Baedekers London and Its Environs

Long before mobile travel apps there was the Baedeker Guides, indispensable for helping thousands of well-to-do travellers brave the perils of abroad. Designed to be carried around in a pocket and available for handy reference by the tourist while walking about the streets of a foreign city, or hiking up a mountain, they were small, robust and easy to carry.

Karl Baedeker founded the famous “Baedeker” house in 1827. He and four generations  of Baedekers after him achieved something quite extraordinary by creating a tri-lingual set of travel guides spanning 180 years and covering some forty countries.

The first English edition appeared in 1861 with the Rhine, followed by Switzerland in 1863 and Paris in 1865. With their distinctive red covers, diligently updated information and state-of-the-art maps, Baedekers grew to become an essential tool for civilised travel everywhere.

Karl Baedeker travelled extensively to collect all the data and information for his travel guides, starting the famous “star” system by marking important sights with an asterisk.  In 1859 his enterprising career was cut short by his sudden death. His three sons had followed him into the firm and took over the booming Baedeker business. (https://shapero.com/blog/bookshop-blog/time-travel-the-history-of-baedeker-guidebooks/)