{"id":407339,"date":"2025-09-08T08:18:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T08:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/407339\/"},"modified":"2025-09-08T08:18:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T08:18:17","slug":"this-iconic-manchester-building-has-been-named-one-of-the-uks-favourite-literary-landmarks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/407339\/","title":{"rendered":"This Iconic Manchester Building Has Been Named One Of The UK’s Favourite Literary Landmarks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"john-rylands-library-interior-stained-glass-window-and-lights-down-sides\"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: John Rylands Research Institute and Library<\/p>\n

We\u2019re very proud of Manchester\u2019s literary prowess<\/a>, what with some of the most famous authors in the world<\/strong> being from our neck of the woods, and having some of the most beautiful libraries<\/a> known to man. Now, one of Manchester\u2019s very own has been named as one of the top literary landmarks in the UK<\/strong>, amongst some instantly recognisable spots.<\/p>\n

A new study by Car Finance 247<\/a> has revealed the UK\u2019s top ten literary landmarks, just in time for International Literacy Day on September 8<\/strong>. The research ranked locations based on average monthly search volume, Instagram popularity, TripAdvisor ratings, and entry fees<\/strong> to uncover the ultimate destinations to visit and celebrate the UK\u2019s favourite authors.<\/p>\n

\"tintagelCredit: Lasma Artmane via Unsplash The UK\u2019s favourite Manchester literary landmark <\/p>\n

Coming in at number six was Manchester\u2019s inimitable John Rylands Library<\/a>. The neo-gothic structure<\/strong> on Deansgate is one of the most frequented literary landmarks, with high footfall and a great contrast with the neighbouring, uber-modern Spinningfields. John Rylands appeared in the top 10 literary landmarks thanks to its incredible collection of rare manuscripts and its archives<\/strong>, known the world over.<\/p>\n

With free entry<\/strong> and a 4. 7 TripAdvisor rating<\/strong>, the Manchester landmark earned an overall score of 35, and we resoundingly agree, of course. Established by Enriqueta Rylands as a library for the people of Manchester, the Rylands opened in January 1900<\/strong>. To create this remarkable library, Enriqueta Rylands spent about \u00a31 million (over \u00a3100 million today), wanting it to be a catalyst for the cultural, social and religious advancement of the city<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"johnCredit: Yuangeng Zhang via Shutterstock <\/p>\n

Enriqueta Rylands started buying books for the new library in November 1889 \u2013 before the builders started work. Her early purchases included a wide variety of valuable printed books and handwritten manuscripts \u2013 some are very beautiful, others rare or remarkable<\/strong>. She was very interested in Christian reform<\/strong> but also collected poetry, bird books and history<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Enriqueta Rylands laid the groundwork for a growing library, now home to an astonishing variety of books, manuscripts, archives, maps <\/strong>and visual materials<\/strong>. They include world-class holdings of ancient papyri, early European and Chinese printing, Islamic and medieval manuscripts, bibles and modern archives.<\/p>\n

\"johnCredit: University of Manchester <\/p>\n

John Rylands Library is currently undergoing a \u00a37.6 million transformation<\/a>, aiming to sensitively protect and evolve the much-loved building, although the library remains open<\/strong>, with areas closing as required while redevelopment takes place.<\/p>\n

Other UK literary landmarks <\/p>\n

John Rylands Library is in extremely good company in the list of literary landmarks, with the likes of the Black Mountains<\/strong>, inspiration for the Lord of the Rings<\/strong> books, the British Library<\/strong>, and Tintagel Castle<\/strong>, famed for its links to Arthurian Legend<\/strong>, all appearing.<\/p>\n

\"chatsworthCredit: Ryan Grice via Unsplash <\/p>\n

Closer to home, the gorgeous Chatsworth House<\/a><\/strong> came second in the rankings, having been the inspiration for Pemberley in Jane Austen\u2019s Pride and Prejudice<\/a><\/strong>, and is just a stone\u2019s throw from Manchester in Derbyshire<\/a> \u2013 worth the visit, if we say so ourselves. Plus, the lovely Bront\u00eb Parsonage<\/strong> also appeared in the top 10 literary landmarks, over in Haworth<\/a><\/strong>, evoking the rugged Yorkshire landscapes of Wuthering Heights<\/strong> and the lonely musings of Jane Eyre<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"haworthCredit: Steve Swis via Getty Top 10 UK literary landmarks <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Black Mountains, Wales: 70 \u2013 Inspiration for Lord of the Rings<\/li>\n
  2. Chatsworth House, Derbyshire: 59 \u2013 Pride and Prejudice (Pemberley)<\/li>\n
  3. British Library, London: 43 \u2013 Manuscripts & archives<\/li>\n
  4. Mourne Mountains, County Down: 43 \u2013 Inspiration for Narnia<\/li>\n
  5. Canterbury Cathedral, Kent: 38 \u2013 The Canterbury Tales<\/li>\n
  6. John Rylands Library, Manchester: 35 \u2013 Rare manuscripts & archives<\/strong><\/li>\n
  7. Tintagel Castle, Cornwall: 34 \u2013 Idylls of the King\/Arthurian Legend<\/li>\n
  8. Ashdown Forest, East Sussex: 32 \u2013 Winnie the Pooh<\/li>\n
  9. Shakespeare\u2019s Globe, London: 28 \u2013 Reconstructed Globe Theatre<\/li>\n
  10. Bront\u00eb Parsonage, Yorkshire: 28 \u2013 Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Credit: John Rylands Research Institute and Library We\u2019re very proud of Manchester\u2019s literary prowess, what with some of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":407340,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,26672,393,6968,4884,2348,2465,53559,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-407339","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-classics","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-exhibition","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-history","14":"tag-manchester","15":"tag-reading-literature","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115167697578285598","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/407339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=407339"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/407339\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/407340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=407339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=407339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=407339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}