Before package holidays, sat navs and online reviews, travellers relied on guidebooks to help them navigate unfamiliar places. In this fascinating short talk, Robert Fleming, Principal Maps Records Specialist at The National Archives, will explore the origins of the travel guide and the dramatic changes in travel during the nineteenth century, when journeys that had once been the preserve of the wealthy became increasingly accessible to the growing middle classes. 

Drawing on remarkable surviving guidebooks and travel literature, our guest will reveal how railways, tourism and new publishing ventures transformed the way people experienced travel, opening up opportunities for exploration on an unprecedented scale.

Following the short talk, members will be invited to join an informal discussion and share stories of their own ancestors’ travels. Whether your family crossed oceans, moved across Britain in search of work, embarked on military service overseas, emigrated to a new continent, or simply took memorable excursions closer to home, this is an opportunity to exchange research discoveries and reflect on the journeys that shaped our family histories.

So grab a sandwich or a cuppa and sit down with us. Our lunchtime chats are friendly and relaxed. Bring your stories and family travel tales for what promises to be a lively and engaging conversation. 

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