From centuries old to brilliantly new, a stroll down any of the capital's high streets provides a glorious miscellany of history and design. For shops are no longer just somewhere we buy things you can do that virtually, these days - but places we gather inspiration, browse for creativity and happen upon special objects. This compendium of London's 100 most interesting stores, restaurants and cafes pairs original photography with insights into the sites' past lives and the artistic thinking behind their distinct exteriors and unique signage, as well as insider's tips on exactly when and why to visit now.

A collection of Eleanor Crow's beautiful watercolours of classic shopfronts. Published in partnership with Spitalfields Life Books, this timely volume celebrates the small neighbourhood shops of London. As our high streets decline into generic monotony, we cherish these independent shops and family businesses that enrich the city with their characterful frontages and distinctive typography. This collection includes more than 100 of Eleanor Crow's fine illustrations of the capital's bakers, cafes, butchers, fishmongers, greengrocers, chemists, launderettes, hardware stores, eel & pie shops, bookshops and stationers. The pictures are accompanied by the stories of the shops, their history and their shopkeepers – stretching all the way from Chelsea in the west to Bethnal Green, Clerkenwell and Walthamstow in the east. As well as beloved old and lost shopfronts, there are some recent examples of new shops that have been beautifully designed too – from cheesemongers to chippies. At a time of momentous change in the high street, this witty and fascinating personal survey champions the enduring culture of Britain's small shops.