To Hull and Back: On Holiday in Unsung Britain Paperback – 5 July 2010

I really enjoyed this book. This author is new to me and I have now read a couple of his other books. You really get to know the places he visits.

This is an entertaining and funny journey around the more unfashionable towns of the UK and Tom is a funny guy to accompany around his explorations of these places. This book has inspired me to check out a couple of these destinations myself (Norwich & Derry & Hull in particular). I know Salford which he visits in the book and he really captured how the City is really trying to reinvent itself -it does have incredible bits of regeneration Salford Quays/Media City with areas of poverty but it is trying to improve. If you do decide to visit I can recommend the Chapel Street area and its pubs & Salford Quays to any visitor.

If there are places you would never think of visiting, read this book and think again. I have to say I doubt that I wold choose to holiday in any of them, but a day or two might be possible. I know Hull quite well and was impressed by its sympathetic treatment. The people make the place, plus of course, its history and industries which are in many cases fascinating in themselves. It also has some culture, an excellent art gallery, a museum that does a good job of making anyone think twice about whaling and slavery and theatres. The other places are given similar treatmeant and perhaps in the coure of time I might get round to seeing them in real life. I would never have thought about them before.

I was really looking forward to reading this book, the premise is interesting and it could have been a great book, had it been well-executed. Unfortunately, I’ve found it somewhat lacking. Chessyre uses ‘damp’ as an adjective at least once per chapter, and frequently includes pieces of context that aren’t unique to any of the places he visits (the price of pints, quotations from background songs, the slogan for Pukka Pies). This certainly feels more like weekend supplement journalism than a travel narrative.A lot of the book’s content also feels a little forced; Chessyre complains about his accommodation, whilst also admitting to choosing the cheapest options, as well as being surprised he isn’t well received by locals for walking round with a camera. As another reviewer mentioned, a lot of his meetings do seem to have been aided by his professional reputation, and as such they don’t always feel genuine.Interestingly, he makes no journeys to Scotland, and only one apiece to Wales and Northern Ireland, so the title of Unsung Britain isn’t entirely representative. All in all, it’s a book that just feels... damp.

I love Tom Chesshyre's books! This was the first one I read (I think it was the first one he published), and made me mad keen to go to Londonderry for a while after reading it. Sadly I think I lent it to someone and it hasn't come back, so I can't remember exactly all the places he wrote about, but the premise was that he travelled to some of the most unloved parts of Britain and as I remember, he was pretty positive in general. I thought very fondly of this book when Hull was named as UK City of Culture recently. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in Britain or travel writing, and will have to buy myself another copy!

I wanted to read this as l come from Hull or Kingston upon Hull to give it it's full title and was fed up with the bad press it gets we're else can you visit museums and art galleries for free .

I really enjoyed reading this really well written book detailing places i have heard of but wouldn't think of going to and the things of interest

Loved this book, it has made me want to visit all these back and beyond places except Croydon. Unfortunately 10 years out of date, so a lot of things may have moved on.