Royal London in Context: The Independent Traveler's Guide to Royal London (Europe in Context)
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Paperback, 192 pages
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Reviews
(Rated 5 out of 5)
Royal London In Context is a unique book/CD set. Robert S. Wayne, also the author of Venice in Context, knows all the secrets and introduces you to historically significant locations, complete with historical facts.
Joel Godard is the perfect guide and he narrates the entire journey. He "literally" guides you through London in a step-by-step fashion. I just listened to this for the first time and I feel like I've been in London exploring Westminster Abbey and peering through the gates of Buckingham Palace. I started to feel homesick for comforting foods like fish and chips with vinegar and meat pies. When I was there as a teenager, London was fascinating, but no one was there to tell me what I was viewing.
Tour One: Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Winston Churchill's statue - interesting information about why pigeons don't like landing on his statue.
Tour Two: Westminster Hall, Oliver Cromwell, Richard I, Old Palace yard, Victoria Tower and Gardens, Emmeline Pankhurst
Tour Three: George V, Henry VIII Chapel, Chapter House, Jewel Tower
Tour Four: St. Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey
Tour Five: Westminster Abbey, Broad Sanctuary
Tour Six: Cabinet War Rooms, Robert Clive, Cenotaph, 10 Downing Street
Tour Seven: Horse Guards Parade, Banqueting House, Great Scotland Yard, Old Admiralty
Tour Eight: Charles I, Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column, George IV, Church of St. Martin-in-the-fields
Tour Nine: Piccadilly Circus, Eros, Church of St. James's, Jermyn Street, Fortnum & Mason, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington Arcade
Tour Ten: Ste. James's Street, St. James's Palace, Pall Mall, Queen's Chapel, Queen Alexandra Memorial, Friary Court
Tour Eleven: St. James's Park
Tour Twelve: Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria Monument
On the inside front cover there is a map of the tour area. In the back cover, there is a clear envelope for the CDs. So, you could take this book with you and carry it around while you are on the tour. The pictures help you locate various historic monuments and buildings. The tours only take up a third of the book. The rest of the book is dedicated to history, royal palaces and fortresses and getting around London (on foot or with public transportation like the Tube).
If you want to take a sightseeing bus, that is always an option. There are ideas about taking a river cruise or information on why you should stop in and see St. Margaret's Church and not just head straight to the Westminster Abbey.
While this is a book for the Independent Traveler, I don't see why you couldn't buy two or more and take a walking tour with friends and family. You can then listen to this CD later to recreate your entire London tour. After listening to both CDs, I wish I was going to London with my mom in September. She is going to love this book and she will have an entire month to explore!
Even if you don't plan to leave for London right away, this Book/CD set is perfect for when you are sitting out in the sun or cooking or doing just about anything that involves wishing you were traveling in Europe. Royal London in Context is the perfect gift for friends and family. If you are heading to London, I highly recommend taking this book with you because it is like having your very own personal tour guide.
~TheRebeccaReview.com
(Rated 5 out of 5)
A number of years ago my parents went to London. What did they want to see? They wanted to see the Queen, the Queen Mother and every place where the royals hang out. Although I have been to London many times, I wasn't much help to them. I don't share their interest in the royal family. And because they don't like tours, they had to sort it out for themselves. As a result, they didn't see much more concerning royal England than the crown jewels and the events outside Buckingham Palace. I've felt guilty ever since for not being more help.
Now, if they had wanted to go at a time when Royal London in Context was available, they would have had a marvelous time!
This book has many fine qualities to recommend it compared to other guides of London. First, the tour information is much more extensive, both in terms of how many tours and how much information is shared about each one. Second, you have an audio CD that you can play as you tour (this is like having a self-paced tour in a museum by using a portable acoustical guide). Third, you have excellent material on the history of the Royal Family which will add helpful information that most people don't know . . . unless they were English history majors in college. Fourth, the book provides much more detail about traveling around than any other travel guide I have seen for the London area. And fifth, buy my no means least, the book is slanted to the royalty. I have seen no other travel guide that makes any attempt in this direction.
How good is this guide? Well, even if you think you're not interested in the Royal Family, it's still a helpful guide that I would recommend to anyone for a first visit to London who's interested in British culture and history. The tours are ones that most visitors to London would love. The many details about what you are seeing in the book and the audio CD can greatly enrich your experience in London. In addition, there are many color photographs in the book so you can see what you will be visiting . . . which will help you choose what you want to focus on.
If you are planning to travel with someone and want to use this guide, I suggest that you take a portable CD player that will let you plug in two headphones. In that way, you can both listen at the same time as you walk about.
Have a jolly good time!
Say hello to Prince Andrew if you happen to bump into him!!
(Rated 5 out of 5)
Why would someone in the UK need this book? You don't . . . but your relatives coming to visit from the United States will . . . and you can save time by not having to show them all the Royal sights.
A number of years ago my parents went to London. What did they want to see? Naturally, they wanted to see the Queen, the Queen Mother and every place where the Royal Family hangs out.
Although I have been to London many times, I wasn't much help to them. I don't share their interest in the Royal Family. And because my parents didn't like the tours that were offered, they had to sort it out for themselves. As a result, they didn't see much more concerning Royal England than the crown jewels and the events outside Buckingham Palace. I've felt guilty ever since for not being more help.
Now, if they had wanted to go at a time when Royal London in Context was available, they would have had a marvelous time!
This book has many fine qualities to recommend it compared to other guides of London. First, the tour information is much more extensive, both in terms of how many tours and how much information is shared about each one. Second, you have an audio CD that you can play as you tour (this is like having a self-paced tour in a museum by using a portable acoustical guide). Third, you have excellent material on the history of the Royal Family which will add helpful information that most people don't know . . . unless they were English history majors in college. Fourth, the book provides much more detail about traveling around than any other travel guide I have seen for the London area. And fifth, and by no means least, the book is slanted to the royalty. I have seen no other travel guide that makes any attempt in this direction.
How good is this guide? Well, even if your American cousins think they're not interested in the Royal Family, it's still a helpful guide that I would recommend to anyone for a first visit to London who's interested in British culture and history. The tours are ones that most first-time visitors to London would love. The many details about what you are seeing in the book and the audio CD can greatly enrich your experience in London. In addition, there are many color photographs in the book so you can see what you will be visiting . . . which will help you choose what you want to focus on.
If your American cousins want to use this guide, I suggest that loan them a portable CD player that will let them plug in two headphones. In that way, two can both listen at the same time as they walk about.
(Rated 5 out of 5)
Why would someone in the UK need this book? You don't . . . but yourrelatives coming to visit from the United States will . . . and you cansave time by not having to show them all the Royal sights.
A number of years ago my parents went to London. What did they want tosee? Naturally, they wanted to see the Queen, the Queen Mother and everyplace where the Royal Family hangs out.
Although I have been to London many times, I wasn't much help to them. Idon't share their interest in the Royal Family. And because my parentsdidn't like tours, they had to sort it out for themselves. As a result,they didn't see much more concerning Royal England than the crown jewelsand the events outside Buckingham Palace. I've felt guilty ever since fornot being more help.
Now, if they had wanted to go at a time when Royal London in Context wasavailable, they would have had a marvelous time!
This book has many fine qualities to recommend it compared to other guidesof London. First, the tour information is much more extensive, both interms of how many tours and how much information is shared about each one.Second, you have an audio CD that you can play as you tour (this is likehaving a self-paced tour in a museum by using a portable acousticalguide). Third, you have excellent material on the history of the RoyalFamily which will add helpful information that most people don't know . .. unless they were English history majors in college. Fourth, the bookprovides much more detail about traveling around than any other travelguide I have seen for the London area. And fifth, and by no means least,the book is slanted to the royalty. I have seen no other travel guide thatmakes any attempt in this direction.
How good is this guide? Well, even if your American cousins think they'renot interested in the Royal Family, it's still a helpful guide that Iwould recommend to anyone for a first visit to London who's interested inBritish culture and history. The tours are ones that most first-timevisitors to London would love. The many details about what you are seeingin the book and the audio CD can greatly enrich your experience in London.In addition, there are many color photographs in the book so you can seewhat you will be visiting . . . which will help you choose what you wantto focus on.
If your American cousins want to use this guide, I suggest that loan thema portable CD player that will let them plug in two headphones. In thatway, two can both listen at the same time as they walk about.