Category Archives: Travel Guides
London`s Docklands: An Illustrated Guide
London has always been a bustling place of trade; once the docks teemed with men, ships and goods from all over the world. Now all has been transformed: starting at Canary Wharf and continuing at the Royal Docks, a vibrant new area has sprung into existence providing commerce, housing, shops and restaurants.In London`s Docklands the
Welsh Folk Tales
This book, a selection of folk tales, true tales, tall tales, myths, gossip, legends and memories, celebrates and honours unique Welsh stories. Some are well known, others from forgotten manuscripts or out-of-print volumes, and some are contemporary oral tales. They reflect the diverse tradition of storytelling, and the many meanings of `chwedlau`. If someone says,
Journey to Crossrail: Railways Under London, From Brunel to the Elizabeth Line
Why did London have to wait so long for a main line railway beneath its streets? For a few years in the mid-nineteenth century, Isambard Kingdom Brunel`s broad gauge Great Western trains ran from Reading to Faringdon. Now, after many false starts, his vision is being realised as the Elizabeth Line carries passengers from Reading
The Bristol Colouring Book
Bristol has charmed visitors for centuries, and this collection of intricate illustrations is a celebration of the city’s unique appeal. Featuring a range of picturesque vistas, from the historic Floating Harbour and SS Great Britain to Avon Gorge and the city’s Georgian architecture, each stunning scene is full of intriguing detail sure to fire the
The Blue Badge Guide`s London Quiz Book
Drawing on extensive knowledge and celebrating London`s diverse riches, this quiz book invites you to come on a wide-ranging exploration of the megacity the author calls `The Big Onion`. Peel away its many layers in the company of one of London`s top Blue Badge tourist guides. These 22 tours will inspire you, your family, colleagues
The Oldest House in London
LONDON`s old buildings hold a wealth of clues to the city`s rich and vibrant past. The histories of some, such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, are well documented. However, these magnificent, world-renowned attractions are not the only places with fascinating tales to tell. Down a narrow, medieval lane on the outskirts of
Nelson`s Spyglass: 101 Curious Objects from British History
Each of these 101 strange and curious objects from British history has an extraordinary story to tell. Many royal possessions are inside, including the shirt of that Charles I was wearing when he was executed and Queen Victoria`s dancing shoes, along with curiosities such as Darwin`s walking stick, the last letter that Dickens ever wrote,
Discovering Tudor London: A Journey Back in Time
This engaging and practical travel guide takes you on a journey through the best of Tudor London, to sites built and associated with this fascinating dynasty, and to the museums and galleries that house tantalising treasures from this rich period of history. Join the author as she explores evocative historical sites, including the magnificent great
Daring Women of History: Amelia Earhart
A pioneering aviator and advocate of women`s equality, Amelia Earhart was, and continues to be, an inspiration to people the world over. Her fierce determination to break records and push the boundaries of aviation led her to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932, as well as the first
Dunkirk: The Real Story in Photographs
The Second World War saw heroic efforts made by the Allied forces from its very outset, but in May 1940 disaster befell the British Expeditionary Force in France. Isolated from the rest of their allies, they faced insurmountable numbers of enemy troops. All was so very nearly lost, until the German land forces were given
House of Spies: St Ermin`s Hotel, the London Base of British Espionage
St Ermin`s Hotel has been at the centre of British intelligence since the 1930s, when it was known to MI6 as `The Works Canteen`. Intelligence officers such as Ian Fleming and Noel Coward were to be found in the hotel`s Caxton Bar, along with other less well-known names. Winston Churchill allegedly conceived the idea of
London Underground: Architecture, Design & History
The seminal and pioneering London Underground is more than a mass transportation network – it is a style icon, its history involving some of the most important architects and artists of their time. Exploring Frank Pick`s vision through the development of Metroland to Holden`s innovative designs, David Long expertly weaves the story of the Underground
Old Japan: Secrets from the Shores of the Samurai
Japan has often been thought of as a closed country, but before the country was closed in 1635 many travellers from the West were able to experience its unique traditions and culture. Their accounts speak of legends of powerful dragons and devils, tales of the revered emperor and the protocol surrounding him, following complex etiquette
Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker`s War 1941-45
In 1942, with a black-market chicken under his arm, Leo Marks left his father`s famous bookshop, 84 charing cross road, and went to war. He was twenty-two and a cryptographer of genius. In “Between silk and cyanide”, his critically acclaimed account of his time in SOE, Marks tells how he revolutionized the code-making techniques of
South West Secret Agents: True Stories of the West Country at War
True tales of Second World War spies from across the West Country have been collected together for the very first time in this fascinating book. From the rescue operations as the exodus from France began to the secret guerrilla army in Devon and Cornwall, this book will amaze and intrigue with the incredible stories of
A Century of Bristol. Events,People & Places over the 20th Century
This fascinating selection of photographs illustrates the extraordinary transformation that has taken place in Bristol during the 20th century. The book offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during this century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Bristol`s recent
`Paddington` Pollaky, Private Detective: The Mysterious Life and Times of the Real Sherlock Holmes
`Paddington` Pollaky, Victorian super-sleuth, was a contradiction: a man of mystery who tried to keep out of the limelight, while at times craving recognition and publicity. He was a busybody, a meddler, yet someone whose heart was ultimately in the right place. Newspaper accounts detail his work as a private detective in London, his association
The Making of Modern Streatham
Michael and Janet Fitzgerald`s new book is a comprehensive guide to contemporary Streatham and its history, including many interviews with local characters, and jam-packed with fascinating and offbeat stories. Join them on this unique exploration of south London: this isn`t boring suburbia – there`s something unexpected around every corner. With chapters on buildings, music and
Lost Villages Of Britain
In an age when building developments seem to be advancing on every small plot of unspoilt countryside, it seems hard to imagine times when well-established settlements were declining and dying. Such times certainly did exist, and thousands of villages have perished. In fact, deserted settlement sites are all around us, and most British people will
Bristol Murders
“Bristol Murders” brings together numerous murderous tales that shocked not only the city but also made national headlines. Contained within the pages of this book are the stories behind some of the most heinous crimes ever committed in Bristol. They include the murder and suicide of a brother and sister in 1842; the tragic death
