Touring Britain

Cultural historian David Heathcote uses an 1887 Baedeker Guide to explore modern-day Britain, discovering the hidden treasures that were popular with Victorian tourists but are rarely visited today. Beginning in Liverpool, he travels through Wales, Manchester and York, following the advice of his guide book and discovering why it was so influential in creating the independent traveller of today

David Heathcote uses two of the earliest Shell Guides to explore Britain, a Thirties publication on Dorset and a manual about Cornwall, which was edited by the young John Betjeman. Beginning in the ancient sites of Cerne Abbas and Badbury Rings, he heads to the seaside town of Swanage before following advice to visit Tintagel in bad weather.