Ackroyd is a keen observer of so many quintessential London things, and if you are a frequent enough visitor to London, there's much here to take away and enjoy and perhaps even apply on your next trip. The downsides are first, that this book is about a quarter century old, and it shows. So many of the places he talks about, especially the downtrodden areas, have changed significantly since he wrote the book. Secondly, as a very gifted author, sometimes it seems like he is reaching just a little bit too much for the perfect turn of phrase, when something a bit more down-to-earth would be more effective.

released with 2 other books