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SHORTLISTS FOR THE 2025 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards presented by Viking
The shortlists have been announced for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards (ESTWAs) presented by Viking. Taking readers all around the globe, the 18 shortlisted books are from a variety of debut and bestselling authors from multiple publishers including independent presses.
The awards, that were launched in 2015, celebrate excellence in travel writing and offer recognition to the best travel writers in the world. For the second year in a row, Stanfords, the world-renowned independent retailer of maps and travel books, is partnering with Viking, a global leader in experiential travel, to present four awards.
The shortlists for the 2025 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards presented by Viking are:
Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year
Viking Award for Fiction with a Sense of Place
Children's Travel Book of the Year
The shortlist for the Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year will be announced in January.
Previous winners of Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards include Bill Bryson, Michael Palin, Jan Morris, Colin Thubron, Paul Theroux and Dervla Murphy.
Each category will be judged by a panel made up of travel writers, Stanfords and Viking team members and literary experts. The winners of the categories along with the Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year (for unpublished writers) will be announced at a celebratory event in March. Each award winner will be presented with a hand-made globe from the Lander & May workshop located on the Isle of Wight featuring a design produced exclusively for the awards.
Launched in 2015, the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards (ESTWA) seek to celebrate the best travel writing, and travel writers, in the world. For the 2nd year we are partnering with Viking to bring you four awards.
Submissions for the 2025 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards
Presented by Viking are now OPEN.
The 2025 awards will consist of these awards:
The Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year
The award, which is open to authors from all across the world, celebrates excellence in literary travel writing; this includes travel writing, food, illustrated and photography books with a strong travel narrative. Please note this does not include travel guides or fiction.
The Viking Award for Fiction with a Sense of Place
Fiction in which the location or locations that inspire the work are an essential part of the narrative.
Children's Travel Book of the Year
Fiction or non-fiction title for pre-teens which inspires a love of travel, exploration and adventure.
Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year
The world’s best competition for unpublished travel writers. In association with the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards.
For over 25 years, the Bradt Guides ‘New Travel Writer of the Year’ competition has been seeking out and championing new writing talent. Previous winners and finalists in the competition have gone on to see their work published in newspapers, travel magazines and books.
The theme for this year’s competition is ‘A Hasty Exit’.
This year’s first prize for this award is a rail break to Pas de Calais, courtesy of Pas de Calais Tourisme – and a paid commission to write about the trip for Traveller magazine. Please see bradtguides.com/competitions for full details. Closing date: 15 November.
Eligibility & Criteria for submissions:
Books first published: 1st November 2023- 31st October 2024.
Deadline for entries: Monday 4th November 2024 (Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year: 15th November).
IMPORTANT:
Only send in a copy of the title if it is not widely available (for example, if it’s self published) to:
ESTWA Submissions
Stanfords
7 Mercer Walk
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9FA
Please note that there will be a levy fee of £199 for each title shortlisted. This is to cover the costs of the project management of the campaign and the design, printing and distribution of the official point of sale which promote the shortlisted books in store. There is no charge for submissions.
Submissions of digital books should be emailed to [email protected]
All shortlisted and winning titles will feature heavily on POS including posters and stickers
The Winners will be announced at a reception on 5th March 2025 in London.
All winning authors will receive a Lander & May handmade globe in commemoration of their achievement.
The winners in each category will be selected by a variety of judging panels featuring Stanfords and Viking staff, travel writers and experts.
Anyone interested in participating in or partnering with the awards from a commercial perspective should contact: [email protected]
