Has an author’s words ever made a place feel so real and intriguing that you were ready to pack your bags and follow the characters on an adventure?
Then you headed over to your favorite travel site only to find that the setting of that book or film wasn’t real. Bummer!
Only the best creators can make us long to visit places that don’t even exist. In this post, we’ve rounded up 10 fictional places that we wish were real, but we’ll just have to visit on the page or big screen.
10 Fictional Places from Books and Films
Below are 10 fictional places that are real in our hearts and imaginations.
1. The Emerald City (The Wizard of Oz)
The Emerald City is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz from L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was first published in 1900.
Although not the first to use Technicolor, the 1939 film adaptation is often cited as one of the earliest and most impressive uses of that technology.
As Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the film transitions from black and white to brilliant colors. It’s hard to imagine the Yellow Brick Road or the sparkling Emerald City in greyscale!
Who hasn’t daydreamed as a kid about skipping down the Yellow Brick Road to Oz? Unfortunately, there’s no such place, although the MGM Grand in Las Vegas did try to replicate the city in the 1990s, with an Oz casino and an elaborate walk-through experience. However, most traces of that theme have since been removed.
2. Gotham City (Batman)
The crime-infested city of Gotham might not seem like the most appealing destination, but then you remember that Batman is there to keep you safe.
Although Washington Irving first attached the name “Gotham” to New York in an 1807 periodical, writer Bill Finger has said that he got the name by flipping through a New York City phone book, which is when he came across Gotham Jewelers.
The setting of the classic DC Comic was intentionally given a fictional name so it could be imagined as any city, although it is said to be heavily inspired by New York and Chicago (which were often used as film locations for the numerous adaptations). However, it’s worth noting that several issues of the comic have placed the city in New Jersey.
3. Gatsby’s Mansion (The Great Gatsby)
Gatsby’s mansion is the place to be for an epic party. While you probably wouldn’t get to spend much time with Gatsby himself (he’d be too busy pining over Daisy, after all), you’d still be in for a wild night.
The mansion, along with the bayside villages of West Egg and East Egg, are all fictional, but it’s said that the two “Eggs” seem to correlate geographically to the real-life neighborhoods of Great Neck and Port Washington of Long Island. This prominent area on the north shore of Long Island is known as the “Gold Coast.”
You could have purchased the 1928 Colonial-style castle that inspired set designers for the 2013 film… if you had $28 million lying around.
For more trivia, read about the inspiration behind The Great Gatbsy‘s book cover.
4. Hogwarts (Harry Potter)
If you read Harry Potter as a kid, you probably dreamed of being accepted into Hogwarts and studying wizardry alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
You could travel to King’s Cross Station in London and wait for Platform 9 and 3/4 to appear, but I’m not sure that will get you very far.
Instead, plan a trip to the Universal Studios theme parks in Hollywood or Orlando to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where you can find a replica of the Hogwarts castle, visit the shops of Hogsmeade, and enjoy a butterbeer or two.
5. Springfield (The Simpsons)
Springfield is home to America’s favorite family, but where exactly would this Springfield be if it were real? The show never specifies, and there are 34 populated places named Springfield across 25 U.S. states, which means it could be virtually anywhere—but that’s probably the point.
However, one of the show’s creators hails from Springfield, Massachusetts, which could be one clue that points toward the town’s inspiration.
Universal Studios has recreated Springfield, where you can pop into the Kwik-E-Mart, Moe’s Tavern, Lard Lad Donuts, Krustyland, and more.
6. Pemberley (Pride and Prejudice)
Fans of Jane Austen might be interested in visiting Mr. Darcy’s fictional estate of Pemberley. In Pride and Prejudice, Pemberley is located near the fictional town of Lambton, which is believed to be based on Lyme Park (the estate where the 1995 BBC mini-series was also filmed).
Here’s what the novel says of the estate:
They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;—and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!
7. Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory
It would be any chocolate lover’s dream to find a Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, where you can find chocolate trees, waterfalls, rivers, and more.
Unfortunately, there is no Willy Wonka or a factory made entirely of chocolate. But your dream—and your dentist’s nightmare—can almost come true if you visit the Zotter Chocolate Factory in Graz, Austria, where you can eat all the chocolate you want.
8. Rivendell (The Lord of the Rings)
The elven town of Rivendell is believed to be based on the picturesque village of Lauterbrunnental in Switzerland (pictured above).
You may not find any elves there, but I think it’s safe to say that this magical setting comes pretty close to what many of us envision as Rivendell.
9. Wakanda (Black Panther)
In The Black Panther, Wakanda is a fictional African country that was never touched by colonization. But as this interview explains, the marvelous setting was inspired by South Africa, Zambia, and Uganda.
10. Neverland (Peter Pan)
And finally, wouldn’t we all like to take a break from adulthood and spend a little time in Neverland? While there is no such place to visit, and although we all need to “grow up” eventually, it’s still important to channel your inner child every now and then and make time for play.
You can always tune in to your imagination and create Neverlands and Wonderlands of your own through creative writing. Check out these 70 creative writing prompts that will help you get started.
Is Hawkins Real?
Fans of Netflix’s Stranger Things may wonder whether the town of Hawkins, Indiana is real; and if it were, they’d no doubt flock there in search of the Demogorgon, with a box of Eggo waffles in hand.
Unfortunately, Hawkins is a fictional place, and the show was actually filmed in areas around Atlanta, Georgia. According to The Sun, the series was originally going to be titled Montauk, since the creators were considering the real-life town of Montauk, New York (which served as Amity Island in Jaws).
How Do You Make a Fictional Place?
The intrigue these fictional places create and our desires to visit them are a testament to how well the writers were able to bring those locations to life.
By studying worldbuilding tips, you can learn to create fictional places for your own stories that feel real no matter how imaginary they may be.
But of course, that’s not your only option—many places from books were inspired by real locations, and readers’ interest in seeing them has led to a spike in literary travel.
What’s one fictional place you wish you could visit? Share your pick in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post then you might also like:
- Literary Travel: 10 Destinations All Book Lovers Should Visit
- Food from Fiction: Recipes Inspired by Your Favorite Books
- 10 Best Books Based on True Stories
- 12 Female Literary Characters Who Are More Than Damsels in Distress
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
