The advent of railway travel in the early nineteenth century provided quick and easy access to spa towns and sea resorts and many of these towns capitalised on the new income and grew rapidly. However, some of these resorts, such as Bath and Cheltenham, which had been the preeminent spa towns of the eighteenth century, saw their fortunes wane as new resorts increased in popularity.

This three-volume guide to the principal spas and sea-resorts in England was published in 1841 by Augustus Granville, an Italian-born physician who travelled widely to spas in both England and in Germany. Granville travelled throughout the country remarking not only on the benefits of taking the waters in the spa towns and sea-bathing on the coast but also on the situations of the towns, proposed improvements, local sites of interest and the benefits of railway travel. The books provide an interesting guide to tourism in England in the 1840s.

The volumes were dedicated to Queen Victoria and this set may have been a presentation copy to the Queen. It was formerly in Queen Victoria' private library at Buckingham Palace.