Hi! I’m Anna, a multi-award-winning travel writer in Lyon, writing about all things French. I regularly write for The Independent, The i Paper, Lonely Planet and National Geographic, and I’m The Telegraph’s Corsica destination specialist.
“Anna is my go-to writer for Lyon (and France in general) at Time Out Travel. She is a brilliant writer, always files on time and produces clean copy that needs next to no editing. She got Time Out’s editorial voice bang on from the start - and knows a hell of a lot about restaurants! Recommend her highly.”
Featured Work
TRAILBLAZING
The Great Outdoors
Unsupported and unaccompanied, I hiked across Armenia on a brand new trail, adopting several street dogs and almost losing my mind in the process.
Open pdfTRAILBLAZING
The Great Outdoors
Unsupported and unaccompanied, I hiked across Armenia on a brand new trail, adopting several street dogs and almost losing my mind in the process.
Open pdf
EAT COGNAC
National Geographic Traveller UK
Who the hell still drinks cognac anyway? I went to investigate, and found samosas, gin and surprising links with rap culture.
Open pdfEAT COGNAC
National Geographic Traveller UK
Who the hell still drinks cognac anyway? I went to investigate, and found samosas, gin and surprising links with rap culture.
Open pdf
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
SUITCASE
For this Parisian parkour group, the rooftops are their playground. I got a bird’s eye view of the City of Light to explore their world.
Open pdfFRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
SUITCASE
For this Parisian parkour group, the rooftops are their playground. I got a bird’s eye view of the City of Light to explore their world.
Open pdf
PARIS BY NIGHT
Adventure.com
Pigalle has long been the place where Paris’s LGBTQIA+ population found knowledge, solidarity and a stage to perform on. Welcome to the home of drag cabaret.
Go to articlePARIS BY NIGHT
Adventure.com
Pigalle has long been the place where Paris’s LGBTQIA+ population found knowledge, solidarity and a stage to perform on. Welcome to the home of drag cabaret.
Go to article
THE LEGENDARY ‘MOTHER OF FRENCH CUISINE’
BBC Travel
The first person ever to receive six Michelin stars was an uneducated, single mother from rural France. For decades, her story was brushed under the carpet.
Go to articleTHE LEGENDARY ‘MOTHER OF FRENCH CUISINE’
BBC Travel
The first person ever to receive six Michelin stars was an uneducated, single mother from rural France. For decades, her story was brushed under the carpet.
Go to article
THREE CRISES, ONE SOLUTION
Atmos
Is intergenerational living a one-stop solution for the cost of living, the epidemic of loneliness and household carbon emissions?
Go to articleTHREE CRISES, ONE SOLUTION
Atmos
Is intergenerational living a one-stop solution for the cost of living, the epidemic of loneliness and household carbon emissions?
Go to article
EXPLORING CORSICA ON A SLOW ECO-ESCAPE
Wanderlust Magazine
Some 3 million tourists visit Corsica each year, but many consume without investing in the local economy. Here’s how to plan a responsible trip.
Open pdfEXPLORING CORSICA ON A SLOW ECO-ESCAPE
Wanderlust Magazine
Some 3 million tourists visit Corsica each year, but many consume without investing in the local economy. Here’s how to plan a responsible trip.
Open pdf
I’VE ALWAYS HATED YOGA - COULD COMBINING IT WITH A SKI FESTIVAL CHANGE MY MIND?
The Independent
I worked on my downward dog in the French Alps to see whether mixing it with skiing could turn me into a yogi.
Go to articleI’VE ALWAYS HATED YOGA - COULD COMBINING IT WITH A SKI FESTIVAL CHANGE MY MIND?
The Independent
I worked on my downward dog in the French Alps to see whether mixing it with skiing could turn me into a yogi.
Go to article
I LIVE IN THE FOOD CAPITAL OF FRANCE, BUT I TRAVEL OVER 300KM FOR MORE EXCITING MEALS
The i paper
A blasphemous ode to France’s new queen of cuisine — Marseille
Go to articleI LIVE IN THE FOOD CAPITAL OF FRANCE, BUT I TRAVEL OVER 300KM FOR MORE EXCITING MEALS
The i paper
A blasphemous ode to France’s new queen of cuisine — Marseille
Go to article
WE BURST INTO THE ARENA FEELING LIKE WARRIORS
The Guardian
More than a calf-buster, the Nîmes Urban Trail breaks down social barriers, and gets the whole city involved.
Go to articleWE BURST INTO THE ARENA FEELING LIKE WARRIORS
The Guardian
More than a calf-buster, the Nîmes Urban Trail breaks down social barriers, and gets the whole city involved.
Go to article
Winning Guide of the Year at the 2024 Travel Media Awards
My mobile office has taken me running across Parisian rooftops following a parkour group, solo hiking 580km across Armenia on a brand-new trail and chasing a man dressed as a bear around a Catalan village. I write from experience, and I’m so much of a pen-wielding Luddite that all of my first drafts are written by hand — take that, AI.
I arrived in France in September 2021, which coincided with my Saturn Returns*. I had very few plans, but I did have a bike, tent, a battered old car and a taste for adventure. Crucially, unlike Darren Starr’s Parisian expat (Emily in Paris), I speak French. And LOOK MUM, I’m a writer now.
I’m bilingual (even my dogs speak French), and can turn my pen from feature writing, interviewing and investigative journalism to reviewing restaurants and camping gear. I’m the author of the award-winning guidebook Paddling France for Bradt Guides, and the Mini Rough Guide to Lyon for Rough Guides (pre-publication), and dozens of guidebook chapters on France for Lonely Planet, DK Eyewitness and Rough Guides.
*This is when Saturn returns to the same place as it was when you were born. It happens roughly every 29 years and it’s a way of justifying my big life upheaval
"Anna has been a wonderful addition to Lonely Planet France books in recent years. Her enthusiasm for the entire country knows no bounds and she brings fresh ideas and a thoughtful perspective to her projects. She always meets her deadlines and is unfailingly pleasant and professional to work with."
Awards
Shortlisted for Diversity Feature of the Year at the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards.
Shortlisted for Diversity Feature of the Year at the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards.
Shortlisted for Guide of the Year and Travel Feature of the Year (Europe) at the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards.
Shortlisted for Guide of the Year and Travel Feature of the Year (Europe) at the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards.
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Winner of Guide of the Year at the Travel Media Awards, shortlisted for Emerging Writer of the Year at the Travel Media Awards.
Winner of Guide of the Year at the Travel Media Awards, shortlisted for Emerging Writer of the Year at the Travel Media Awards.
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Silver Award for Young Writer of the Year 2023 for AITO.
Silver Award for Young Writer of the Year 2023 for AITO.
Highly commended for Specialist Travel Feature of the Year in the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards, and shortlisted for Travel Feature of the Year (Wider World) in the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards.
Highly commended for Specialist Travel Feature of the Year in the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards, and shortlisted for Travel Feature of the Year (Wider World) in the BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards.
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Shortlisted for Young Writer of the Year 2023 by the Travel Media Awards.
Shortlisted for Young Writer of the Year 2023 by the Travel Media Awards.
“I’m always delighted to see Anna’s name in my inbox. Her pitches are smart, full of interesting details, and tailored to the magazine's audience. She delivers excellent drafts—on time!—and communicates clearly. Any revisions I might request are made swiftly, cheerfully, and with great care. A consummate professional every step of the way.”
