Dracula's British Isles - A literary map

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While researching his novel, Stoker visited Whitby upon a recommendation by Irving. The dramatic bat-infested arches of the ruined Abbey and the wild waves crashing against the headland all struck a chord with Stoker and Dracula began to take shape. Whitby was featured in the novel as the site of Dracula’s entry to the UK (as a large hound running up the 199 steps no less). Interestingly, the wreck he fled from was based on a true life Russian ship that ran aground on the shore a few years earlier.

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The most prominent landmark in Whitby, which was sacked by the Danes. As Stoker writes, "It is a most noble ruin, of immense size, and full of beautiful and romantic bits. Between it and the town there is another church, the parish one, round which is a big graveyard, all full of tombstones"

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It was the view from this spot that inspired Stoker's Whitby scenes. One can look straight across the harbor and can see the ruins of the Abbey, the Church, and the stone steps. And just to the left is the cliff where the "Demeter" came ashore. There is an inscription on the bench which reads as follows: "The view from this spot inspired Bram Stoker (1847-1912) to use Whitby as the setting of part of his world-famous novel DRACULA. This seat was erected by Scarborough Borough Council and the Dracula Society to mark the 68th Anniversary of Stoker's death - April 20th 1980".

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Bram Stoker's ashes rest in an urn, as well as his son's.

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Dr Seward and Van Helsing dine here in the novel.

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An atmospheric and historical pub, Van Helsing and Dr Seward mentioned it as a location in the novel.

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Bram Stoker did a lot of his research here.

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Jonathan Harker sets off from Cathedral Close in Exeter towards Transylvania. Following a visit with the count, he and his wife Mina return to stay with Jonathan’s employer in the city. It is thought by some that Exeter’s inclusion in the novel was to thank local writer Sabine Baring-Gould, whose work was a great influence on Stoker. While this fact is often disputed, with more hours of annual sunshine than many other places on the list, it is perhaps one of the most unlikely places for Dracula to visit and a delightful location to boot!

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Stoker moved to London to manage Irving’s Lyceum Theatre between 1878 and 1898. This was the location of the first stage performance of Dracula; it attracted two customers and was described as ‘dreadful’! Stoker also lived at 18 St Leonard’s Terrace in Chelsea during his time in the Capital. A blue plaque now hangs on the property. A large part of Dracula was set in London, too. Jonathan Harker researched Transylvania in the British Museum before setting off to meet the Count, and, later in the book, he visits Hyde Park and walks towards Piccadilly where he sees Dracula in the street.