Stanfords Blog

Map of the Month: London National Park City – Greater London Map

Our Map of the Month for April 2022 is the London National Park City- Greater London Area Urban Nature Map by Urban Good.

See London differently and explore its open spaces. This map is a resource to encourage more awareness and more action for people and nature, to help put nearby nature in everyday lives.

It shows London: the world’s first National Park City. The massive map includes all of the parks, woodlands, playing fields, national nature reserves, city farms, rivers, lakes, and all the spaces that contribute to London’s parkland. Some of the most iconic walks through and around London are drawn, such as the London Loop and Capital Ring, along with symbols marking places to swim outdoors, climb peaks, pitch a tent, or go sailing.

Children’s Book of the Month: Do You Love Exploring?

Our Children’s Book of the Month for April 2022 is Do You Love Exploring? by Matt Robertson.

Travel through rainforests, up mountains and deep underwater to discover the best, biggest and most brilliant animals planet Earth has to offer.

Book of the Month: Everest 1922

Our Book of the Month for April 2022 is Everest 1922: The Epic Story of the First Attempt on the World’s Highest Mountain by Mick Conefrey.

The dramatic and compelling account of the first attempt to climb Mount Everest, published to coincide with the centenary of the expedition in 2022.

Though it remains by far the world’s most famous mountain, in recent years Everest’s reputation has changed radically, with long queues of climbers on the Lhotse Face, lurid tales of frozen corpses and piles of high altitude trash. It wasn’t always like this though. Once Everest was remote and inaccessible, a mysterious place, where only the bravest and most heroic dared to tread.

Top Three Stunning Landscapes in South America

By Michael Webster, author of the newly published travel memoir The Condor’s Feather.

For nearly five years I wandered 100,000 kilometers back and forth across the Spanish speaking countries of South America. At the time I loved every single place. But which of those places stirs memories in my waking hours now? Which are the landscapes I wished I’d spent more time in? Which landscapes will I never forget?

I am a naturalist, so for me a memorable landscape should also have memorable wildlife.

5 Favourite Outdoor Swimming Spots in London

Do you live or work in London? In town for a visit? Do you enjoy swimming outdoors and are looking for new places to swim? The new guidebook Outdoor Swimming London takes you on an aquatic tour to bring you 140 best wild swims, lakes and outdoor pools, all in or within easy reach of the capital.

John Weller and Lola Culsán share five of their favourite places to swim on the periphery of London: all accessible by tube, train, boat or bike. Perfect for an adventurous day out.

Women’s History Month: Exploring Female Travellers

By Rosemary J Brown

Women in history shouldn’t be a mystery … and that includes female travellers. Challenged by traditions that placed them firmly in the home, these women burst through social and geographical boundaries to explore, experience and document the world.

Women like intrepid explorer Isabella Bird (1831–1904), queen of the desert Gertrude Bell (1868–1926) who mapped out Iraq, and wayfaring biologist Mary Kingsley (1862–1900). They all left their inhibitions at home and journeyed into the unknown alone. But the female traveller I know best of all is trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly (1864-1922) who circled the world faster than anyone ever had – 72 days – in 1890.

EXPLORER: the Quest for Adventure and the Great Unknown by Benedict Allen

– by Benedict Allen

This is the story of an extraordinary quest by a lone explorer, one that ends dramatically, deep in the heart of New Guinea. But it’s also a story about all of us – for we all have dreams and challenges, and we are all explorers of our world.

2022 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards

Launched in 2015, the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards (ESTWA) seek to celebrate the best travel writing, and travel writers, in the world. Many figures from the travel writing genre gathered at Stanfords London on 3rd March to celebrate.

Vivien Godfrey, Chairman and Chief Executive of Stanfords, said “Travel writing has become even more important in the past two years. Despite not been able to travel as much as we’d like, we’ve been able to see the world through books and are delighted to be able to come together to celebrate the wonderful writing that has flourished out of these challenging times.”

In total 33 books made the shortlists, divided into eight awards categories with winners being both debut authors and award-winning writers. The judging panels included authors Lois Pryce, Jini Reddy, Julia Wheeler, Lucy Popescu, Nicholas Jubber, the MD of Trip Fiction website Tina Hartas, Travel Writing World Podcast’s Jeremy Bassetti, Stanfords booksellers and members of the Stanfords senior team.

Map of the Month: Faroe Islands Solberg-F&B Road Map

Our Map of the Month for March 2022 is the Faroe Islands Solberg-F&B Road Map

18 jagged volcanic islands make up the Faroe Islands. A unique and inimitable destination at the edge of the world. A place truly unspoiled, unexplored and unbelievable.

Our wanderlust levels have recently been heightened by this brand new edition of the Faroe Islands map published by Freytag & Berndt in cooperation with the locally based Henrik Solberg. It includes the newly opened 11km underwater tunnel network that connects the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy. At it’s deepest the tunnel is 613ft below sea level and it features the world’s first underwater roundabout.

Book of the Month: Explorer

Our Book of the Month for March 2022 is Explorer: The Quest for Adventure by Benedict Allen.

This enquiry into the explorer mindset is part meditation, part memoir, from one of ‘Britain’s greatest explorers’ (Telegraph)

What does it mean to be an explorer in the twenty-first century?