Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

Firmly ensconced in the budget travel canon, Lonely Planet: Indiahas become as essential to sub-continental backpacker culture as the Himalayan hill stations, Arabian sea beaches and crafty rickshaw drivers it describes. Beyond the frank, thorough coverage of the country's highlights and pitfalls, indispensable maps and a snazzy full-colour guide to India's religions make this sturdy tome an endlessly useful one-stop reference. Though the emphasis is on "budget" travel, there are hotel and restaurant picks to accommodate you whether your budget is US$10 or US$500 a day. The book's only problem is that to some degree, it's a victim of its own success--it can be difficult to get off the beaten path when every English-speaking backpacker in South Asia is carrying the same guide. Fortunately, given India's (and the book's) seemingly endless charms, there's still enough to go around. --Andrew Nieland

Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

the best LP guide, 24 Nov 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.

A Must Have, 07 Oct 2007
An absolute must for India! Not exactly space saving, but dont go to India without it.

Lonley Planet India, 19 Sep 2007
This book is very thick and heavy. Not the most practical of travel books. But makes a good pillow!!
The information is not so bad if you want to stay within the LP community. But the maps are invaluable when you turn up in a new town at 6am in the morning without a clue.

Best guide for India, 25 May 2007
This book is not only by far the best guide to India that you will ever find. It is also the best Lonely Planet guide I have ever read (I have 6 other LP guides). Everything you will ever need in your traveling through India is written in this guide, and every aspect seem covered. There is a reason why every single traveler in India has this book, and this might be the only weakness: if you follow this guide, you will follow an already taken path in a country, that provides plenty of possibilities for the opposite. But that will be the case with any guide, so go ahead and get the best one available, this one!

Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

the best LP guide, 24 Nov 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.

A Must Have, 07 Oct 2007
An absolute must for India! Not exactly space saving, but dont go to India without it.

Lonley Planet India, 19 Sep 2007
This book is very thick and heavy. Not the most practical of travel books. But makes a good pillow!!
The information is not so bad if you want to stay within the LP community. But the maps are invaluable when you turn up in a new town at 6am in the morning without a clue.

Best guide for India, 25 May 2007
This book is not only by far the best guide to India that you will ever find. It is also the best Lonely Planet guide I have ever read (I have 6 other LP guides). Everything you will ever need in your traveling through India is written in this guide, and every aspect seem covered. There is a reason why every single traveler in India has this book, and this might be the only weakness: if you follow this guide, you will follow an already taken path in a country, that provides plenty of possibilities for the opposite. But that will be the case with any guide, so go ahead and get the best one available, this one!

Delightful book, 07 Sep 2008
This more than just a description of a museum. This is also a journey into the history of the natural sciences and a part biography as well. Well illustarted, Richard Fortey describes an institution that is trying hard (and succeeding if the new Darwin Centre is any guide)to move with the times, make science accesible to the public, yet has more going on behind the scenes than we could ever give credit.

Anyone who lives in or visits London should pay more than one visit to this marvelous place, and thanks to this book they will be well briefed as to what goes and has gone on there.

Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

the best LP guide, 24 Nov 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.

A Must Have, 07 Oct 2007
An absolute must for India! Not exactly space saving, but dont go to India without it.

Lonley Planet India, 19 Sep 2007
This book is very thick and heavy. Not the most practical of travel books. But makes a good pillow!!
The information is not so bad if you want to stay within the LP community. But the maps are invaluable when you turn up in a new town at 6am in the morning without a clue.

Best guide for India, 25 May 2007
This book is not only by far the best guide to India that you will ever find. It is also the best Lonely Planet guide I have ever read (I have 6 other LP guides). Everything you will ever need in your traveling through India is written in this guide, and every aspect seem covered. There is a reason why every single traveler in India has this book, and this might be the only weakness: if you follow this guide, you will follow an already taken path in a country, that provides plenty of possibilities for the opposite. But that will be the case with any guide, so go ahead and get the best one available, this one!

Delightful book, 07 Sep 2008
This more than just a description of a museum. This is also a journey into the history of the natural sciences and a part biography as well. Well illustarted, Richard Fortey describes an institution that is trying hard (and succeeding if the new Darwin Centre is any guide)to move with the times, make science accesible to the public, yet has more going on behind the scenes than we could ever give credit.

Anyone who lives in or visits London should pay more than one visit to this marvelous place, and thanks to this book they will be well briefed as to what goes and has gone on there.

pretty good guidebook, 17 Nov 2007
found it much more useful then the time out NYC guidebook. Went to a couple of suggested bars which were fun. the pull out map is particularly useful.
However, NYC is a city you want to get lost in so don't get the guidebook out too often!

The Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Travel series are to be seen clutched in many tourists' hands across the world, and rightly so. If Travel: Where to Go When (edited by Craig Doyle) is designed to be pored over at home rather taken en voyage that has allowed the publishers to produce a handsome, large-scale volume guaranteed to set you dreaming of exotic faraway places.

This is the perfect holiday planner, concentrating on the world's most desirable travel locations, with specific attention paid to when it is best to visit them. The team of consultants (acting under Doyle's expert direction) have provided a series of concise and informative essays on everything from the wonders of the Galapagos Islands to the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, and from the mule trails of the Cinque Terre to the highly civilised streets of Boston, USA. The latter destination is a good example of precisely what the book does well: pithy, not-a-word-wasted essays giving all the essential information on the destination, with a sidebar on the left of the page detailing how to get there, suggested accommodation and restaurants along with all the information about the weather you're likely to need (the latter is particularly useful -- how often have you seen abroad tourists either underdressed or overdressed, not having done their homework?). On the right hand side of the large, eye-catching spreads are historical details -- never couched in dry prose, just a concise and lively presentation of the facts. A major plus, of course, is the sumptuous photography; everything from a brightly painted, flower-bedecked skeleton at the Mexican Day of the Dead to a glowingly lit night canal in Amsterdam does perfect justice to its subject. --Barry Forshaw

Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

the best LP guide, 24 Nov 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.

A Must Have, 07 Oct 2007
An absolute must for India! Not exactly space saving, but dont go to India without it.

Lonley Planet India, 19 Sep 2007
This book is very thick and heavy. Not the most practical of travel books. But makes a good pillow!!
The information is not so bad if you want to stay within the LP community. But the maps are invaluable when you turn up in a new town at 6am in the morning without a clue.

Best guide for India, 25 May 2007
This book is not only by far the best guide to India that you will ever find. It is also the best Lonely Planet guide I have ever read (I have 6 other LP guides). Everything you will ever need in your traveling through India is written in this guide, and every aspect seem covered. There is a reason why every single traveler in India has this book, and this might be the only weakness: if you follow this guide, you will follow an already taken path in a country, that provides plenty of possibilities for the opposite. But that will be the case with any guide, so go ahead and get the best one available, this one!

Delightful book, 07 Sep 2008
This more than just a description of a museum. This is also a journey into the history of the natural sciences and a part biography as well. Well illustarted, Richard Fortey describes an institution that is trying hard (and succeeding if the new Darwin Centre is any guide)to move with the times, make science accesible to the public, yet has more going on behind the scenes than we could ever give credit.

Anyone who lives in or visits London should pay more than one visit to this marvelous place, and thanks to this book they will be well briefed as to what goes and has gone on there.

pretty good guidebook, 17 Nov 2007
found it much more useful then the time out NYC guidebook. Went to a couple of suggested bars which were fun. the pull out map is particularly useful.
However, NYC is a city you want to get lost in so don't get the guidebook out too often!



Nice to flick through but not much more depth than a brochure, 30 Jun 2008
This is a lovely coffee table book, and I enjoyed a good couple of hours flicking through and dreaming of going to all the lovely places in it. However, when I finished I did think it hadn't offered much more than flicking through some travel brochures - something which made me question the price tag when you consider that these can be picked up for free in any travel agents.

All that said it has beautifully shot photos and has the USP of the month by month planner of the best places to go. It also tells you about some of the less well know things to do (although in some cases it misses some of the best out because of it).

I would actually give this 3 and a half stars if I could. My summary is that it is beautiful but shallow.

Excellent book, 28 May 2008
I bought this for someone else, but have spent many happy hours browsing through it and planning my next trip. It is very informative and the photography is excellent.

Best Travel Book I have ever bought, 15 Mar 2008
I can only echo the comments of the other reviewers. This is quite simply one of the best travel books around at the momemt. Informative and beautifully produced that will have you pouring over it regularly.
If travel is your passion - get it.

Stunning, 25 Feb 2008


I was given this as a Christmas present and I have spent hours looking through it since then - it's such a beautiful book.

The book is set out by month and there are about 20 pages per month. In each section (month) it starts with a page overview of all the places that are good to visit at that time of year and puts them under headings (Festivals and culture, Unforgettable journeys, Natural wonders, Luxury and romance, Active adventures and Family getaways). Each destiniation (under one of these headers) then has a paragraph about why to go and then a web address so you can do further research (brilliant idea). It also has a weather watch for all over the world so you can see which regions might appeal to you (depending on whether you want sun or snow etc). The following 18 or so pages are dedicated to more indepth info on some of the destinations. For example there is a section in August on New Zealand and this page includes how to get there, weather, accommodation, how much it will cost 2 people per day on average and also a suggested itinerary. The book goes into detial of about 8 or 9 destinations per month.

Aside to the useful info (not just about what't there when you get there but where to go at particular times of year), the visuals are stunning, breathtaking even. I am a huge fan of the Eyewitness Travel guides anyway as I love to look at the pictures and read about the history and culture of places I have been to (and also places I want to go to) so when I was given this book I was thrilled. It's so much more than a coffee table book and it's one I will treasure for years to come - I can sit for hours looking longinly at the photos.

I highly recommend this book - especially as a gift (you'll be loved for it) or just treat yourself. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Travel: Where to go When, 03 Sep 2007
Thank you Dorling Kindersley for having produced this absolutely stunning new coffee table book! Rather like Lonely Planet's `The Travel Book' meets `The Blue List' or `A Year of Adventures' by Rough Guide, it fits wonderfully in to the `inspirational' travel guide niche.
It's the kind of book you can peruse at leisure & gain ideas for your next big adventure. Where to go & when the best time to do it is! With careful thought given to each country's annual festivals & celebrations; animal migrations; summer or winter sports & most beautiful seasons to visit, not to mention being packed full of gorgeous photography that will have you drooling & reaching for your backpack.
The book is divided into months. Each month has an overview at the beginning & then the best activities are represented in full, each getting a two-page spread. There is a great mix of lesser-known places mixed with well-known must-do destinations, which almost makes you begin to calculate how many holidays you can afford to take this year if you cut out those pesky non-essentials like: food.
I especially appreciate that there are so many where & when's for adventure sports enthusiasts. Generally there is a snowboarding/skiing, climbing or a diving activity for each month of the year for adrenaline junkies, like me.
Well done DK!

Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

the best LP guide, 24 Nov 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.

A Must Have, 07 Oct 2007
An absolute must for India! Not exactly space saving, but dont go to India without it.

Lonley Planet India, 19 Sep 2007
This book is very thick and heavy. Not the most practical of travel books. But makes a good pillow!!
The information is not so bad if you want to stay within the LP community. But the maps are invaluable when you turn up in a new town at 6am in the morning without a clue.

Best guide for India, 25 May 2007
This book is not only by far the best guide to India that you will ever find. It is also the best Lonely Planet guide I have ever read (I have 6 other LP guides). Everything you will ever need in your traveling through India is written in this guide, and every aspect seem covered. There is a reason why every single traveler in India has this book, and this might be the only weakness: if you follow this guide, you will follow an already taken path in a country, that provides plenty of possibilities for the opposite. But that will be the case with any guide, so go ahead and get the best one available, this one!

Delightful book, 07 Sep 2008
This more than just a description of a museum. This is also a journey into the history of the natural sciences and a part biography as well. Well illustarted, Richard Fortey describes an institution that is trying hard (and succeeding if the new Darwin Centre is any guide)to move with the times, make science accesible to the public, yet has more going on behind the scenes than we could ever give credit.

Anyone who lives in or visits London should pay more than one visit to this marvelous place, and thanks to this book they will be well briefed as to what goes and has gone on there.

pretty good guidebook, 17 Nov 2007
found it much more useful then the time out NYC guidebook. Went to a couple of suggested bars which were fun. the pull out map is particularly useful.
However, NYC is a city you want to get lost in so don't get the guidebook out too often!



Nice to flick through but not much more depth than a brochure, 30 Jun 2008
This is a lovely coffee table book, and I enjoyed a good couple of hours flicking through and dreaming of going to all the lovely places in it. However, when I finished I did think it hadn't offered much more than flicking through some travel brochures - something which made me question the price tag when you consider that these can be picked up for free in any travel agents.

All that said it has beautifully shot photos and has the USP of the month by month planner of the best places to go. It also tells you about some of the less well know things to do (although in some cases it misses some of the best out because of it).

I would actually give this 3 and a half stars if I could. My summary is that it is beautiful but shallow.

Excellent book, 28 May 2008
I bought this for someone else, but have spent many happy hours browsing through it and planning my next trip. It is very informative and the photography is excellent.

Best Travel Book I have ever bought, 15 Mar 2008
I can only echo the comments of the other reviewers. This is quite simply one of the best travel books around at the momemt. Informative and beautifully produced that will have you pouring over it regularly.
If travel is your passion - get it.

Stunning, 25 Feb 2008


I was given this as a Christmas present and I have spent hours looking through it since then - it's such a beautiful book.

The book is set out by month and there are about 20 pages per month. In each section (month) it starts with a page overview of all the places that are good to visit at that time of year and puts them under headings (Festivals and culture, Unforgettable journeys, Natural wonders, Luxury and romance, Active adventures and Family getaways). Each destiniation (under one of these headers) then has a paragraph about why to go and then a web address so you can do further research (brilliant idea). It also has a weather watch for all over the world so you can see which regions might appeal to you (depending on whether you want sun or snow etc). The following 18 or so pages are dedicated to more indepth info on some of the destinations. For example there is a section in August on New Zealand and this page includes how to get there, weather, accommodation, how much it will cost 2 people per day on average and also a suggested itinerary. The book goes into detial of about 8 or 9 destinations per month.

Aside to the useful info (not just about what't there when you get there but where to go at particular times of year), the visuals are stunning, breathtaking even. I am a huge fan of the Eyewitness Travel guides anyway as I love to look at the pictures and read about the history and culture of places I have been to (and also places I want to go to) so when I was given this book I was thrilled. It's so much more than a coffee table book and it's one I will treasure for years to come - I can sit for hours looking longinly at the photos.

I highly recommend this book - especially as a gift (you'll be loved for it) or just treat yourself. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Travel: Where to go When, 03 Sep 2007
Thank you Dorling Kindersley for having produced this absolutely stunning new coffee table book! Rather like Lonely Planet's `The Travel Book' meets `The Blue List' or `A Year of Adventures' by Rough Guide, it fits wonderfully in to the `inspirational' travel guide niche.
It's the kind of book you can peruse at leisure & gain ideas for your next big adventure. Where to go & when the best time to do it is! With careful thought given to each country's annual festivals & celebrations; animal migrations; summer or winter sports & most beautiful seasons to visit, not to mention being packed full of gorgeous photography that will have you drooling & reaching for your backpack.
The book is divided into months. Each month has an overview at the beginning & then the best activities are represented in full, each getting a two-page spread. There is a great mix of lesser-known places mixed with well-known must-do destinations, which almost makes you begin to calculate how many holidays you can afford to take this year if you cut out those pesky non-essentials like: food.
I especially appreciate that there are so many where & when's for adventure sports enthusiasts. Generally there is a snowboarding/skiing, climbing or a diving activity for each month of the year for adrenaline junkies, like me.
Well done DK!



A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.

I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.

That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.

Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, political and social information and analysis, which is both well researched and convincingly argued. Well worth reading.

Whose pies are they?, 21 Aug 2008
I was on a cruise and the comedian was Bobby Bennett. In a question and answer session someone mentioned that he had been mentioned in Stuart Maconie's Pies and Prejudice as he was the compare of Junior Showtime in the 1970s with people like Bonnie Langford and Pauline Quirke.

That led me to read this book. The jokes about the north south divided is a bit of a cliche for comedians but the cliches are all we can go on without any facts. This book goes someway towards giving us some facts.

He story about the Wigan liking of pies is quite good.

A Bolton man who breathlessly tells his workman from Wigan about a new lunchtime offer at local pub

" A pie , a pint and a woman for 80p" The Wiganer seems unimpressed 80p repeats his workmate excitedly
H'm declares the Wiganer warily " Whose pies are they?"

He went to Blackpool when he was young and said when on the train he took out a book and began to read. the whole carriage looked at him as if he had taken out a cuckoo clock or a lacrosse stick.

I learnt that Roger Whittaker had got it all wrong in the song Durham Town (the leavin') he said he sat on the banks of the river Tyne whereas it should have been the Wear.

I have visited quite a few of the places he mentions but only briefly. It makes me want to visit them all again. A perceptive look at the north by someone who knows what he is talking about.

He should now do a similar book about the south

He says the BBC has A northern correspondent and that it would be laughable if anyone thought they should have southern correspondent. the South views the North as some sort of foreign country that has to be explained to from London and the home counties.

A good read and I have ordered his Cider with Roadies. Well recommended.





Well written, enjoyable and informative, 12 Aug 2008
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and as others have said it certainly has inspired me to visit some of the places described. I liked the author's writing style and most of all I found most of the historical detail interesting and educational. However after reading through relatively huge sections on Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan I was disappointed to see places like Sheffield glossed over very briefly - surely Sheffield has more to offer than the time he spent discussing the National Museum of Pop Music?

YES THERE IS A NORTH - SOUTH DIVIDE: WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND SOUTHERNERS CAN'T!, 01 Aug 2008
BRILLIANT READ. OK - if you know the places Stuart writes about (I know the exact chippy he talks about down the road from Crewe station!) it helps but even if you don't and have never ventured north of Chalfont St Witless, it's still a great read. The two one star reviewers from "Darn Sarth" are obviously miffed at the fact that no-one can be bothered to write about "southerners" because, as Maconie points out early on in the book, there is not the strong identification of "being a southerner" as there is for those of us north of..well, according to Stuart it's north of Stoke.

It pokes fun of the north and does ask some tough questions at times but more than anything else, it is a great travelogue. Strike a light, Guv, you can't ask fairer than that....

Lonely Planet--Egypt takes a practical approach to its readers and audience. It steers away from the hippie flavour of The Rough Guide (where the virtues of sleeping on a friendly native's roof are dwelled on at the expense of more mundane information) and adopts a tone that is sensible and thoughtful, though not timid.

The information is thorough and for the most part accurate. Particularly useful are the suggested highlights for every major city, which, though doomed to meet with dissent, generally provide a good foundation for planning an itinerary. The inclusion of good, colour photographs is also a benefit. There are some notable weaknesses. Maps are disjointed and difficult to relate to each other, and there are vital moments where the guide shies away from making specific recommendations or suggesting priorities. This can make choosing which of Cairo's mosques or Luxor's West Bank tombs to visit a slightly hit-and-miss affair, especially if your time is limited.

An early disclaimer wails (justifiably) that "Things change", and there are already some areas where the information is incorrect. However, if you're a tourist, rather than a traveller, with weeks rather than months to spend in Egypt (and you're ready to view a guide book as a guide, rather than as an authority), then this may well be the single best book with which to plan and enjoy your visit. --Richard Kelly

Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

the best LP guide, 24 Nov 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.

A Must Have, 07 Oct 2007
An absolute must for India! Not exactly space saving, but dont go to India without it.

Lonley Planet India, 19 Sep 2007
This book is very thick and heavy. Not the most practical of travel books. But makes a good pillow!!
The information is not so bad if you want to stay within the LP community. But the maps are invaluable when you turn up in a new town at 6am in the morning without a clue.

Best guide for India, 25 May 2007
This book is not only by far the best guide to India that you will ever find. It is also the best Lonely Planet guide I have ever read (I have 6 other LP guides). Everything you will ever need in your traveling through India is written in this guide, and every aspect seem covered. There is a reason why every single traveler in India has this book, and this might be the only weakness: if you follow this guide, you will follow an already taken path in a country, that provides plenty of possibilities for the opposite. But that will be the case with any guide, so go ahead and get the best one available, this one!

Delightful book, 07 Sep 2008
This more than just a description of a museum. This is also a journey into the history of the natural sciences and a part biography as well. Well illustarted, Richard Fortey describes an institution that is trying hard (and succeeding if the new Darwin Centre is any guide)to move with the times, make science accesible to the public, yet has more going on behind the scenes than we could ever give credit.

Anyone who lives in or visits London should pay more than one visit to this marvelous place, and thanks to this book they will be well briefed as to what goes and has gone on there.

pretty good guidebook, 17 Nov 2007
found it much more useful then the time out NYC guidebook. Went to a couple of suggested bars which were fun. the pull out map is particularly useful.
However, NYC is a city you want to get lost in so don't get the guidebook out too often!



Nice to flick through but not much more depth than a brochure, 30 Jun 2008
This is a lovely coffee table book, and I enjoyed a good couple of hours flicking through and dreaming of going to all the lovely places in it. However, when I finished I did think it hadn't offered much more than flicking through some travel brochures - something which made me question the price tag when you consider that these can be picked up for free in any travel agents.

All that said it has beautifully shot photos and has the USP of the month by month planner of the best places to go. It also tells you about some of the less well know things to do (although in some cases it misses some of the best out because of it).

I would actually give this 3 and a half stars if I could. My summary is that it is beautiful but shallow.

Excellent book, 28 May 2008
I bought this for someone else, but have spent many happy hours browsing through it and planning my next trip. It is very informative and the photography is excellent.

Best Travel Book I have ever bought, 15 Mar 2008
I can only echo the comments of the other reviewers. This is quite simply one of the best travel books around at the momemt. Informative and beautifully produced that will have you pouring over it regularly.
If travel is your passion - get it.

Stunning, 25 Feb 2008


I was given this as a Christmas present and I have spent hours looking through it since then - it's such a beautiful book.

The book is set out by month and there are about 20 pages per month. In each section (month) it starts with a page overview of all the places that are good to visit at that time of year and puts them under headings (Festivals and culture, Unforgettable journeys, Natural wonders, Luxury and romance, Active adventures and Family getaways). Each destiniation (under one of these headers) then has a paragraph about why to go and then a web address so you can do further research (brilliant idea). It also has a weather watch for all over the world so you can see which regions might appeal to you (depending on whether you want sun or snow etc). The following 18 or so pages are dedicated to more indepth info on some of the destinations. For example there is a section in August on New Zealand and this page includes how to get there, weather, accommodation, how much it will cost 2 people per day on average and also a suggested itinerary. The book goes into detial of about 8 or 9 destinations per month.

Aside to the useful info (not just about what't there when you get there but where to go at particular times of year), the visuals are stunning, breathtaking even. I am a huge fan of the Eyewitness Travel guides anyway as I love to look at the pictures and read about the history and culture of places I have been to (and also places I want to go to) so when I was given this book I was thrilled. It's so much more than a coffee table book and it's one I will treasure for years to come - I can sit for hours looking longinly at the photos.

I highly recommend this book - especially as a gift (you'll be loved for it) or just treat yourself. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Travel: Where to go When, 03 Sep 2007
Thank you Dorling Kindersley for having produced this absolutely stunning new coffee table book! Rather like Lonely Planet's `The Travel Book' meets `The Blue List' or `A Year of Adventures' by Rough Guide, it fits wonderfully in to the `inspirational' travel guide niche.
It's the kind of book you can peruse at leisure & gain ideas for your next big adventure. Where to go & when the best time to do it is! With careful thought given to each country's annual festivals & celebrations; animal migrations; summer or winter sports & most beautiful seasons to visit, not to mention being packed full of gorgeous photography that will have you drooling & reaching for your backpack.
The book is divided into months. Each month has an overview at the beginning & then the best activities are represented in full, each getting a two-page spread. There is a great mix of lesser-known places mixed with well-known must-do destinations, which almost makes you begin to calculate how many holidays you can afford to take this year if you cut out those pesky non-essentials like: food.
I especially appreciate that there are so many where & when's for adventure sports enthusiasts. Generally there is a snowboarding/skiing, climbing or a diving activity for each month of the year for adrenaline junkies, like me.
Well done DK!



A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.

I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.

That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.

Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, political and social information and analysis, which is both well researched and convincingly argued. Well worth reading.

Whose pies are they?, 21 Aug 2008
I was on a cruise and the comedian was Bobby Bennett. In a question and answer session someone mentioned that he had been mentioned in Stuart Maconie's Pies and Prejudice as he was the compare of Junior Showtime in the 1970s with people like Bonnie Langford and Pauline Quirke.

That led me to read this book. The jokes about the north south divided is a bit of a cliche for comedians but the cliches are all we can go on without any facts. This book goes someway towards giving us some facts.

He story about the Wigan liking of pies is quite good.

A Bolton man who breathlessly tells his workman from Wigan about a new lunchtime offer at local pub

" A pie , a pint and a woman for 80p" The Wiganer seems unimpressed 80p repeats his workmate excitedly
H'm declares the Wiganer warily " Whose pies are they?"

He went to Blackpool when he was young and said when on the train he took out a book and began to read. the whole carriage looked at him as if he had taken out a cuckoo clock or a lacrosse stick.

I learnt that Roger Whittaker had got it all wrong in the song Durham Town (the leavin') he said he sat on the banks of the river Tyne whereas it should have been the Wear.

I have visited quite a few of the places he mentions but only briefly. It makes me want to visit them all again. A perceptive look at the north by someone who knows what he is talking about.

He should now do a similar book about the south

He says the BBC has A northern correspondent and that it would be laughable if anyone thought they should have southern correspondent. the South views the North as some sort of foreign country that has to be explained to from London and the home counties.

A good read and I have ordered his Cider with Roadies. Well recommended.





Well written, enjoyable and informative, 12 Aug 2008
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and as others have said it certainly has inspired me to visit some of the places described. I liked the author's writing style and most of all I found most of the historical detail interesting and educational. However after reading through relatively huge sections on Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan I was disappointed to see places like Sheffield glossed over very briefly - surely Sheffield has more to offer than the time he spent discussing the National Museum of Pop Music?

YES THERE IS A NORTH - SOUTH DIVIDE: WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND SOUTHERNERS CAN'T!, 01 Aug 2008
BRILLIANT READ. OK - if you know the places Stuart writes about (I know the exact chippy he talks about down the road from Crewe station!) it helps but even if you don't and have never ventured north of Chalfont St Witless, it's still a great read. The two one star reviewers from "Darn Sarth" are obviously miffed at the fact that no-one can be bothered to write about "southerners" because, as Maconie points out early on in the book, there is not the strong identification of "being a southerner" as there is for those of us north of..well, according to Stuart it's north of Stoke.

It pokes fun of the north and does ask some tough questions at times but more than anything else, it is a great travelogue. Strike a light, Guv, you can't ask fairer than that....

Very Good Insight For 1st Time Visitors!, 28 Jul 2004
We've just come back from honeymoon and used this book when we visited Cairo and particularly the incredible museum... the descriptions are spot on and the book guides you thru' room by room. Our tour guide was saying practically the same things as the book, so its all you need!

Dress codes for women in Cairo aren't as strict as the book makes it out to be, there were loads of girls with string tops and shorts, so long skirts and long sleeved shirts aren't necessarily a must!! Other than that, pretty accurate about local customs and traditions.

Mixed, 08 Jul 2003
I've been to Egypt 3 times and the last time I spent 4 months there. The general consensus amongst travellers was that the Rough Guide was superior, but that the Lonely Planet has better maps. An additional issue is that since the Lonely Planet is the most popular guidebook, do you really want to be sitting smoking sheesha at a coffee shop filled with other white middle class travellers, all with Lonely Planets on their tables? Cringe!

A great book for pre-travel information, 05 Aug 2001
My copy is already looking a bit "well read" and I have only just bought it. Bursting with information and useful advise, this book is a must for anyone who is planning their own trip to Egypt.

Essential for anyone travelling to Egypt!, 14 Jul 2001
We took this book everywhere! From the suggested sites to visit in each location to the suggestions about how much to pay for a felucca or callesh (and how much baksheesh to give on top of the price), it was informative, accessible and above all accurate.

We took the Rough Guide to Egypt also and that's still in immaculate condition while the Lonely Planet Guide looks like it has been read by every taxi driver in Luxor who's cousin has a felucca!

Definately essential reading!!!

Excellent - Great for preparing for that trip to Egypt, 01 May 2001
Lots of information that will help you plan a trouble-free trip to Egypt.

Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

the best LP guide, 24 Nov 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.

A Must Have, 07 Oct 2007
An absolute must for India! Not exactly space saving, but dont go to India without it.

Lonley Planet India, 19 Sep 2007
This book is very thick and heavy. Not the most practical of travel books. But makes a good pillow!!
The information is not so bad if you want to stay within the LP community. But the maps are invaluable when you turn up in a new town at 6am in the morning without a clue.

Best guide for India, 25 May 2007
This book is not only by far the best guide to India that you will ever find. It is also the best Lonely Planet guide I have ever read (I have 6 other LP guides). Everything you will ever need in your traveling through India is written in this guide, and every aspect seem covered. There is a reason why every single traveler in India has this book, and this might be the only weakness: if you follow this guide, you will follow an already taken path in a country, that provides plenty of possibilities for the opposite. But that will be the case with any guide, so go ahead and get the best one available, this one!

Delightful book, 07 Sep 2008
This more than just a description of a museum. This is also a journey into the history of the natural sciences and a part biography as well. Well illustarted, Richard Fortey describes an institution that is trying hard (and succeeding if the new Darwin Centre is any guide)to move with the times, make science accesible to the public, yet has more going on behind the scenes than we could ever give credit.

Anyone who lives in or visits London should pay more than one visit to this marvelous place, and thanks to this book they will be well briefed as to what goes and has gone on there.

pretty good guidebook, 17 Nov 2007
found it much more useful then the time out NYC guidebook. Went to a couple of suggested bars which were fun. the pull out map is particularly useful.
However, NYC is a city you want to get lost in so don't get the guidebook out too often!



Nice to flick through but not much more depth than a brochure, 30 Jun 2008
This is a lovely coffee table book, and I enjoyed a good couple of hours flicking through and dreaming of going to all the lovely places in it. However, when I finished I did think it hadn't offered much more than flicking through some travel brochures - something which made me question the price tag when you consider that these can be picked up for free in any travel agents.

All that said it has beautifully shot photos and has the USP of the month by month planner of the best places to go. It also tells you about some of the less well know things to do (although in some cases it misses some of the best out because of it).

I would actually give this 3 and a half stars if I could. My summary is that it is beautiful but shallow.

Excellent book, 28 May 2008
I bought this for someone else, but have spent many happy hours browsing through it and planning my next trip. It is very informative and the photography is excellent.

Best Travel Book I have ever bought, 15 Mar 2008
I can only echo the comments of the other reviewers. This is quite simply one of the best travel books around at the momemt. Informative and beautifully produced that will have you pouring over it regularly.
If travel is your passion - get it.

Stunning, 25 Feb 2008


I was given this as a Christmas present and I have spent hours looking through it since then - it's such a beautiful book.

The book is set out by month and there are about 20 pages per month. In each section (month) it starts with a page overview of all the places that are good to visit at that time of year and puts them under headings (Festivals and culture, Unforgettable journeys, Natural wonders, Luxury and romance, Active adventures and Family getaways). Each destiniation (under one of these headers) then has a paragraph about why to go and then a web address so you can do further research (brilliant idea). It also has a weather watch for all over the world so you can see which regions might appeal to you (depending on whether you want sun or snow etc). The following 18 or so pages are dedicated to more indepth info on some of the destinations. For example there is a section in August on New Zealand and this page includes how to get there, weather, accommodation, how much it will cost 2 people per day on average and also a suggested itinerary. The book goes into detial of about 8 or 9 destinations per month.

Aside to the useful info (not just about what't there when you get there but where to go at particular times of year), the visuals are stunning, breathtaking even. I am a huge fan of the Eyewitness Travel guides anyway as I love to look at the pictures and read about the history and culture of places I have been to (and also places I want to go to) so when I was given this book I was thrilled. It's so much more than a coffee table book and it's one I will treasure for years to come - I can sit for hours looking longinly at the photos.

I highly recommend this book - especially as a gift (you'll be loved for it) or just treat yourself. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Travel: Where to go When, 03 Sep 2007
Thank you Dorling Kindersley for having produced this absolutely stunning new coffee table book! Rather like Lonely Planet's `The Travel Book' meets `The Blue List' or `A Year of Adventures' by Rough Guide, it fits wonderfully in to the `inspirational' travel guide niche.
It's the kind of book you can peruse at leisure & gain ideas for your next big adventure. Where to go & when the best time to do it is! With careful thought given to each country's annual festivals & celebrations; animal migrations; summer or winter sports & most beautiful seasons to visit, not to mention being packed full of gorgeous photography that will have you drooling & reaching for your backpack.
The book is divided into months. Each month has an overview at the beginning & then the best activities are represented in full, each getting a two-page spread. There is a great mix of lesser-known places mixed with well-known must-do destinations, which almost makes you begin to calculate how many holidays you can afford to take this year if you cut out those pesky non-essentials like: food.
I especially appreciate that there are so many where & when's for adventure sports enthusiasts. Generally there is a snowboarding/skiing, climbing or a diving activity for each month of the year for adrenaline junkies, like me.
Well done DK!



A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.

I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.

That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.

Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, political and social information and analysis, which is both well researched and convincingly argued. Well worth reading.

Whose pies are they?, 21 Aug 2008
I was on a cruise and the comedian was Bobby Bennett. In a question and answer session someone mentioned that he had been mentioned in Stuart Maconie's Pies and Prejudice as he was the compare of Junior Showtime in the 1970s with people like Bonnie Langford and Pauline Quirke.

That led me to read this book. The jokes about the north south divided is a bit of a cliche for comedians but the cliches are all we can go on without any facts. This book goes someway towards giving us some facts.

He story about the Wigan liking of pies is quite good.

A Bolton man who breathlessly tells his workman from Wigan about a new lunchtime offer at local pub

" A pie , a pint and a woman for 80p" The Wiganer seems unimpressed 80p repeats his workmate excitedly
H'm declares the Wiganer warily " Whose pies are they?"

He went to Blackpool when he was young and said when on the train he took out a book and began to read. the whole carriage looked at him as if he had taken out a cuckoo clock or a lacrosse stick.

I learnt that Roger Whittaker had got it all wrong in the song Durham Town (the leavin') he said he sat on the banks of the river Tyne whereas it should have been the Wear.

I have visited quite a few of the places he mentions but only briefly. It makes me want to visit them all again. A perceptive look at the north by someone who knows what he is talking about.

He should now do a similar book about the south

He says the BBC has A northern correspondent and that it would be laughable if anyone thought they should have southern correspondent. the South views the North as some sort of foreign country that has to be explained to from London and the home counties.

A good read and I have ordered his Cider with Roadies. Well recommended.





Well written, enjoyable and informative, 12 Aug 2008
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and as others have said it certainly has inspired me to visit some of the places described. I liked the author's writing style and most of all I found most of the historical detail interesting and educational. However after reading through relatively huge sections on Liverpool, Manchester and Wigan I was disappointed to see places like Sheffield glossed over very briefly - surely Sheffield has more to offer than the time he spent discussing the National Museum of Pop Music?

YES THERE IS A NORTH - SOUTH DIVIDE: WE CAN LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND SOUTHERNERS CAN'T!, 01 Aug 2008
BRILLIANT READ. OK - if you know the places Stuart writes about (I know the exact chippy he talks about down the road from Crewe station!) it helps but even if you don't and have never ventured north of Chalfont St Witless, it's still a great read. The two one star reviewers from "Darn Sarth" are obviously miffed at the fact that no-one can be bothered to write about "southerners" because, as Maconie points out early on in the book, there is not the strong identification of "being a southerner" as there is for those of us north of..well, according to Stuart it's north of Stoke.

It pokes fun of the north and does ask some tough questions at times but more than anything else, it is a great travelogue. Strike a light, Guv, you can't ask fairer than that....

Very Good Insight For 1st Time Visitors!, 28 Jul 2004
We've just come back from honeymoon and used this book when we visited Cairo and particularly the incredible museum... the descriptions are spot on and the book guides you thru' room by room. Our tour guide was saying practically the same things as the book, so its all you need!

Dress codes for women in Cairo aren't as strict as the book makes it out to be, there were loads of girls with string tops and shorts, so long skirts and long sleeved shirts aren't necessarily a must!! Other than that, pretty accurate about local customs and traditions.

Mixed, 08 Jul 2003
I've been to Egypt 3 times and the last time I spent 4 months there. The general consensus amongst travellers was that the Rough Guide was superior, but that the Lonely Planet has better maps. An additional issue is that since the Lonely Planet is the most popular guidebook, do you really want to be sitting smoking sheesha at a coffee shop filled with other white middle class travellers, all with Lonely Planets on their tables? Cringe!

A great book for pre-travel information, 05 Aug 2001
My copy is already looking a bit "well read" and I have only just bought it. Bursting with information and useful advise, this book is a must for anyone who is planning their own trip to Egypt.

Essential for anyone travelling to Egypt!, 14 Jul 2001
We took this book everywhere! From the suggested sites to visit in each location to the suggestions about how much to pay for a felucca or callesh (and how much baksheesh to give on top of the price), it was informative, accessible and above all accurate.

We took the Rough Guide to Egypt also and that's still in immaculate condition while the Lonely Planet Guide looks like it has been read by every taxi driver in Luxor who's cousin has a felucca!

Definately essential reading!!!

Excellent - Great for preparing for that trip to Egypt, 01 May 2001
Lots of information that will help you plan a trouble-free trip to Egypt.

a rough guide ...., 15 Nov 2007
Despite the inferior quality of the photo reproduction I've always thought that Rough Guide is better value than Lonely Planet. It is generally more informative, more erudite, and the style is arguably geared to a wider readership, while LP leans more towards backpackers and gap-year students. I also think LP is more prone to hyperbole while Rough Guide is normally unflinchingly honest about places. It's perceived negativity is for me a bonus as it is often better to travel with lower or at least realistic expectations. As it says in the opening gambit, many travellers head for India expecting to 'encounter a timeless ascetic wonderland and are surprised to find one of the most materialistic societies on the planet'. I think this is pretty spot-on. There is no point in going to India and not being prepared for the filth, pollution, traffic chaos and inequality otherwise you will quickly need to reevaluate your trip on arrival.

A couple of criticisms: Rough Guide hotel information can be a little out of date by the time of your visit. Research on updating hotel email addresses and websites should be more thorough, although the publishing schedules for books of this sort make it almost impossible to keep up with the rate of change in a country like India. Also, I think that Rough Guide would benefit more from a Le Routard-style rating system for monuments and cities. Although travelling is highly subjective, more editorial guidance would be helpful for the traveller to distinguish between cities like, for instance, Jodphur and Jaipur. Empirically, there is a massive difference, Jodphur is a much calmer, better-maintained, less-polluted and more hassle-free destination, but you can't really predict this from the guide. Furthermore, this guide describes the lakes at Updaipur as "half-full" and a "trash-strewn puddle". At the time of writing the lakes had been fully replenished by monsoon rains and are certainly an essential stop on any Rajasthan itinerary. Nevertheless, this is still the best product of its kind on the market and a must for all visitors.

Better than Lonley, 17 Jan 2007
My friends and I spent 3 months in India with both the Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide and 9 times out of 10 we referred to the Rough Guide. Fewer people carry the Rough Guide which means that the 'unspoilt' stuff remains less spoiled. The information is more reliable, the accomodation reviews are more accurate, and it's lighter to carry.

A comprehensive guide to India, 31 Dec 2006
The Rough Guide to India (Rough Guide Travel Guides) is a comprehensive guide to the country. India is a country which is diverse and boosts an ancient civiliisation dating millions years ago. The country is an experience of a lifetime for anyone who wants to visit a place filled with rich history, wide natural scenery (mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, beaches), arts, varied attractions and a diverse culture. Something you will treasure as a fond memory and breathtaking experience. The country at its present state is a fine blend of traditional and contemporary features. For example the Bollywood and the booming IT industry are a crucial part of India's modern culture. The palaces and temples are a valuable part of India's rich history and heritage.

The Rough guide equipped you with much information as possible about the country, main attractions, travel tips, visas, shopping, restaurant & bars, accommodation, transport and an insight into the main areas of India. There is so much to do and see in India, as clearly indicated in the guide. The guide is simple and well laid out with concise text, complimented by pictures and diagrams. Although English is widely spoken in India, it is useful if you can speak Hindi in India. There are useful Hindi phases in the glosary section.

Overall, this guide proved to be a valuable aid for my trip to India in February 2007. All the information I need is available in the guide. What better way to kick start a trip to India. I could not ask for any more.

The Essential Guide, 11 Jan 2006
I travel in India every year and pick a new one up every time. I usually leave the old one for Indian relatives who say they're an excellent read ;)

Even if you're not travelling in India, this book is fascinating and 'unputdownable'. It covers every aspect of this complex and ancient country in informative, readable sections ranging from history, culture, language, politics through to food, bribes, sex, drugs and Bollywood movies. From personal knowledge I can confirm that this edition has been updated to reflect recent changes (a must since India is currently one of the most rapidly transforming nations on earth) and the intelligent coverage even includes analysis of the effects of the IT and BioMedical science booms on Indian society.

There are others, but this is the essential one. I'd recommend it to anyone, from those horrid chavs one sees gurning it up at Goa nowadays to actual Indian people. Its a great one to keep on the lav and keep dipping into too!

Slightly more budget orientated than previous editions, 23 Jan 2008
Previous editions of this book have been criticised for focusing too much on mid range and expensive places to sleep and eat whilst leaving out cheaper, more budget-orientated options. This edition (14th) is aimed at restoring the balance slightly, and from what I can see it appears to be an improvement. There are a lot of guidebooks for Australia on the market so it is just a matter of finding one that is to your taste, but this one is definitely full of comprehensive information for your trip.

the best LP guide, 24 Nov 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.

A Must Have, 07 Oct 2007
An absolute must for India! Not exactly space saving, but dont go to India without it.

Lonley Planet India, 19 Sep 2007
This book is very thick and heavy. Not the most practical of travel books. But makes a good pillow!!
The information is not so bad if you want to stay within the LP community. But the maps are invaluable when you turn up in a new town at 6am in the morning without a clue.

Best guide for India, 25 May 2007
This book is not only by far the best guide to India that you will ever find. It is also the best Lonely Planet guide I have ever read (I have 6 other LP guides). Everything you will ever need in your traveling through India is written in this guide, and every aspect seem covered. There is a reason why every single traveler in India has this book, and this might be the only weakness: if you follow this guide, you will follow an already taken path in a country, that provides plenty of possibilities for the opposite. But that will be the case with any guide, so go ahead and get the best one available, this one!

Delightful book, 07 Sep 2008
This more than just a description of a museum. This is also a journey into the history of the natural sciences and a part biography as well. Well illustarted, Richard Fortey describes an institution that is trying hard (and succeeding if the new Darwin Centre is any guide)to move with the times, make science accesible to the public, yet has more going on behind the scenes than we could ever give credit.

Anyone who lives in or visits London should pay more than one visit to this marvelous place, and thanks to this book they will be well briefed as to what goes and has gone on there.

pretty good guidebook, 17 Nov 2007
found it much more useful then the time out NYC guidebook. Went to a couple of suggested bars which were fun. the pull out map is particularly useful.
However, NYC is a city you want to get lost in so don't get the guidebook out too often!



Nice to flick through but not much more depth than a brochure, 30 Jun 2008
This is a lovely coffee table book, and I enjoyed a good couple of hours flicking through and dreaming of going to all the lovely places in it. However, when I finished I did think it hadn't offered much more than flicking through some travel brochures - something which made me question the price tag when you consider that these can be picked up for free in any travel agents.

All that said it has beautifully shot photos and has the USP of the month by month planner of the best places to go. It also tells you about some of the less well know things to do (although in some cases it misses some of the best out because of it).

I would actually give this 3 and a half stars if I could. My summary is that it is beautiful but shallow.

Excellent book, 28 May 2008
I bought this for someone else, but have spent many happy hours browsing through it and planning my next trip. It is very informative and the photography is excellent.

Best Travel Book I have ever bought, 15 Mar 2008
I can only echo the comments of the other reviewers. This is quite simply one of the best travel books around at the momemt. Informative and beautifully produced that will have you pouring over it regularly.
If travel is your passion - get it.

Stunning, 25 Feb 2008


I was given this as a Christmas present and I have spent hours looking through it since then - it's such a beautiful book.

The book is set out by month and there are about 20 pages per month. In each section (month) it starts with a page overview of all the places that are good to visit at that time of year and puts them under headings (Festivals and culture, Unforgettable journeys, Natural wonders, Luxury and romance, Active adventures and Family getaways). Each destiniation (under one of these headers) then has a paragraph about why to go and then a web address so you can do further research (brilliant idea). It also has a weather watch for all over the world so you can see which regions might appeal to you (depending on whether you want sun or snow etc). The following 18 or so pages are dedicated to more indepth info on some of the destinations. For example there is a section in August on New Zealand and this page includes how to get there, weather, accommodation, how much it will cost 2 people per day on average and also a suggested itinerary. The book goes into detial of about 8 or 9 destinations per month.

Aside to the useful info (not just about what't there when you get there but where to go at particular times of year), the visuals are stunning, breathtaking even. I am a huge fan of the Eyewitness Travel guides anyway as I love to look at the pictures and read about the history and culture of places I have been to (and also places I want to go to) so when I was given this book I was thrilled. It's so much more than a coffee table book and it's one I will treasure for years to come - I can sit for hours looking longinly at the photos.

I highly recommend this book - especially as a gift (you'll be loved for it) or just treat yourself. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

Travel: Where to go When, 03 Sep 2007
Thank you Dorling Kindersley for having produced this absolutely stunning new coffee table book! Rather like Lonely Planet's `The Travel Book' meets `The Blue List' or `A Year of Adventures' by Rough Guide, it fits wonderfully in to the `inspirational' travel guide niche.
It's the kind of book you can peruse at leisure & gain ideas for your next big adventure. Where to go & when the best time to do it is! With careful thought given to each country's annual festivals & celebrations; animal migrations; summer or winter sports & most beautiful seasons to visit, not to mention being packed full of gorgeous photography that will have you drooling & reaching for your backpack.
The book is divided into months. Each month has an overview at the beginning & then the best activities are represented in full, each getting a two-page spread. There is a great mix of lesser-known places mixed with well-known must-do destinations, which almost makes you begin to calculate how many holidays you can afford to take this year if you cut out those pesky non-essentials like: food.
I especially appreciate that there are so many where & when's for adventure sports enthusiasts. Generally there is a snowboarding/skiing, climbing or a diving activity for each month of the year for adrenaline junkies, like me.
Well done DK!



A book of two halves, 09 Oct 2008
For the most part, this book is entertaining and witty. Maconie's enthusiam for his subject is contagious and the stuff you are learning is genuinely interesting. Then he stops writing about Lancashire and starts on Yorkshire.

I can't help but think that this book would have been better if Maconie had stuck to what he knows, ie: the west side of the Pennines. Quite how, for example, he can make various claims about 'professional Yorkshiremen' (a dying breed anyway) and deny the existence of the Lancastrian equivalent is an unforgivable oversight that kind of gives away where Maconie's loyalties lie. They are not called 'professional Lancastrians' as such, but how many 'professional Scousers' and 'professional Mancs' could we name? Is Stuart Maconie's beloved Peter Kay not a great example of a professional Lancastrian? There's nothing wrong with that, and while such matters don't ruin the book, there is a real difference in Pies and Prejudice between the writing about Cheshire and Lancashire and the writing about the rest of 'the North'.

That, and a few errors that half-decent any sub would have picked up, aside, the book largely does what it sets out to do: entertain. Southerners that aren't as touchy as this reviewer will probably enjoy it all the more too.

Entertaining and perceptive, 28 Aug 2008
This is a superb book; although it has the appearance of belonging to the recently emerged sub genre of humorous and slightly outrageous travel writing, it quickly become apparent that there's far more to it than that. Maconie takes us on a selective tour of the North of England, visiting both his old haunts and other key areas, such as Liverpool, Harrogate and other parts of Yorkshire. Along the way, there are recollections of various amusing personal incidents and a stock of good one-liners, but alongside these, there's a depth of historical, cultural, polit