After having been gifted (and sometimes giving as gifts) a wide selection books about London over the years, I've settled on a list of the top 9 London-based books that I think would make a good addition for your bookshelf, from beautiful guide books to true crime to finding the best breweries around the capital...
1. London, The Biography
This book contains a lifetime of reading and research on London condensed into 800 pages - although that doesn't sound like light reading, the tone is often light-hearted and, as a work of non-fiction, its chapters vary so much that you can dip into it at random.
Its historical and geographical overview of the good, the bad and the ugly of the city over time is so gripping that even if you don't start reading it as a London-enthusiast, you'll likely turn into one.
2. Humans of London, Cathy Teesdale
Inspired by Humans of New York (shocker), this beautiful book was given to me as a present a few years ago.
Flicking through it and picking a person's story to read about at random throughout the first lockdown helped me to fall back in love with London even when we weren't allowed to see much of it in person, because the wide range of people who share their sometimes touching, sometimes entertaining stories in the book are so varied that it fits in perfectly with one of my favourite quotes about London, in Paddington Bear: "In London everyone is different, and that means everyone can fit in."
3. The London Craft Beer Guide
This is a great gift for anyone looking to explore London like a local. I ordered The London Craft Beer Guide for my boyfriend for Christmas, and although we haven't been able to visit any of the places in person yet because of COVID, I was really impressed when it came - it contains really good photography, making it super aesthetically pleasing, and more to the point, it's well-researched, useful and interesting book for any pub enthusiasts.
It summarises the stories behind each of the area's best breweries, pubs and tap rooms, and there's a lot of hidden gems in there.
4. Prettycitylondon: Discovering London's Beautiful Places
Prettycitylondon is a stunning guide to London that has curated all of the city's most beautiful mews, quaint little cafes and flower markets that you're unlikely to otherwise stumble across.
The book also contains tips on how to photograph and plan your own trip around the city.
5. All On The Board: The Sunday Times Bestseller
You might have already heard of All On The Board: two TfL employee, aka Jeremy and Ian, made it their mission to bring smiles to the faces of London commuters by replacing dull messages with creative messages, quotes and poems on the underground's service information boards.
Their quotes mark momentous occasions and have been brightening up people's daily journeys with positivity, humour and love for several years, so, after gaining a large following, they recently released their own book full of these boards to boost people's moods from home too.
There's obviously no narrative running through the book, it's just a good pick-me-up.
6. London's Underground: The Story of the Tube, Oliver Green
Although this book is obviously also linked to the Tube, it's a very different kind of book to All on The Board - it's more like a surprisingly fascinating biography of the Tube, accompanied by photography by Benjamin Graham, who was UK Landscape Photographer of the Year in 2017.
Published in association with Transport for London, Tube expert Oliver Green describes the history of the London Underground, telling the story of it's role during wartime and the essential part it has played in shaping the city's economy, tourism geography, and identity.
It would be a great gift for any history lovers.
7. Greater London Murders: 33 True Stories of Revenge, Jealousy, Greed & Lust
Everyone seems to love true crime these days, so I had to add one of these to the list. Researched extensively by Linda Stratmann, the book tells the stories of 33 cases - one from each of London's boroughs - that shocked the nation.
This includes George Chapman, who was hanged in 1903 for poisoning three women, and who is widely suspected of having been Jack the Ripper, and Donald Hume, who was found not guilty of the murder of wealthy businessman Stanley Setty in 1949, but later confessed to killing him, chopping up his body, and disposing of it by airplane.
It's pretty grim, but a definite must-read for any true-crime enthusiasts.
8. Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now - as Told by Those Who Love it, Hate it, Live it, Left it and Long for it
This book is an easy read and reminds me of Humans of London, but with longer stories: it shares the stories of 80 Londoners and others associated with the city, including a man who plants trees along Oxford Street and the woman who voices station announcements on the London Underground.
9. CITIx60: London
CITIx60 is a slightly eccentric, unique kind of city guide curated by 60 local creatives, covering architecture, art spaces, shops and markets, eating and entertainment. It's easy to follow and a great gift for anyone looking to discover London like a local. It even includes useful information on annual festivals, events, and websites for "unusual outings" from the city. You can also buy it on Amazon for just £2.60, so it's one of the cheapest gifts you could give!
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