20+ Kids and Adult Books Set in London or England
I LOVE London and England.
I did study abroad in London while I was an undergrad and then almost a decade later, my husband and I went back for a semester while he was an MBA student along with our two oldest girls (who were 1 and 4 at the time).
In 2021, we went back with all four of our girls and had the best time (you can see our whole itinerary here).
Whether you’re planning a trip to England or London or you want an armchair visit, here are some great books to check out!
I’ve marked the ones I’ve read with a * – other titles are suggestions from my Instagram community!
Picture Books set in London or England
*This Is London by Miroslav Sasek
M. Sasek has an entire “This Is…” series that would be great as first travel books for children. It is full of all of the important landmarks in the city of London. Keep in mind, this was written in 1959, so there are a few places or context that might be a bit dated.
*The Queen’s Hat by S. Antony
The queen’s hat blows away and she and her palace guards chase it all through London, hitting all the major sites, from the London Eye to Big Ben to Trafalgar Square. It’s all done in black, red, and blue against blank pages and is just delightful to look at. I think I probably need to buy myself a copy of this one – it’s just THAT good and I just love London THAT much.
*Madeline in London by Ludwig Bemelmans
I absolutely adore the Madeline classics! Madeline and her school go to London to visit Pepito, who has been missing his friends and has an upcoming birthday. Without a suitable gift, the schoolmates embark on an adventure to buy him a horse.
Katie in London by James Mayhew
This is the perfect book to get little ones excited for London. Katie and her brother go on a trip to London with Grandma. But, when they get to London, Grandma is so tired that she falls asleep! Katie and her brother don’t let that stop them – they go off and explore all the sights of London.
Look Inside London by Jonathan Melmoth
How fun is this lift-the-flap information book about London!? This makes learning about all the iconic places in the city so much fun. There is no shortage of fold out tabs filled with fun facts, as well as a search for the Queen’s lost corgis.
Around London (Young Explorers) by Laura Re
This is the perfect travel guide for young travelers, whether you are on the road in London, or prepping for a trip. The book is broken up into different itineraries and includes facts about each landmark visited.
Chapter Books set in London or England
*Paddington Bear by Michael Bond
You can’t go wrong with this classic about a bear found in a train station who loves orange marmalade and accidentally is always getting into scrapes. Keep an eye out for his statue in the Paddington station!
*Where Is? Who Was? series by Who HQ
From the wildly popular Who HQ, comes several titles that will fill you in on some of the most famous places and people from England. I especially like Where is the Tower of London, Who Was Queen Victoria?, and Who Was William Shakespeare?.
*Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
I have a long history of loving Harry Potter. When my mom started reading the first one to me and my sisters, we only made it through one chapter before we were completely hooked. I also have some very happy memories of snuggling my nursing baby in the my in-laws’ basement, reading the British versions of several of the books. I have read the entire series multiple times, seen all the movies, and I still never get tired of this story.
*Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
This is one of the most beloved childhood stories of all time! The audiobook is seriously incredible – it is done as a full dramatization with original music and famous actors like Judi Dench and Stephen Fry.
*Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers
You’ve seen the movie a thousand times, but have you ever read the books that inspired the Disney film? This is a fun one to watch the movie and read the book and spot the many differences (plus a lot of London icons!).
*The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Orphaned Mary Lennox is shipped off to live with a distant uncle after her parents die and she feels nothing but loneliness. She spends her time on the Yorkshire moors exploring the surrounding gardens…and that’s when she finds a key. A curious old key that fit perfectly in a mysterious little door. And then she realizes what she found. A secret garden.
*Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
This sweet classic series tells the story of three adopted sisters living in Britain in the 1950s. Determined to help out their family, they vow to work hard and dive into the world of show business. Dancing, acting, and…aviation?
*A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
This historical fiction title absolutely charmed me and it’s been one of my favorite read-alouds in the past couple of years. Three young children lose their grandmother, leaving them orphans and no place to go. Her lawyer suggests that, since so many children are being shipped out to the English countryside during the bombings, they might join the exodus and conveniently not mention that they don’t actually have a family. And just maybe the family that temporarily takes them in will want to keep them forever. This book has all the feelings of a classic and I definitely shed some tears at the end.
*Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud
We read the first book in the series back in 2023 for the Everyday Reading Book Club for October and it did not disappoint! In this one, some young people with psychic abilities run a small London agency to eradicate the supernatural foes that are popping up all over the city. This isn’t one I would read with young readers, but my fifth grader LOVED it when her teacher read it aloud!
*The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Ted and Kat tend to bicker a lot, until they watch their cousin Salim get on The London Eye ferris wheel and never get off. They have to work together to make some headway on the investigation that police can’t even figure out. This one is hard to put down once you start.
*Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier
Nan is a chimney sweep indentured to a cruel master, and barely surviving. When she is almost killed while cleaning chimneys in a prestigious girls school, she is saved by a piece of char from her old master. From this warm char, Nan grows a golem, named Charlie. They are hiding from the cruel master, but eventually take a stand for all the sweeps of London.
Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London by Kate Knapp
Ruby Red Shoes is an sweet little white hare who loves to drink tea and spend time in nature. And in this third book she explores London with her grandmother, Babushka, to visit family for Christmas. But of course, it always ends too soon!
The Calder Game (Book #3 Chasing Vermeer) by Blue Balliett, illustrated by Brett Helquist
Some very unexplainable things are happening. When Calder and his father travel to a small village in England, a very unique sculpture in the town square and Calder himself disappear! It’s up to his friends Petra and Tommy to help Calder’s father find him…before it’s too late.
Adult Books Set in London or England
*The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower
When Emma M. Lion returns home to her London neighborhood, she only has one thing on her mind – take back possession of her rightful home from her cousin Archibald. You better believe Archibald isn’t going anywhere without a fight. In true Emma M. Lion fashion, she chronicles the ins and outs of her increasingly hilarious and frustrating life.
*Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella
If you know me, you know I have a serious soft spot in my heart for Sophie Kinsella. I find her books so hilarious and this series is no exception. In this light-hearted and hilariously entertaining series, a woman named Becky Bloomwood has a serious addiction to…you guessed it, shopping!
*The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson
I read this book IMMEDIATELY when I saw it on Modern Mrs. Darcy’s 2019 Summer Reading Guide. It takes place in 1947 as Britain slowly recovers from the carnage of WWII and the bright spot in all the darkness is Princess Elizabeth’s royal wedding. Despite war rationing that still continues, England wants a real wedding, including a legit wedding dress and this story follows three different protagonists involved in the making of that dress.
*Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Do we all imagine Benedict Cumberbatch now as Sherlock? Just me? This is the classic mystery series of all mystery series – full of adventures from the most well-known detective and his trusty partner Dr. Watson. Fun fact: when we lived in London for my husband’s semester abroad, we lived just around the corner from Baker Street and passed the fictional detective’s door almost daily.
*Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
You can’t compete with Jane Eyre – it’s one of the finest books ever written. Read it and love it. We’ve also seen and loved the TV series. I highly recommend it after reading this incredible book!
*Jane Austen books
If you are looking for a charming regency book nestled in the English countryside, with maybe a little bit of status and romance, Jane Austen writes some of the best and well-known English regency novels. Some of my favorites include Pride and Prejudice and Emma.
*Shakespeare books
To be honest, I have only read one Shakespeare book – I listened to an audiobook of Hamlet, and it happened to be a fantastic recording of it. Majority of Shakespeare’s plays are set in England, more specifically London, AND they mostly focus on the lives of English monarchs.
*Charles Dickens books
A Tale of Two Cities is one of my all time favorites and a classic for a reason. Taking place in Paris and London before the French Revolution, it is portrayed in such a suspenseful, comedic, and sentimental way! You also cannot go wrong with the holiday classic The Christmas Carol!
*Kate Morton books
I have the read The Secret Keeper and The Lake House (my mom and my sisters are all big fans of Kate Morton books), and I LOVED them both! She keeps you guessing until the very end and likes her ending tied up neatly.
Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch
Peter Grant is not your typical law enforcement officer in London – he dreams of a life as a detective. But he didn’t realize his ability to communicate with the dead would bring him to the attention of a detective who investigates supernatural crimes. Peter is soon thrust into a world of magic and ancient evil, where he must solve a series of brutal and bizarre murders.
London by Edward Rutherfurd
Spanning 2,000 years with 6 intertwined families, this historical fiction covers many significant historical and cultural happenings during the time period from the time of Julius Caesar to the twentieth century. Generation after generation, these families embody the passion, struggle, wealth, and verve of the greatest city in the Old World
Darkest Hour by Anthony McCarten
This one is now a major motion picture about the time directly following Churchill’s taking office as Prime Minister. And that daunting task included leading Britain against Nazi Germany. This historical nonfiction shares gripping accounts of Churchill’s 25 pivotal days as Prime Minister and how in the end, he rallied the British people to change the course of history.
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
Grace Bennett moves to London in 1939, just as World War II is about to begin. Despite the hardships and dangers of the Blitz, Grace finds solace and purpose in working at a bookshop. Through the power of storytelling, she helps bring her community together with hope in a time of immense adversity.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
This sounds like such a unique book – a little bit of fantasy, a little bit of historical fiction, and a little bit of time travel! Ursula Todd, is born and reborn repeatedly throughout the 20th century, experiencing countless lives and deaths. As she witnesses the world’s tragedies unfold, she grapples with the question of whether her unique ability can prevent the inevitable – another world war.
Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton
Harry Potter fans, where are you at? Prepare to meet real-life wizard, Draco Malfoy (or Tom Felton). In this candid and humorous memoir, Tom Felton shares his experiences from child actor to adult, navigating the complexities of life in the spotlight.
The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay
Mary Davies, an industrial engineer, travels to Regency England to visit her childhood friend, Isabel. When Isabel loses her memory and believes she’s actually living in the past, Mary becomes immersed in the Regency lifestyle. Amidst the chaos and confusion, Mary discovers a connection between her life and Isabel’s.
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Love and Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean
Britt Hanson, a soccer player with an injured knee, enters an English scavenger hunt to win a life-changing prize. She teams up with Luke Jackson, a bookish Englishman, and together they navigate the clues, compete against rivals, and discover unexpected adventures in the English countryside. As Britt is exploring, she learns some valuable lessons about friendship, love, and following her heart.
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