E-Book Overview
David Piper's classic book is the most elegant, lyrical and stimulating of all guides to London, written with undisguised enthusiasm, intimacy and affection. It traverses London from Regent's Park to Lambeth, from the Tower of London to Kensington, with excursions on the river and forays to outlying points of interest, each chapter covering an area which can be comfortably walked in a day. The author draws out the individual character of each district through history, literature, art and architecture and his own informed and entertaining comments. This is an essential guide for those who really want to understand how London has developed; it has been thoroughly revised and updated for this new edition.
E-Book Content
THE COMPANION GUIDE TO LONDON [new edn] David Piper Revised by Fionnuala Jervis
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THE COMPANION GUIDE TO LONDON
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THE COMPANION GUIDES It is the aim of these guides to provide a Companion in the person of the author; who knows intimately the places and people of whom he writes, and is able to communicate this knowledge and affection to his readers. It is hoped that the text and pictures will aid them in their preparations and in their travels, and will help them remember on their return. BURGUNDY · THE COUNTRY ROUND PARIS DEVON · EDINBURGH AND THE BORDER COUNTRY FLORENCE · GASCONY AND THE DORDOGNE · GREECE GREEK ISLANDS · ISTANBUL · KENT AND SUSSEX LAKE DISTRICT MADRID AND CENTRAL SPAIN NEW YORK · PARIS · ROME · SOUTH OF SPAIN SICILY · VENICE
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THE COMPANION GUIDE TO
LONDON
David Piper Revised by Fionnuala Jervis
COMPANION GUIDES
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Copyright © David Piper 1964; copyright in the revisions to the Ninth Edition the Estate of David Piper 2000 All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under current legislation no part of this work may be photocopied, stored in a retrieval system, published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast, transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the copyright owner
First published 1963 New edition 1996 Companion Guides, Woodbridge Revised edition 2000
Disclaimer: Some images in the original version of this book are not available for inclusion in the eBook. ISBN 1 900639 36 X
The publishers and author have done their best to ensure the accuracy and currency of all the information in The Companion Guide to London. However, they can accept no responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience sustained by any traveller as a result of information or advice contained in the guide.
Companion Guides is an imprint of Boydell & Brewer Ltd PO Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DF, UK and of Boydell & Brewer Inc. PO Box 41026, Rochester, NY 14604–4126, USA website: http://www.companionguides.com
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Printed in Great Britain by J.W. Arrowsmith, Bristol
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Contents Foreword 1 Thames
xi 1
2 The Tower and Tower Hill
23
3 Piccadilly, Green Park and the Haymarket
37
4 Leicester Square and Soho
51
5 St James’s
61
6 Mayfair
77
7 Trafalgar Square
95
8 Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament
103
9 Westminster Abbey
123
10 St James’s Park to Tate Britain
141
11 Belgravia, Victoria and Pimlico
153
12 Hyde Park
163
13 Knightsbridge and South Kensington