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.