Keats House

This was the home of the Romantic poet from 1818 to 1820, when he left for Rome in the hope of alleviating his tuberculosis (he died of the disease the following year, aged 25). The interior of Keats House was sensitively restored and reopened in 2009, and again in 2014 following an Arts Council England grant; the refurbishments reflect the original decoration of the property, creating a living space that Keats would have recognised and providing an authentic example of Regency style. As well as mooching through the rooms, you can attend events and talks in the poetry reading room and see a display on Keats's sweetheart, Fanny Brawne, who lived next door. The love affair was the subject of the movie 'Bright Star' (2009), directed by Jane Campion, and a selection of costumes from the film can be seen in the house, alongside the engagement ring given by Keats to Brawne. The garden, where the poet composed 'Ode to a Nightingale', is a particularly pretty spot.