An idiosyncratic and beautifully illustrated guide to walking the city, by the nation's favourite architectural historian

Cobbled medieval alleyways and ornate Georgian boulevards. Decadent marble mansions and sprawling Victorian slums. Heaths, churches, squares and railways that, between them, hold two thousand years of secrets: London's history is written into the very fabric of its streets.

In Cruickshank's London, one of Britain's best-loved historians vividly describes twenty historic walks that span North, East, South and West London. As he tours the city, Dan Cruickshank uncovers the forgotten stories that shaped the districts we all thought we knew: from the mysterious Celtic origins of Hampstead Heath, via the West Ham churches inscribed with the occult symbols of the Knights Templar, to the features of Tower Bridge that were included to appease Queen Victoria's infamous temper. Throughout, Cruickshank peppers the book with colourful photos and easy-to-follow maps that make his wanderings immediately useful for anyone who wants to follow his footsteps through the capital.

Passionately written and deeply researched, Cruickshank's London is not just a walking guide: it is a love letter to a city whose history immerses and inspires anyone who passes through.