With the wider world out of our reach at the moment, why not try Armchair Travel?
You don’t need to leave home to see and learn about exciting, beautiful, and wondrous places.
Come with us as we show you how our collection can transport you someplace else!
We have a large collection of books that you can borrow and browse, including our picks below.
Tony Wheeler's islands of Australia: travels through time, by Tony Wheeler, 2019
Australia is a continent of islands. With over 8,000, it has more than the entire Caribbean. Join seasoned traveller Tony Wheeler on a journey around the Australian coast and beyond and discover the stunning natural features, unique wildlife and chequered histories of Australia's remarkable (and remarkably diverse) islets, cays, atolls and archipelagos.
Great cities: the stories behind the world's most fascinating places, by Andrew Humphreys, 2021
Delve into the social and cultural history of 100 of the world's most important cities. Written in the form of illustrated 'biographies', Great Cities offers a rich historical overview of each featured city, brought to vivid life with paintings, photographs, timelines, maps, and artefacts. Perfect for armchair explorers of all ages.
Great world wonders: 100 remarkable World Heritage sites, by Michael Turtle, 2021
In Great World Wonders, travel enthusiast and writer Michael Turtle offers a curated guide to the best UNESCO World Heritage sites around the globe. From icons like the Egyptian Pyramids and the Taj Mahal to undiscovered gems, such as gold mines and ancient rock paintings. Great World Wonders is a beautiful collection and exploration of the best (and sometimes worst) of history.
Notes from a small island by Bill Bryson, 2015
In 1993, before leaving his much-loved home in North Yorkshire to move back to the States for a few years with his family, Bill Bryson insisted on taking one last trip around Britain. A sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. His aim was to take stock of the nation's public face and private parts (as it were) and to analyse what precisely it was he loved so much about Britain.
The magic of Japan: secret places and life-changing experiences, by Héctor García, 2021
A self-professed 'otaku"' or Japanese anime geek since childhood, Garcia has worked for a Japanese software company, mastered the language, and become one of Japan's most popular bloggers. This book is the culmination of his experiences and showcases Garcia's unique ability to delve beneath the surface of Japanese culture to describe its quirky and deep spiritual underpinnings.
Out of Istanbul: a journey of discovery along the Silk Road, by Bernard Ollivier, 2019
While some see retirement as a chance to cash in their chips and settle into a comfy armchair, Ollivier longed for more. He decided to spend the next few years hiking one of history's great routes: the Silk Road. Out of Istanbul is Ollivier's stunning account of the first part of that 7,200-mile journey. We accompany Ollivier as he explores bazaars, mosques, and caravansaries. Ollivier's journey humbly takes the reader on a colossal adventure of human proportions.
Loitering with intent: diary of a happy traveller, by Ritu Menon, 2016
In the company of friends and family, Ritu Menon takes us on journeys across the world: wine-tasting in France, discovering the serenity of the Buddha in Bagan in Myanmar, roaming the leafy green streets of Zamalek in Egypt, tasting cream teas and cakes in Betty's Tearoom in York, and many other delightful experiences. Accompanied by sketches that bring alive the magic of those moments, this is a book that armchair travellers will savour, and one that will enthuse the more energetic to pack their bags and live the experience themselves.
If you have access to a computer or tablet, visit our extensive eBook and eAudiobook library, or explore streaming videos from Kanopy, all available with your library membership.
There are also other amazing websites that you can journey abroad with. Check out the below for inspiration.
- Google earth allows you to travel anywhere throughout the world and explore the area in 3D or by walking along the streets.
- Many of the world’s most amazing art galleries and museums have their collections online for you to browse for free, including the Louvre in Paris and the Vatican in Rome.
- Visit Antarctica with the United States Antarctic Program.
- The Google Arts and Culture website provides free access to many art galleries, including the British Museum, and The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
- Wild Earth is a website that offers live feeds of animals in Africa.
We hope you enjoy your armchair travel adventures.
Armchair Travel for Seniors
Our Armchair Travel for Seniors events take place throughout October and offer great opportunities to experience different places in the world from the comfort of your own home.
Register for an event online and enjoy the presentations, discussions, and experiences.