Going for a walk wasn’t really a thing 300 years ago – the Victorians turned it into a popular pastime

By Lauren Nichola Colley, PhD in English literature, University of Nottingham

Going for a walk is always a good idea. Perhaps, if you are lucky enough, this might be a hike along ragged cliffs or trudge along a chilly beach with family. Many of us however, have to take to the pavements of Britain’s towns and cities for our post-lunch walks.

As a researcher of pedestrianism, I am fascinated by the changing culture of how, where and why we walk. This includes the tacit pavement etiquette that has both endured through the centuries and changed to reflect the cultural concerns of the age.

You might be surprised to hear that “going for a walk” wasn’t…

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