The skyline of Victorian London was dominated by sinister mounds of rubbish, graphically described in Dickens`s novel Our Mutual Friend. Surprisingly these dust mounds were where hundreds of so called running or flying dustmen made a meager living. Working in the open air in all weathers, amid the dust & smell, they separated out the refuse, selling much of it on, in an early form of recycling. They turned a profit from mere rubbish
- the ` Alchemy of Dust`. In time the fear of cholera & other epidemic diseases resulted in public health legislation that banished the dust mounds, & 150 years later Londoners do their own recycling. In this pioneering book Peter Hounsell explores the changes in the management of London`s rubbish over the last two centuries.
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London`s wealth of world-class attractions are renowned & covered in numerous excellent general tourist guides. Not so well known are London`s numerous smaller attractions, most of which are neglected by the throngs who descend upon the tourist-clogged major sights. What London`s Secret Places does is seek out the city`s lesser-known, but no less worthy, `hidden` attractions. ...

London`s Secret Tubes: wartime citadels, subways & shelters uncovered, written by Andrew Emmerson, Tony Beards & members of Subterranea Brittanica, deals with the less familiar aspects of London’s network of underground structures. Build for strategic purposes between the 1930s & 1960s, a substantial number of tunnels exist under London’s streets & buildings, most little known to the general public, & the book tells the story of these structures, separating fact from fiction with the help of considerable new research between its original publication in 2004 & this second 2007 edition. Illustrated with numerous, mainly contemporary photos plus plans & diagrams, the book describes shelters used during the war years by the cabinet, other governmental organizations & the BBC or to provide protection for ordinary Londoners, as well as tunnels used by the Post Office, British Telecom, etc. Many little known facts from London’s history are included: how many Londoners know that the Clapham South wartime shelter was used in 1948 as a temporary base for housing 236 Jamaicans who sailed on the Windrush & had nowhere to stay when they arrived in Britain. ...

London`s Secret Walks is a walking book with a difference, taking in many of London`s lesser-known, but no less worthy sights. As Samuel Johnson said to his friend Boswell in the 18th century, on the occasion of the latter`s arrival in London: ”survey its innumerable little lanes & courts.” By extension, wander off the beaten tourist track & you`ll discover a world of fascinating sights & attractions that not many tourists
- or even Londoners
- get to see.

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Walking makes a lot of sense in London, whether it`s for pleasure, exercise or simply to get from A to B. Although the city has a comprehensive public transport system, it`s also one of the world`s most expensive & very crowded, so walking is often the quickest & most enjoyable way to get around
- at least in the centre
- & it`s also free & healthy! London`s reputation for rain is largely unfounded
- it actually enjoys lower annual rainfall than New York, Rome & Sydney
- & is rarely too hot or too cold to make walking uncomfortable (but take your brolly just in case). London has a somewhat haphazard street pattern (to put it mildly), the result of having grown organically over 2, 000 years, rather than being planned logically like some modern cities. As a result, many attractions are off the beaten track, away from the major thoroughfares & public transport hubs. This favours walking as the best way to explore them, as does the fact that London is a visually interesting city with a wealth of stimulating sights between destinations; you don`t see a lot from the seat of a cab or bus
- & see nothing at all when cocooned in a tube train! The starting point for this book was Samuel Johnson`s advice to his friend Boswell in the 18th century, on the occasion of the latter`s arrival in London: ”survey its innumerable little lanes & courts.” By extension, wander off the beaten tourist track & you`ll find a world of fascinating sights, as you would expect in a city as large & old as London. There are 25 walks contained in this book. Most of the walks can be done in half a day or less, depending, of course, on how quickly you walk & how long you spend at the highlighted sights, particularly the pubs & restaurants. The walks don`t always follow the most logical route, but that`s deliberate & part of the fun: the aim is to maximise enjoyment & provide a flavour of the area, rather than to get from the start to finish as quickly as possible.




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London is a treasure trove for museum fans & art lovers & one of the world`s great art & cultural centres, with more popular museums & galleries than any other world city. The art scene is a lot like the city itself
- diverse, vast, vibrant & in a constant state of flux
- a conucopia of traditional & cutting-edge, majestic & mundane, world-class & run-of-the-mill, bizarre & brilliant.

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London is the world`s most verdant city of its size
- green spaces cover almost 40 per cent of the area of Greater London
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London is one of the world`s most exciting cities, but it`s also one of the noisiest; a bustling, chaotic, frenetic, over-crowded, manic metropolis of over 8 million people, where it can be difficult to find somewhere to grab a little peace & quiet. Nevertheless, if you know where to look London has a wealth of peaceful places
- places to relax, chill out, contemplate, meditate, sit, reflect, browse, read, chat, nap, walk, think, study or even work (if you must)
- where the city`s volume is muted or even switched off completely. Peaceful Places contains over 200 of the author`s & his friends`, colleagues` & acquaintances` favourite locations throughout the city, from restful gardens & serene churches to silent libraries & inspiring galleries; intimate hotels to blissful spas & cosy cafes; smart shops & atmospheric markets to appealing restaurants & charming tea rooms; quiet museums & sweeping parks to relaxing walks & friendly pubs
- & much more. Moreover, these places haven`t just been selected for their quietude but also for their excellence: every entry has something special to offer, be it a warm welcome, excellent food/drink, fascinating history, attractive ambience, glorious scenery or tempting goods for sale. Peace is a relative term, however, & not all places are whisper-quiet all the time; even churches have bell-ringing & organ practice, & many parks host noisy school parties & sports events. You can, of course, expect bookshops, libraries, galleries, museums & spas (and churches & parks!) to be tranquil most of the time, but even cafes, restaurants, pubs & bars can be surprisingly quiet
- although you may need to time your visit a little more carefully. With regard to the latter, we have chosen venues with gardens, terraces, panoramic views & cosy corners
- places where you can find a bit of personal space & grab some `me` time along with your refreshments. So whether you`re seeking a place to recharge your batteries, rest your head, revive your spirits, restock your larder or refuel your body; somewhere to inspire, soothe or uplift your mood; or you just wish to discover a part of London that`s a few steps further off the beaten track, Peaceful Places will steer you in the right direction.




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British pubs & bars are world famous for their unique atmosphere, bonhomie & fine beer, while increasing numbers are also noted for the excellence of their cuisine. Nowhere is this diversity & quality more evident than in London. Whether you`re seeking somewhere for a pint of real ale, a glass of `organic` wine, a designer cocktail or a delicious meal, a place to meet & have fun with your mates or just somewhere to relax & chill out, you`re bound to find your perfect venue in London
- with the help of the insider `secrets` in this book!
- A new title in our best-selling ` London`s Secrets` series.
- Essential reading for anyone who enjoys good pubs & bars, particularly fans of real ale, cocktail lovers & foodies.
- Contains details of over 270 venues, plus more photos & information than similar books & unique maps.
- London is one of the world`s most vibrant cities & a major tourist destination, & visitor numbers
- both domestic & international
- have never been higher.






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London`s sewers could be called the city`s forgotten underground: mostly unseen subterranean spaces that are of absolutely vital importance, the capital`s sewers nonetheless rarely get the same degree of attention as the Tube. Paul Dobraszczyk here outlines the fascinating history of London`s sewers from the nineteenth century onwards, using a rich variety of colour illustrations, photographs & newspaper engravings to show their development from medieval spaces to the complex, citywide network, largely constructed in the 1860s, that is still in place today. This book explores London`s sewers in history, fiction & film, including how they entice intrepid explorers into their depths, from the Victorian period to the present day. ...