Kings Cross station is one of London`s iconic buildings. Its tough, functional exterior is a prototype of modern architecture in the 20th Century, & stands in stark opposition to the neo-Gothic extravagance of its neighbour St Pancras. After many decades of partial-neglect, Kings Cross has finally received the renovation it has always deserved by John Mc Aslan & Partners, the architects behind such notable projects as the Camden Roundhouse, the De La War Pavillion & Dalston Junction. With a fabulous new concourse & a painstaking restoration of original features hidden for far too long behind botched 1970s extensions, in March 2012, Kings Cross will be revealed in all its sparkling new (and old) glory. ” Discovering Kings Cross” pays tribute to this magnificent building. Aimed at older children & adults, it brings the history & context of the station to life with fantastic illustration & collage by Lucy Dalzell, bright & accessible text by Jay Merrick, interactive elements throughout & a single, spectacular pop-up of the station by one of the most established paper engineers in the country. ...

This book describes many different sources of local history discovered by the authors in the course of extensive research & travel throughout Britain & Irel&. Carefully chosen examples & specially taken photographs show how disparate elements combine to broaden our understanding of local communities in the past. Local history is discovered through printed books, local records, national archives, museum collections, newspapers, pictures, maps &, of course, the vigorous memories of local folk. The landscape is a vital source whose every feature adds a chapter or a footnote to an unfolding story that extends far beyond the reach of memory & written record, deep into prehistory & to the very beginnings of settled society in every locality. ...

London has a rich & unique heritage of ceremonial & traditions that stretches back over a thousand years & there are many events & places to everyone to see & enjoy. This book not only describes London's many ceremonial occasions but also provides the background story, explaining, for example, why there are still mounted Household Cavalry sentries in Whitehall & why The Queen halts at Temple Bar when she visits the City of London. The book is conveniently divided into three sections. First, it describes the events which take place every day, then it tells of the State occasions that occur some time during tye year, & finally there are details of the places associated with London's ceremonial that those interested might want to visit. ...

A new edition of London`s most original map. This h&-watercoloured map contains individual paintings of all the main sites & landmarks, shop-by-shop street maps, theatres & cinemas, comprehensive travel information & index. This detailed map of Central London is at a scale of 1:8, 250 (7.5 inches to 1 mile). Coverage extends from Regent`s Park in the north to Battersea in the south, & from Kensington in the west to Tower Bridge in the east. This attractive & fact-filled map would make a lovely souvenir for the visitor to London. The map
Features:* Railway stations, bus routes, London underground map, taxi ranks & car parks. * Shop-by-shop street maps for Oxford Street, Bond Street, Covent Garden, Portobello Road, King`s Road, Brompton Cross, Exmouth Market, Beauchamp Place, St. Christopher`s Place & South Molton Street, Knightsbridge, Jermyn Street & Kensington. * London`s theatres & cinemas. * Places to eat, internet cafes & good places for a picnic. * An inset map of the City of London. * Comprehensive index. * Historical & contemporary anecdotes. OTHER TITLES IN THE SERIESDiscovering Edinburgh Discovering Dublin Discovering Glasgow
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Curiosity is the desire to know or learn, inquisitiveness about trifles or other people`s affairs, a curious matter or investigation, a vanity, a curious detail or feature. This book will introduce readers to a London so full of curiosities of all those definitions that they will in future `watch where they go`. There must be many items that are passed every day without a second glance that would interest both the visitor & the Londoner
- `if I had known it was there & what it was`. For example, the statue of Charles I at Charing Cross & Aldgate Pump have history to tell, & they are only two of the hundreds of curiosities in London. After Charles` execution his statue was bought by a blacksmith & melted down
- or was it? The water from the pump tasted different, so where did it come from originally? The chapters are arranged so that they make up interesting walks for exploring certain parts of London.

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Piccadilly, Pall Mall, Old Bailey, Houndsditch & Crutched Friars are some of the unusual London street names that must puzzle those who use them daily as much as they puzzle the tourist. How did they arise, & what do they mean? This book explains these & over seven hundred & fifty other sin London. The origin of a stret name often reveals unsuspected facts about the history of the area. Many names date back to Saxon times. Sraightforward-looking names are not always what they seem. ...

This book presents an original & easily accessible approach to understanding & exploring London`s immensely diverse architecture. Because of its size & the number, complexity, & sheer variety of structures in the city, not unplanned, but without an overall plan, it is more difficult to gain an understanding of London`s development as a whole than it is with many other world cities such as Rome, Paris or New York. It can no longer be encapsulated in a single view or narrated as a single story, so this book approaches it selectively & thematically, looking at elements of the architecture & services: domestic, commercial, religious & institutional. There are chapters on houses & on apartments as well as on offices & churches, & on government buildings. There are sections for example on schools & on railway stations, on shops & on pubs, on parks & on buildings for sport. Extensively illustrated & richly informed the book treats of both the masterpieces & of the ordinary, & ranges from the middle ages to the immediate present. It culminates in 12 architectural walks, each carefully planned to explore a diversity of buildings & architectural heritage, & ranging from the central City & Westminster to the inner & outer suburbs. ...

The City of London has one of the strongest unbroken traditions of livery companies in the world. Over one hundred companies, some six centuries old, maintain strong, colourful, beneficial, traditional & independent lives, & many of them have beautiful halls. This book traces the history of the guilds & liveries in various countries & shows their influence on the government of the City, on which the Westminster model is based, on the actual trades, on royalty & on the history of Britain & other lands. The author compares the guilds of Britain with those of Europe & describes each of the City guilds, their history, traditions, work & influence. ...

This walking guide doubles as a detailed account of Manchester`s architecture, its history & tourism attractions. There are walks throughout Manchester including such major entertainment & cultural centres as the Bridgewater Hall, Urbis, the Museum of Science & Industry, the Lowry & many more. ...

The busy streets of London have been traversed for centuries & many a Londoner or tourist may feel that they are familiar with all the capital has to offer. Yet the eight walks described in this volume reveal more than even the most seasoned commuter or visitor may be aware of. John Wittich & Ron Phillips lead the reader through the most historic parts of London, down city byways, past unsuspected treasures, to exciting discoveries that are omitted from the standard tours or are inaccessible from an open-topped bus. With detailed instructions, clear maps & photographs of points of interest en route make this seventh edition a tried & trustworthy companion through the streets of London. ...