London is a city with an abundance of bizarre & curious places & stories, being ancient, vast & in a constant state of regeneration. Newcomers have, of course, a wealth of world-famous attractions to keep them occupied for a month of Sundays, which are more than adequately covered in a plethora of standard guidebooks. What London`s Secrets: Bizarre & Curious does is take you off the beaten path to seek out the more unusual places that often fail to register on the radar of both visitors & residents alike. It also highlights unexpected & often overlooked aspects & attractions of some of London`s more famous tourist sites. London`s Secrets: Bizarre & Curious

Includes:: some of the city`s most unusual buildings, striking public artworks, outrageous museum & gallery exhibits, hauntings (including by animals), legends & much more. Entries range from Britain`s oldest door to the beginning of body-snatching, from dummy house facades to London`s unluckiest spot, from a legal brothel to the capital`s most haunted theatre, & from the original skull & crossbones to what has a strong claim to be London`s campest statue. Although this book isn`t intended as a walking guide, many of the places covered are close to each other in central London
- notably in the hubs of Westminster & the City
- where you can easily stroll between them, while others are further out in the suburbs. However, all are close to public transport links & relatively easy to get to. &, conveniently for a city with a (largely unfounded) reputation for rain
- London actually enjoys a lower annual rainfall than New York, Rome or Sydney
- many of the attractions are indoors, meaning you can visit them whatever the weather.





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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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The streets & public spaces of London are rich with statues & monuments commemorating the city`s great figures & events
- from
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This new series of entertaining, good value pocket guides will enhance everyone`s visit to our capital. The top attractions; ...

London’s Strangest Tales is your alternative guide to the capital, unraveling some of London’s best kept secrets & packed with amazing things you didn`t know about the city
- such as the fact that it’s still forbidden to run, carry an umbrella or whistle in Burlington Arcade or why, for centuries, many Londoners chose to go to prison to get married! From the medieval human lavatory to the monarch who showed her breasts to a visiting ambassador, London’s Strangest Tales is a unique collection of extraordinary stories dating back more than a thousand years.
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London`s Strangest Tales takes a walk on London`s weirder side with an absorbing collection of curious tales from one of the world`s greatest cities. This fascinating book is packed with amazing things you didn`t know about Britain`s capital, like the fact that it`s still forbidden to run, carry an umbrella or whistle in the Burlington Arcade, & the fat lamppost at the corner of Trafalgar Square that is secretly a tiny prison cell. & did you know that the entrance to Buckingham Palace you see from the Mall is actually the back door & not the front? The stories within these pages are bizarre, fascinating, hilarious &, most importantly, true. Revised, redesigned & updated for a new generation of London-lovers, this book is a brilliant alternative guide to the city, whether you`re a visitor, a daily commuter or one of its 8 million inhabitants. Word count: 45, 000 ...

London`s Strangest Tales takes a walk on London`s weirder side with an absorbing collection of curious tales from one of the world`s greatest cities. This fascinating book is packed with amazing things you didn`t know about Britain`s capital, like the fact that it`s still forbidden to run, carry an umbrella or whistle in the Burlington Arcade, & the fat lamppost at the corner of Trafalgar Square that is secretly a tiny prison cell. & did you know that the entrance to Buckingham Palace you see from the Mall is actually the back door & not the front? The stories within these pages are bizarre, fascinating, hilarious &, most importantly, true. This brand new edition, redesigned in splendid hardback for 2018, is a brilliant alternative guide to the city, whether you`re a visitor, a daily commuter or one of its 8 million inhabitants. Word count: 45, 000 ...