There were so many options for this week’s The Broke and the Bookish Top Ten Tuesday topic – Top Ten Books I’d Recommend To X Person – but in the end I decided to choose ten books for people travelling to London. Because you know, someone might be looking for such a list.
Someone like me!
Cue ALL THE YAYS!
Half the fun of a holiday is in the planning. I’ve picked ten books that will set me on the path to a London visit that will be crammed with sightseeing, memorable walks, good food and perhaps a spot of shopping.
1. London Gin by Thea Bennett – Okay, it’s not really a tourist guide but hey, London is home to my favourite drink (and there’s a book about it).
2. The Rough Guide to Vintage London by Sam Cook – Because yes, Art Deco cafes are on my list.
3. LUXE London by LUXE City Guides – totally loved the New York LUXE guide, expect the London guide will be equally as fab.
4. London Design Guide 2014-15 by Max Fraser – promises “a fresh insight into the city’s design retailers, galleries, museums and bookshops”. Ace. I love fresh insights as much as I love gin.
5. A Guide to Dickens’ London by Daniel Tyler – for something a little bookish.
6. Slow London by Robin Barton – take time to smell the roses… Or in this case, the Algerian Oak in Kew Gardens.
7. Secret London – Unusual Bars and Restaurants by Rachel Howard – well a girl’s gotta eat.
8. A Guide to London’s Classic Cafes and Fish and Chip Shops by Tom Howells – ditto above.
9. London Pub Walks by Bob Steel – doesn’t that sound excellent?!
10. Wallpaper City Guide London 2013 by Wallpaper – because I’m beyond Lonely Planet but I’m not quite old enough for Frommer’s London.
I love London! Cheers for this. Now I can’t wait to get back =)
It’s been waaaaaaaay too long since I was in London so I’m very, very excited.
Love your list! 😀 Definitely saving it for the day when I head over to London <3
Excellent (and when that happens, hopefully I’ll be able to give you the lowdown on some top book shops).
It’s already been decided that when you (Lianne) go to London, I am going with you. We will visit tea shops and the like.
Now we just have to plan it… 😉
I remember when I first went to England, I stocked up on reading fiction books to get the Britishcism down. It didn’t really help, but it made me feel more comfortable 🙂
Aly @ My Heart Hearts BooksMy TTT
I have been doing a little bit of London fiction (although already read a fair bit based in the UK anyway), although not sure if I’m quite up Edward Rutherfurd’s epic ‘London’
I haven’t read any of these books but I love your list idea! I’m so jealous you are going to London – I hope your trip is awesome!
There’s a whole stack of books about to arrive in my letterbox – yay! Can’t wait for my trip (even though I will probably FREEZE – going in Feb!).
As a lifelong Londoner I never think to look at guide books for my home city, but I might give Slow London a go – this list was really interesting. I hope you have a wonderful time while you’re over here!
Thanks!
People are rarely tourists in their own city but playing tourist is fun – if you find Slow London, I’d appreciate your thoughts from a Londoner’s perspective.
That are a lot of interesting looking books on London, specially the vintage and and unusual bars and restaurants look promising!
The vintage book will be getting a work-out!
Thanks for the recs. Will definitely have to check these out if I ever go to London!
Our TTT
Doris @ OABR
Lonely Planet! I definitely still use it. 😉
I’d use pretty much every single one of these, no exceptions.
I still check out the odd Lonely Planet for sightseeing info but places to stay and eat, not so much – higher standards in my old age 😉
Ahhh, SO cool! I just moved from Germany to London for Uni! I will definitely look for some of these books now 😀 Great list!
Excellent! Coincidentally, my London trip includes a three day Berlin stop-over – I LOVE Germany 🙂