A Modern Grand Tour, following the footsteps of all the young British Aristocrats who descended on Europe in their thousands in the 17th & 18th Centuries. As well as seeking out the architectural and archaeological treasures McCloud also makes time to sample the culture, the food, the wine, the clothes and the night-life, all that would have been enjoyed by the discerning Grand Tourist. An enjoyably modern view of this historical phenomenon; looking at modern Europe through the lens of the past.
Loosely following in the footsteps of the most notorious grand tourists Kevin clambers in, on and amongst the greatest buildings, ruins and cities in Europe and also veers drastically off the official path to visit the brothels, bathhouses and drinking dens which formed the other half of the grand tourists' experiences. This accumulation of sights sounds and smells allows a sense of what it must have been like for a callow Briton to have come face to face with the heat and the noise, the drama and still living history of the civilisations of Europe. As always, Kevin, who speaks French and Italian fluently, is an entertaining and masterly companion as we delve behind the facades we all think we know so well.
Kevin McCloud studied Art & Architecture at Cambridge, trained as a theatre designer, then set up his own design, lighting and manufacturing business. Today he concentrates on television work, journalism and product design. He is best known for his series Grand Designs and Grand Designs Abroad which have spawned a monthly magazine of the same name.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, an ambassador for WWF and has a number of honorary degrees and is second on the leaderboard .04 seconds behind Jay Kay on Top Gear's Star in a Reasonably priced Car.
