Exploring cultures and communities – the slow way

Lonely Planet and Rough Guides may be mainstays in the guidebook market, but for more offbeat destinations in Europe, look to Bradt Guides for coverage of places that other publishers just do not reach.

article summary —

The illustrious George Bradshaw, of whom we are unalloyed fans, was a Victorian compiler of railway timetables. His company also published some splendid guidebooks. Bradshaw and his team always averred that a good guidebook was "a missionary in the work of civilisation" and an instrument for "the promotion of good fellowship among nations." Of course, even in Bradshaw's day there was some hefty competition in the European guidebook market. Even before the first Bradshaw guidebook was published, John Murray and Karl Baedeker were combing the continent to produce guidance for travellers.

Nowadays, the guidebook market is as crowded as ever.


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About the authors

hidden europe

and manage hidden europe, a Berlin-based editorial bureau that supplies text and images to media across Europe. Together they edit hidden europe magazine. Nicky and Susanne are dedicated slow travellers. They delight in discovering the exotic in the everyday.

This article was published in hidden europe 19.