44 Must-See Literary Landmarks in the United Kingdom

18. The Punk Poetry of John Cooper Clarke’s Manchester

For a literary stop with a rebellious edge, head to Manchester, where John Cooper Clarke, the “punk poet laureate,” built his reputation with rapid-fire verses that captured the grit and humor of urban life. Manchester’s buzzing Northern Quarter, with its indie bookstores and underground music scene, echoes the energy of Clarke’s work. Catch a spoken word performance at The Castle Hotel or explore Afflecks, a hub of alternative culture, to get a taste of the city’s literary and musical fusion.