Book Review: London Peculiars by Peter Ashley
London Peculiars is a new book by Peter Ashley. Subtitled “a guide to the city’s offbeat places”, it is a miscellany of dozens of unknown, overlooked or just plain bizarre places and objects in London. It is the sort of book I would like to have written myself… London...
Book Review: Topographies by Stephen Benz
Topographies is a collection of essays by the American travel writer Stephen Benz. He takes us on journeys across North America, on a quest to unearth the culture and the history. This is not a “wish you were here” style of travel journalism: on occasion we are...
Book Review: Sparkling Wine (Vineyards of England and Wales)
It would be hard to ignore the revolution that has taken place in British winemaking in recent years. Although the Romans planted vineyards in England, winemaking later became a minority interest, mostly confined to monasteries or aristocratic estates. But now there...
Book Review: Everest England by Peter Owen Jones
Many people dream of climbing Mount Everest; few are able to achieve it. In Everest England Peter Owen Jones proposes an alternative. Twelve days of walks up English hills, which collectively total a climb of 29,000 feet, the equivalent of Mount Everest. Everest...
Book Review: Experience Spain from Lonely Planet
Last year I posted a review of Experience Italy, a Lonely Planet guide that explored the country and its culture in depth. Now the second book in the series – Experience Spain – has been published. Again, this is much more than a conventional guidebook; it is a feast...
Books to Read Before You Visit Spain
I always find I get more out of my travels if I read about a place before I visit and, when it comes to Spain, there is no shortage of books to choose from. Here is my personal selection of books to read before you visit Spain. And, if you’re travelling with the...
Book Review: Everyday Adventures from Lonely Planet
Now that the summer holidays are over, are you yearning for the next trip? Are you planning a “staycation” next time round? Or are you just looking for ways of making the most of your free time? Whatever your plans, a “microadventure” might be just what you need....
