1,000 Areas to See Ahead of You Die – A Book Assessment From an England Perspective

I must admit to kicking off my reading of the newest edition of 1,000 Locations to See Just before You Die by Patricia Schultz with a slightly negative attitude. “Chatsworth Property, hmm? Blenheim is significantly improved.” And then 5 or six pages later, there’s Blenheim – this author’s reading my thoughts! A bit later I’m thinking “Chester is fine and it is got half-timber I suppose but Ludlow is so much nicer.” A handful of pages later, there’s Ludlow.

That soon endeared this book to me. So did the truth that Cambridge is the pretty initial entry in the book. Not Harvard, not Yale, not Nalanda or Al-Aqsa or Bologna and specifically not Oxford. They got that correct (what do you mean, I’m biased?). Though it is a pity that the side-trip to Ely isn’t mentioned. The sight of Ely cathedral’s lantern soaring above the Fens is a single of the greatest expressions of English landscape and architecture.

Any gaps? Well, I get a feeling that lowland England has been missed out. I would have to say that the good expanses of the South Downs and the chalk of the Ridgeway are amongst the greatest landscapes of the globe, and they are not included – but the Cotswolds are. Nothing in East Anglia is mentioned, which is a pity considering that this region has some of the loveliest villages: Finchingfield, Kersey, Lavenham and Framlingham – although the latter pair are modest towns really.

And just once, I feel she’s genuinely missed a trick Stonehenge is here, but not Avebury, an equally fascinating monument and with no the nasty visitor centre and fences. No Durham cathedral! Now that is seriously a shame once again, related to visiting Ely, seeing that 1st view of Durham’s fantastic church and castle on best of their ridge above the Wear is 1 of the wonderful English landscape experiences.

Regrettably, Britain’s industrial heritage does poorly as nicely no canals, no Ironbridge Gorge museum, no Clifton Suspension Bridge. Finally, there is an omission that’s just plain incorrect in my view: no mention of my favourite town in England – Norwich!
The hotel recommendations on the other hand are surprisingly good – where the book does make them (it doesn’t constantly) they’ve typically been picked with an eye to giving added depth to the travel experience. For instance in Wells, the Swan Hotel, a former coaching inn, complements a stop by to the cathedral and the Vicars’ Close with its classic feel – you practically really feel like you’re travelling back in time.

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