The Top 10: fictional tourist destinations
A collection of real places visited by devotees of made-up stories about them
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Your support makes all the difference.Thanks to Stewart Wood for this one. He was at King’s Cross, watching 100 people queueing for photos at platform 9¾. What makes it even better is that JK Rowling admitted in 2001 that she was actually thinking of Euston, “so anyone who’s actually been to the real platforms 9 and 10 in King’s Cross will realise they don’t bear a great resemblance to the platforms 9 and 10 as described in the book”.
1. 221b Baker Street. There is no such number, but there is a Sherlock Holmes museum at 239, which is allowed by Westminster City Council to use 221b. Thanks to Stewart Wood. LeeOnFS said: “I used to be manager of Abbey National Baker Street branch. We had both a dedicated full-time employee who replied to letters to Sherlock Holmes and a reception primed with useful titbits for tourists, after they had seen if they were eligible for an Instant Saver account.”
2. The shrine to Ianto Jones, a character in Torchwood, the Doctor Who spinoff, in Cardiff. Suggested by David Boothroyd and Ian Rapley.
3. Santa Claus’s home in Rovaniemi, in the Finnish Arctic Circle: one among many. Also nominated by Stewart Wood.
4. Standin’ on the Corner Park, Winslow, Arizona. Opened in 1999, commemorating the song “Take It Easy”, written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey and recorded by Eagles. Includes the verse, “Well, I’m a-standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona and such a fine sight to see.” Another from Stewart Wood.
5. Tintagel Castle, Cornwall. Associated with the legend of King Arthur. Thanks to David Wilson.
6. Windsor Gardens, Paddington. “In my ward is a small council estate called Windsor Gardens,” said David Boothroyd, a local councillor. “It is frequently visited by Paddington Bear fans, who are confused as it looks nothing like his home. The name’s just a coincidence.” It doesn’t have a number 32.
7. Anywhere in New Zealand used for Lord of the Rings scenery. Guided tours of the Hobbiton set are also available. Thanks to Jonathan Gibbs, Dinah Rose, David Rowe and Josh Blacker.
8. The Friends apartment building, 90 Bedford St New York, NY 10014. “Very popular apparently,” said Paul Benbow.
9. Juliet’s balcony in Verona. Nominated by Hannah Al-Othman.
10. Hundred Acre Wood. Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, where AA Milne’s son used to play, contains a Five Hundred Acre Wood, while Galleon’s Leap was based on a hill called Gill’s Lap. Nominated by Stuart and Mik Ado.
Honourable mentions for Peter Warner, who said a number of places have gas streetlights that claim to be the inspiration for CS Lewis’s lamppost in Narnia, “including Malvern where he went to school”; and Marcus Roberts, for Southside, Labour Party HQ, with its “Here the Argument Was Won” blue plaque, Victoria St, London.
One which didn’t quite qualify: Abbey Road Docklands Light Railway station, which has a notice directing tourists looking for the Beatles’ zebra crossing to the other Abbey Road in north London.
Next week: Inverse price-quality ratios, such as cheap mince pies being better than expensive ones.
Coming soon: Underappreciated innovations, such as shipping containers.
Your suggestions please, and ideas for future Top 10s, to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk
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