With the UK now effectively in lockdown and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advising against any overseas travel, sadly we won’t be hopping on a plane anytime soon. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have your imagination whisked away to somewhere altogether more exotic. Even when you’re stuck indoors for the majority of the day, a wealth of books, films and TV programmes can help you forget about the Coronavirus epidemic, even just for a second. We call this armchair travel. To help cast your mind to somewhere far-flung during this unsettling period, here are some of our favourite podcasts to listen to and inspire your future travels…
The Travel Diaries
Hosted by travel journalist and writer Holly Rubenstein, each episode of The Travel Diaries is like a mini biographical journey through the destinations and moments which have shaped the lives of celebrities and travel’s biggest personalities. Holly has interviewed everyone from the likes of Lonely Planet magazine editor Peter Grunert to supermodel Poppy Delevingne, chatting to them about their favourite places in the world and hearing captivating anecdotes along the way.
Listen here!
Jon and Antonia Take On The World
Launched in partnership with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, travel writers Jon Holmes and Antonia Windsor explore the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia in a five-part series. They cover every inch of this paradise and the activities you can do, from zip-lining through Saint Lucia’s lush rainforest and taking a soak in hot springs to making chocolate and even experiencing a drive-in volcano. Through only the medium of words, they paint an incredibly vivid picture of the island.
The Big Travel Podcast
What we love about The Big Travel Podcast is how it demonstrates how the powers of travel affect people from all walks of life. Journalist and broadcaster Lisa Francesca Nand chats to a rich spread of people, from comedian Dom Joly to Paralympic skier Millie Knight. From their diverse experiences, both at home and exploring the planet, it’s clear from every person Lisa interviews their affection for travel as a whole.
Terra Incognita
Latin for ‘unknown land’, Terra Incognita is an adventure travel podcast which shines a light on the people who really push the boundaries on exploration, discovery and research. There’s gripping conversations with those in the spotlight of adventure travel, like Norwegian explorer Erling Kagge, but also insights into the lives of those who normally fly under the radar, such as Arctic scientists and even tree climbers!
Desert Island Discs
The godfather of radio programmes long before it doubled as a legendary podcast, Desert Islands Discs doesn’t always focus on those involved in the travel industry but every guest is just as enthralling as the next. You can search its vast back catalogue for the more travel-focused episodes, where the likes of writers Bill Bryson and Colin Thubron, and national treasure Sir David Attenborough, have all been cast away.
