London's buildings are dotted with commemorative plaques.Many are the famous blue plaques, indicating where a famous person was born, lived, stayed, or if a significant event took place there, or an earlier use of the site. This book is a comprehensive gazetteer of all of London's plaques.Using Derek Sumeray's classic book as a basis, this thoroughly revised new edition arranges plaques alphabetically by area, providing a text that is linked to London's geo...

If you’ve ever wanted to know where the Underground’s station names come from, then this is the book for you! London by Tube is an essential read for anyone curious about London and its historic Underground. The book takes the reader on a fascinating journey around the Tube network to reveal the history behind the names of all 268 stations. Packed full of lively stories about the colourful characters and remarkable events connected to the places that bear these names, the book delves deep ...

Scotland’s story is chronicled by one of the country’s best historians. Andrew Fisher begins with Scotland’s first people and their culture and ends with the setting up of the first Scottish parliament since 1707. Before the arrival of the Vikings in 900, Scotland was a land of romantic kingdoms and saints. But later centuries of bloody strife lead up to the turbulent years of Mary Queen of Scots, the Calvinistic legacy of John Knox, and the bitterness of final d...

Named one of the twelve best travel books of 2009 by Worldhum, Chucking It All exposes the gritty reality behind all those twee bestsellers which extol the joys of sunny rural idylls.With its remorseless true-life account of downshifting to a remote Scottish island, Chucking It All uncovers the frightening realities of relocating to "a magical island lost in the mists of time" as you follow the warts-and-all adventures of urban misanthrope, Max Scratchmann, as he valiantly tries to...

Our illustrated travel guide will take you to the beautiful Spanish island of Minorca (Menorca). Minorca is the second largest of the Balearic Islands, located to the northeast of Mallorca and is the least overrun and most tranquil of the Balearics.  Due to its unspoilt beauty, it allows the more adventurous the opportunity to discover new charms and experiences. The possibility of having a beautiful beach largely to yourself in the summer, combined with alfresco dining ...

This is the story of how a computer consultant threw off the weary chains of work and got on his bike when threatened with high blood pressure. His journeys took him round the canals of northern England, first on the three routes across the Pennine Hill, then further afield. He slogs his way round hundreds of miles of canals, passing through many major towns and cities including Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Liverpool, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Birmingham. The history of each canal ...

A glorious insight into the history, landscape and people of Britain, from The Sunday Times bestseller.The first rail link between England and Scotland, the Preston to Edinburgh line transformed some of the most remote and inaccessible communities of Britain and fuelled the growth of resorts such as Blackpool and Morecambe Bay. Beginning at Preston, Michael Portillo takes a detour through the spectacular scenery of the Settle & Carlisle line, including the famous Ribblehead Viaduct...

A glorious insight into the history, landscape and people of Britain, from The Sunday Times bestseller.Historically Kent has been both the garden of England and its first line of defence and the train journey from London to Hastings reflects these contrasts. Michael Portillo travels through Greenwich, with its famous Royal Observatory, visits Chatham’s historic dockyard and discovers the history of hop picking, papermaking and cricket ball manufacturing. At the coast he finds sea b...

A glorious insight into the history, landscape and people of Britain, from The Sunday Times bestseller.The railway line between Brighton and London bridged the gap between capital, countryside and coast, fostering the rise of the new middle classes created by the Industrial revolution and transforming Brighton from a royal playground into a busy resort. Travelling through London, Michael Portillo visits Sydenham, site of the Crystal Palace, and the Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly, ...

Walking is one of Britain's favourite leisure activities, and this guide features a variety of mapped walks to suit all abilities. The book features all the practical detail you need, accompanied by fascinating background reading on the history and wildlife of Sussex, as well as other local points of interest. All walks are annotated with places to visit along the way, including tea rooms and pubs, with extra details on their character and the food on offer. Every walk is given a summary o...

Children enjoy learning about cultures that differ from what they are accustomed to. A Nations of Europe picture book opens the door to new experiences, and introduces children to new ideas and concepts through learning about the differences and commonalities between nations. Exposing children to other customs, languages, types of government, and landscapes broadens their horizons and increases their open-mindedness. A picture book can be used as a gateway vehicle to enhancing a child's in...

In the summer of 1860 Hawthorne returned to America and prepared for the Atlantic Monthly some sketches of England, which appeared in that magazine in 1862 and 1863, and with others were published in book form in 1863, under the title "Our Old Home." The opening article, "Consular Experiences," gives some curious incidents in his office at Liverpool, and describes queer Americans who came for the consular help. The closing one, "Civic Banquets," affords a glimpse at some of the public soci...