Celebrating the best of our nation, every issue of Discover Britain is packed with features from history to travel. Read about the events that changed history, as well as British traditions and their origins, or be inspired for your next trip with great ideas for where to go and what to see. Whether you’re planning a weekend city break or an escape to the countryside, Discover Britain is your essential guide to getting the most out of your stay.
Welcome!
Letters
Wish you were here... • Inspiring postcards from around the British Isles
Full Steam Ahead • Kicking off our transport themed issue, Natalie Marchant climbs aboard two of Yorkshire’s heritage railways for a unique insight into “God’s Own County”
Bird’s Eye View • Jacob Little boards Europe’s only scheduled seaplane airline for a fresh perspective on Loch Lomond’s unique landscape at the foot of the Highlands
EXPLORE PERTH • Perth is a hub for culture and arts. Nestled on the banks of the River Tay, it boasts a wealth of history, culture and entertainment.
Blaze of GLORY • The Up Helly Aa festival celebrates Shetland’s Viking heritage in style, yet there is far more to the remote Scottish archipelago than flaming torch parades as Janice Hopper discovers
DISCOVER SHETLAND
East of Eden, South of Frome • Although famed for his California-set novels, John Steinbeck claimed that his stay in England was the happiest time of his life. Kevin Pilley visits the author’s beloved Bruton
DISCOVER LONDON • Explore Little Venice’s canalways The Queen takes the tube Black cabs and red buses
Mind the Gap • From monarchs to movie stars, footballing greats to Great Danes, all walks of life can be found on the London Underground as these fantastic archive photos reveal
A Little Oasis • The canals of Little Venice provide a calming sanctuary just minutes from Paddington station. Martha Alexander explores the history and heritage of one of London’s prettiest pockets
Kerb Appeal • No London street scene is complete without a black cab and a red bus. Fifty years after the last Routemaster was made, Florence Sheward pays tribute to the capital’s two best-loved vehicles
DID YOU KNOW?
24 hours in… BRISTOL • Explore maritime history and a thriving art scene in south-west England
Weekend PARADISE • When the world’s richest family built a weekend retreat from London, the results were duly spectacular. Nicola Rayner tours Waddesdon Manor
WIN a luxury afternoon tea at Waddesdon Manor • Enter our competition for the chance to enjoy afternoon tea on the Rothschild’s country estate
ENTRY FORM
MY BRITAIN • Fergusson Elliott Tour guide
LUSH LIFE • The Derbyshire Dales are the lush, green heart of the Midlands. Steve Pill explores a landscape rich in industrial heritage, literary inspiration and glorious views
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Request stops • Alight here for five of Britain’s best railway hotels
ERDDIG • Facts, figures and stories from Wales’s answer to Downton Abbey
STRANGE BUT TRUE
IN NUMBERS
BOOK REVIEWS • Get to know Britain with these great new hardbacks
The Crooked House • Step carefully inside Dudley’s answer to the Leaning Tower of Pisa – the wonkiest pub in the world