Have you ever paused a movie or put down a book that you have been reading to fully experience the emotions that a particular location made you feel? As fans of all things fantasy, this happens to us more than we would like to admit. If you, too, wish that you could live in those universes, here are some of the best fictional worlds to immerse yourselves in.
Thanks to entertainment and literature, audiences have always had the opportunity to travel far and long to places that exist only on screens and between pages. From magical realms such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Camp Half-Blood to Stranger Things’ nightmarish Upside Down, fantasy has given us many iconic fictional universes.
But of course, there are only a handful of dream fictional worlds that make you wish you could live in them — and for us, it’s these eight places.
So, allow us to take you on a whirlwind journey that includes locations teeming with mythological creatures, futuristic cities, enchanting forests, and so much more. Yes, it’s an intense itinerary — but we promise you these fictional worlds are a dream to live in.
Hogwarts and seven other best fictional worlds we really want to live in
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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and WizardryIf you, too, have spent your childhood making a pros-and-cons list of every Hogwarts house, you already have this fictional boarding school of witchcraft and wizardry from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series (1997–2007) on your travel bucket list. From its moving staircases to its secret passages, Hogwarts is full of mystery and allure, making it one of the best fictional worlds to live in.
But of course, you must attend your lessons and know all the spells, because as magical as Hogwarts is, it is also full of soul-sucking Dementors, Inferi, and of course — the Basilisk!
(Image: Courtesy of IMDb)
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Mushroom KingdomIf you are the whimsical kind, Mario’s Mushroom Kingdom is the dream fictional world for you to live in. As the primary setting of one of the most popular video game franchises in history, Mario’s mesmerising Mushroom Kingdom is the ultimate place to be. Buried deep beneath the Earth’s surface, the Mushroom Kingdom is a vibrant fantasy world characterised by towering hills and mushrooms, beautiful grasslands and gravity-defying floating islands, making it the ideal getaway.
Many days, when we are stuck in endless traffic, we find ourselves imagining what it would be like to get to one place from another in no time. The worry is not for those who live in the Mushroom Kingdom because they have the iconic green warp pipes to do just that. And if we were in the Mushroom Kingdom, we would never need a fitness tracker to count our steps ever again.
(Image: Courtesy of IMDb)
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PandoraThe groundbreaking sci-fi movie Avatar (2009) is known for the records it smashed at the worldwide box office. As one of the highest-grossing films of all time, the franchise has gained a reputation for itself thanks to its revolutionary visual effects and, of course, the breathtaking Pandora.
A lush, habitable exomoon within the fictional universe of Avatar, Pandora is known for its exotic bioluminescent jungles, floating mountains, and vibrant wildlife, making this fantasy world a dream to live in.
Director James Cameron’s vision has made us mortals want to live in his fictional world, home to the blue-skinned Na’vi clan, for the rest of our lives.
(Image: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios – © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. via IMDb)
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NabooNaboo is home to the Gungans, a highly intellectual amphibious species from George Lucas’ fan-favourite sci-fi multimedia franchise, Star Wars (1977-2015). As a peace-loving, art-focused democratic world, Naboo makes us want to apply for citizenship every day. The idyllic setting of Naboo comprises swampy lakes, rolling plains and green hills. But if you prefer living in a location that looks as though it belongs in a sci-fi drama, Naboo also has some jaw-dropping underwater structures built with the help of hydrostatic bubble technology.
Naboo’s commitment toward offering its residents the best of both worlds is what makes us want to live in this fictional land.
(Image: Courtesy of © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. via IMDb)
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The Shire from Middle-earthIn a world far away from the horrors of AI and power-hungry leaders lies the tranquil region of Shire, where life for the hobbits moves at an unhurried pace. Created by J.R.R. Tolkien for his hit fantasy book series The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955), the beauty and simplicity of the Shire have always called to us. Full of vibrant meadows, bucolic pastoral landscapes, picturesque underground homes, enchanting masonry bridges, and a community that thrives as one family, this Middle-earth region is easily one of the best fictional worlds to live in.
If you are someone who has long dreamt of visiting a place that allows you to spend your afternoons soaking up the sun, walking barefoot on the grass and enjoying hearty meals throughout the day, the Shire is your ultimate haven.
(Image: Courtesy of © 2001 – New Line Productions, Inc. via IMDb)
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Kingdom of WakandaIf you have ever watched a Black Panther film and wondered what it would be like to live in a world where tradition and modern technology co-exist without most of the troubles we see regularly in the ‘civilised’ world, Wakanda is the perfect kingdom for you.
First introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Marvel Comics and later brought to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Wakanda is a hidden African kingdom that is as advanced as it is deeply rooted in culture.
Shielded from the outside world, Wakanda has it all: ultra-modern infrastructure, a high standard of living and walkable streets. But along with these amenities, it also ensures that its people enjoy ceremonial rituals, an unwavering sense of community and ancient traditions.
Generational gap? Wakanda has never heard of that. And that’s why we love it 3000.
(Image: Courtesy of Marvel Studios/Courtesy of Marvel Studios – © 2022 MARVEL. via IMDb)
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NarniaWhat if we told you that hidden behind the ordinary doors of an old wardrobe lies one of the most extraordinary fantasy worlds? Created by author C.S. Lewis for his classic children’s fantasy book series The Chronicles of Narnia (1950–1956), this magical land has made us want to pack our bags and set out on an adventure of a lifetime for quite some time now.
Narnia is known for its snow-draped forests, ancient castles and sprawling meadows, but what makes it truly breathtaking is its inhabitants. From centaurs and minotaurs to dryads and naiads, the land of Narnia is teeming with mythological creatures and magic — and feels as though it is frozen in time!
Narnia is not entirely devoid of danger. But with Aslan reigning over the land as its supreme protector, we know that we could live in this fantasy world without any worry.
(Image: Courtesy of IMDb)
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Land of OzThe magical Land of Oz was first introduced to readers in 1900 by L. Frank Baum in his fan-favourite fantasy book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Ever since, this whimsical place has remained one of the best fantasy worlds that we would love to visit and live in.
From the sparkling Emerald City to the colourful landscapes of Munchkinland, the Land of Oz is full of magic and creatures that couldn’t be conjured even in your wildest dreams.
But of course, Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked has taught us that like many other great fantasy worlds, the Land of Oz, too, has its fair shares of dangers that include volatile magic, misunderstood villains and political unrest.
So, given a chance, which version of Oz would you like to live in? Would you choose the idyllic one— or the slightly Wicked one that reimagines the fantasy world as a complex land full of antiheroes?
(Image: Courtesy of © 1939 Warner Home Video. All rights reserved. via IMDb)
(Hero image: Courtesy of WETA - © 2007 Twentieth Century Fox - All Rights Reserved. via IMDb, IMDb, Marvel Studios/Courtesy of Marvel Studios - © 2022 MARVEL. via IMDb; Featured image: Courtesy of © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. via IMDb)Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.