Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city.

Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city.

Books - Archive Articles

Book reviews by ianVisits

From sheet music to rock icons: New book explores Denmark Street’s musical evolution
From sheet music to rock icons: New book explores Denmark Street’s musical evolution

From sheet music to rock icons: New book explores Denmark Street’s musical evolution

A small, seemingly ordinary street in central London has an outsized history, and now a book tells how Denmark Street became London's home of music.

Dec
05
2023
See original drawings from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
See original drawings from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

See original drawings from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

For a few days next week, some original drawings by Charlie Mackesy, author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse will be on display in central London.

Dec
04
2023
Modernism Beyond Metro-Land explores London’s lesser-known Modernist marvels
Modernism Beyond Metro-Land explores London’s lesser-known Modernist marvels

Modernism Beyond Metro-Land explores London’s lesser-known Modernist marvels

A new book, Modernism Beyond Metro-Land is taking a look at the modernist architecture of London's eastern and southern boroughs, away from the northeastern Metro Land of the London Underground.

Oct
09
2023
Book Review: London Railway Atlas – 6th Edition
Book Review: London Railway Atlas – 6th Edition

Book Review: London Railway Atlas – 6th Edition

An incredibly detailed map of London’s railways, past and present, has been updated and will be the proverbial catnip to any train or map geek.

Oct
05
2023
Book Review: Little Boxes by Roger Elsom
Book Review: Little Boxes by Roger Elsom

Book Review: Little Boxes by Roger Elsom

It's rare that a book about railways can be said to be relaxing, but one has arrived that is packed full of lazy summers travelling around the countryside looking for those often lonely outposts -- the railway signal box.

Sep
20
2023
Book Review: Dock Life Renewed How London’s Docks are Thriving Again
Book Review: Dock Life Renewed How London’s Docks are Thriving Again

Book Review: Dock Life Renewed How London’s Docks are Thriving Again

The docklands area of London has, over the past 30 odd years, been transformed, and now London photographer Niki Gorick has given a photographer's perspective on the area.

Sep
12
2023
Capital Crime drops prices for crime and thriller writing talks
Capital Crime drops prices for crime and thriller writing talks

Capital Crime drops prices for crime and thriller writing talks

Capital Crime, a festival of talks by authors of crime and thriller writing has reduced the cost of attending and is now offering tickets for individual talks alongside the all-day tickets they had been selling.

Aug
15
2023
Book Review: A guide to walking the hills of London
Book Review: A guide to walking the hills of London

Book Review: A guide to walking the hills of London

When living in central London it can be difficult to remember that it's quite a hilly city, and a new guidebook to the hills of London has been written showing off the best spots to get vistas of the London skyline.

Aug
11
2023
The official publication for the King’s Coronation goes on sale
The official publication for the King’s Coronation goes on sale

The official publication for the King’s Coronation goes on sale

The official souvenir publication charting His Majesty The King’s accession to the throne and first year as monarch is now available, featuring never-before-seen photographs of preparations for the historic Coronation.

Jul
11
2023
Book Review: London’s South Bank The History by Mireille Galinou
Book Review: London’s South Bank The History by Mireille Galinou

Book Review: London’s South Bank The History by Mireille Galinou

A richly illustrated book has taken on the challenge of trying to tell the history of London's South Bank region, which is more difficult than might seem at first glance.

May
19
2023
Book Review: London Tube Stations 1924-1961
Book Review: London Tube Stations 1924-1961

Book Review: London Tube Stations 1924-1961

In the 160th anniversary of the London Underground, a new book looks at something that came later -- the modernist era of Holden and Pick that created the Underground we recognise today.

May
08
2023
Book review: Nick Higham’s The Mercenary River
Book review: Nick Higham’s The Mercenary River

Book review: Nick Higham’s The Mercenary River

Imagine London where you can turn on a tap for a glass of water, but only for a few hours a day and never on Sundays. That was London's modern water supply for several centuries until comparatively recently.

Mar
28
2023
See a Georgian Print Shop in central London
See a Georgian Print Shop in central London

See a Georgian Print Shop in central London

A small characterful side alley in central London currently boasts a replica of a Georgian era print shop.

Mar
15
2023
Book review: London’s Lost Department Stores
Book review: London’s Lost Department Stores

Book review: London’s Lost Department Stores

A nostalgic book has come out that takes a look at the faded memories of when shopping was glamourous and exciting, at London's lost department stores.

Oct
20
2022
Book Review: In The Shadow of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Book Review: In The Shadow of St. Paul’s Cathedral

Book Review: In The Shadow of St. Paul’s Cathedral

While most history books look at the cathedral, a new book turns its back on the grand edifice and looks at the trades that surrounded it.

Sep
05
2022
Book Review: The hidden origins of Londons pub names
Book Review: The hidden origins of Londons pub names

Book Review: The hidden origins of Londons pub names

A book that says it will tell you the history of over 650 pub names across London turns out to be rather fun to read.

Aug
10
2022
Bollardology – an unexpected history of London’s street bollards
Bollardology – an unexpected history of London’s street bollards

Bollardology – an unexpected history of London’s street bollards

Wander around London, and you can always tell when you're in the City of London, thanks to the ubiquity of the City's striking red, black and white street bollards. And now a book uncovers the surprising history of these often overlooked elements of street furniture.

Jul
05
2022
A is for Atlas: Wonders of Maps and Mapping
A is for Atlas: Wonders of Maps and Mapping

A is for Atlas: Wonders of Maps and Mapping

The world as a jester, the unseen effects of comets, non-existent islands, the secrets of the stars, make up a richly decorated compendium of maps from the National Maritime Museum.

May
12
2022
Book – Tube station typologies 1924-1961
Book – Tube station typologies 1924-1961

Book – Tube station typologies 1924-1961

A new book is being crowdfunded at the moment, which will be an annotated photobook documenting historic London Underground stations built between 1924 and 1961.

Feb
03
2022
The Black Locomotive – a curious Crossrail story
The Black Locomotive – a curious Crossrail story

The Black Locomotive – a curious Crossrail story

A secret extension of the Crossrail project is tunnelling underneath Buckingham Palace when it hits a strange anomaly and grinds to a sudden stop.

Jan
06
2022
New photobook shows off the glory of London’s railway stations
New photobook shows off the glory of London’s railway stations

New photobook shows off the glory of London’s railway stations

A new book rich in glorious photographs shows off London's main railway stations, the big 13 termini that welcome people to the Capital and give a grand farewell to people heading to far-flung places.

Dec
30
2021
A new book about 1980s computers
A new book about 1980s computers

A new book about 1980s computers

There's a new book that's in the crowdfunding stage that aims to tell the story of the golden age of old computers and retro games and consoles from the 1980s and 90s.

Dec
22
2021
50 places you wouldn’t expect to find a Routemaster bus
50 places you wouldn’t expect to find a Routemaster bus

50 places you wouldn’t expect to find a Routemaster bus

Although Routemaster buses running a conventional passenger service were last seen in London in 2005, they still keep popping up in the oddest of places, and not always as heritage buses.

Dec
02
2021
Book Review – Railways: A History in Drawings
Book Review – Railways: A History in Drawings

Book Review – Railways: A History in Drawings

A large parcel arrives and inside is a hefty book that is total eye-candy for any railway, design, or architecture fan.

Sep
14
2021