Inspired by a journey to a beach resort which he discovered tucked behind an enormous industrial estate, journalist Tim Moore got a bright idea.

He took it upon himself to visit all of the most maligned towns on the UK mainland.

And then write about them, obviously.

Keen to do things properly, he decided he would also restrict himself to the nastiest hotels.

Tim also visited the most boring attractions and ate in the grimmest restaurants.

To visit these towns, he decided to travel in a notoriously bad car. And to pass the time whilst driving, he listened to a compilation of the country's most awful music.

Considering the mental strain all this must have put him under, Moore deserves credit for using his experience to craft such a thoughtful and hilarious travelogue.

It would have been easy to write an extended "worst-ever review of the British Isles" with the ample material that Moore had to hand.

Instead, he's manfully avoided all temptations to turn his book into one big sneer at the less salubrious areas that Britain has to offer.

You Are Awful... is a great deal more thoughtful than that – and a much better book for it.

Moore's anecdotes are peppered with well-researched and entertaining insights that usually make them sound well worth the trip.

A surprisingly good and informative read.