10 places that don’t exist (but should)

Jan 5, 2010 6:17:55 AM

Venessa Paech
Lonely Planet Author

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We’ve all read a book or watched a movie and wished the places it transported us to were real. Some of the most enduring destinations are fictional. Well, not completely. Some were inspired by real places that resonated with their authors.

So, here are my top mythical locations. What have I missed?

10. Hundred Acre Wood

The home of Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and friends, the lush and charming Hundred Acre Wood is the literary soul mate of Ashdown Forest in Sussex. The perfect place to get in touch with your inner child, the Wood is known for its honey, tree climbing and the endangered Heffalump species.

9. Narnia

The kingdom of Narnia, brought to life by C.S Lewis, captured the heart of young readers desperate for their own wardrobe portal to a wondrous land where animals talk and magic abounds. Lewis was inspired by his native Northern Ireland when conjuring Narnia’s wildflowers, haunting castles and majestic mountains, but the creators of the recent film version decided that New Zealand did it for them. The latest film is scheduled to be shot at White Island in the breathtaking Bay of Plenty.

8. El Dorado

The mythical city of gold has come to represent things opulent or unattainable. Inspired by stories of a ‘gilded’ man, El Dorado is said to overflow with unimaginable treasures. It has enticed centuries of explorers, but remains as elusive as the Holy Grail (thus far…) If you want to evoke the mood of the legend, the jungles and ruins of Central and South America are your golden ticket. Feel like joining an expedition? Edgar Allen Poe offers this cryptic clue: Where can it be, this land of El Dorado? Over the Mountains of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow…”

7. Neverland

Rumour has it only children can visit Neverland, but if you think happy thoughts you might just find your way to the famous home of Peter Pan, Captain Hook and the Lost Boys. Multiple suns and moons make for some crazy weather, but the chance to fly through treetops and cave dive with Peter and his posse makes up for it. Wildlife includes flamingos, crocodiles, fairies and pixies, but it’s the mermaids and the pirates you have to watch out for. J.M. Barrie may have named Neverland after the Australian outback (Never Never Land) but reliable Lost Boy sources inform us it resembles Madagascar.

6. Wonderland

Wonderland

Who wouldn’t like to travel via rabbit hole? It might be a bit bumpy, but these days it seems less confronting than flying and promises something much more marvellous at journey’s end. Lewis Carroll’s classic tale of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland introduced a beguiling universe of floating Cheshire cats, tea loving Mad Hatters, power hungry playing cards and scrumptious food with peculiar after-effects. Mischief is the national sport of Wonderland, where riddles and pranks await you if you’re sufficiently curious (and who wouldn’t be, when the flowers talk back and the furniture changes size). Carroll based Wonderland on the people and places in his own life, particularly around Oxford, where he attended university. A carving in North Yorkshire’s magnificent Ripon Cathedral is also said to have inspired the trip down the rabbit hole.

5. Camelot

camelot

Arthurian scholar Norris J. Lacy once said that “Camelot, located nowhere in particular, can be anywhere.” That hasn’t stopped historians and hopeful tourism boards scrambling to locate the real life spot where King Arthur wielded Excalibur, married Lady Guinevere and made merry with his Knights of the Round Table. Plenty of places have laid claim to Arthurian fame, including Winchester (with its own round table), the small South Welsh town of Caerleon and Somerset (where locals insist Cadbury Castle was Arthur’s pad). Consult Wikipedia for a list of real places associated with Arthur and his noble empire, but a wander through the picturesque countryside of Wales, Scotland or England will capture its legendary spirit of romance and idyll.

4. Atlantis

atlantis

The subject of debate since Plato first wrote about it in 360BC, Atlantis is said to have sunk into the seas one night around 9000 BC after its people (descended from the god Poseidon), invaded one kingdom too many. At the heart of the massive island continent was a series of concentric circles and canals, and its sophisticated architecture and culture was reminiscent of ancient Greece. The city still inspires popular culture and every once in a while someone claims to have found it. While scholars largely accept the tale was a fable, some think Plato was referring to ancient Ireland.

3. Brigadoon

There one minute, gone the next, illusive, mist-shrouded Brigadoon is how many travellers like to imagine Scotland. Made famous by its musical namesake, Brigadoon is actually based on a German fairytale about a cursed village whose inhabitants are only allowed to roam free once a century. Brig o’ Doon will ring a bell for Robert Burns’ fans. The author was born in Alloway, near the River Doon. If you want to pretend you’re the bonnie apple of Gene Kelly’s eye, this is the place.

2. Oz

Emerald_City

Surrounded by desert on all sides, Frank L. Baum’s Oz is divided into four territories (including Munchkin land) with its capital, the Emerald City, in the middle and a yellow brick road connecting the lot. Though visitors should beware flying monkeys and coma inducing fields of poppies, Oz has it all – steam punk robots, witches, killer shoes, talking lions, scarecrow escorts and corrupt wizards. It’s popularly thought to represent different regions of the United States, but some think Oz may actually be China. For the real world treatment, try Sydney, Chicago or Dubai for the Emerald City, or good ol’ Kansas where it all began.

1. Middle Earth

Mordor

It’s hard to find a more extensively documented and mapped non-existent destination. J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle Earth has more histories on record than many actual countries and has inspired the creation of entire languages. Peter Jackson forever associated Middle Earth with New Zealand with his Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and Wellywood is very happy to let tourists relive the adventure. Other places that capture the sweeping diversity of Middle Earth are Argentina, Scotland, Romania and Finland. Of course Tolkien had a war torn, newly industrial England in mind when he wrote the epic. Perhaps that’s why Middle Earth is so remarkable (and steals my number one spot). It’s a little bit of everywhere.

Runners Up:

Fantasia

Under constant threat from The Nothing, every child wanted to preserve the treasured world of the Never Ending Story (originally a German novel, and influenced by Europe’s landscape). The literal embodiment of our fantasies, its racing snails, rock giants, werewolves and flying luck dragons (Falkor!) were unforgettable.

Stormwind

11 million tourists can’t be wrong. The oldest human city in the lands of the massive World of Warcraft, Stormwind has seen its share of war over the years, but remains a vibrant hub of culture and trade. Surrounded by an imposing mountain range, its climate is temperate and the migrant communities of dwarfs and elves will keep you on your toes.

Fortress of Solitude

There are many famous comic book destinations, including Batman’s New York inspired Gotham City, but Superman’s preferred spot for R & R, the Fortress of Solitude, is one of the most appealing. Who wouldn’t like a palatial, snow-capped cone of silence where they can hide away from their supersize problems? For a real world taste, you could stay in Sweden’s Ice Hotel or cruise the chill wonders of Antarctica.

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Comments

6 January 2010 12:28AM flipnomad Report this comment
i want to go to Neverland and be one of the lost boys
6 January 2010 5:57AM sheeny Report this comment
Pandora from Avatar...Its absolutely beautiful, I wish it was real!
7 January 2010 12:46AM dalejohn49 Report this comment
What about Heaven?
It's the perfect travel destination. You needn't pack much since robes are issued at the gate. No need for airline tickets since we'd all have our own wings. And don't get me going on those golden streets.
Sure all the cool people would be in Hell, but I hear the weather isn't so great down there to the south.
7 January 2010 3:49AM shakester Report this comment
i saw the link to this piece and quickly jotted mine down first before reading this :)
The Shire Myst Pandora Gondolin Lothlorien Killimooin
I guess you got Middle Earth covered for me. But MYST (if you ever did play the PC game) is gorgeous.
Pandora too, though very recent in memory. Killimooin from Blyton I added for a lark
7 January 2010 3:56AM elmbeard Report this comment
I live near Malvern in Worcestershire, and I remember CS Lewis was inspired for the first book he wrote of The Chronicles of Narnia by one of Malvern's street gas lamps (many of them still exist today), which featured in both The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and The Magician's Nephew.
JRR Tolkein's Middle Earth was also inspired from around here. Herefordshire is Bree ("there are queer folk there" as indeed there are) and Worcestershire is The Shire. Tolkein picked up well the rapport between the folk from these two English counties. The two towers leading to Mordor still exist as a feature in the town of Stourbridge, which is the gateway to a real place in England known as The Black Country, which before the modern demise of British Industry, was heavily industrial, thick with smoking chimneys and dark satanic mills. Fangorn could well be the Wyre Forest.
The links with New Zealand are very recent - fantasy film-makers are inspired by Kiwi landscape.
7 January 2010 4:58AM gillmarx Report this comment
If you want the next best thing to Middle Earth, check out Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/SightsAndSounds/VideoClips.aspx?category=1 scroll down to the video that says The Flat Earth Society says this is one of the four corners of the Earth!
7 January 2010 5:20AM ottsworld Report this comment
Love the fact that someone mentioned the game MYST - been years since I thought of that! I'm just looking forward to see Tim Burton's version of Wonderland; that will be probably be the closest we'll ever get to it!
10 January 2010 10:21AM rickyah Report this comment
oh yeah i also wish pandora from avatar was real. and also jurassic park lol
14 January 2010 6:43PM gremiester Report this comment
You should add Alagesia from the 'eragon' books it sounds amazing!!!
20 January 2010 9:04AM benhoffy Report this comment
What about Dinotopia from the series by James Gurney?! Those were some pretty amazing places.
20 January 2010 4:23PM yakkalot Report this comment
Rapture from the Bioshock computergames, my lord that place was beautiful.
Plus Jurassic Park, oh how I've wished that was real since I was seven years old! :-(
20 January 2010 5:50PM julietguseva Report this comment
I would add Amber to the list. The one from Roger Zelazny chronicles :)
20 January 2010 7:37PM beinghuman Report this comment
Ringworld from Larry Niven's sci-fi saga of the same name - the most amazing feat of engineering, and populated by a weird and wonderful selection of hominids
20 January 2010 8:46PM mustang2000 Report this comment
Well done julietguseva, I have been fascinated by Amber, Rebma, and Tir-na Nog'th for about 25 years. Would love to see Kolvir and the Forest of Arden.
20 January 2010 9:34PM nallepuharen Report this comment
I think the world of George Lucas should be on the list... all the planets and people of Star Wars!! would love to visit Naboo, the places above ground and the world under the sea... would also love Tatooine, although I've been to the places where they shoot the scenes of Luke's house and Eis Mosley (however you spell that) and those were cool sets...
20 January 2010 10:07PM janesroc Report this comment
I'd like to visit Shangri-La, the mithical community, hidden somewhere on Asia, scenario for "Lost Horizon" movie (first version 1937, second version 1973).
20 January 2010 10:28PM kunmingirl Report this comment
I'd like to go Where the Wild Things Are!
21 January 2010 1:18AM killibo Report this comment
i'd like to go to the island from Lost, pretty good place, some people don't age, some people get their illnesses healed or ability to walk restored, could be a new pilgrimage spot
21 January 2010 7:29AM panyucarole Report this comment
I would second Pandora from Avatar and Shangri-La from "Lost Horizon". I think I would like to visit the world as Marco Polo saw it... Or the Columbia Gorge as Lewis and Clark got to see it. Neither of which exists any more.
21 January 2010 2:12PM gahlka Report this comment
Atlantis would be at the top of my list; second would be Magrathea from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "trilogy". I agree that of the worlds of George Lucas, Naboo would be a must-visit, but first ... Hoth!
22 January 2010 10:33PM nasuhime Report this comment
Ankh-Morpork!
24 January 2010 12:08PM virbastin Report this comment
I wanna go to Pandora too! Imagine a gigantic amazon rainforest... yakkalot, I would definitely go to jurassic park as well!
24 January 2010 11:30PM roland Report this comment
C.S. Lewis's gas lamp is in Belfast at the entrance to an educational establishment Campbell college I think not a street light in Malvern. The shire was inspired by Sarehole mill in Birmingham, your correspondent is nearer the mark on that. I'd love to see a Lonely Planet guide to 16th century London.Mush fine Tudor architecture has disappeared over the centuries or any period of History.
26 January 2010 10:07PM madhubhar Report this comment
Malgudi, from the imaginary town in R K Narayan's books.
15 February 2010 12:48PM ramadasan7 Report this comment
In these days of unlimited greed for material wealth and ephemeral pleasure one really craves for these places to come to life and existence!
28 March 2010 5:41PM rackinthedjcases Report this comment
I think I wannbe Alice..
1 April 2010 1:38AM dooku Report this comment
Amber, the eternal city of which all other cities are but shadows.
oh yeah, and Coruscant.
8 April 2010 12:33PM leahmaria Report this comment
I will definitely add a vote for Neverland & Hundred Acre Wood!
15 April 2010 6:06AM kerbec Report this comment
Neverland exists - it's in Suffolk, UK! Thorpeness was built by Scotish playwright Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie - a good friend of JM Barrie's. With a 'house in the clouds' and a hand dug lake it took Peter Pan and the fictional world Barrie created.
18 September 2010 10:29PM wejade2006 Report this comment
I would definitely love to go to the Magic Faraway Tree in the Enid Blyton books!
19 September 2010 9:14AM aliendesign Report this comment
I think "middle Earth" has nothing to do with New Zealand it is more likely a loose translation by Tolkien of the name of the region of the world known as the "Mediterranean" Medi=middle terranian=earth in a half assed bastardized use of latin to translate for a region which includes the western edge of the middle east, southern Europe, and Northern Africa
12 October 2010 5:49PM lisalynn1202 Report this comment
I'd have to add Forks, Washington (ala the Twilight saga) - where else can Vampires and Warewolves co-exist!?!?
13 October 2010 1:28AM ansh_jain_97 Report this comment
...and I always used to think LP was only factual...;-)
18 October 2010 1:22PM csw60 Report this comment
I find it hard to believe that no one has mentioned a location that I would find fascinating ... I wouldn't mind visiting Hogsworth or Witches University
19 October 2010 10:46PM ankatate Report this comment
what about Darkover...from Marion Zimmer Bradley's many books?
21 October 2010 3:59AM deidra007 Report this comment
I definetly choose Pandora...the floating mountains of Pandora....oh yes! just drop me off!
21 October 2010 2:55PM joannloraine Report this comment
I want to go to the Mists of Avalon!
28 October 2010 11:00AM homeimps Report this comment
I'm an avid player of pc games and have often thought I'd love to visit the places they take me to. Most notable are Myst, Syberia, Aura, Realms of Illusion, and for something a little scarier, definitely Barrow Hill and the Scratches mansion. The good news is that some of the game places actually exist, for example the Welsh property in Rhiannon, Fetch Rock Lighthouse in Lights Out and DaVinci's final home Clos Luce in France! When you play a game, just Google the location and you may be pleasantly surprised...
22 November 2010 5:30PM antoineleporc Report this comment
What about 'Spectre' from the movie 'big fish'...
24 November 2010 7:39PM tiganitos Report this comment
camelot
29 November 2010 4:49PM smileygirl10 Report this comment
WHAT ABOUT HOGWARTS?!?!?! that is my number one vote for places that should exist
4 January 2011 9:55PM dlutzy Report this comment
I'd like to visit "The Grid" from the Tron movies. It has nice scenery, sexy programs walking around wearing skin tight glowing clothes, no risk of sunburn, dubious physics, awesome motorcycles and best of all... Daft Punk spinning the soundtrack.
8 January 2011 1:32PM sjbcanada Report this comment
I'm with nasuhime on this. I want to visit Ankh-Morpork and the rest of Discworld in Terry Pratchett's books. Hogwarts is a close second. Doona and Pern would be my third choices.
10 January 2011 1:58AM finn_nl Report this comment
Hogwarts - full stop.
10 January 2011 9:52AM wkgreen Report this comment
No Utopia? I'm trying to gain legal residency!
12 March 2011 10:51AM rikkijade Report this comment
I always wanted to be able to go the Magic Faraway Tree!
14 May 2011 3:57PM nikhilchandra Report this comment
Mine would include Paaran Disen and Tar Valon (Wheel of Time Robert Jordan, Minas Anor (Lord of the Rings), Avalon, Shangri-La, Utopia and Trantor (Foundation Series)
14 May 2011 3:59PM nikhilchandra Report this comment
Spectre (Big Fish) and Hogwarts (Harry Potter)should also top the list in my opinion :D
19 May 2011 5:31PM escapenormal Report this comment
hahaha i love this list! Every time I see a movie in a fantastic place I get jealous that I can never go there. And I second Shangri-La from Lost Horizon, for a while I thought that was a real place and I'm still kind of searching for it. I will find it one day!
23 May 2011 3:58PM petefowler Report this comment
Abhalljin should exist. If I understand C.S. Lewis correctly, only Elijah, J.C. and King Arthur have ever been there, so it's fairly unspoiled.
23 May 2011 3:58PM petefowler Report this comment
Abhalljin should exist. If I understand C.S. Lewis correctly, only Elijah, J.C. and King Arthur have ever been there, so it's fairly unspoiled.
5 September 2011 12:18AM mijbiledal Report this comment
Surely we have to find space for shangri la somewhere on this list?lost horizon still a great read - check it out
6 September 2011 10:43PM geekhillbilly Report this comment
I'd take a tour of duty aboard the USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701 anytime,if it were possible
16 September 2011 7:16AM fireflyy_101 Report this comment
The land of Xanth in the series by the same name by author Piers Anthony has my vote!
16 September 2011 3:32PM stevenmotes1 Report this comment
It seems to me that alot of the people responding to this article might be a little younger than me. I have always wished that there was a place that existed where a person could go to relax and unwind and not have a care in the world. According the the author, poet, singer and songwriter, Jimmy Buffet, that place exists in all of our imaginations. Its a place that is different for each and every indiviual person. That place is called Margaritaville. I wonder if anyone else thinks this would be a cool place to visit. It is based on the real life community of Key West, Florida. If you ever get the chance to explore this lovely place, you will understand why Jimmy migrated there many years ago to find peace and solice, along with an ice cold adult beverage in your hand.