THE EDIT • June 2020

Long live the guidebook

Smartphones may have killed off some of our most trusted travelling companions, but there remains an appetite for guidebooks that can offer a jolt of wanderlust and a much needed break from our screens. Our friends at High Life magazine share the tomes they’re coveting for travels ahead

Wildsam Field Guides

Whether you’re jetting or road-tripping your way across North America, Wildsam gives visitors and locals alike a taste of discovery by way of interviews, long-form essays and hand-drawn maps. A particular emphasis on the lesser known – be it the best craft breweries or barbecue joints – is at the heart and soul.

Cereal City Guides

Readers of the eponymous magazine can expect the same sleek photography and discerning destination intel adorning the pages of Cereal’s city guides. Looking at locations through the lens of design and style, Cereal covers a handful of cherry-picked cities from London to Los Angeles.

The Messy Nessy Chic Guides

An ode to the unusual and a love letter to the naturally curious, Messy Nessy’s Don’t Be A Tourist series is the perfect companion for those looking to dig a little deeper beneath the surface, focusing on the most fascinating neighbourhoods and local secrets of New York and Paris.

DK Eyewitness

If you like to see exactly what you’re getting yourself into when visiting a new city, DK Eyewitness’s pocket-size guides are a treat for the eye and the agenda, packed full of detailed illustrations and beautiful photography. They cover every corner of the globe, and now come complete with maps.

The Monocle Travel Guide Series

Only in town for a couple of days? Live like a local with itineraries and under-the-radar finds that span everything from running routes and the best hidden bars for after-work drinks to independent boutiques and a city’s most interesting architecture. These collectable books also feature an array of essays that distil advice from Monocle’s savvy editors and cultural experts.

LOST iN City Guides

There are no maps to be found in these perfectly monikered guidebooks that, along with the usual tips and suggestions, offer a more editorial approach to exploration. This includes lengthy interviews with locals, in-depth stories detailing every city’s design heritage, and original pieces of fiction.

Bradt Travel Guides

While they cover a wealth of places, Bradt’s travel guides are particularly geared towards adventurous travellers looking to explore the world’s more unusual destinations. With a focus on the environment, recommendations range from eco-friendly, community-run lodges that support local residents to sustainable marine parks and fair-trade shopping.

Weekend Journals

Every venue inside Weekend Journals has been chosen with the design-savvy traveller in mind, which means all the restaurants, interior and green spaces are as beautiful – and pictured as beautifully – as the books themselves. A limited selection of cities, but visually gratifying – Cornwall and Provence skew particularly strong.

The New York Times 36 Hours

When time is ticking, leave it to the team at the New York Times to turn your next 36-hour jaunt into a perfectly balanced city experience. These dynamic and tailored schedules, covering everywhere from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, are perfect for weekends, offering a mashup of art, food, outdoors and more, plus handy maps and illustrations to bring it all to life on paper.

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This article has been tagged Adventure, Travel Tips