Chris Leadbeater

A travel journalist of more than 20 years’ experience, and one of the UK’s most well regarded travel writers, Chris Leadbeater has been The Telegraph’s travel correspondent since 2018. His job has taken him to almost every corner of the planet; he has visited an impressive 101 countries to date.

His decades’ of experience and compelling writing style serve to give readers true insight into the places he visits, fusing history, geography, architecture and travelogue.

In the first half of 2025, Leadbeater made a series of journeys into North Africa, including Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria. While some travellers are unsure whether some of these countries are safe to visit, Leadbeater’s reportage finds adventure and welcome. Another trip took him to Lithuania, where he writes of how – though still scarred by decades of oppression – the country is actively engaging with its history and enjoying a cultural and culinary renaissance.

Leadbetter has visited the USA more than 50 times in the last 20 years, exploring 37 states. A recent trip to New York explores the less well-known side of the Big Apple, the “‘other New York” that can be found in the backwoods and glacial lakes of upstate, told in Leadbeater’s customary warm and witty style.

Judges’ comments: “His engaging storytelling immerses you in the moment, opening the door to new worlds and ways of seeing travel.”