England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming: A Guide to Hidden England (The Hidden Gems Series) by Christy Nicholas – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming: A Guide to Hidden England by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming is part of The Hidden Gems Series of travel books. I have enjoyed some of the author’s fiction books so was intrigued to read something a bit different that she’d written.

This book is for you if you’re thinking of visiting England and want some ideas of what to see or do. It’s particularly geared towards US American readers. I’d recommend reading this book early on, when you’re thinking about planning your trip, to get some inspiration and tips!

I did find the structuring of this book wasn’t quite to my taste. At times it gets repetitive, with the same information presented in multiple chapters, but this could help readers who are dipping in and out rather than reading the whole thing. Reflecting the author’s interests, the book begins with a whistlestop tour of “History and Myth”, “Superstitions and Beliefs” and “Gods and Saints”. While this is interesting, I would have liked to have this section more connected with the rest of the book, perhaps with an indication of where later in the book readers could learn more about places connected with the stories told.

It’s also worth being aware that this book is not comprehensive, and that some information may be out of date. The author notes that at least one of the restaurants she reviews is now closed, and talks about the cost of a trip in 2008. I was surprised that the extensive section on renting a car and driving in England had no mention of ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone), which is important to be aware of when planning transport. So while this book is great for getting ideas and inspiration, I would look for a more comprehensive travel guide or up-to-date information online as well.

This book gets four stars from me! Reading it feels like asking a friend who has been to England a lot to give you some advice before a trip and sitting back to soak in all their stories, tips and photographs.

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