A Traveller's History of London (Richard Tames, 4th Edition, 2002)

After finishing the History of Europe I needed a new book to take on a weekend to London, so what better than A Traveller's Guide to London? On a trip to the capital a couple of years ago I read the appropriate Do Not Pass Go by Tim Moore, which takes a trip around London via the locations to be found on an original Monopoly board. That was a funny, interesting and novel guide to the sights and culture of London, and was more of a travelogue than a history book. 

The Traveller's Guide should perhaps be renamed. The main 4/5 of the book is a chronological history of the city. It's full of interesting facts and people, but it's all a bit 'bitty' and lacking substance. The best bit of the Guide, which could truly be called a 'Traveller's Guide' are the sections in the back of the book, which explain historical facts about The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, London's bridges, train terminals, etc. By concentrating on specific themes/locations there is more coherence to the information, and it's easier to take it all in. 

I want to read a really good history of London, and this book was a good primer, but I'm going to have to find a more 'worthy' tome I think. It was an easy read though, so it'll be good to dip into again.