Tom Vernon had never appreciated physical exercise, but succeeded in cycling his nineteen stone almost a thousand miles from Muswell Hill to La Grande-Motte in order to 'put the toe on the reality of provincial France'.
After decades of unchecked sprawl, more people than ever are moving back to the city. Dense urban living has been prescribed as a panacea for the environmental and resource crises of our time. But is it better or worse for our happiness? Are subways, sidewalks and tower dwelling an improvement on