Customer Reviews

Realm (1-year auto-renewal)

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Along with 'British Heritage', the magazine 'Realm' is one of the periodicals I use to keep current both on the current state of Britain's traditional culture as well as the current streams of thought on the history of Britain. Each issue includes articles on the past and the present; it is useful for both residents (to learn more about the isles called home) as well as for tourists, to learn more about what is worthwhile seeing. This magazine will give ideas that go beyond the typical travel suggestion magazine, with a greater discussion of history, as well as the current personalities involved in preserving that history.

A recent edition includes articles on prehistoric Britain (concentrating this month on stone-constructs like Stonehenge, as well as others); gardens in Stowe, among the best in England; an artists' colony in Suffolk which brings together both painters and composers; and a feature article on the Settle-Carlisle Railway. These articles show the range of topics that the magazine regularly covers -- recent issues have included highlights of particular castles and historical sites (Bosworth Field), features on counties, and biographical articles on historical characters (this month's issue includes an article on Owain Glyndwr, the 15th century Welshman who fought for independence).

Regular features include Letters to the Editor, which in this as in most British publications has a character rather different from American letters-to-the-editor columns; Diary, which highlights openings, special events, and upcoming features; Landmarks in History, concentrating on a particular small piece of history usually with overlooked significance; and Curiosities, which can end up being mostly anything, from a way to cook a peacock to a way to chisel a gargoyle.

Perhaps the most interesting article for me in the most recent issue of Realm is an article on Underground London (a perusal of other reviews I have done will show a significant number of reviews on books on London); not just on the London Underground, mind you, but rather the series of lakes, rivers, streams, and disused and incomplete tunnels that run under the city, largely unknown to the great masses of people who live above.

'Today, there is a veritable subterranean city beneath the streets of London. Yet the underground story starts many years before the reign of Queen Victoria. Here is one example. For many years both common publicans and nobles with a taste for wine have stored their bottles in cellars. Few were more noble than Cardinal Wolsey, whose 16th century wine cellar is hidden under today's Ministry of Defence. Curiously, it is more akin in appearance to the crypts of London's medieval churches and monasteries than to the beer cellars in use today.'

The article proceeds to discuss all of the various underground findings, from the buried Roman walls in the foundations of modern skyscrapers to the underground lakes that are incorporated into the sewer system.

This is a fabulous magazine, a delight for any Anglophile and a treat for those with interest in travelling to Britain. It combines fabulous photography with great writing and interesting topics.

Cheers!

Other reviewers have mentioned how Realm brings Britain's past and present to life, and the tremendous wealth of useful travel information in each issue. As a longtime subscriber, I concur.

In addition, the quality of photography within is incredible. You can almost smell the fragrant freshness of English Gardens, the subtle scent of salt spray in a remote fishing village, or the exotic spiciness of Notting Hill's street market.

Should your travel be restricted to a favorite easy chair, Realm brings the U.K. to you. Enjoy.

I've read this magazine for several years and found it to be an important source of information on every aspect of planning a British vacation. In each issue you'll get information on things to see, places to stay, transportation, everything you'll need. I think that it might be better than most travel guides (they're usually a little out of date), IN BRITAIN Magazine is the only magazine that comes close to it in providing a traveler with useful information on planning a trip.

To begin with, I have read this magazine for years, so I am not reviewing just the one issue I have received via this subscription. I was a bit taken aback when I saw how long it was supposed to take to get my first issue, but it didn't take nearly that long, after all was said and done. This is a beautiful magazine, and should be a consideration for anyone with interest in Great Britain. It is done in a large format, which helps display some of the great images in it. It contains great photographs, history articles, travel articles, sometimes biographical articles, and just a little in the way of some of the bigger current events. If anyone anticipates taking a trip to Britain, and it is some time off, a subscription to this magazine will be well worth the investment. If you are unsure about whether you will like it or not, some of the major chain booksellers carry it, so you can go there and purchase an individual copy to see what you think. If there is a fault with this publication, it would be that over a period of years, some places may be covered a bit too often-you'll see a lot about The Cotswolds, and you will see The Lake District pretty often, among others. All things considered though, I still love this publication.

This is one of my favorite magazines! I probably won't be travelling to the UK in the near future, but the photography and writing let me travel in my head. Beautiful magazine. It's very large with many full-sized photographs. It's worth subscribing to just for that, let alone all the information it gives!

This magazine is a great Royal magazine but the only two problems are.
For one your subscription does not begin unitl six months after payment. And last,the publication is bi-monthly which means you must wait another two months to recieve your next issue.This magazine should be published once every week.It's a wonderful magazine to share with your family.
Thanks,
Dan

Awesome magazine, fascinating historical articles on a variety of British topics! For an Anglophile, it is a must-have.