Once Upon a Time and Place ...

THE FRENCH COLLECTION
Laurence Phillips' guidebooks to France are "quality travel writing" according to Stanford's bookshop where you'll find many of his "personal affectionate and witty" books on France.

...NEW EDITION OF BRADT LILLE - OUT NOW...



"Laurence Phillips guides you round with the infectious enthusiasm of a best friend sharing his closest secrets"- Peter Nunn, BBC News 24

Lazy France guide to Marseillan and Languedoc (Guidebook of the Year 2011), Bradt Lille (Guidebook of the Year 2004), the Eurostar cities (Guidebook of the Year 2002), a coffee-table Tour de France and the French, a guide to the best tables in the capital, a handbook to rural Normandy or travelling in the footsteps of a literary giant. Read on and plan your travels.

TRAVELS WITH A DONKEY IN THE CEVENNES

"Bursting with life to this day" - New York Times

The classic and much loved 19th century travelogue by Robert Louis Stevenson,  author of Treasure Island,  is the evergreen story of one man's journey across the wild mountainous heart of France in the company of Modestine, a donkey with a personality as broad as the dramatic landscapes of the Languedoc and beyond.

This new edition, on the 130th anniversary of the original publication, is two-books-in-one: Stevenson's literary classic together with Laurence Phillips' guide for the modern traveller keen to follow in the footsteps (and hoof prints) of the original adventurers. Discover delicious meals in inns and taverns, delightful hotels and chambres d'hotes, with tips for everyone passing through or hiking the original route - whether travelling with a donkey, strolling with the family and friends, walking the dogs, or even exploring the glorious Lozère in a wheelchair.

£7.99 or €12                          ISBN: 978-0-9558247-3-9

"A new slant on classic travel literature."  British Guild of Travel Writers

"Masses of practical advice. Up-to-date reviews of places to eat" Destination France 

"You can't beat reading a novel set in the landscape you're looking at. Wonderful humour and detailed reminiscences of an unknown France” Times online  (see full review HERE)

BRADT GUIDES

Two award winning guides to the Europe of Eurostar, and the modern classic Bradt Guide to Lille is now in its third edition. 

The foodie's favourite and ultimate accessory for the canny shopper or culture vulture.

Witty, informative and a darned good read into the bargain. 

FOURTH EDITION Published 2015 


Discover more HERE

A few of Laurence's Lille tips also find their way in to Bradt's newest  Cross Channel guide to the Nord Pas de Calais.

Regular extra bonus features and updates on the Bradt Blog HERE



AA GUIDES

Laurence's name is familiar to readers of the AA series of guidebooks. He is the accalimed author of the hardback hymn to all things French THE COLOURS OF FRANCE, a celebration by some of Europe's finest photgraphers of the unforgettable images of the land and its people.
His ESSENTIAL LILLE - a compact pocket size guidebook to the city; Travellers from across the Atlantic tour France with their trusty copy of AAA FRANCE TRAVELBOOK- Written for the American market, a guide to the highlights of France, featuring drives, walks and popular attractions. Now in its 6th edition; Laurence is the author of the KEY GUIDE TO NORMANDY and he has also contributed to the Magazine, History and Lifestyle sections of a number of recent and forthcoming AA and Fodors guides to France including the Key Guides and Spiral Guides to France, Paris, Provence, Brittany and Northern France.

LAZY FRANCE GUIDES

Marseillan & a lot of Languedoc

"Life begins with lunch and the lazy journey brings the most memorable views"

This love letter to the Languedoc and the oldest village in France won the Best Guidebook award from the British Guild of Travel Writers and the hearts of francophiles everywhere. Judges praised "Quality writing and individual voice. You can almost smell and taste the meals.” Read more HERE

No mere 100-page To Do lists, LazyFrance guides are after-dinner reminiscences of unforgettable days done and nights feted - travel books for grown ups who like to know where they might have been whilst enjoying the privilege of lazing in paradise doing absolutely nothing.

Part opinionated, biased and gossipy history, with scores of those chatty foody pages detailing memorable meals and plenty of  ideas for self-indulgence, the book is designed for visitors as much as for those people who arrive, stop for lunch and never ever leave town.

The bewitching Mediterranean port and village of Marseillan in Languedoc is the first destination in the series. 150 restaurants from the quayside to the cities to the mountains reviewed; the back story of village and port and many favourite places to discover in 400 pages of memories, anecdotes, shared addresses and listings.

From the folk tales behind every wind, and the secrets of the street signs; from the lonely lighthouse where a baker plotted to kill a president; from the tables where imaginative chefs serve inspiration on a plate to the mysteries of the lagoon, the alchemy of the vineyards and the long long miles of sandy beaches.

Buy with free P&P HERE

REGULAR UPDATES ONLINE HERE

£14.99    ISBN: 978-0-9558247-1-5

FRENCH ENTREE TO PARIS

This was a unique guide to the twenty districts that make up Paris. Unique amongst other city guides it trated the capital as twenty villages and sought the tables favoured by the locals. First released in 1993 by Quiller Press, it is now distributed through Peter Collin Publishing .

THOMAS COOK POCKET GUIDE

Another guide to Lille and the Cote d'Opale. Third edition published March 2011.

Not to mention...
Paris Scene (GMP/Prowler 5 editions 1989-2000)
London Scene (GMP 1997)

Travelscene Guides:
Vegetarian and Meat-Free Paris;
Brussels for Chocolate Lovers; Shopping in Lille;
& the Eight-Hour Guides to Paris, Brussels and Lille.

The Black Magic Lovers Choice

And contributions to the Room For Romance hotel guide to the UK & Ireland, Square Meal guides for business travellers, Extras London, The Smooth Rides Guide to France for disabled travellers and many more.

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