25+ Books About England to Read Before You Visit

Looking for some great books about England to get you prepped for a trip "across the pond?" I've compiled a few of my "favourites!"

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Looking for a book about England? 

​You've come to the right place.

Wisteria on a Tudor building (SPC)

You've come to the right place if you're looking for some books to get you excited for a trip to England. ​ I love preparing for a significant trip by reading not just travel information, but also fiction based in the country I'll be visiting. These books are such a great way to learn not only about the country's culture, but also to force yourself to learn just a bit of the local history, in a more enjoyable way.

If you've been following the blog, you'll know I am a massive Anglophile. I even have a section of my blog devoted to "Anglophile Products."

From London, to day trips throughout the English countryside, I can't get enough. Even though our most recent trip was cancelled, I've enjoyed reading all about England for years, including when I'm trapped at home.

So, I've compiled some of my top books about England, going all the way back to the ones that started to peak my interest in the place, back in school, before I'd even visited the place. I've updated this post with a few more excellent books about England that have come out over the last few years.

25+ Books About England to Read Before You Visit

Tower Bridge, London (SPC)

Books about England: Inspirational/Sentimental

There's a modern sub-genre of English fiction that, for lack of a better term, I'm going to call inspirational/sentimental. Using a significant event/journey in the main character's life as a tool through which to reflect upon past experiences, there are my tear jerkers!

• Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Helen Simonson
• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Rachel Joyce
• The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, Phaedra Patrick

Books about England: Mystery

We all know the Brits are the masters of the mystery genre! From Dame Agatha all the way through to the present day, nobody does a mystery, particularly a small town mystery, like the English.

• Magpie Murders, Anthony Horowitz
• The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman
• The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie
• Agatha Raisin Mysteries, M.C. Beaton
• 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Stuart Turton

Love British mystery novels? Check out my list of cozy, British detective novels!

(SPC)

Books about England: JK Rowling

Of course we all know J.K. Rowling from the best-selling series of all time, but did you know she's written far more since she wrapped up Harry Potter? The Casual Vacancy explores the dark underbelly of a "quaint" English town, while her Cormoran Strike series follows a private detective through mysteries in London - and his romance with his detective partner.

• The Casual Vacancy​, J.K. Rowling
• The Cuckoo's Calling (Book 1), J.K. Rowling

If this is your first trip "across the pond," be sure to read up on my First Timer's Guide to England.

Books about England: Epic

As I mentioned, fiction can be a great way to "force" yourself to learn a bit of history. In the epics listed below, the authors will take you through multi-generational sagas illustrating sections of British history. And, perhaps a bit terrifying...Wolf Hall is largely true. 

• London: The Novel, Edward Rutherford 
• The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
• Fall of Giants, Ken Follett
• Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel

Quintessential cozy library (SPC)

Books about England: Essentials

No list of books about England would be complete without a section of "essentials!" While a few of these top the high school primer, don't hold that against them! And, of course, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is largely regarded as the best spy novel of all time, to keep you on the edge of your seat!

• Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen
• The Return of the Native, Thomas Hardy
• The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, John le Careé
• Bridget Jones's Diary: A Novel, Helen Fielding

Books about England: Royal Non-Fiction, but interesting

• The Plantagenets: Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England, Dan Jones
• Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England Kings and Queens, David Mitchell
• Elizabeth, Gyles Brandreth
• Spare, Prince Harry

Books about England: Children's

Preparing a little one for a trip to England? Here are a few of our favorites for your budding Anglophile:

• A Bear Called Paddington, Michael Bond
• Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne
• Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling

Thanks for stopping by!

Cotswolds, England (SPC)

I hope you enjoy reading about my "favourite" place in the world, even from the comfort of your own sofa! Let me know your favorite books about England in the comment section below.

And while you're here, I hope you'll take a moment to subscribe to my news letter and follow along on social media. I love nothing more than helping Americans prepare for and feel comfortable on trips to Europe. No paywalls, no gimmicks, no cheezy sales tactics. Just free advice from a friendly lawyer mom who loves England and having the right walking shoes. 

​Cheers!

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