金石堂In the last decade, England's cities have become much more walkable places, with huge investments in green spaces (£700 million + by the National Lottery in parks), redevelopment of old industrial areas (especially docklands) and a complete urban planning re-think in favour of walking. Open spaces in our cities have become livelier places, with outdoor festivals, street-art and events, pop-up food, picnics in the park etc.. It is clearer than ever that walking in a city is increasingly the healthy lifestyle choice, offering the calming and restorative powers of green spaces and the chance to exercise the body.
Urban Rambles is a book to inspire city-dwellers to explore and understand their home turf; for keen country walkers who like the idea of trying something different but still prefer a route that is green and tranquil; and for discerning weekend breakers who want to get under the skin of a city in a day or two. There are plenty of publications covering country walks, but no city walking guide that covers the whole country.
The book is organised into thematic chapters, highlighting the way that our cities have grown in very different ways, driven by their reason for being founded in the first place. All of the featured cities are places that would make a great weekend visit.
Cathedral cities - Exeter, Lincoln, Norwich, York
Seats of Learning - Cambridge, Oxford
Trading Ports - Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Plymouth
Designed for Pleasure - Bath, Brighton
Victorian Industry - Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield
Capital City - King’s Cross to Olympic Park (Islington, East End), Olympic Park to Tower Hill (London Docks, City) Tower Hill to Bayswater (Parliament, Royal Parks), Bayswater to King’s Cross (Residential, Regent’s Park)
Each walk has 10-12 pages devoted to it, including:
Commissioned map of the route and walk data (distance, typical time, start & finish, terrain).
Instructions on how to get the GPS enabled map on your mobile, which shows where you are on the detailed route.
Inspiring photographs of the things you will see along the way.
Data box - population, date of origin, some famous inhabitants, films or TV series shot here, best spots for stunning cityscapes.
Context – why the city looks the way it does (topography, economic drivers, architectural styles)
Information on green spaces and architectural gems.
Recommendations of cafes, pubs and unique shops along the way
Urban Rambles is a book to inspire city-dwellers to explore and understand their home turf; for keen country walkers who like the idea of trying something different but still prefer a route that is green and tranquil; and for discerning weekend breakers who want to get under the skin of a city in a day or two. There are plenty of publications covering country walks, but no city walking guide that covers the whole country.
The book is organised into thematic chapters, highlighting the way that our cities have grown in very different ways, driven by their reason for being founded in the first place. All of the featured cities are places that would make a great weekend visit.
Cathedral cities - Exeter, Lincoln, Norwich, York
Seats of Learning - Cambridge, Oxford
Trading Ports - Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Plymouth
Designed for Pleasure - Bath, Brighton
Victorian Industry - Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield
Capital City - King’s Cross to Olympic Park (Islington, East End), Olympic Park to Tower Hill (London Docks, City) Tower Hill to Bayswater (Parliament, Royal Parks), Bayswater to King’s Cross (Residential, Regent’s Park)
Each walk has 10-12 pages devoted to it, including:
Commissioned map of the route and walk data (distance, typical time, start & finish, terrain).
Instructions on how to get the GPS enabled map on your mobile, which shows where you are on the detailed route.
Inspiring photographs of the things you will see along the way.
Data box - population, date of origin, some famous inhabitants, films or TV series shot here, best spots for stunning cityscapes.
Context – why the city looks the way it does (topography, economic drivers, architectural styles)
Information on green spaces and architectural gems.
Recommendations of cafes, pubs and unique shops along the way
