The Cultural Compass

The Why Behind the Where

The Cultural Compass is our archive of twenty years of award-winning travel journalism, organising hundreds of dispatches into four different topics. Use it to help you navigate the world with more depth, more flavour, and a sharper perspective. Or just to have something interesting to read while you have a cup of tea.

Blueprints World Table History & Context Global Footprint

Abigail king inside a temple of columns from ancient Egypt

Everything you need to help you decide where to go and what to do when you get there. Enjoy the extensive collection of itineraries, highlights, packing advice and more.

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BLUEPRINTS

The Best Things to Do in the Latin Quarter, Paris

Blend literature with whimsy in this often overlooked neighbourhood in Paris.

Seville or Madrid for Your Next Trip?

How to decide between Spain’s biggest rivals.

Secret Things to Do in Nassau, the Bahamas

Wander off the beaten track beneath the Caribbean sun.

Belgravia: Your Guide to London’s Most Beautiful Neighbourhood

Wash away London’s grit with a soothing Sunday here.

Travel back to ancient Egypt in comfort and style.

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~ THE NILE RIVER CRUISE REVIEW ~

Platter of different dishes on the table in Sri Lanka

THE WORLD TABLE

To understand a culture, you must sit at its table. From the etiquette of a Japanese tea ceremony to the secret ingredients of a Spanish market, this is our archive of global gastronomy – and where to find the tastiest bites.

Browse The Food & Drink Archive

Gambian Cuisine: The 15 Dishes You Need to Know

From your domada to your cherreh and thiakry, experience the flavours of West Africa.

Why Bedouin Coffee is About More Than Just the Drink

Hear the fireside stories that explain the ritual beneath the stars.

What to Eat in Nova Scotia

Follow the lobster trail from seaside shacks to haute cuisine, with a surprise or two along the way.

The Best Tapas Bars in Seville

Don’t waste a single bite in the heart of Andalusia with these hand-picked recommendations.

~ FIVE FINGERS IN KAZAKHSTAN~

“We sat, gathered around the low table in Zhanbolat’s home in Türkistan while he gathered his thoughts about his philosophy of what food means in Kazakhstan.“

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Every destination has a story that the brochures forget to tell. Here, we investigate the historical narratives and cultural traditions that shape a country’s soul, from ancient rituals to the modern-day legacies of the past

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HISTORY & CONTEXT

Why is South Africa Called the Rainbow Nation?

Delving into the story behind the slogan in Cape Town, at the tip of Africa.

The Big Smoke: London’s Nicknames and What They Really Mean

Let the Beefeaters and Sloane Rangers tell you what you should be saying about Old London Town.

What do we value the most? Quito has some ideas.

Punchy, pithy, puerile and pretty – and absolutely plenty of it.

That’s what I found.

What We Can Learn From the Hachinohe Enburi Festival in Japan

A different way to celebrate the end of winter: with hot octopus and a practice from the past.

The mighty Amazon River may have achieved worldwide fame but the story of its origins remains known to locals only. They call it the meeting of the waters.

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