books to inspire your travels

lifestyle

21 Feb

I’m ashamed to say that I very much fell into the social media ‘trap’ last week. I spent too long scrolling aimlessly on Instagram to see SO many people exploring new places, lying on beaches or just doing ANYTHING more interesting than me running my weekly errands. That together with sheltering indoors from the stormy weather got me feeling a little bit down (it’s all relative, I know) but — sound familiar?

I’ve managed to shake the thoughts and instead have redirected my energy to planning trips for the year ahead. As I was coming up with my list, I realised that I’ve accumulated a number of travel-related books and magazines over the last couple of years that I often turn to for inspiration.

You could just use the internet but there’s something more exciting about flicking through a book or magazine for inspiration - if only for the beautiful photos! So, I thought I’d share these with you in case you are lacking inspiration or if you just fancy updating your bookshelf (or coffee table)!

exploring london

Despite living here for (nearly) all of my life, I have a lot of books about the best parts of my hometown, London. As a creature of habit, I find myself in similar parts of the city a lot of the time but these books are the perfect reminder that there’s still so much to explore - and they all serve as perfect coffee table books too:

Cereal London City Guide - a unique collection of places that all reflect Cereal's values
Hoxton Mini Press’ opinionated guides to London - I purchased a bundle a while ago now and four more have been added to the collection since!
Weekend Journals - a selection of galleries, restaurants and more for design-conscious travellers

more uk travel

The pandemic, as well as a drive for more eco-conscious travel has definitely shown us what the UK has to offer - coastal walks, countryside hills and historic cities.

But if you’re unsure where to start with your UK travels, The Great British Bucket List gives you a list of achievable adventures that celebrate the best of Britain. You can expect old favourites, beautiful walks and lots more. And if you’re looking for a place to rest, Gina’s British Boutique Hotels features the dreamiest collection (warning - you may end up with a VERY long wish list).

More UK inspiration can be found in:

Hidden Scotland - with so many tips for an authentic experience for all your Scottish travel adventures, and
Haarkon, a unique collection of images and experiences by photographers India and Magnus.

for adventures a little further

And if you’re in search of more predictable weather, warmer climates or a new cultural experience, there are lots of books and magazines that are perfect for venturing away from the UK. If you’re conscious of your carbon footprint, The Flightless Traveller has you covered; it will give you tonnes of inspiration to make better travel choices. I’m also subscribed to Suitcase and am always in awe of the incredible stories from around the world.

And finally, I think all of the other Cereal City Guides are worth a mention - featured here is Paris but they’ve also published Copenhagen, LA and New York.