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City Secrets: London (City Secrets)

By: Tim Adams
Binding: Turtleback
Publisher: Little Bookroom,U.S.
ISBN: 1892145073
ISBN-13: 9781892145079
Released: 25 Oct 2001
RRP: £11.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

No practical information at all, just whispers .... - By: Karl Thoroddsen, 18 Jul 2005
In the hundreds of travel books about London this one surely stands out. You won't find any information on general opening hours, the 10 best restaurants or anything that practical. This book contains smalll chapters on what a group of Londoners consider to be something worth visiting or trying out. I would recommend it without question, simply because in my case this book pointed me to the best cup of coffee I have had. I am sure you'll find something interesting there as well.

Is it better than Time Out or Lonely Planet? It is different.

Disappointing - By: , 17 May 2003
The secrets this book discloses aren't secrets at alll; the title is misleading. It's OK as a pocket guide to interesting things in London, but there's little in it that doesn't make volumes like the Time Out guide or Lonely Planet, & these other guides have more practical information.
It's no secret. This is a little gem. - By: Joseph Haschka, 21 Nov 2002
LONDON, of the City Secrets series of travel guides, is a little gem that will easily fit into a pocket of your travel vest as you set out to explore what is arguably the world's greatest city.

This volume, smalll in size but rich in information, divides Britain's capital into thirteen areas according to a scheme that escapes me. However, no matter. Each area, e.g. Hyde Park & Chelsea, The City, Oxford Street & Mayfair, or The East End & Beyond, is preceded by a map on which is marked each point of interest included in that section. And what you will find are both famous & little-known museums, historic buildings, art gallleries, libraries, shops, pubs, churches, eateries, parks, squares, streets, memorials, & gardens. Each includes, at least, an address or location & the name of the nearest Underground or rail station. If relevant, there's also a phone number and/or the date the place was founded or constructed. The core of each listing is a short descriptive commentary by a contributing journalist, architect, philosopher, playwright, professor, author, historian, poet, curator, or some other professional of similar dignity. At the end of the book are an Index of Recommended Reading & an Index of Contributors. What you won't find are budget hotels, American fast-food franchises, newsagents, or 24-hour chemists (pharmacies) reviewed by backpacking college students, traveling salesmen, lorry drivers, or tourists from the Midwest. This is a genteel publication.

LONDON is a delightful & uncommonly intelligent sightseeing resource for those of us who've been to the city often enough to have exhausted the usual tourist activities & are left with making silly faces at the Buckingham Palace guard to try & crack his reserve. And besides the information that might be considered usual for each of the listings, the contributors also provide tidbits of arcane information that the casual visitor would likely not know or learn...

LONDON in hand, I'm ready to return to my favorite city - now.

A brilliantly unique guide to London - By: , 11 Jan 2002
The London City Secrets sets itself apart from other guidebooks by offering fresh insights & personal observations from a wonderful selection of cultural figures that know London inside out. The real charm is the fact that any Londoner or tourist alike can discover a wonderfully idiosyncratic & traditional new side to a city they may think they already know. The beauty is, in no smalll part, due to the wide variety of contributors who are alll in their own way passionate in their interest of whichever building, event, shop or stroll to which they elude.

The pocket book is stylish & beautifully presented & therefore also does away with the feeling that everyone can see you are following a guidebook! It's split into easy to follow areas each with a map & key although sadly there are no pictures which would probably prove a bit of a disappoint to the tourist who would generallly not even be able to visualise the area.

A great little find.