What makes this book stand out are the detailed illustrations by Katharine Fraser instead of expected photos. Although some actual photos to provide a bit more “street” context would have been nice, I suppose that context would be supplied by actual walk to the places Chesher describes. Ongoing Covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery across the globe. We know I will read almost anything to do with London, and this book is a delightful addition to the armchair-travel/initial-guidebook genre ... but man, those illustrations. They would earn a special spot on my bookcase or coffee table themselves!

Exploring cities on foot and finding interesting quirks and details is quite fun. To go beyond standard “big” tourist attractions, to find fascinating little tidbits just hiding in plain sight — it is a great thing for any city explorer. This richly detailed and beautifully illustratedbook provides a miscellany of historic features and curiosities to spot as you wander around the capital. Whether you’ve always wondered why there are cattle troughs on your route to work, why bollards often look like upside down cannons orwanted to know what a Victorian stink pipe is – this book will provide the tools to decipherLondon’s secret code, and introduce you to a treasure trove of hidden spots to explore. I went on to study history at the University of Bristol and lived there for seven years. I put that history degree to immediate good use and became a hotel manager for 4 and a half years.

How to Read London

London is famous for its museums, each one full of treasures and relics – but the biggest museum in the capital is the city itself. This richly detailed and beautifully illustratedbook provides a miscellany of historic features and curiosities to spotas you wander around the capital. Whether you’ve always wondered why there are cattle troughs on your route to work, why bollards often look like upside-down cannons or wanted to know what a Victorian stink pipe is – this book will provide the tools to decipher London’s secret code and introduce you to a treasure trove of hidden spots to explore. There are some beautiful illustrations throughout the book, highlighting some of the interesting signs, buildings, and statues, ect, that can be found around the Capital, but I found myself scrambling for my phone to look up every other object that wasn’t given a visual - I just had to know what it looked like! However, I understand that the book would have felt crowded if there were illustrations for each curiosity. This richly detailed and beautifully illustrated book provides a miscellany of historic features and curiosities to spot as you wander around the capital. Whether you’ve always wondered why there are cattle troughs on your route to work, why bollards often look like upside down cannons or wanted to know what a Victorian stink pipe is – this book will provide the tools to decipher London’s secret code, and introduce you to a treasure trove of hidden spots to explore. The book comes complete with maps so you can spot these details yourself on walks through the capital. So, pop on a sturdy pair of shoes and get ready to turn the city into the museum you never knew you had. The book comes complete with maps so you can spot these details yourself on walks through the capital.

See London in a completely new light inthis guide to the citys hidden secrets,untold stories andspecial places laden with history which you can discover for yourself! It is my guide to London’s often overlooked little details, quirks and oddities. From bollards that are actually upended cannon and evidence of London’s lost rivers, to the stories behind some of the city’s best street names and what a ‘snob’ screen is, it is a miscellany of London and how to read the city’s streets. I grew up in Essex and London has always been a fascinating and exhilarating place to me. I have also always had a passion for history. When I was younger my brothers would be taken to football matches at the weekends, I would be taken on day trips to the British museum. I am a big fan of museums and books but, even more so, I am interested in the tangible, liveable and breathable history we are surrounded by as we go about our everyday lives. If you want to know where to find street furniture, Roman remains, hidden rivers, or stink pipes (yes, really!) - basically anything that tells a story of the capital's past, this is definitely a book to have in your collection.

Product story

I had a few hours of fun browsing through this book and making a few mental notes of things to look at if I’m in London. There are two versions of this book on Goodreads that I cannot combine...hopefully it will be remedied soon by the request that I put through to their librarians. See London in a completely new light in this guide to the city's hidden secrets, untold stories and special places laden with history which you can discover for yourself! Having seen the creator of this book as someone's guest on youtube I knew it would not be too shoddy, but I didn't expect it to be on the slight and gentle side I at first felt it to be. The first chapter, taking us almost to the one-third mark, concerns a walk through London's architectural history, from the Roman flooring and Norman arches that are so close geographically if not temporally to buildings designed by a chap who passed away as this was readied for publication that could melt cars parked beneath them.

I LOVE this book. It’s equal parts amazing coffee table book and practical guide. It’s full of interesting historical facts about London and contains beautiful illustrations. I wish there were more illustrations! The items featured are random, quirky, and idiosyncratic representing virtually every era of London history. The featured items include architectural details, urban features, and easily overlooked evidence of historical events. The explanations are provided in text formatted like museum placards. Some examples include evidence of London bombings during WW2, London’s largest graffiti wall, London’s smallest sculpture, “Two Mice Eating Cheese,” and fossilized tree stumps thought to be millions of years old. Maps for four walks are also provided. A lovely guide to more obscure things to see in London, in which everyone, even a seasoned London nerd, finds something new. It's obviously a labour of love, detailed but written lightly and entertainingly. The illustrations are amazing as well. I particularly like the maps for self-guided walks after each section - as an introverted traveller, I'll be using those a lot! From the stories behind unusual street names, to the trees in our parks; railings made from recycled WWII stretchers, to shrapnel damage on walls; the hidden symbols on post boxes, to prehistoric tree trunks – there is a rich history hidden in the oft-overlooked details of the city’s streets, gardens, parks and buildings.This richly detailed and beautifully illustrated book provides a miscellany of historic features and curiosities to spot as you wander around the capital. Whether you’ve always wondered why there are cattle troughs on your route to work, why bollards often look like upside-down cannons or wanted to know what a Victorian stink pipe is – this book will provide the tools to decipher London’s secret code and introduce you to a treasure trove of hidden spots to explore. Each walk has a theme. For example, the first one focuses on London’s buildings. They go from Roman ruins to skyscrapers. See London in a completely new light in this guide to the city’s hidden secrets, untold stories and special places laden with history which you can discover for yourself!