14 Real Places That Inspired Famous Fictional Settings
One of the most magical things about reading fiction is how a good book can transport you somewhere else entirely. Maybe it’s a foggy moor, a seaside village, or a bustling city that only exists on the page—but it feels real because the author has breathed life into every corner. And sometimes? That’s because it is real—at least in part.
Many beloved fictional settings are rooted in actual places. Authors often draw inspiration from the world around them, reimagining landscapes, cities, and towns into something just a little more enchanted, a little more mysterious, or a little more dramatic. Whether they rename the location or simply heighten reality for the sake of the story, the connection between real and fictional worlds is part of what makes these books feel so alive.
Let’s take a literary tour, shall we? Here are a few real-life places that inspired famous fictional settings—and might just make you want to pack a suitcase.
1. Prince Edward Island – Anne of Green Gables
L.M. Montgomery’s charming and enduring series about Anne Shirley owes much of its beauty and spirit to the author’s real-life home: Prince Edward Island in Canada. The red cliffs, lush meadows, and quaint villages described in Anne of Green Gables aren’t just fiction—they’re based on the landscapes Montgomery grew up in and loved deeply.
Today, Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish draws fans from all over the world. Visitors can walk through the “Haunted Wood” and “Lover’s Lane,” both real paths immortalized in Anne’s adventures.
2. Oxford, England – His Dark Materials and Harry Potter
Oxford has long been a wellspring of literary inspiration, but one modern fantasy classic owes much of its atmospheric magic to this historic city.
Oxford helped shape the visual world of Harry Potter. While Hogwarts is fictional, parts of its design were inspired by real Oxford colleges—especially Christ Church, which served as a filming location and architectural muse. Wandering those halls feels a little like stepping into the Great Hall.
3. Forks, Washington – Twilight
Before Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series exploded into a global phenomenon, Forks was a sleepy, rainy logging town on the Olympic Peninsula. Meyer chose it purely because it was one of the cloudiest places in the continental U.S.—perfect for a vampire trying to hide in plain sight.
Today, Forks embraces its Twilight fame with gusto. Fans can visit Bella’s house, stop by the high school, or check out the “Forever Twilight in Forks” collection. Whether or not you’re Team Edward or Team Jacob, it’s fascinating to see how a quiet town became a literary landmark overnight.
4. The Scottish Highlands – Outlander
The sweeping romance and time-traveling drama of Outlander wouldn’t be the same without the haunting beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Author Diana Gabaldon had never been to Scotland when she wrote the first book, but her extensive research—and eventual visits—brought the land to vivid life.
From the standing stones that (fictionally) whisk Claire back in time to the battlefields and castles, Scotland is more than just a backdrop in the series—it’s a character in its own right. Today, fans can tour filming locations and historical sites across the Highlands, often with a copy of Outlander tucked under their arm.
5. New York City – Countless Novels
New York isn’t just a setting—it’s practically a genre. From The Great Gatsby to The Devil Wears Prada, NYC has inspired generations of writers with its mix of grit, glamour, ambition, and heartbreak.
What’s unique about New York in literature is how it shapeshifts depending on the lens. For some, it’s a city of reinvention. For others, it’s full of loneliness and longing. Whether you're wandering the Upper East Side in Gossip Girl or grabbing a bagel with a broken heart in One Last Stop, the city pulses through every page.
6. Savannah, Georgia – Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
While technically nonfiction, John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil reads like a Southern gothic novel—and Savannah is its sultry, mysterious star. The moss-draped oaks, ornate mansions, and eccentric residents are all very real, and the book captures the city’s charm and strangeness with uncanny precision.
Readers who fall under the spell of this story can visit Bonaventure Cemetery, stroll past the Mercer-Williams House, or sit in Chippewa Square and feel like they’ve entered the pages themselves.
Want more? Okay, here you go:
7. Nantucket, Massachusetts – Elin Hilderbrand’s novels
Elin Hilderbrand is practically synonymous with Nantucket. Her beachy, character-driven novels—like The Hotel Nantucket and 28 Summers—draw directly from the island where she lives.
8. Dublin, Ireland – Normal People by Sally Rooney
Rooney’s minimalist yet emotionally charged prose brings Trinity College and Dublin’s city life into sharp focus. Readers familiar with the city recognize coffee shops, libraries, and neighborhoods that mirror real-life counterparts.
9. Delmarva Peninsula – Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Though set in fictional Barkley Cove, North Carolina, the landscape of marshes, waterways, and southern wildlife is closely based on the author’s real-life experiences in the rural southeastern United States—especially coastal Carolina.
10. Cambridge, England – The It Girl by Ruth Ware
This thriller unfolds in the hallowed halls of a fictional Oxford-like college. Ware, a master of suspense, channels the academic tension and class divisions of real-world institutions like Cambridge and Oxford.
11. Bar Harbor, Maine – A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (inspired aesthetic)
Though the world is fantasy, Maas has spoken about drawing visual and atmospheric inspiration for the Spring Court’s lush forests and seasonal magic from her time in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.
12. Los Angeles, California – Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
While Malibu is a real place, Reid’s fictional Riva siblings and their family saga feel almost mythic. The surf culture, 1980s vibes, and beach-side drama are rooted in a very real slice of Southern California history.
13. Florence, Italy – One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
This magical realism-infused novel is set against the stunning backdrop of the Amalfi Coast and Florence. Serle captures the sights, smells, and emotional resonance of Italy in a way that feels both cinematic and intimate.
14. Alaska – The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
The wild, remote setting of Alaska is the perfect setting for Hannah’s story of a desperate family seeking a new beginning in the near-isolated wilderness, only to find that their unpredictable environment is less threatening than the erratic behavior found in human nature.
Final Thoughts: Fiction Rooted in Reality
When fiction and real-life places intertwine, something magical happens. Whether you’re an armchair traveler or already planning your next book-inspired trip, remember this: the line between fiction and reality is often thinner than we think. And that’s the beauty of great storytelling.
Have you ever visited a place because it reminded you of a book—or better yet, was the setting of one? I’d love to hear about your literary travels or the settings that live rent-free in your imagination!