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BBC Holiday 89
BBC Holiday 89 magazine based on content from the BBC's travel and holiday programmes on TV and radio 

This page is under continual development. Comments, corrections and additions welcome. Please contact:  
Tony @ magforum.com 

 

 

Holiday and travel magazines

Holiday magazines and travel magazines in the UK have been strongly influenced by other media, with national and regional newspaper publishers and television programmes - through customer publishers - having strong positions in the field. The fact that more Brits are buying holiday homes abroad and making use of cheap flights has brought a significant property dimension to some travel magazines (see Buying Property magazines).

However, holidays and travel can be a difficult sector. The BBC's Redwood publishing division tried to launch Holidays 89 in 1989 based on the BBC TV series of that name, but at the time it was the only title in the holiday magazines sector and folded. The company tried again with BBC Holidays a few years later and, although this met with more success, it, too, folded. Similarly,  Emap Elan tried  Escape Routes in 2001, but it only lasted for a few issues. 


   

Absolute Publishing Ltd Back to top

Contract publisher that specialises in travel and sports magazines:

  • Abta Magazine, a monthly trade magazine for ABTA, the Travel Association. Has a readership of 35,000. Spin-offs include supplements on regions of the world, an annual golf publication and the ABTA Members' Handbook.
  • ASTAnetwork, a quarterly trade magazine for the American Society of Travel Agents
  • Welcome to London, a quarterly listings guide
  • Spa Secrets, a quarterly consumer luxury spa, travel and lifestyle magazine
  • Classic Sports series: annual titles focused on sporting events including Euro 2008, Champion's League, The Open, Ryder Cup and Best of British.

Absolute tried to launch a bi-monthly consumer magazine called ABTA Travelspirit in winter 2002, with hopes of the 80,000 run becoming a monthly. Contact: Absolute Publishing Ltd, 197-199 City Road, London EC1V 1JN. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7253 9909


   

Anthem Publishing Ltd Back to top

Bath-based publisher has four magazines based on Italy: 

  • Italia for people who holiday there, who own or wish to purchase homes there and for those with a passion for the country’s people, culture, food and drink. Published on the first Thursday of every month; launched in November 2004
  • Taste Italia: recipes and features on Italian produce and producers; also reviews of wine and restaurants. Published on the first Thursday of the month; launched November 2006
  • Calcio Italia carries match reports on both Serie A and B. Title acquired by Anthem in 2004 (launched in 1992). Available internationally and published under licence in Canada as Soccer Italia.
Anthem Publishing, Suite 6, Piccadilly House, London Road, Bath BA1 6PL.

   

Archant Life Ltd Back to top

Magazine publishing division of regional newspaper group has two travel magazines: 
  • France a 'monthly English-language review of la vie française'. France magazine has North American and UK editions 
  • Living France monthly guide to owning French holiday homes and property 
Contact: Archant Life, Archant House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham GL50 1BB. Tel: +44 (0) 1242 216050 
Archant profile

   

Brooklands Group Ltd Back to top

Magazine group specialises in magazines based on the Channel 4 television series A Place in the Sun
  • A Place in the Sun is the official Channel 4 magazine launched in March 2004. It publishes 13 issues a year. A Place in the Sun markets itself as the UK's best-selling overseas property magazine, covering international property news, real-life stories, inspirational holiday homes, special reports, property related advice and competitions. Bound-in buyers' guide supplements are a regular feature.

In 2001, the franchise was split into three magazines, but this strategy was reversed by 2006:

  • A Place in the Sun's Everything Spain was published 13 times a year, reflecting the fact that the British buy more property in Spain than anywhere else. 
  • A Place in the Sun's Everything France was published 13 times a year. It was launched in the summer of 2001. 
  • A Place in the Sun's Everything America covered the continent six times a year. 
Brooklands profile

   

Cedar Communications Ltd Top

High Life magazine is an in-flight customer magazine produced for British Airways by contract publisher Cedar. High Life is distributed on the airline's planes. Cedar has ISO 141001 quality accreditation for its environmental policies. Other travel clients include Heathrow Express and Thomson holidays. Contact: Cedar Communications Ltd, Pegasus House, 37-43 Sackville Street, London W1S 3EH. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7534 2400 
Cedar profile

   

Condé Nast Publications Ltd Top

Condé Nast Traveller is a consumer magazine that aims to shrug off the poor reputation of much travel journalism. Condé Nast Traveler was founded in 1986 at US publisher Condé Nast by former Sunday Times and Times editor Harry Evans. He set Traveler out to be dedicated to ‘truth in travel’. Condé Nast Traveller was launched in the UK in 1997 by editor Sarah Miller. The strategy has been a success with the title establishing travel as a sector in newsagents (BBC Worldwide had failed with BBC Holidays magazine).

Condé Nast Traveller pays for all its own flights and accommodation and has never 'knowingly' published something that is the result of a group press trip. Miller told a Guardian interviewer: '[A press trip] is uniform and controlled by the PR company,' she says. 'Travel isn't a controlled experience. It is what happens to you.’

Condé Nast Traveler has a policy of not accepting free trips, to ensure editorial independence. Contact: The Conde Nast Publishing Limited, Vogue House, Hanover Square, London W1S 1JU. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7499 9080 
Condé Nast profile


   

Green Pea Publishing Ltd Top

Publishes Food and Travel, which  was founded in 1977 and features photography and writing on food, wine and travel. Food and Travel has an online briefing form for its advertorial section.
 

   

Illustrated London News Group Top

The Illustrated London News Group is a customer publisher that takes its name from the famous Victorian magazine (it owns the rights to its contents and still publishes a Christmas special). magazines include: 
  • Interval published quarterly for Interval International, a timeshare exchange company 
  • Livewire is a bi-monthly title for the Great North Eastern Railway, distributed free on trains between London and Scotland. 
  • Orient-Express Magazine is free to travellers between Singapore and Bangkok on the Eastern & Oriental Express. There is also an Orient Express Hotels magazine.
Contact: Illustrated London News Group, 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PF. Tel: +44 (0) 207 805 5584 
ILN profile

   

Merricks Media Back to top

Merricks Media was founded in 1998. It publishes magazines on travel and property and women’s lifestyle. The travel magazines cover property and lifestyle:

  • Australia & New Zealand Magazine monthly launched in 2005
  • Florida Magazine bi-monthly launched in 2005
  • French Magazine monthly launched in 2002
  • Greece Magazine comes out 10 times a year
  • The Italian Magazine 6 times year; launched in 2004
  • Portugal Magazine published 10 times a year since 2003
  • Spanish Homes Magazine monthly since 2003

Also publishes Brand New You, a monthly launched as an 'anti-ageing bible' in May 2007. Contact: Merricks Media, Units 3 & 4, Riverside Court, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3DZ, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1225 786 800


   

myholidayideas.com Back to top

TVTimes, IPC's weekly TV listings title, launched this travel website on 1 December 2006 to complement the magazine’s travel classified pages. It was edited by the magazine's deputy editor, Alison Gardner, and covers:

  • ideas for UK and overseas holidays;
  • information on buying second homes or moving overseas;
  • travel tips from celebrities.

There was also a newsletter offering ideas and news from TV travel shows.

TVTimes promoted the site in a 10-week campaign to win a holiday across 90 IPC magazines and websites.
IPC profile


   

Poundbury Publishing Ltd Top

Company formed in 1994. Based in Dorchester, Dorset.  Publishes three magazines, including Italy, devoted to the landscape, people, places, style, culture, food and drink, homes and gardens of the country. Italy magazine was launched in 2002 as a bimonthly, and went monthly with the June 2004 issue. It is sold in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europe. Contact:  Poundbury Publishing, Middle Farm, Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, Dorset DT1 3RS, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1305 266360 

   

RCI Publishing Back to top

Holiday Magazine for the holiday home timeshare exchange company of the same name. Contact: RCI Europe Ltd, Kettering Parkway, Kettering, Northants NN15 6EY. Tel: +44 (0) 1536 314265 

   

River Publishing Back to top

River is a customer publisher that launched Sunday Times Travel Magazine in 1993. Contact: River Publishing Ltd, 14 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BZ. Tel: +44 (0) 207 413 9350 
River profile

   

Romsey Publishing Ltd Back to top

A division of Archant (above). Publishes In Britain, the official magazine of VisitBritain (formerly the British Tourist Authority). Contact: Romsey Publishing Company Ltd, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TQ. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7751 4800

   

United Business Media/Daltons Top

Private Villas is a monthly magazine for people who want to book independent holidays based in a villa. Founded in 1984. Contact: Private Villas, 11th Floor, C I Tower, St Georges Square, New Malden, Surrey KT3 4TE 

   

Wanderlust Publications Ttop

Wanderlust focuses on information and advice for independent-minded and adventurous travellers. Wanderlust was founded in 1993 by Paul Morrison and Lyn Hughes. It is published 8 times a year and many articles are carried on the website. Contact: Wanderlust Publications, 1 Leworth Place, Mellor Walk, Windsor, SL4 1EB

Travel and holiday magazines (2005) Back to top

Title Publisher Launch date ABC sales 
Jan-Jul-2005*
A Place in the Sun's Everything America Brooklands   19,306
A Place in the Sun's Everything France Brooklands 2001 28,287
A Place in the Sun's Everything Spain Brooklands   19,182
Abta Magazine  Absolute/Abta   10,645 
(free) 
Australia & New Zealand Magazine Merricks 2005  
BBC Holidays  BBC Enterprises  1992   closed 1995
Condé Nast Traveller  Condé Nast 1987 83,305
Escape Routes  Emap Elan  1999  closed 2001
Florida Magazine Merricks 2005  
France  
(North America)
Archant Life   17,752
Food and Travel Green Pea 1977
France UK  Archant Life   24,910
French Magazine Merricks 2002  
Greece Magazine Merricks    
High Life Cedar 1973 206,723 
(free) 
Holiday Magazine  RCI   212,493 
(free) 
Homes Worldwide Merricks 2002  
In Britain Romsey (Archant)    43,575
Interval  ILN/Interval International    83,317 
(free) 
Italian Magazine Merricks 2004  
Livewire  ILN/GNER   109,017 
(free) 
Italy Poundbury 2002
Myholidayideas.com IPC 1 December 2006  
Orient-Express Magazine  ILN/Orient Express    71,258 
(free) 
Portugal Magazine Merricks 2003  
Private Villas United Advertising 1982 5,463
Spanish Magazine Merricks 2003  
Sunday Times Travel Magazine  River   61,135
Wanderlust Wanderlust 1993
*Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC)
 
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