Highlights the history, culture, and contemporary life of the city and offers detailed walking tours of historic areas and complete visitor information.

Peter Mark Roget--polymath, eccentric, synonym aficionado--was a complicated man. He was a scholar obsessed with his work, yet he had an allure that endeared him to his contemporaries--not to mention a host of female admirers. But most notably, he made li

City of cities, the modern world’s first great metropolis, London has shaped everything from clothing to youth culture. It has a unique place in the world’s memory, even as its role has changed from the capital of the planet to its playground, and as its lived history has mutated into the heritage industry. In this book, Londoner Phil Baker explores the city’s history and the London of today, balancing well-known major events with more curious and eccentric details. He reveals a city of almost unmatched historical density and richness. For Baker, London turns out to be Gothic in all senses of the word and enjoyably haunted by its own often bloody past. And despite extensive redevelopment, as he shows in this engaging and insightful book, some of the magic remains.

History, traditions, and pomp and pageantry abound in London, yet it’s a very modern European city. Whether you’re a history buff, art lover, architecture connoisseur, Royal watcher, dedicated shopper, or pub hopper, there’s something for you in London. And this friendly guide helps you enjoy it fully with information about: Getting around via Underground (and saving with Travelcards), bus, taxi, or on foot Four itineraries to maximize your sightseeing Great day trips to Bath, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, and other attractions The best shopping neighborhoods and their specialties, including Knightsbridge for the legendary Harrods, Chelsea for the young and the antique, and Kensington for street chic Literary landmarks, parks and gardens, and royal castles and palaces Activities and attractions for teens and kids Like every For Dummies travel guide, London For Dummies, 4th Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss—and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages

A lively new history of London told through twenty-five buildings, from iconic Georgian townhouses to the Shard A walk along any London street takes you past a wealth of seemingly ordinary buildings: an Edwardian church, modernist postwar council housing, stuccoed Italianate terraces, a Bauhaus-inspired library. But these buildings are not just functional. They are evidence of London's rich and diverse history and have shaped people's experiences, identities, and relationships. In this engaging study, Paul L. Knox traces the history of London from the Georgian era to the present day through twenty-five surviving buildings. Knox explores where people lived and worked, from grand Regency squares to Victorian workshops, and highlights the impact of migration, gentrification, and inequality. We see famous buildings, like Harrods and Abbey Road Studios, and everyday places like Rochelle Street School and Thamesmead. Each historical period has introduced new buildings, and old ones have been repurposed. As Knox shows, it is the living history of these buildings that makes up the vibrant, but exceptionally unequal, city of today.

The streets of Victorian London became increasingly congested with vehicles, fast and furious drivers, pedestrians, costermongers, prostitutes, brass bands, homeless children and other obstacles to safe and rapid motion. Concerned citizens were alarmed by this unprecedented build-up of traffic and pollution. But how did this chaotic state come about - and why was more not done to prevent it? London's Teeming Streets brings an historical perspective to present-day concerns about the effects of continued urban expansion and shows that many current problems date back to the Victorian era. James Winter reveals that the issue of street reform was fraught with political intrigue. Many reformers were liberals; yet the question of attempting to limit or prohibit activity on the King's Highway which was, by definition, an open and democratic preserve, brought the very purpose of liberal reform into sharp focus.

Despite the upheaval of the Brexit process, the English capital has constantly ranked as the most-visited city in Europe. This immense metropolis offers tourists a range of activities, from the British Museum, where entry is free, to Westminster Abbey, the historical cathedral of London, and to Buckingham Palace, where tourists flock to photograph the changing of the guard. London is also the capital of shopping, from Bond Street to Harrods, the quintessential department store, and Camden Town market. National Geographic Traveler: London offers suggestions for planning an ideal itinerary. The more adventurous traveler looking for unusual activities will find plenty to try, and the guide covers all the essential tourist attractions and the most exciting events to attend. There is information on lifestyle, history, and contemporary culture, special excursions and walks with illustrated maps, and useful tips for an enjoyable stay.