Interesting Places

A long weekend in Benidorm delivered rooftop bars, tapas nights, lively promenades and an unexpectedly scenic side to Spain’s famous resort town. From the Balcón del Mediterráneo and the towering Benidorm Cross to seagull encounters on Benidorm Island, the trip combined sunshine, nightlife and local history in equal measure, before returning home to explore the area through vintage maps of the Costa Blanca.

A spring weekend in Prague delivered medieval streets, unexpected April snow and a journey through centuries of history. From the Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge to underground chambers and historic taverns, the city reveals its past at every turn. Along the way we discovered traditional Czech food, remarkable architecture and even historic maps dating back to the 18th century, when Prague was part of Bohemia. Returning home, we explored these vintage maps in more detail, comparing them with the streets we had just walked, connecting modern travel with centuries of cartographic history.

From Waterloo’s graffiti tunnels to Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast, our London day out blended iconic landmarks with fascinating historic maps — including one from 1593. Discover how exploring Westminster through maps and memories revealed just how much the city has changed over time.

UTMB races trace historic paths across mountains and coastlines once mapped for survival, not sport. Explore UTMB through its landscapes, routes, and the maps that tell their story.

A weekend in Brussels proved that the city’s reputation for beer, chocolate and European politics only scratches the surface. We arrived by rail, walked the historic centre, and joined the inevitable crowd gathered around Manneken Pis, the city’s smallest but most famous resident. Between the Grand-Place, the cathedral and the European Quarter, Brussels showed how easily it balances old and new. Back home, we compared our route with an 1851 map of “Bruxelles”, discovering how much of the city’s structure has endured.

Emley Moor Mast has been part of the West Yorkshire skyline for decades, visible from villages like Kirkburton, Shelley and Denby Dale, and even from parts of Leeds and Wakefield on a clear day. For us it’s not just a landmark, but the backdrop to years of family walks, muddy boots, frozen fields, unexpected snow drifts and conversations with friends. Find out more about the mast, the walks around it and the memories tied to the landscape.

As Stranger Things returns for its final season we're diving into the real-world geography behind the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. Using vintage maps from our Atlas & I archive, we explore the Midwestern landscapes that may have inspired the show's setting!

Created just twelve years before the Gunpowder Plot, John Norden’s 1593 map of Westminster offers a remarkable glimpse into Tudor London, a world of marshes, manor houses and winding lanes that Guy Fawkes himself would soon walk. Hand-drawn long before satellites or drones, it captures the very heart of the city on the brink of history.

Our walk along Spain’s incredible Caminito del Rey was an unforgettable mix of history, adventure, and breathtaking scenery. Once known as one of the world’s most dangerous paths, this cliffside walkway near El Chorro has been beautifully restored. Guided by Visit & Do Andalucia, we explored 7km of spectacular gorge views before returning home to study our vintage Spanish maps - tracing where The King’s Little Path first began.

We’ve uncovered some of the UK’s scariest place names hidden in our vintage map archives. From Devil’s Dyke to Old Corpse Road, these eerie-sounding spots reveal centuries of folklore, dark history, and chilling tales that make Britain’s landscape perfect for Halloween.