Visit England has declared 2017 to be the Year of Literary Heroes with the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death this year, as well as June marking 20 years since the first Harry Potter book was published. 

The British Library is hosting a new exhibition dedicated to the boy wizard from October 20 until February 28, 2018, including previously unseen material from JK Rowling and magical treasures from the British Library’s own collection of wizarding books.

Along with filming locations to visit, such as Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, events will be taking place around the country. A Harry Potter concert series from May 11-21 will be screening Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone accompanied by a live orchestra in London’s Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Or to celebrate Jane Austen, head to Hampshire for more special events, including at her former house in the village of Chawton, now Jane Austen’s House Museum, Regency-themed activities and an exhibition called The Mysterious Miss Austen which will tour Gosport, Basingstoke and Winchester – site of her final resting place in the cathedral.

Lashings of fun

If Pride, Prejudice and Potter don’t tempt you, it’s also the 75th anniversary of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five this May.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s four gardens in North Yorkshire, Essex, Surrey and Devon are planning family activities inspired by the children’s books from themed adventure trails to garden displays, craft workshops and storytelling, not to mention a picnic on August 11, which would have been Enid Blyton’s 120th birthday.

Elementary entertainment

Some tales never lose their appeal. 125 years after the publication of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the first collection of the famous detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the duo from 221B Baker Street have a set of devoted new fans thanks to the  current hit TV show.

As well as visiting The Sherlock Holmes Museum, a Grade II listed building devoted to the detective including a recreation of his sitting room, fans can walk to 187 North Gower Street to see the exterior of the building used in the series.

Westminster’s The Sherlock Holmes Pub is also full of memorabilia, while dedicated fans should head to Bristol to follow the city’s filming locations map, including King Street, the Arnos Vale Cemetery and Tyntesfield House, just outside Bristol itself.