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Review
`The book has an edgy style that's incredibly easy to follow, but Chesshyre also delves deeper to tackle issues.' -- The Times, 3rd July 2010
`Croydon is an ideal destination for holidaying... a new book recommends - just... make sure you wear a stab vest.'
-- The Croydon Guardian, 30th June 2010
`light-hearted... He was even impelled to visit Port Talbot because his friend told him it was the least likely place he would holiday.' -- MK (Milton Keynes) News, 30th June 2010
`Chesshyre spent several nights in each place and discovered a history he never knew.' -- The Yorkshire Post, 6th July 2010
Featured in The Scottish Sunday Post, 11th July 2010. --The Scottish Sunday Post, 11th July 2010
`Tom's literary offering... sums up the current stay-cation ethos permeating UK travel writing at the moment and it's rather good.' -- St Christopher's Beds & Bars Live-Your-Life e-zine, August 2010
`after years of travelling in the lap of luxury... Tom has turned his attention to our own cities and shores.'
-- The South Wales Evening Post, 14th July 2010
`... the oft-forgotten "secret spots of Unsung Britain"... for his off-the-beaten-track search for the UK's least touristy destinations.'
-- North East Life, August 2010
`You warm to Chesshyre, whose cultural references intelligently inform his postcards from locations less travelled'
--The Times, Books Section, 4th September 2010
'Writer Tom Chesshyre celebrates the UK... discovering pleasure in the unregarded wonders of the `unfashionable underbelly' of Britain' --Mail on Sunday, Travel Book of the Week, 21st November 2010
Fun, controversial travel book ... Definitely entertaining.
--Salford Star, 22nd December 2010.
`Not going abroad this year? ... Try Tom Chessyre's To Hull and Back, surprising delights in the most unlikely places.' --MK Pulse, June 2010
'Tom embraces the unfashionable bits of Britain, and finds plenty to write home about.' --luckyluck.com
`Croydon is an ideal destination for holidaying... a new book recommends - just... make sure you wear a stab vest.'
-- The Croydon Guardian, 30th June 2010
`light-hearted... He was even impelled to visit Port Talbot because his friend told him it was the least likely place he would holiday.' -- MK (Milton Keynes) News, 30th June 2010
`Chesshyre spent several nights in each place and discovered a history he never knew.' -- The Yorkshire Post, 6th July 2010
Featured in The Scottish Sunday Post, 11th July 2010. --The Scottish Sunday Post, 11th July 2010
`Tom's literary offering... sums up the current stay-cation ethos permeating UK travel writing at the moment and it's rather good.' -- St Christopher's Beds & Bars Live-Your-Life e-zine, August 2010
`after years of travelling in the lap of luxury... Tom has turned his attention to our own cities and shores.'
-- The South Wales Evening Post, 14th July 2010
`... the oft-forgotten "secret spots of Unsung Britain"... for his off-the-beaten-track search for the UK's least touristy destinations.'
-- North East Life, August 2010
`You warm to Chesshyre, whose cultural references intelligently inform his postcards from locations less travelled'
--The Times, Books Section, 4th September 2010
'Writer Tom Chesshyre celebrates the UK... discovering pleasure in the unregarded wonders of the `unfashionable underbelly' of Britain' --Mail on Sunday, Travel Book of the Week, 21st November 2010
Fun, controversial travel book ... Definitely entertaining.
--Salford Star, 22nd December 2010.
`Not going abroad this year? ... Try Tom Chessyre's To Hull and Back, surprising delights in the most unlikely places.' --MK Pulse, June 2010
'Tom embraces the unfashionable bits of Britain, and finds plenty to write home about.' --luckyluck.com
Product Description
… one of the best ways to get to know a country is to take yourself to the less touristy, less obvious destinations. And let’s face it: things don’t get much less touristy than Slough… As staff travel writer on The Times since 1997, Tom Chesshyre had visited over 80 countries on assignment, and wondered: what is left to be discovered? He realised that the answer might be very close to home. In a mad adventure that took him from Hull to Hell (actually a rather nice holiday location in the Isles of Scilly), Tom visited secret spots of Unsung Britain in search of the least likely holiday destinations. He got to know the real Coronation Street in Salford, explored Blade Runner Britain in Port Talbot, discovered that everything’s quite green in Milton Keynes, met real-life superheroes and many a suspicious landlady, and watched a football match with celebrity chef Delia Smith in Norwich. With a light and edgy writing style Tom peels back the skin of the unfashionable underbelly of Britain, and embraces it all with the spirit of discovery.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Slough, Croydon or Coventry wouldn't be many people's idea of places to go for a holiday. Travel writer Tom Chesshyre thought differently though and over a series of weekends he visited these and eight other destinations within the British Isles that are well away from the tourist trail.
He finds that whilst these destinations may be at best unfashionable or at worst salubrious (and even a little dangerous)each has something good to offer that makes them well worth a visit. He finds for example, that Port Talbot, which is dominated by its steelworks, may not have a pretty face but if you look closer you will find acres of forests that have become a haven for mountain bikers. Similarly Coventry's once historic city centre may have been blighted by war-time bombs but he finds that the new Cathedral is a breathtakingly beautiful building.
I enjoyed this book and was particularly impressed by Tom Chesshyres writing. Whilst not trying to amusing he was able to bring out the humour of the situations that he found himself him. He also appears to be a fair writer, never exaggerating the downsides of the locations he visited nor does he overdo his praise when he discovers the upside. Many times when reading travel writing I have a strong suspicion that some of the events that are being related are embellished to make for a more interesting read; I never thought that whilst reading this book though.
I have visited practically all of the cities in this book and, to be truthful, disliked most of them. After reading To Hull and Back though I am inspired to pay them all another visit.
He finds that whilst these destinations may be at best unfashionable or at worst salubrious (and even a little dangerous)each has something good to offer that makes them well worth a visit. He finds for example, that Port Talbot, which is dominated by its steelworks, may not have a pretty face but if you look closer you will find acres of forests that have become a haven for mountain bikers. Similarly Coventry's once historic city centre may have been blighted by war-time bombs but he finds that the new Cathedral is a breathtakingly beautiful building.
I enjoyed this book and was particularly impressed by Tom Chesshyres writing. Whilst not trying to amusing he was able to bring out the humour of the situations that he found himself him. He also appears to be a fair writer, never exaggerating the downsides of the locations he visited nor does he overdo his praise when he discovers the upside. Many times when reading travel writing I have a strong suspicion that some of the events that are being related are embellished to make for a more interesting read; I never thought that whilst reading this book though.
I have visited practically all of the cities in this book and, to be truthful, disliked most of them. After reading To Hull and Back though I am inspired to pay them all another visit.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having got bored of reading books by Bill Bryson etc on visits to quaint towns and picture postcard villages, this book is a refreshing antidote to British travel writing.
The author visits places you wouldn't dream of going and this makes the narrative fascinating, giving insights into the real Britain. Humourous in tone of voice this book makes an excellent read and is chocca full of 'pub nuggets' that you can recall to your friends.
Recommended (and has given me a few novel - excuse the pun - weekend break ideas)!
The author visits places you wouldn't dream of going and this makes the narrative fascinating, giving insights into the real Britain. Humourous in tone of voice this book makes an excellent read and is chocca full of 'pub nuggets' that you can recall to your friends.
Recommended (and has given me a few novel - excuse the pun - weekend break ideas)!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I think generally in this country we know far less about places other than where we live than we like to think. We're quick to write off towns and cities never visited on the basis of hearsay and take our holidays abroad. But even the most vilified cities have their charming idiosyncarcies, unique histories and colourful personalities. That's the brilliance of this book. Whilst uncovering why particular places have bad reputations, the author also digs deeper and seeks out what these places do have to recommend them, which is invariably far more than you would think. It makes you realise the cultural richness and diversity in every nook and cranny of the country. Taken together, the places visited in the book also provide a facinating snapshot of the British cultural character today. Recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wet & Windy
Overall, I was disappointed with this. I bought it based on the suggestions of cover and title that it was a humorous potter round the parts of Britain that are off the well-worn... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Roger Risborough
See the mud but walk on the red carpet
For anybody who is sated with luxury hotels, fed up with visiting the world's most beautiful destinations for free, and wants to play at slumming it without any of the attendant... Read more
Published 12 months ago by R. A. Williams
Interesting Trip
This is an entertaining and funny journey around the more unfashionable towns of the UK and Tom is a funny guy to accompany around his explorations of these places. Read more
Published 13 months ago by King Eric
Britain's untapped tourist potential
In his previous book Tom Chesshyre took us on a tour of Eastern European low cost airline destinations. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Bad Bear
Innacurate and lazy
I was given this book, mainly because I am from Hull. I got as far as p22, where it says "just about everyone wants to have a go at the South Yorkshire city". Read more
Published 20 months ago by J P O'HARA
Unsung Britain gains its voice
When a professional travel writer who has experienced some of 'the most exotic, exclusive and downright glamorous locations on the globe' chooses to explore Unsung Britain, by... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Train buff
Loved it - Really enjoyable book!
Refreshing, different, and just takes your mind somewhere else to explore the most unexpected places. It's just fascinating to see how much is out there....and really close to us! Read more
Published 21 months ago by Luisa Uruena
A gift ...
This was bought as a gift and arrived in very good time. It has had a favourable review from the recipient. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Eve
Brilliant
I don't think I'll 'summering' in Croydon, but I found the book brilliant, funny and well-written. To Hull and Back is a thoroughly enjoyable read and hopefully it will inspire... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jamie Fox
Love it...
Having read the author's previous book (How Low Can You Go) I was looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint... Read more
Published 22 months ago by GorgeousTiger
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