Inside Nat Geo Traveller UK: an interview with editor Pat Riddell

There's exciting news coming out of the APL Media offices this week.

You might have seen a few high profile jobs going at National Geographic Traveller UK lately, with several new hires joining the team over the last six months. With the new crew firmly in place, and with some exciting news (including a rate rise!), we’ve caught up with long-time editor of the magazine Pat Riddell.

Pat has been editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK) since it launched at the end of 2010. Prior to that, I was editor of ABTA Magazine, and freelanced as a travel writer and editor for several years before that.

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How are things at NGT UK since the pandemic abated? Are you back to full pagination?

Things bounced back fairly swiftly, to be honest, I think the demand was there pretty early on — even if travel was slow to get moving. By mid-2021 we were averaging 164 pages and 2022 saw us return to a more standard 180-pagination. The digital side of things never really slowed, and events and supplements continue apace.

What makes a brilliant story for NGT UK?

An actual story is obviously the first place to begin, it’s seemingly very easy to forget. Beyond that it’s a compelling narrative and the ability to deftly weave characters, culture and a sense of place throughout – with a nod towards sustainable and responsible travel. We only publish two of the longer eyewitness features each issue, but there are various formats throughout the magazine.

In recent years, these long-form pieces have really stood out: