Hudsons Heritage Guide: 2018

For more than 20 years the old Hudsonˋs was a true friend who was a wonderful companion for the annual Britain trips.But now I lost ßthis friend and I ask myself „ what‘s this“? I agree with the other one star review.

Totally different from previous editions and a complete waste of money compared to the last decades editions. Doesn't list properties in an easy searchable way and if you are lucky to find a property there is a contact email but no website. Not worth the money and I am so disappointed. There is nothing positive to write about it.

Beware, this 2018 book is not the same as previous editions. It is more akin to a coffee table book, it is not the practical, comprehensive listing of properties with details, opening times, prices, etc etc that previous editions contained. Sure, there are some properties with full listings, but the vast majority are merely listed with precious little detail, leaving you to find out what you need to know from another source. It has become a glossy book, not a travel guide to take on holiday with you. Disappointing for its intended use, but wife thinks it looks smart on coffee table!

The older version had lots of detail for every property. This is now reduced to one line, and the book is full of irrelevant picture and adverts for places to stay. So sad - a good guide completely ruined

Not only is this a valuable reference book BUT it contains some very interesting and appropriate articles

Used to be the guide to go to first, not any longer, awkward to use and full of adverts

One corner was a bit bashed but otherwise in good condition.

Hudson's Guide used to be the definitive guide to all the country houses that were open to the public at advertised times or by appointment, whether they were privately owned, NT or English Heritage. One bought it every year to have access to that information, which otherwise would only be available by phoning the property or picking up their leaflet. Over time, the comprehensiveness which was the chief point of the guide has drifted away, and the Internet has provided an alternative source of information. But the guide has not got smaller. Conversely, it has grown enormously, from something less than 100 pages in the 1980s to 400 pages (and hardback this year!). There has been an attempt to diversify the content, to include feature article, opening arrangements for EH ruined properties, properties offering facilities for weddings and catering, and now properties you can stay in. But none of this is remotely comprehensive, and all the actual facts are drowned in a mass of advertising features, silly lists, and ANNOYINGLY LARGE TYPE. Quite frankly, I don't think the publication has any point anymore, and I won't be buying it again. But there just might be room in the market for a simple and elegant website that does what the original publication aimed to do, and which can more readily be kept up to date!