Cambridge named UK’s most boring place to shop

by Sean McLachlan on

Cambridge is high on many visitors’ lists of places to go in England. The historic colleges of Cambridge University are almost as impressive as those of Oxford, and punting on the River Cam rivals a boat journey on the River Isis.

Oxford and Cambridge have always been rivals, but now Oxonians can sit back, smug in the knowledge that the “other” university is in a town deemed the blandest place to shop in the UK. The New Economics Foundation just released a list of 117 UK cities and towns ranked by the variety of shops in their centers. Cambridge came in dead last.

In a scathing review, the NEF described “a bland homogeneity” in the city center with only nine different types of shop.

Perhaps Cambridge students are too busy preparing for Suicide Sunday to think about shopping, or perhaps like many university students they only want to go to the same old, predictable stores. The study’s organizers point the finger at the university, the town’s main landlords, for pushing up rents too high for independent businesses to afford. Personally, I’ve been to Cambridge several times and while I’m not an avid shopper I didn’t notice it to be terribly homogeneous. At least the range of independent used bookshops is great thanks to students unloading their books at the end of term. But I haven’t been since 2004, so perhaps things have taken a turn for the worse.

So who ranked the best? Whitstable, a seaside town near Canterbury, which the survey said had an amazing variety of independent shops.

[Photo courtesy Andrew Dunn]

Swap shelves in airport bookstores – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

I’ve been noticing swap shelves in airport bookstores lately. Store owners are starting to encourage frequent fliers to leave a book and take a book. This helps you get fresh reading material for free (or cheap) and lightens your load of a book you’re done with.

A few airports, like Portland International, have used bookstores where someone has undoubtedly just sold back that bestseller you wanted, and you can pick it up for less than full price.

Alternatively, check out The Paradies Shops: they let you return a book you bought within 6 months and receive half your money back.

[Photo: Flickr | jrodmanjr]

Madrid book fair opens today

by Sean McLachlan on

Madrid is one of the art capitals of the world, with amazing museums like the Reina Sofia and El Prado. What many visitors don’t realize, however, is that it’s a major hub for publishing too. Many of Spain’s large and small presses are based here, and the countless bookshops are a bibliophile’s delight.

Now book lovers are getting an extra treat, because today is the opening of the 69th annual Feria del Libro, Spain’s national book fair.

The book fair hosts the usual things you’d expect–readings by authors, a chance to meet the famous and not-so-famous, workshops, lots of events at like-minded cafes and bars, etc. While these are all great, the majority of events are in Spanish, although some writers from the English-speaking world such as Claudia Gray will be there.

The best part for the casual visitor (especially one who’s only Spanish comes from Taco Bell commercials) is the collection of bookstalls. More than three hundred publishers, bookstores, and rare book dealers have congregated at Madrid’s lovely Retiro Park. Books on every subject and every language will be on sale here, from cheap paperbacks to one-of-a-kind medieval manuscripts.

The Feria del Libro runs until June 13 and most events are free. After perusing the books all day, don’t forget to go out and enjoy Spain’s nightlife, assuming you haven’t spent all your money on books.

Image courtesy Feria del Libro.

Roadside geology books – Road trip tip

by Gadling Staff on

Ever ponder the origins of that distant mesa? Curious about those snowy mountains, those flinty hills, the flatness of Central Indiana? Perhaps you’re bored to death by the lack of scenery?

Consider taking a roadside geology book on your next trip. These books contain an array of maps, easy to follow mileage logs, basic geologic primers, and photographs that can bring a landscape — even a “boring” one — to life: cornfields become shark infested seas, lifeless brown deserts become breezy tropical islands, and dinosaurs roam in the next road cut.

Bring an old book, but not for reading – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Many people bring iPods and MP3 players with them when they are traveling internationally. Thieves love to steal them! To deter them, bring a book…

  • First, find an old book or pick one up in a used bookstore.
  • Cut out some of the pages inside the book to make a secret compartment.
  • Insert your valuable into the compartment, and your old book will help to hide your device.

If a thief gets into your belongings while you are away from your room or luggage, there’s a good chance they aren’t looking for a good book to read!