The Good Web Guide picks its favourite sites of 2010

A lot has happened in the web world this year. The Times and The Sunday Times websites went behind a Paywall leading us to question our right to free content. WikiLeaks released hundreds of classified documents leading us to question our right to know everything. Meanwhile, technophile and the original Twitter enthusiast Stephen Fry left the social networking site, leading us to wonder (besides what he had for breakfast) what went wrong.

At The Good Web Guide we've come across lots of wonderful websites this year- some new and some that have been around for a while. Here is a round up of our personal favourites from 2010.

1. AnyVan.com - Winner of our Website of the Year Award 2010, this delivery auction site can save you hundreds of pounds when shipping goods about the country or moving home.

Watch out for: how much others have saved - hundreds of pounds in some cases.

2. Mashable.com - 2010 has been the year for social media and this site is the ultimate resource for the latest happenings in the social sphere.

Watch out for: Trending news and gossip. The best of current social chit chat.

3. Couchsurfing.com - On the move and nowhere to stay? This site connects people and their sofas around the world.

Watch out for: Couch surfer profiles. See who could be kipping on your sofa.

4. Ooh.com - This was highly commended in our Website of the Year Awards this year. It didn't win, but was a real favourite, pointing users in the direction of fun stuff to do.

Watch out for: the Top Things to Do around the world - from cheese tasting to dress making.

5. Zooniverse.org - A collection of ‘citizen science' projects, which encourage members of the public to participate in scientific research, allowing scientists to work at greater speed and increase the scope and reach of their work.

Watch out for: Projects - will you help to map the surface of the moon, transcribe old weather logs or catch an exploding star?

6. 38degrees.org.uk - 38 Degrees is the angle at which avalanches begin. It's also the name of a campaign organisation established to use modern technology to harness the power of ordinary people to effect change at a local and national level in the UK.

Watch out for: Campaigns - browse by politics, economy, international issues and more. There's sure to be one that you can lend your support to.

7. Bookmooch.com - A community for exchanging used books that really couldn't be simpler. The perfect excuse to get rid of that Jeremy Clarkson you inexplicably bought.

Watch out for: the Top Books section - those books that are most wishlisted and most mooched.

8. Pitchup.com - Making camping cool with its comprehensive guide to 5,000 holiday parks and campsites across the UK and Ireland.

Watch out for: the sites near festivals. Just enter the festival you are heading to and it'll find a campsite nearby.

9. Smarta.com - The brainchild or all-round entrepreneur Shaa Wasmund, this provides an unrivalled support platform for business owners.

Watch out for: the interviews with real entrepreneurs.

10. Travelguru.tv - A video-based website, combining professionally filmed travel reports and specially negotiated holiday offers and travel discounts.

Watch out for: the Featured Location - watch the video, benefit from the discount.

17 December 2010