Escape the British heatwave for a more comfortable (and more air-conditioned) heat! If you’re still looking to plan a summer getaway, then we have the perfect travel guides and maps to help you make your decision. From the cobbled streets of Lisbon, to mapped-out train journeys across Europe, there’s plenty of options for you, no matter the budget! You could stay in the UK or follow the treacherous journey Odysseus made thousands of years ago (just make sure it doesn’t take you 10 years to complete it).

Anchors aweigh!

If you can’t escape the heat, there’s still plenty of places you can explore this summer. The Great Parks of London Map is an excellent start to visit the finest parks and green spaces you might be missing out on if you’re only commuting to and from work (or you’re not based in London and want a trip to the capital). From historic commons and royal hunting grounds to carefully designed public gardens and modern urban landscapes, this map explores London’s unforgettable green gems. Featuring fifty remarkable sites across the capital, it highlights places shaped by centuries of landscape design, social change and civic ambition. Researched and written by Paul Wood, author of our Great Trees of London Map, this map invites you to wander London’s green heart — spaces for recreation, reflection and public life that continue to define the city’s character.

Escape the city for the countryside with this proudly opinionated guide, showing you the very best of the Peak District!

From the start of the iconic Pennine Way footpath to bracing wild swimming, brooding moorland and panoramic views, the Peaks offer plenty to get lost in. And if the weather’s not so nice? Explore charming villages, mosey around indie shops for unique gifts and Derbyshire ceramics, stroll through centuries of cutting-edge art at Chatsworth House or simply hunker down in one of the region’s many historic pubs.

The heatwave may be hot, but Britain’s sauna scene is even hotter! While you may already be sweating your socks off, Britain’s Best Saunas will make the suffering worth it with gorgeous saunas dotted around the country. They can be found everywhere, from rugged Pembrokeshire coastlines and Scottish islands to inner-city carparks. Some are so traditional, they could have been plucked from Helsinki; others put an innovative — and distinctly British — spin on things, with saunas in repurposed horseboxes and pub backrooms. Many are new, boasting dynamic community events (sweaty yoga, anyone?); some are as old as our heritage spa towns. This book explores the very best of them.

Another affordable trip would be to take the Eurostar to walk along the secrets of Paris with this upside down guide to the hidden city within. In Underground Paris, you will uncover the passages, cellars and forgotten spaces beneath the Paris streets. It leads the readers through the vast catacombs holding the remains of six million Parisians, into wartime bunkers and vaulted wine cellars, and along abandoned metro stations. There are surprises too: a Taoist temple on a subterranean street, a tropical garden flourishing on a metro platform, and a reservoir the size of a cathedral. Alongside celebrated sites such as the ossuary at Denfert-Rochereau and the sewers below Pont de l’Alma are easily missed details — fragments of a medieval wall preserved in a car park, or a bank vault door shipped from Ohio and set beneath the Champs-Elysees. With clear descriptions and visiting details, this ‘upside down’ guide reveals a city beneath the city, where history, architecture and invention come together — an essential companion for travellers who want to see Paris the other way up.

Paris has a lot to explore, so for the historians out there, this is the essential companion for exploring Paris—past and present—through rich history, stories, and stunning detail. Packed with fact, anecdote, and insight, A Traveller’s History of Paris offers a complete history of Paris and the people who have shaped its destiny, from its earliest settlement as the Roman village of Lutetia Parisiorum with a few hundred inhabitants, to 20 centuries later when Paris is a city of well over two million — nearly one-fifth of the population of France. This handy paperback is fully indexed and includes a Chronology of Major Events, as well as sections on Notre-Dame and historic churches, Modernism, parks, bridges, cemeteries, museums and galleries, the Metro, and the environs. Illustrated with line drawings and historical maps, this is an invaluable book for all visitors to read and enjoy.

Paris isn’t your thing? You can also jump on the Eurostar with another city on this list (or even both?).

Mo’Media BV’s The Cities You Definitely Need To Visit Before You Turn 30 (Or 130) series has previously had some great recommendations and is the perfect why to tackle your travel bucket list. The latest book in the series dives into the heart of Brussels, with savvy tips on where to stay, eat and explore without breaking the bank. It might be hard to grasp Brussels essence. Fear not, with this book in hand, you’ll make the city your own. Whether you’re hunting for cool hang outs, vintage treasures, or budget friendly bites, this book is your ultimate companion. And let’s not forget about things like culture, fun facts, sightseeing & museums; how to blend in with the locals; famous people with intriguing ties to the city; the best photo-ops; bars, street food, takeaways & restaurants; clubs to dance the night away and much more!

Pastel De Nata anyone? This is part of a growing series of opinionated guides which offer no-nonsense insider’s advice on what to do and see in cities around the world.

Portugal’s picture-perfect coastal capital tops the list of city break destinations for tourists, drawn to its sun-drenched streets, dynamic art scene and mouth-watering food. Its cobbled streets, pastel-toned houses and stunning scenery, along with its warm atmosphere and relaxed pace, will see you booking your next stay. Lisbon is brimming with extraordinary places, from charming cafes to late-night music bars, world-class galleries and museums to quirky artisan shops — these are the places to visit, whether you’re there for a day, a weekend or lingering a little longer.

If you can handle the humidity here, take a chance on the Mediterranean heat with this multilingual map of Modern Rome. Often overlooked by Rome’s ancient architecture, discover the city’s 20th-century architecture with over 50 remarkable buildings featured on this two-sided map. The selection of buildings presented in this map stems from systematic investigation conducted through archives, publications, and site visits, aiming to represent the diverse expressions of Roman modernism. Researched by Jacopo Costanzo with original photography by Stefano Perego, it highlights the city’s post-war modernism and visionary architectural legacy.

Possibly my favourite map so far (I am a Classicist after all), this creative take on Odysseus’ travels means anyone can now explore the mythical and real-world locations featured in Homer’s The Odyssey— and this summer it reaches a new audience with Christopher Nolan’s epic film adaptation. This map and guide locates the mythological places of the poem in real Mediterranean islands and coastlines, from the volcanic Aeolian Islands to the straits of Messina, from the Croatian island of Mljet to the shores of Corfu. It draws on centuries of scholarly debate about where Homer’s fantastical lands might exist, presenting the most compelling theories alongside the stories themselves. Witty, informed and designed to make people want to visit these places, it’s written by Laura Coffey, author of Islands: A Mediterranean Odyssey, which documents a six-month journey through the Greek Isles, exploring the mythical, real-world locations of Odysseus’s journey.

Trade the sea breeze for the railroad tracks with the ultimate new guide to Europe’s most inspiring and beautiful train journeys. Travelling by train is one of the best ways to explore Europe, and this book shows you how to make the most of its vast rail network. Ride classic railways through Scotland and Switzerland, chase the pinkish glow of midsummer nights in Lapland, and follow lines that lead to the edge of the map. Discover routes to Croatia, along the Mediterranean coast, across the Pyrenees, and to wild places at the end of the line. Inside, you’ll also find stories about the people, stations, and scenery that make rail travel so special, brought to life with the authors’ own photography and all the practical information you need to plan your own journey.

It didn’t feel right to leave out the beauty of the Scandinavian countries; whether it’s the endless light of midsummer or the stillness of the polar night. In this evocative collection, travel journalist and photographer Bas van Oort explores the raw beauty, wild nature, and resilient spirit of Scandinavia. Through 17 travel stories accompanied by stunning photography, Bas takes readers on a journey across Denmark, Sweden, and Norway: through islands and fjords, forests and mountains, and the quiet magic of the Arctic seasons. Scandinavia is a celebration of outdoor life, natural wonder, and the deep connection between people and place in one of the world’s most captivating regions.