Art/Shop/Eat: Art/ Shop/ Eat London (Paperback)

This intelligently planned series divides each city up into 4-5 districts centred on a key sight - for example the Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and the Vatican in the case of Rome - and gives ideas for a perfect day in that part of town: the main sights and one or two quirkier ones too, the best places to eat or have a coffee, and some original shopping ideas, presented in an uncluttered and navigable format that respects the reader's intelligence.

A good 50% of the book is dedicated to the art and history of the place, distinguishing these useable little books from many guides which are little more than practical information listings.

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

Vast and varied, London might seem daunting, but this book takes a unique approach to guiding visitors in a clear and concise way through the city, dividing it into five districts and providing the information you need for a great day out in any one of them: the South Bank, the city, Bloomsbury and the West End, Westminster and Kensington, each with its own distinctive character and major sites.

Within each section the major art collections are covered in depth, as well as other monuments and museums to visit in the area. Each section has suggestions on where to eat, and selected recommendations on where to shop.

Practicalities include a brief background to London, how to travel around, the latest on food, and a short selection of places to stay. The history provides the dates of key events, and the glossary at the end of the book explains certain art terms and gives information on major figures mentioned in the text. With the help of the index, you can dip in and out of the book.

There are excellent maps throughout, inside the front cover is a map of all London, clearly indicating where the detailed maps to each district are to be found at the beginning of their sections. The numbers (1) on the maps locate the cafés and restaurants described later in that section, and the letters (a) locate the shops.