Literary lovers don’t need to wait any longer to get their hands on a copy of Nottingham’s Literary Map. Following a successful launch event with partners from around the city, the map can now be found at Nottingham Tourism Centre, Five Leaves, Bromley House Library, Nottingham Central Library and many other places! Perfect for the long weekend.
Hannah Trevarthen, director of Nottingham City of Literature said:
“This has been such an exciting and fulfilling project to mark the anniversary of ten years as a UNESCO designated City of Literature. The success of the map really shows Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s strength as a leading literary destination with a thriving ecosystem of partnerships that celebrate and champion our stories. This map will help everyone, locals and tourists alike to discover a new Nottingham that’s hiding in plain sight. We want people to discover the richness of the city from hidden gems, current creative hubs and literary heritage locations. We’re thrilled to join other Cities of Literature like Exeter, Manchester, Barcelona and Seattle with a map that invites further exploration to discover what makes us a vibrant City of Literature.”
The collaborative project between Nottingham City of Literature, the University of Nottingham and Visit Nottinghamshire was funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Arts Council England and is a celebration of Nottingham’s literary voices both past and present.
Megan Powell Vreeswilk, CEO of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire including Visit Nottinghamshire, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to have supported the development of the Nottinghamshire Literary Map, which brings to life the rich storytelling heritage that defines our region. As a UNESCO City of Literature, Nottingham has long been a place that inspires creativity and is home to literary greats such as Lord Byron, D.H. Lawrence, and Alan Sillitoe.
This map offers a new and engaging way for visitors and residents alike to explore that legacy, discover our vibrant literary venues, and experience the places and stories that continue to shape Nottingham and Nottinghamshire today. The map is available to pick up from our Nottingham Tourism Centre located on Smithy Row, just off Old Market Square, and a digital copy can be downloaded on the Visit Nottinghamshire website.”
Professor Jayne Carrol, Head of the School of English at the University of Nottingham said:
“Nottingham’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature has served both as a recognition of the historical achievements of the city’s writers, and a way of creating new opportunities for readers and writers here. The map reinforces both of these purposes in the most exciting way, and invites visitors to the city and the people of Nottingham alike to become more familiar with our literary landscape.”
The map is the culmination of a series of public-facing workshops that delved into Nottingham’s rich literary history and present. The team then had the tricky task of narrowing them down to forty-two locations divided up into bookshops, literary landmarks and people and places.
Matt Rabagliati, Head of Policy and Research, UNESCO UK said:
“Nottingham’s UNESCO City of Literature designation recognises the city’s extraordinary literary heritage, but also its commitment to using words, stories and creativity to shape a better future.
This new literary map is a brilliant way of bringing that designation to life. It helps residents and visitors discover the writers, places, bookshops, creative spaces and hidden histories that make Nottingham such a distinctive literary city.
As part of the global UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Nottingham is connected to cities around the world using culture and creativity to support education, opportunity and civic pride. The map beautifully showcases what makes Nottingham special, while inviting more people to explore and take part in its literary life.”
Get your copy now and start exploring!
Posted on 01 May 2026
