Duncan J. D. Smith - Urban Explorer, Travel Writer, Historian, Photographer


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Latest News

> 5.12
Vienna at Your Convenience
A new article in The Vienna Review

> 4.12
Only in Zurich
Available now!

> 4.12
A Cloister for Academics
A new article in The Vienna Review

> 3.12
Zurich‘s Moulage Museum
A new article in Hidden Europe magazine

> 3.12
Ottakring‘s Mystery Wartime Bunker
A new article in The Vienna Review

> 10.11
Voices of Exploration
In conversation with Basha O‘Reilly of the Long Riders‘ Guild

> 07.11
Only in Vienna: The Film!
You‘ve read the book and listened to the CD. Now watch the film!

> 07.11
Ethiopia: Secret Land of Africa
Lecture now available to view

> 03.11:
Cologne‘s Subterranean Chandelier
A new article in Hidden Europe magazine

> 03.11
In the Spotlight
Short interview with the British Guild of Travel Writers

> 02.11
"Only In" the UK
The ‘Only In‘ Guides are now available from Stanfords of London

> 02.11
Lecture Recording
Audio samples from the lecture "The City is My Jungle" now available

> 01.11
Unknown World - Damascus
A new article for Korean Air‘s MorningCalm magazine

EXPLORE UNIQUE, HIDDEN AND UNUSUAL EUROPE

The ‘Only In‘ Guides are a ground breaking series of guidebooks written by ‘Urban Explorer’ Duncan J. D. Smith. Each tells the story of a European city from the standpoint of eighty four unique, hidden, or unusual locations. This enables independent cultural travellers to escape the crowds and discover the place for themselves, and to take home a more indelible and individual memory. The books are extensively illustrated and include opening times and further reading.
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'Only In' Guides

ABOUT DUNCAN J. D. SMITH - URBAN EXPLORER

Having worked for many years in the publishing industry selling other travel writers’ books, in 2003 Duncan J. D. Smith decided to start writing and illustrating his own. As an ‘Urban Explorer’, travel writer, historian and photographer he has embarked on a lifetime’s adventure, travelling off the beaten track in search of the world’s unusual people and places, from the bunkers of Berlin and the Baroque gardens of Prague to the souks of Damascus and the rock-cut churches of Ethiopia.

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STRIKING IMAGES FROM THREE CONTINENTS

Duncan J. D. Smith is an accomplished and experienced freelance photographer, taking his camera with him wherever he goes. From the rugged coastline of his Yorkshire homeland, through the storied capitals of Old Europe, and beyond into Africa and the Middle East, he captures colourful and unusual images of the people and places he encounters. Recent clients include Condé Nast Traveler, GQ Magazine, New Holland Globetrotter guides, and the Born Free Foundation.

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STORIES IN WORDS AND PICTURES

As well as creating his own books, Duncan J. D. Smith is commissioned regularly to write and illustrate articles for magazines and the Internet. The result is a rich and eclectic mix of subject matter, with an emphasis on people and places off the beaten track. Recent commissions include "Subterranean Budapest" for Hidden Europe magazine, "Insider’s Prague" for the Summit Hotel Group, and "Hidden World: Damascus" for Korean Air.
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AN AUDIO TOUR THROUGH HIDDEN VIENNA

Join ‘Urban Explorer’ Duncan J. D. Smith on a fascinating and idiosyncratic journey through Vienna’s hidden First District, including Roman ruins, secret courtyards, and medieval cellars. Recorded ‘live’ this unique tour offers adventure, history, and excitement, and is based on the bestselling guidebook "Only in Vienna". The tour includes more than twenty locations, each guaranteeing a sense of discovery and a memorable experience. Available on CD and to download.
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FORGOTTEN TRAVELLERS

Biographies of six forgotten British travellers who abandoned ‘normal’ living to make intrepid journeys during the 1920s and 30s, before the Second World War altered forever the world through which they travelled, and extinguished their memory. To follow in their footsteps one must journey from the scorching deserts of Libya to the icy wastes of Greenland, from war-torn Serbia to the mountains of Kenya, and from the hidden gorges of Tibet to the steamy jungles of the Brazilian Mato Grosso.
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CURIOUS CITIES: ZURICH

There is much more to Zurich than private banks, clean streets, and a penchant for punctuality. Founded two thousand years ago as a Roman trading post it has long been a haven for emigres, including Lenin, the Dadaists, and James Joyce. Zurich contains many secrets just waiting to be discovered, including ancient walls and secret gardens, curious museums and converted factories, unexpected sanctuaries and shops with a difference.

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