Beatrix Potter

The Original Peter Rabbit Books

Beatrix Potter dedicated The Tale of Tom Kitten to “all Pickles – especially those who get upon my garden wall”. You can’t climb on the wall but you can certainly see it, and the house and garden that feature in so many lovingly illustrated stories. Hill Top at Near Sawrey in Cumbria’s Lake District was Potter’s home for many years. Samuel Whiskers’ rolling pin goes down the stairs, Tom Kitten disrobes on the garden wall and Jemima Puddle-Duck wanders the hills and fields. Are those Mr McGregor’s spade and water-can? In the village, look out for the Tower Bank Arms from Jemima Puddle-Duck and Buckle Yeat Guest House which is Duchess’ home in The Pie and the Patty-Pan.

Nearby Hawkshead is the setting for The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse and home to The National Trust’s Beatrix Potter Gallery. A shuttle service connects Hill Top, Hawkshead and Bowness-on-Windermere where you’ll find The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction. Experience all 23 tales and a sculpture featuring Jemima Puddle-Duck (unveiled by Renee Zellweger, star of the forthcoming Miss Potter).

Squirrel Nutkin sails to St Herbert’s Island (fictional Owl Island) on beautiful Derwentwater, and the Newlands Valley is where Lucie (see her farmhouse at Skelgill) meets Mrs Tiggy-Winkle. Some sketches for Jeremy Fisher were done at Melford Hall, Suffolk, as were some for The Tailor of Gloucester; beside Gloucester Cathedral, in College Court, is the very house (exterior only) that inspired Potter to write her famous tale.