionary and conservationist. Brantwood is filled with Ruskin’s drawings and watercolors, together with much of his original furniture, books and personal items. Sitting above the stunning landscape of Coniston Water, the house retains the character of when it was Ruskin’s beloved home.
Enjoy lunch at Swallows & Amazons Café
Known as “Holly Howe” in Arthur Ransome’s book “Swallows and Amazons.“
Travel to Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery by private coach (10 miles)
Visit Dove Cottage & Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery
Dove Cottage was the home of William Wordsworth between 1799 and 1809, the period during which he wrote many of his most renowned works.
Spend the rest of your day at leisure in Grasmere
Opportunity to visit bookshops and gift shops
Overnight accommodations at The Swan, Grasmere
DAY 6
A celebration of beatrix potter
Travel to Hill Top by private coach
(12 miles)
Tour Hill Top
A small 17th century farmhouse with a traditional cottage garden where Beatrix Potter wrote many of her stories. Every room in the house contains a reference to a picture in her much-loved children’s tales, and much of the inspiration for the illustrations in her books came from the delightful garden, a mix of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables.
Travel to Bowness-on-Windermere by ferry for lunch
(3 miles)
Visit The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction
The World of Beatrix Potter is a vibrant attraction bringing to life Beatrix Potter’s enchanting stories in a magical recreation of the beautiful Lake District countryside. The exhibition features favorite characters from the famous books, an award-winning outdoor Peter Rabbit Garden, and world-famous gift shop.
Travel to Armitt Museum by private coach
(6 miles)
Enjoy a guided tour of the Armitt Museum
Home to Beatrix Potter watercolors, portraits by Kurt Schwitters and paintings by six Victorian women who lived in the area, including the three Armitt sisters.
Free time in Ambleside
Opportunity to visit bookshops and gift shops
Group dinner and overnight accommodations at
The Swan, Grasmere
DAY 7
AN AFTERNOON WITH HERDWICK SHEEP
Travel to Herdwick Sheep experience by private coach
(10 miles)
Herdwick Sheep Experience (optional activity)
Learn about the Herdwick’s cultural significance in relation to the Lake District, including their connection to Beatrix Potter. Unlike most Herdwick sheep, interact with a special flock that enjoy and actively seek out people’s company.
Travel to train station by private coach
(22 miles)
Tour concludes
TOUR 2 INCLUDES:
-Breakfast everyday, 1 lunch, 1 afternoon tea, 3 dinners
-6 nights of hotel accommodations
-Entrance into 11 attractions & Steam Yacht Gondola cruise
-Local guides for tours in York, the North Yorkshire Moors, and the Lake District
-Rare experiences not available to the public such as private rare books handling session
-Private coach travel
-Enrich your experience by traveling alongside a delightful group of kindred spirits
-Surprises along the way!
Cost: £2565 (single supplement)
or £2130 (to share a room)
£595 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation. The remaining cost is due 60 days prior to the tour.
*Flights not included
*The option to share a room will depend on whether other guests are also interested in room-sharing. Once we have confirmed the preferences of all participants, we will do our best to match guests who wish to share accommodations.
*Guests must be able to comfortably walk two miles
*If you would like to participate in the Herdwick sheep experience, the price will be approximately £75. The final price will be dependent on the number of guests participating.
WANT TO ATTEND BOTH TOURS?
Cost to attend both tours: £6045 (single supplement)
or £4910 (to share a room)
£1190 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation on both tours. The remaining cost is due 60 days prior to Tour 1.
*Flights not included
*The option to share a room will depend on whether other guests are also interested in room-sharing. Once we have confirmed the preferences of all participants, we will do our best to match guests who wish to share accommodations.
How to make your reservation
1. Join The Enchanted Book Club
Our literary tours are a one-of-a-kind experience, reserved exclusively for the Enchanted Book Club community. By reserving tours for book club members, we create an opportunity for guests who share a love of stories to explore literary landmarks together. This sense of connection deepens the journey, as you’re not just traveling—you’re making memories with true kindred spirits who will become lifelong friends!
All year long, The Enchanted Book Club will set the stage for our tour with exciting activities like special guest discussions, British-themed giveaways, and more. These activities will make our adventure even more meaningful—well before we step foot in the English Countryside.
2. Join the waitlist
Our community’s love for literary travel means there’s always a lot of excitement around our tours! To keep the experience intimate and special, we limit the number of spots on each trip. Our Enchanted by England tours each have 18 spots, which are filled through a registration raffle.
Our registration raffle closed on October 27th, 2024. If you did not enter the raffle but would like to be added to the waitlist, contact support@enchantedbookclub.com
What is it like traveling with The Enchanted Book Club?
“I AM LIVING MY DREAM. I’VE BEEN ABLE TO RELAX, BREATHE, AND SEE THE BEAUTY THAT STILL EXISTS IN OUR WORLD.”
“touring the special places on PRINCE EDWARD Island was above and beyond my expectations. I was a solo traveler, but I never felt alone in this group of kindred spirits.”
See what it’s like to travel with us by watching the video below:
“the feeling of kinship and friendship i’ve experienced far surpassed my expectations. the beautiful ladies on this trip have a special place in my heart and being a part of the enchanted book club has enriched my life.”
Hello, kindred spirit!
About your host
hayley solano, founder & host
of the enchanted book club
I’ll never forget the first time I walked into Jane Austen’s home. It was as if the stories I’ve always loved leaped off the pages before my eyes. To see Jane’s tiny desk, to thumb through the pages of Pride & Prejudice with a view of her garden, to step inside her bedroom, it was undeniably enchanting. I knew I wanted to give that experience to as many readers as I could.
What makes literary travel even more special is experiencing it amongst kindred spirits. Some of my most cherished memories have been made on Enchanted Book Club tours as women from all over the world come together to celebrate our favorite novels where they were written. I would absolutely love to meet you in England!