London to Loweswater

Bringing the people of today's Britain alive through his account of their hopes, aspirations and fears, Hunter Davies travels for a year observing characters and places and noting the mood of the nation as we end the millennium. It is also a journey into his own life, recalling myriad incidents and individuals from his past.

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Following in the footsteps of J.B. Priestley, whose book "English Journey" told the tale of his 1934 voyage, Hunter Davies embarks upon an epic journey at the end of the century. He spends a year travelling from London to the Lake District, observing the people and places of England today and noting the mood of the English nation at the end of the millennium. It is also a journey into his own life, as he recalls incidents and people from his past. Davies is impressed by a sense of light and optimism encouraged by the many Lottery projects nearing completion, such as the Lowry Centre in Salford and the 2500 miles of public pathways being created by Sustrans. He visits two stately homes - Chatsworth and Althorp, as well as Paul McCartney's former more modern and humble council house in Liverpool. His journey takes him from a private party with Tony Blair in London to the Loweswater Show in the far north-western corner of Cumbria. This is where he and his wife spend half of each year, the clash between urban and rural life forming the heart of the book.