Category Archives: Travel Guides
Edinburgh History Tour
The profile of Edinburgh was born of a marriage between nature`s sculpture and man`s architecture. The epicentre is Castle Rock – a volcanic plug – which constantly draws the eye from all parts of the city. Sloping down from it is a jagged outline of impossibly high medieval tenements lining the Royal Mile, which is
Brewing in London
At the start of the eighteenth century London had almost 200 breweries producing close on 2 million barrels of beer every year, making the mighty metropolis the brewing capital of the world. By 1976, when the once-mighty Whitbread halted production at their famous Chiswell Street headquarters, there were only nine brewers left in the capital.The
Kingston Upon Thames in 50 Buildings
At the heart of one of London`s busiest boroughs, nestled on the banks of the River Thames, lies Kingston upon Thames. This vibrant Surrey market town first appears on record in a royal document from AD 838 and by the tenth century it had become the place of coronation for Anglo-Saxon kings. The town itself
Secrets of Central London`s Squares
Explore the secret, the quirky and curious history of London`s well-known squares. Authors David Brandon and Alan Brooke have made some strange discoveries in these famous places, from the personal dedications on the benches in Berkeley Square to the Grade II listed Cabman`s Shelter at Russell Square. There are details on the hidden history of
London Gig Venues
The UK has produced some of the most original, exciting and influential bands in the world and most of these bands have cut their teeth in the network of music venues that criss-cross the capital. Some of these venues have achieved a mythical status whilst others have fallen by the wayside Imagine walking past some
The Princess`s Garden: Royal Intrigue and the Untold Story of Kew
The British enthusiasm for gardening has fascinating roots. The Empire and trade across the globe created an obsession with exotic new plants, and showed the power and reach of Britain in the early eighteenth century. At that time, national influence wasn`t measured by sporting success, musical or artistic influence. Instead it was expressed in the
Bristol Pubs
Ever since the days when it was the starting point for voyages of discovery to the New World, the old port of Bristol has boasted a wealth of taverns, inns, alehouses, and public houses. Most of the older drinking establishments that have survived have stories to tell; frequently quirky or surprising, always interesting and often
Victorian London Through Time
The Victorian era saw great changes to Britain`s capital. This book illustrates the nineteenth-century aspects of London that the Victorians were so proud of: the pioneering public health engineering of Bazalgette`s system of intercepting sewers; the magnificent public buildings such as the `new` Gothic House of Commons and Big Ben; impressive new expanded British Museum,
Clerkenwell & Islington Pubs
Clerkenwell and Islington are two of London`s most historic districts; areas where radicalism once thrived and heavy industry flourished, where poverty and lawlessness were commonplace. This diverse and colourful history can be traced in the area`s many pubs. The ancient parish of Clerkenwell, located just outside the City of London`s walls, was historically the home
More Yorkshire in Photographs
The amazing county of Yorkshire offers some of the most diverse and rich landscapes, seasides and cityscapes in the British Isles. Limestone interlaces with sweeping and rolling fells, and dramatic peaks rise from its plains. Photographer Dave Zdanowicz has captured its essence from the coast to the Dales in this collection of stunning images.From the
Scotland in Photographs
Scotland has been truly blessed with its great diversity of beautiful landscapes. `God`s Own Country` is surrounded by dramatic seascapes and peppered with fast-flowing rivers, mysterious lochs and high waterfalls. International award-winning photographer Shahbaz Majeed has captured the country`s essence in this collection of stunning images.From world-class cities to spectacular wave-battered cliffs and beaches, from
Great Writers on the Great War Revolt in the Desert
Revolt in the Desert is the extraordinary story of the war in Arabia between 1916 and 1918, written by one of the war`s most extraordinary characters, Lawrence of Arabia. It tells of his adventures and life amongst the Arab tribesmen, the daring raids on the Turks, the demolition of railway lines, the attacking of desert
Yorkshire in Photographs
Yorkshire is not only the largest county in England, it is also the most beautiful; just ask anyone living there. If there is a heaven then it must surely look like this and landscape photographer, Dave Zdanowicz, has captured its essence in this collection of divine images.From the distinctive landscapes and timeless villages of the
How to Fly a Plane: The First World War Manual
The training aid for many a pilot from one of the leading instructors of the First World War. There are 160 pages with many illustrations of leading aircraft of the period. Chock full of handy tips for the budding aviator. Nothing could ready you for the world of combat, where pilots` lives were measured in
Railway Hotels
This book celebrates the British railway station hotel. It focuses on those hotels built or acquired by the railway companies themselves rather than on the many railway or station hotels built by local entrepreneurs as speculative ventures up and down the country. It traces the success and failure of some of the early railway hotels
Blighty`s Railways: Britian`s Railways in the First World War
During the First World War, the railways of Great Britain were run for the benefit of the armed services. With minimal investment and much of the workforce conscripted, the railways paid the price for their war service. Many railway-owned ships were commandeered and never returned, some lost, others unfit for service at the end of
Through Spain with Wellington: The Letters of Lieutenant Peter Le Mesurier of the `Fighting Ninth`
The letters of Peter Le Mesurier (1789-1813) cover his service in the 9th Foot, from leaving for Portugal as an ensign in 1808 at the very start of the Peninsular War, up until Le Mesurier`s death at the Battle of the Nive in December 1813. The `Fighting Ninth` saw more action than any other regiment,
Abandoned & Vanished Canals of England
Many thousands of route miles of canal and navigation once used to criss-cross England, serving collieries, iron mines, steelworks, towns and villages. From the start of the twentieth century onwards, many of these canals closed down as a result of lack of trade. Many of the lost canals are in the Midlands, the heartland of
Preserved Steam: Britain`s Heritage Railways
Geoff Swaine has combined his passions for photography and railways in this new collection of images which covers some of Britain`s most celebrated heritage lines: The West Somerset Railway, the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, the North York Moors Railway, Didcot Railway Centre, the Mid-Hants Railway (Watercress Line), the Llangollen Railway in Wales, the Great Central
London`s Docklands Through Time
London`s Docklands have a rich and varied history. Dating from the Middle Ages they developed into one of the biggest docks in the world. The riches of Britain`s Empire found its way into the country through the River Thames and into London. Unfortunately, the people who worked and lived in London`s dockland rarely shared in
