Tom Howells is a London-based writer, editor and reluctant coastal emigré. After five ill-fated years in arts publishing, he jumped ship for cultural journalism and has since written for the Financial Times, The Modern House, The Guardian, Wallpaper*, The Fence, The Quietus and more. Formerly deputy food editor at Time Out London and deputy editor proper at N by Norwegian, he’s currently the editor of easyJet Traveller.
Over the years, Tom has reported on urchin fishing in Arctic Norway, lost electro-acoustic masterpieces in South London, ribald death festivals in Colorado, grunge histories in Seattle and the eldritch esoterica of Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s downsized stronghold of River Cottage in Dorset – though, for better or worse, his opus-in-waiting is a psychogeographic trawl across the Isle of Wight (or so he hopes).
What does a journey mean to you?
Mainly, an excuse to fill my face. After that, there are always new hills to climb.
Which country or location most inspires you?
The Isle of Wight – despite it being ‘home’, it contains true multitudes and I discover something new and outré about the place on a monthly basis. Otherwise, probably India for the resplendent beauty, astounding food and glorious, encompassing chaos like I’ve experienced nowhere else on Earth.
Where would you go back to, and why?
Japan. A place both ludicrously warm and utterly impenetrable that I’ve barely scratched the surface of. I dream of the apex pizza at Tokyo’s Seirinkan daily.
Top insider tip for London?
Novelty Automation in Holborn. If you know, you know.
What journey would you most like to go on?
Through-hiking the Appalachian Trail, knee cartilage be-damned.
