London: The Rough Guide - European Travel Books

eBook - Rough Guides
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By: Rod Humphries

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About this book

As a 10-year London veteran, London: The Rough Guide author Rob Humphreys offers the ultimate insider's view into how to get under the skin of the city he calls home. In addition to the detail-heavy "basics" like getting there, visas, money, and phones, this guide's specialty areas offer something for everyone including lesbian and gay London; classical music, opera, and dance; theater, cabaret, and cinema; galleries; shops and markets; sport; festivals and special events; kids' London; and an essential directory listing everything from lost luggage contact numbers to dentists.

Museums are delved into, often with room-by-room coverage, so you can pick your "must-sees" and better plan your visit. Italicized margin notes offer useful information including the nearest tube (subway) or train stations, where to get tickets, opening hours, and other helpful tidbits like "the river walk may not be accessible during very high tides." London's food has come a long way from shepherd's pie, and a restaurant directory boasts everything from Tex-Mex to a vegetarian's delight: lentil pizza.

To help you put it all into perspective, the back of the book offers an architectural chronology accompanied by main historical events, plus an enticing list of films and books that lend insight into the real London.

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Reviews by readers

A very readable in-depth guide.

I visited London for the first time in March 2000. I selected this guidebook based on favorable experiences with other books from this series. London is a huge, complex city that can overwhelm a first time traveller. This book made it very easy to to find my way around. I don't expect any travel book to be completely accurate in describing accomodations, restaurants and other commercial venues in a fast-changing urban environment. However, I found this one to be right about 98% percent of the time.

Some nice features of this book were detailed sections on activities for children, and better than average information for gay/lesbian and disabled travellers. Another real bonus is the suggested reading section at the back of the book. I found some very worthwhile books there that I have been reading as background for my next London trip.

Very thorough and comprehensive but also very long.

Rough guides, in general, are the BEST. However, I feel that although this book would be extremely useful for someone moving to London or currently living in London who wants to get to know it in EXTREME depth, it is WAY WAY WAY too long (672 pages) for the casual visitor who may be spending just a few days there. It would take you more time to go through the book (even just skimming) than doing the actual sightseeing itself. You are better off getting the RG to England or Britain, both of which have very extensive information on London but information which can be digested on a short visit. The London guide is simply too long for a book on just ONE city - even if that city is London.

.....

ridicuolously slanted polemic against parts of london

The Rough guide to london is the most biased guide book i have ever read. I really don't understand why one would put a political bias in a guide book - but Rob Humphreys seems obsessed with both bashing the Rich and the British Conservative party a as well as gossipping about peoples sex lives. Such things have no place in a guide book. I would suggest you look at the Lonely Planet Guide which is much much better.

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