Fistral Beach, Newquay. I love the way England just falls into the sea.

The harbour at Newquay. Can't you just smell the lobster traps in this photo?

Padstow harbour. When the tide's in, those fishing boats are at work.

This was my first time in Cornwall. I know there’s often tension between locals and tourists (“emmets”, in Cornish) but I’m not sure I can stay away. If I promise to support the local economy, not to be obnoxious, and to keep my mouth shut about Rick Stein, may I come back? Please?

I’m going to continue gloating about my recent English travels. These daytrips are hardly breaking news (I’m in Tofino, British Columbia at the moment) but I really enjoyed my time in the green and pleasant land. While I was there, I climbed a Victorian vanity tower: a monument to Lancashire boy and C19 Prime Minister Robert Peel. It looms over the landscape from the top of Holcombe Hill, like so.

Peel Tower, Holcombe Hill

Have I mentioned that I adore both heights and Victorian follies? This is the view from the top of the tower, which is open on a hit-and-miss basis on summer weekends.

Lancashire hills

Then my family and I went to Chester to walk on the Roman walls. Yes, it’s every bit as lovely as the photo suggests – even on a cloudy day.

Chester is also a big shopping city; not really my thing, but check out those Tudor-timbered buildings!

Chester, within the city walls

Also, there’s a cafe called the Crypt which is – you guessed it – a genuine crypt. It’s also now part of a department store, but please don’t let that stop you. At least, I didn’t.

I know – it doesn’t look that special, does it? But this is the British Library, aka my spiritual home in London. I spent 6 joyous months there researching my PhD thesis and even now, when I walk through the doors, I smile grin like a lunatic. That may sound a bit deranged, but come on – where else might you pass an antique printing press on your way to the loo? So this was my first stop when I got off the train at Euston. I didn’t have anything to look up this time, but went in anyway to pay my respects. (And if you’re looking for a clever gift for a bookish person, you could do a lot worse than adopting one of their books.)

I met my editor, Mara Bergman of Walker Books, for lunch. Her office is on the South Bank in a converted Victorian factory.

The sign says, "Horatio Myer & Co Ltd, bedstead manufacturers"

We had a lovely lunch with Katie, a cover designer, and Emily, Mara’s editorial assistant. Mara is a wonderful editor and she’s also an award-winning picture-book author! She very generously gave me her latest book, Oliver Who Travelled Far and Wide, and it’s already become my son’s new favourite book.

Mara, holding some random title, with Katie & Emily

After lunch I met Patrick Insole, who designed the gorgeous covers for Spy and Body. I really, really, really love Patrick’s work but that didn’t stop me from coercing him into taking a picture. I’m told he detests photos. Soz, P.

After meeting several other Walkerites, all of whom were absolutely lovely and passionate about books (hello Jane and Emma and Sean!), I wandered across to the Albert Embankment, where the weather finally matched my mood.

That sky looks fake, I know, but I used no filters and haven't tweaked anything on this image.

The following day I met my agent, Rowan Lawton, for breakfast. I adore talking with Rowan – she never fails to be inspiring and energizing. We talked about the next book, and the next, and then about some wacky ideas I was kicking around. It was brilliant.

I spent the rest of my time wandering around Bloomsbury, researching the setting for my next novel. If there’s a happier job in the world, I have yet to hear of it.

And now, book news: the blog tour for The Agency 2: The Body at the Tower starts on August 2 at the Story Siren! My theme this time is Notorious Victorians – oh, yes.

I’m in England with my family! Now that we’ve all adjusted to local time, we’re tourist-ing it up. We began with a steam-train expedition on the East Lancashire Railway, which was perfect on a rainy day:

The weather helped towards a Victorian atmosphere.

It was a diesel engine on the way out but we came back by steam.

Waiting for a heavily laden tea-trolley to trundle by.

The East Lancs Railway is run primarily by volunteers – especially impressive when you realize that it runs every weekend throughout the year, with extra trains in the holiday season.

A couple of days later, we went to the newly restored Clitheroe Castle. The last time I was there, it was still a ruin.

Clitheroe Castle

The castle keep dates to Norman times.

The museum entrance - a bit of a jolt, when you round the corner.

Today, I’m in London. More anon.