Named the top shopping destination in the United Kingdom outside of London, “Glasgow is a must-see destination…a mandatory stop on everyone’s European travel itinerary” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) and Edinburgh has long been considered one of the most hospitable cities in Europe. This book has eleven walks–seven in Edinburgh and four in Glasgow–taking shoppers to the most charming and unique stores in both cities, which are less than an hour away from each other by train. The shops included offer cashmere, hats, shoes, books, handcrafted soaps and natural botanicals inspired by Scotland (Treasure Island is a heady mix of musk, lemon, and cinnamon inspired by the Robert Louise Stevenson classic), single malt whiskies, purses, the best of British home design, and jewelry using Scottish gemstones. There are shops that specialize in traditional foods (farmhouse cheeses, toffee, shortbread, and lemon curd). There’s a “glorious mess of an antique shop,” a “kilt maker for the 21st century” who uses fabrics that range from denim to leather and whose customers include Sean Connery, and many more establishments, both new and historic. Old businesses aren’t included simply for being old, but for continuing to offer goods of beauty and quality; new businesses are chosen because they operate in an old-fashioned way, with an emphasis on service and craftsmanship. Some are elegant and refined, some offer on quirky twists on classic themes, but each is stylish and without pretense. One shop owner says her boutique attracts the “discerning and determinedly different.” The guide also includes restaurants, pubs, and caf�s along the walks, and has an entire section devoted to the stunning tearooms of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Edinburgh farmer’s market. Sumptuous color photos throughout give a sneak preview of the shops and their offerings, and the address, phone number, opening days and hours, and website of each establishment are included for extra convenience.

The Rough Guide to Britain is the ultimate insiders' handbook to England, Wales and Scotland. The full-colour introduction brings the countries' highlights to life, from the Eden Project in Cornwall to Edinburgh's Royal Mile. The authors provide lively accounts of every sight from the latest attractions such as the Cardiff Bay area and Gateshead's Baltic Centre to established landmarks from the Tower of London to Edinburgh Castle. For every town and region there are lively reviews of the best places to stay, eat and drink, to suit all pockets and with accompanying maps pinpointing each location. There's also practical tips on exploring the great British countryside from the rugged Pembrokeshire coastline to the picturesque valleys of the Yorkshire Dales.

An exciting account of the origins of the modern world Who formed the first literate society? Who invented our modern ideas of democracy and free market capitalism? The Scots. As historian and author Arthur Herman reveals, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Scotland made crucial contributions to science, philosophy, literature, education, medicine, commerce, and politics—contributions that have formed and nurtured the modern West ever since. Herman has charted a fascinating journey across the centuries of Scottish history. Here is the untold story of how John Knox and the Church of Scotland laid the foundation for our modern idea of democracy; how the Scottish Enlightenment helped to inspire both the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution; and how thousands of Scottish immigrants left their homes to create the American frontier, the Australian outback, and the British Empire in India and Hong Kong. How the Scots Invented the Modern World reveals how Scottish genius for creating the basic ideas and institutions of modern life stamped the lives of a series of remarkable historical figures, from James Watt and Adam Smith to Andrew Carnegie and Arthur Conan Doyle, and how Scottish heroes continue to inspire our contemporary culture, from William “Braveheart” Wallace to James Bond. And no one who takes this incredible historical trek will ever view the Scots—or the modern West—in the same way again.