Books - Archive Articles

Book review: A Short History of Drunkenness

In this season of merriment and boozing, what better cure for a hangover could there be than to learn a bit about our curious fondness for the intoxicating beverage.

Book review: Model Villages

When the grass was greener, the summers were longer, and skirts were shorter, strange miniature villages started to appear across the land.

Book review: The river’s tale: archaeology on the Thames foreshore

Ten years of archaeological discovery on the Thames has been explored in the first-ever book by the Thames Discovery Programme.

Book review: Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations

A new book is rocketing up the best seller lists, and it's all about railway stations.

Love, law and liberty – Gay literary lives at the British Library

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality between men, and the British Library is taking a look at the literary side of gay love.

From Brunel to British Rail: The Railway Heritage of the Crossrail Route

One of Crossrail's legacies is going to be the history of the railways that came before it -- in the form of a new book about the railway heritage of the Crossrail route.

Build your own Brutalist London

While architects and construction workers labour to erect mighty buildings of concrete, it's possible to do the same in your home, from paper and glue.

Book review: British Rail Designed 1948-1997

For all its many faults, British Rail was, for a while, one of the industrial design icons of the 20th century, and a new book has taken a look at how a state-owned monopoly was able to turn a collection of companies into a single dominant brand-name.

New books about Crossrail archeology released

Five new books about the archeology uncovered during the Crossrail project have been published, to add to two previous books that were released earlier this year.

Crossrail book shows off the finished station designs

If you want a sneak peek of what the new stations will look like when Crossrail hands over to the Elizabeth line, a new book has been published all about them.

From Tudor Mansion to City Farm – Crossrail’s Stepney Revelation

A surprisingly rich and cosmopolitan past has been revealed in East London's Stepney as part of the archeology associated with the Crossrail project.

Crossrail, Battleships and West Ham Football Club

One of Crossrail's construction sites has revealed a wealth of history about East London's industrial past, and the origins of one of its current football clubs.

Massively detailed map of London’s railways

An extraordinary map of London's railways, past and present has been updated recently and is proverbial catnip to any train or map geek.

Free Penguins on the London Underground

During the month of August, Penguin (the book firm) is giving away free book extracts and author interviews as part of a campaign to celebrate its 80th birthday.

New book about Crossrail released

Now that Crossrail has completed all its tunnels (yes, really!), its time for a book to applaud the effort.

A walk around the London Overground with by Iain Sinclair

A book had been delivered, a walk around the Overground, to be read on the Underground.

Queen Boudica’s fire found under the Walkie Talkie skyscraper

The Walkie-Talkie skyscraper may have gained a reputation for frying eggs on the pavement, but its basement conceals remains of a much older conflagration -- the burning of London by Queen Boudica.

Haynes publishes an Owners Manual for the London Underground

A book by a provider of car repair manuals about the London Underground illustrated with its famous cut-away diagrams should be cat-nip to any transport geek.

A new book about the New Bus for London

A new bus needs a new book, so the New Bus for London has gained an official New Book about the New Bus.

Strange Air — A Railway Ghost Story

Anyone who has even the slightest hint of interest in London's abandoned railway tunnels is bound to have heard rumours of Victorian train carriages being buried within them and lost.

One thing a day to do in London

Fellow London blogger, Tom of the TiredofLondon website has gotten himself a book deal – and the book will go on sale next month – although a limited number are available pre-xmas at the Museum of London. Following the style…

Guide book to disused underground tube and train stations

A pocket book -- that actually fits in a pocket -- has been launched by regular transport publishers, Capital History and aims to offer a selection of guided walks around London looking for the surface signs of disused railways below ground.