There are many similarities between Bill Bryson’s Notes From a Small Island and The kingdom by the Sea by Paul Theroux.
I prefered Kingdom By the Sea because although Bryson was wittier, it was hard to empathise with his abrasive, somewhat crude character, and I felt Theroux shed more light on the English psyche.
I’ve always like Bill Bryson and never been able to get all the way through anything written by Paul Theroux-so maybe I am a bit biased. Bryson is a bit of twit, but then, that is part of his charm.