J.R.R. Tolkien

The connection between Tolkien and Oxfordshire runs deeper than most realize. While the man himself lived in various places, it's this corner of England - particularly around Kidlington and the wider county - that seeped into the very bones of Middle-earth. His time at Oxford University and his walks through the Oxfordshire countryside left fingerprints all over his work, from the rolling hills that inspired the Shire to the forests he tramped through as a young man.

Visiting the Tolkien landmarks here means doing a bit of legwork yourself. You won't find a neat visitor centre with gift shop and café - instead you're following in his actual footsteps. His old homes, the pubs he frequented, the college rooms where he worked and taught. For literary types and serious Tolkien scholars, this is proper compelling stuff. Casual fans might find it a bit abstract - you're not walking into Bag End, you're standing outside a house where he once lived and imagining the man working inside.

The real magic comes from combining it with a proper walk around Oxford itself and the surrounding countryside. Base yourself at one of the nearby parks - Cedar Hollow Oxford or Valley Farm Campsite are both within easy reach of Kidlington - and spend a day doing the Tolkien trail on foot. It's not a tourist attraction in the conventional sense. It's more an act of pilgrimage. Worth doing if you're already in the area with time to spare and a serious interest in the author. Don't expect signage or opening hours to worry about.