London: A Guide for Curious Wanderers: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Product Information

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! 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.

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.We are experiencing delays with deliveries to many countries, but in most cases local services have now resumed. For more details, please consult the latest information provided by Royal Mail's International Incident Bulletin. 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. It is also beautifully illustrated by the brilliant Katharine Fraser and includes four self-guided maps to help you explore the city for yourself! The book comes complete with maps so you can spot these details yourself on walks through the capital. 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!

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. The book comes complete with maps so you can spot these details yourself on walks through the capital. London is famous for its museums, each one full of treasures and relics – but the biggest museum in the capital is the city itself. 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 would be an ideal coffee table book and also good to have in e-book form to guide you around the capital, particularly if following any of the suggested walking maps.

In 2021 I took part in Open City’s Golden Key Academy guiding course and in October 2021 started running my guided walks of London’s hidden history. My walks focus on one area of London at a time, with the aim to uncover its stories, point out the little details many miss, really get under the city’s skin and ultimately share my passion for the city’s history. Each walk has a theme. For example, the first one focuses on London’s buildings. They go from Roman ruins to skyscrapers. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-White Lion for the ARC – This is my honest review. 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! This richly detailed and beautifully illustrated book provides a miscellany of historic features and curiosities to spot as you wander around the capital.

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. 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! 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. The perfect gift/treat for Londoners or someone visiting the city who wants to get to grips with the history hiding in plain sight all around them. 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!

London is famous for its museums, each one full of treasures and relics – but the biggest museum in the capital is the city itself. London: A Guide for Curious Wanderers is a great travel guide of London as well as a book that contains a wealth of information that many may not know about the City of London.

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. London is famous for its museums, each one full of treasures and relics – but the biggest museum in the capital is the city itself. 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. 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. Do you know what jetting is or a sedan chair? Do you know when ‘Egyptian mania’ affected London architecture? You can learn the interesting answers to these questions and more by reading this book. It’s full of unusual facts about London history and architecture. The illustrations are an absolute delight. This is a perfect book for people who live in London, and for tourists. However, tourists may not have the time to explore all the places mentioned here. This book certainly made me wish that I lived in London!In the introduction, the author states that he wants to show explorers lots of hidden corners. He also want to provide an “ability to read London.” Sounds good. I will happily take this book with me on my next visit and plan to follow some of the walking guides included. The text itself provides just the right introduction to each spot covered, whetting many an appetite (or at least my own--can I book a flight?). The author brilliantly intersperses some walks throughout, as well--which I would absolutely avail myself of were I a tad bit closer. This was a great way to get a birds-eye view of London and its rich history, art, and architecture. 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. I started this blog to share my journey discovering London’s fascinating past, by walking its bustling grand streets, diving down its mysterious alleyways and strolling along the banks of the Thames. I believe that the city itself is the greatest and most interesting museum of all.