This Enchanting European Shop Disguised As A House Hides A Treasure Trove For Bookworms

England is a country steeped in history and brimming with literary legacy, offering bookworms inspiration across the country. There's Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, with picturesque Tudor houses and riverside strolls, or Jane Austen's rolling green countryside in North Hampshire and her museum in the small village of Chawton. Along with the centuries of history and literature, the climate and landscape give England such a cozy charm. Grey clouds block the sun for days on end, and dreary rains demand refuge in warm pubs with roaring fireplaces, hot teas in quaint rooms, or small cottages on rural lanes lined by mossy stone walls.

It's a nation loaded with inspiring, hidden locales, like Castle Combe, a town widely known as the prettiest in all of England. Another tiny nook worth visiting is Peter's Bookshop in the seaside town of Sheringham. Tucked at the end of a street of terraced houses, this tiny bookshop was opened in a renovated home back in 1984 and has been enchanting customers ever since. Spread across four rooms with tight aisles and featuring books from floor to ceiling, many visitors have high praise for the shop.

Among them is Tom Ayling, an antique bookseller who shares rare-book content to his hundreds of thousands of social media followers. "One of my favorite bookshops in the world," Ayling said in a YouTube video. "And I don't think you're prepared for how crazy it is inside ... There isn't another bookshop in the world with so many books crammed into it." While there are many beautiful libraries around the world every bookworm should add to their bucket list, Peter's Bookshop is truly a one-of-a-kind treasure trove of literature worthy of any itinerary.

A small town of only 7,000 in the county of Norfolk, Sheringham isn't well known outside of England. It's a 3-hour drive north of London and is also reachable by train with a transfer in nearby Norwich. It's a gorgeous part of the country with family-friendly beaches and a wide range of accommodation options, making it an ideal weekend getaway, stop on an English literary tour, or vacation exploring the English coast.

Just a few steps from Sheringham's famous North Norfolk Railway, this charming bookshop began with a mere 10,000 books. It soon became so popular that by 1987, Peter left his other job to devote himself to full-time bookselling. These days, the shop spans four rooms and is absolutely reamed with over 25,000 titles — with another 25,000 in reserve. "The books have become part of the building," Tom Ayling went on to say in his YouTube video, "and every time you pull one out, you worry that the whole wall might collapse. ... The books are stacked from floor to ceiling, on shelves, slopes, banana boxes, and any surface that will accommodate a book." 

With that staggering number of volumes, Peter's has something for all readers, offering everything from £1 paperbacks to rare collector's editions worth hundreds. During his visit, Ayling was even able to pick up a first-edition book signed by Noel Coward. Over the last 40 years, Peter has traded more than a million books and built a loyal following of visitors, making his shop a must-visit for book lovers.

England is loaded with under-the-radar destinations that are just as fun as London. It also has many places for bookworms and literary buffs. Stratford-upon-Avon, in the West Midlands, is where William Shakespeare lived his first 24 years. Explore his timber-framed childhood home (pictured above), and stroll through his wife Anne Hathaway's thatched cottage. Take a tour with a costumed guide and be sure to spend an evening at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, where his iconic plays are performed steps away from the River Avon.

You could also head to Haworth in the Yorkshire moors, home of the Brontë sisters — three prolific 19th-century siblings who penned many famous novels. The Brontë Parsonage Museum is in their former home, offering a moving glimpse into their world and where many of their classics, like Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, were written. Another literary destination is Oxford, the so-called "city of dreaming spires." Stroll through its ancient colleges and botanical gardens, where literary legends like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis once walked. Visit the Eagle and Child pub, where the famous literary group "The Inklings" surely discussed Middle-earth over pints, and explore the Bodleian Library, where many of Tolkien's original manuscripts and drawings are housed. And that's just the tip of the iceberg for a literary pilgrimage. 

Along with those historic sites, Peter's Bookshop is a unique and deserving stop on the itinerary, offering a window into the very soul of English storytelling. Pick up a paperback classic and spend an afternoon hidden away in a cozy Sheringham pub by a window overlooking rain-soaked streets. Get lost in the story and let England envelop you in a sense of enduring delight and irresistible warmth.