Whether it’s your first time visiting London or you’ve been there before, this world capital has so much to offer that most travelers will depend on a good guide, or two or three. But not all travel guides are the same. Some are heavy to carry, but they cover everything you need to know about London and are packed with beautiful illustrations, while others are portable and easily fit in your pocket, but can only touch the highlights. There are books to suit the preferences of every traveler.
Rick Steves’ London
Rick Steves’ London Guide provides maps of West and East London, as well as a map to find your way around the city’s tube network. Steves gives advice on how to make the most of your time in London by avoiding long lines when sightseeing and getting around London by public transport. Five self-guided walks make it easy for first-time visitors to get to know the city.
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: London
DK Eyewitness Travel London has everything you need to know about London’s best attractions, with 3D 3D illustrations of all the most important places, plus beautiful quality glossy photographs that the DK series is famous for. There is also practical information on walking tours, places to dine, shops and museums. Detailed city maps include a street search index.
Lonely Planet London city guide
The Lonely Planet London guide has 48 full-color neighborhood maps and photos, along with a convenient fold-out map of the city. Get recent reviews of restaurants, hotel accommodations, shops, bars and more for all tastes and budgets. The content covers history, music, theater, art and everything cultural about this very cultural city.
Fodor’s London
This comprehensive guide to London written by locals includes dozens of full-color maps, plus a pull-out map. Fodor’s recommends restaurants and hotels by price and area and designates your best options. All the major sights are covered, with in-depth breakdown features at Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, and the Tower of London. Also to excursions to Cambridge, Oxford and Stratford-Upon-Avon.
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Not for tourists London Guide
This is a neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to London that is useful for locals and new visitors alike. With over 150 maps and thousands of listings for restaurants, theaters, shops, and other places that are under the radar of most tourists, this lightweight portable guide is packed with tips. Also available as an e-book.
Frommer’s London Day-by-Day Guide
Frommer’s series of day-to-day guides offer itineraries that help visitors see the best of a destination in no time. London day by day is full of color photos, themed walking tours of the city’s neighborhoods, and tips on the latest hotels, restaurants and nightspots in all price ranges. Maps are marked with points of interest.
DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Londres
The DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 London travel guide is packed with lists of the top 10 places to see and do in London. Lightweight and pocket-sized, the book is packed with information on the city’s main attractions. Includes hikes, itineraries, full-color maps and high-quality photos typical of DK travel books.
Fodor’s Around London with kids
This colorful guide for families traveling to London with kids offers 68 activities to do in the city and beyond. Suggestions for family fun for kids include exploring the London Dungeon, riding the London Eye for a bird’s eye view, and of course going to the London Zoo. There are practical tips for restaurants and games to keep the kids busy.
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Wallpaper * London City Guide
This pocket guide is presented as an insider checklist of everything you need to know about London with a focus on architecture, design and style. It has a color-coded neighborhood map and eight main chapters covering nightlife, hotels, retail stores, art galleries, and contemporary life in the city. Few major places are listed, but for a modern view of London this could be a supplemental guide.
Let’s Go Budget London
The Let’s Go series of budget guides are compact pocket books intended for travelers on limited budgets. The guide is packed with money-saving tips so you can make the most of your time in expensive London without breaking the bank. Learn how to get discounted tickets for shows and public transportation, and where to find cheap restaurants and affordable places to stay. Popular with students, this guide is really for any traveler looking to stretch their travel budget.
Fodor’s London 25 Best
Fodor’s London 25 Best has 25 must-see places in London, plus a removable, full-color street map. The book is divided into sections by London neighborhoods and has focused maps for each one. The listings highlight sightseeing, nightlife, lodging, food, and interesting walks.
