Paris is known as the City of Lights, but it is really the City of Museums. Explore iconic centres of fine art with fresh eyes and dig deeper to uncover a world of museums dedicated to art and artists, science and industry, literature and film and curiosities both unusual and fascinating.
Can you identify all the great artists of French impressionism? Do you know about French contributions to early automobiles and airplanes? Are you fascinated by haute couture? Would you like to visit the ateliers of great painters and sculptors? Do you love music and film? Are you an obsessive collector of something truly peculiar? Or do you simply want to learn about new and compelling things in the world around you?
111 Museums in Paris That You Shouldn’t Miss highlights destinations, both well-known and obscure, where you will discover new treasures throughout this magnificent city.
Tokyo is a city that enshrines the past and the future, where the Far East meets the Western world. Time and again throughout its history, the city has been afflicted by natural disasters. Yet, despite total destruction, it has risen up again and again like a bamboo shoot in the wind. Thanks to the latest construction methods, today’s new buildings withstand even the strongest earthquakes and typhoons. But even without the influence of natural forces, the city constantly changes and renews itself. With this exceptional travel guide by Christine Izeki and Björn Neumann, you can easily explore the Tokyo Metropolis from unusual vantage points, far away from the crowded tourist tracks. The authors take you to unknown nooks and green oases in the middle of the concrete desert. They reveal where Japanese teens meet up and where the hippest cafes can be found. This guidebook is for anyone who wants to explore Tokyo from a different perspective while enjoying unique discoveries and the authentic culture of this international city.
They call Yorkshire God’s own country. This is because England’s biggest county is also England’s most epic and most historically exciting. It has everything: unimaginably beautiful countryside, derelict castles, cliff-hugging coastlines, brutally bleak moors, quirkily quaint villages, wondrously winding waterways and industrial monsters of cities. Many of the most interesting episodes in English history have happened here: the Wars of the Roses, the English Civil War, the birth of the industrial revolution, the rise of the Labour movement.
But when people think of Yorkshire they also think of the unusual and the unsung: Bettys delightful tea rooms, cricket at Scarborough, the windswept steps of Whitby Abbey, the steam railway of the Railway Children, Mother Shipton’s Cave, and racing at Doncaster and York.
Yorkshire has also given birth to some of the greatest and most talented figures in English history: Brian Clough, Harold Wilson, John Wycliffe, William Wilberforce, the Brontë Sisters, David Hockney and Barbara Hepworth.
“Good evening. I’m from Essex, in case you couldn’t tell.” Thus spoke the inimitable punk poet of the flat lands, Ian Dury, in 1977. Few other parts of England have so distinctive an identity, sent up by a hundred comedians since the 1990 birth of Essex Man, epitomised by the rise of the ‘Mockney’ radio celeb, and incarcerated through their hideous offspring in TV’s The Only Way is Essex. It’s not just an accent, it’s a way of life, a culture shaped by the Diaspora from London generation after generation, the lure of the sea and powerful Thames estuary, the encroaching of the waters from innumerable creeks and inlets, the dream seaside resort of Southend, the longing for the most succulent of seafood indulgences, the delicious countryside of copses and boughs painted by Constable, but also the threat of invasion by hostile forces repelled by Britain’s most formidable forts. It’s Essex. You can tell.
Lancaster and Morecambe are like chalk and Lancashire cheese. So near, yet so far apart in what they offer. Morecambe, the traditional seaside resort, its ‘Bring me Sunshine’ favourite son Eric Morecambe and Victoria Wood’s ‘two soups’ cafe. Plus, its awesome 1930’s Art Deco Midland Hotel, haunt of Coco Chanel and Laurence Olivier.
Lancaster, with its Roman remains, its impregnable ‘John O’Gaunt’ castle and characterful Georgian buildings, built in part from slave-trade profits. Notorious Lancaster, known as the ‘Hanging Town’ for its use of the noose, with its fearsome castle cells that held Quaker maker George Fox.
Leave the crowds behind and embrace the true character of this story-filled region, one special place at a time.
London offers a plethora of fun, interesting things for locals and visitors to do. Aside from the obvious tourist attractions, did you know there’s a man stuck in a clock? Or that dancing on a certain grave can make a beautiful tune? Do you know the best place for making sandcastles along the Thames? Or where to have breakfast with real London bus drivers? Have you ever seen the talking cat?
Covering all 32 boroughs of inner and outer London, this book offers an eclectic mix of fun facts with unique things to do; leading you to rediscover London. You may have walked down the same street a hundred times and never noticed a certain something. This book will tell you why it’s there and that just around the corner there is something great for kids! The book will introduce children to art, history, science and much more, which will inspire them and create great family talking points all whilst making invaluable memories. So, whether you are an ‘inny’ or an ‘outy’ Londoner, or visitor to this great city, grab the kids and get exploring!
What does Swansea and Gower mean to you? Is it a place of learning? A hub of industry? A city of sporting excellence? Or perhaps, a gateway to exploration and adventure? Do you picture endless days on pristine beaches, leisurely walks along rugged clifftops or a vibrant cultural tapestry? Swansea and Gower in Wales weave all these facets together, offering a captivating mosaic of experiences.
Meet sporting legends and trailblazing women who defied societal norms in an era dominated by men. Venture into the world of Ancient Egyptians, unravelling their lives – and deaths. Marvel at the grandeur of Norman lords’ ambitious creations and the fripperies of Victorian industrialists. Indulge your palate with the savoury allure of lamb raised on Atlantic salt meadows. Feel the adrenaline rush as you hurtle downhill on a mountain board, crocodiles snap food from your grip, or you ride a wave.
Stroll around the coast and lakes, and meander through fields of fragrant lavender or golden sunflowers. Immerse yourself in nature’s symphony, from pounding waterfalls to the serene serenades of insects. Unearth a world brimming with wonder, right on your doorstep, here in Swansea and Gower.
The Scottish Highlands are at the most northerly extreme of mainland Britain. The region was once a place of turmoil and bloodshed, of clan warfare and royal misadventure. Now the Highlands are somewhere to explore at leisure. It is a place rich in history, a land of hills and craggy mountains, of secluded coves and sandy beaches, and appealing towns and villages.
With this book as your guide, meet Felicity, a large and friendly puma; learn the rules of Shinty, a unique and popular Highland sport; sit in the shade of Europe’s oldest living tree; take a turn around the Devil’s Elbow, if you dare; find yourself at the very centre of Scotland; visit a fairy village; take a stroll around an impossible garden; and shake it all about at the Earthquake House.
Written by someone who loves the Scottish Highlands whatever the weather, this book will help you explore this wonderfully beautiful region.
Sheffield is yet to be discovered. Were you aware that football’s first professional rule book was written in Sheffield, and that it is home to the oldest ground in professional use? Did you know that climbers the world over come to Stanage Edge for the challenges offered by one of the world’s most fearsome millstone grit escarpments? Did you know that the Arctic Monkeys grew up in Sheffield, and that you can see the room at Yellow Arch Studios where they rehearsed as schoolboys and cut their first album? Did you know that the steepest hill in the entire 2012 Tour de France is in Sheffield? Did you know that Sheffield’s craft breweries produce some of the finest beers in the world? Did you know that you can walk out of the centre of Sheffield, through parkland, and directly into open countryside? You need this book fast then, don’t you, you soft ‘aporth!
What do movable dolls’ eyes have to do with a Catholic church? Where could you meet Plain Bob Maximus and Surprise Major? Why does just one person know where Oliver Cromwell’s head is buried? And where is a dog a very large cat?
The answers to all these questions lie in Cambridge, which combines the magnificence of a medieval university with the dynamism of a high-technology hub. Tens of thousands of visitors flock to Cambridge every year to see the colleges, go punting on the river, and shop. But there is much more to Cambridge than its university and Silicon Fen. Over the centuries, town and gown together have transformed this city, which was an inland port until the 17th century. Eccentricity is something of a Cambridge tradition, and the town seems to delight in taking its visitors by surprise, whether that’s with a huge metal time-eating grasshopper, May Balls held in June, sculptures that dive into the ground feet first, or a museum that makes a feature of broken pottery. You will find these and many more curiosities in this book.
London is full of strange and beautiful sights. It is a place for traditions and rebels, for the establishment and every alternative subculture. This book celebrates the diversity of the city. It invites you to see Little Ben or the fake 10 Downing Street, and answers both conventional and unusual questions. What, apart from Rolling Scones, will you see at God’s Own Junkyard? Where does an old-school gentleman buy his wine and umbrellas? Why did Robbie Williams feud with his next-door neighbour? How has the city commemorated the Queen Mother and Princess Diana? In which park do 100-year-old naked ladies cavort on the banks of the Thames? Where did Lenin and Julian Assange campaign for their beliefs? And which bridge rolls itself up?
Viewed from a satellite at night, the Peak District National Park appears as an island of darkness, surrounded by the streetlights of northern England’s industrial cities. From these cities come many of the park’s visitors, drawn to one of the most loved and most visited National Parks in the world, often treating it as their own personal playground. This book guides you to 111 Places in the Peak District That You Shouldn’t Miss and includes 11 carefully selected walks to help you explore them on foot. Alongside familiar highlights, it uncovers offbeat, surprising and unusual sites that even regular visitors may have overlooked or never heard of. From the gentle limestone dales of the White Peak to the dramatic edges and rugged moorland of the gritstone Dark Peak, the scenery is wonderfully varied. Stone-built villages, prehistoric remains and traces of early industry add further depth. Join us as we explore the lesser-known corners of Britain’s original National Park in the expert company of the man known as Mr Peak District.
Discover Derby like never before with 111 Places in Derby That You Should Not Miss. Nestled along the River Derwent, Derby is a city rich in history, from its Roman roots to its prominence as a railway town, where rolling stock has been manufactured since the early 19th century. Visit the Museum of Making to explore this industrial legacy and much more.
Beyond railways, Derby boasts stunning Victorian architecture, a splendid cathedral, and serves as a gateway to the gentle, rolling landscapes of south Derbyshire with, its grand country houses and charming towns and villages like Melbourne, Ticknall and Dale Abbey. Learn about local heroes such as Florence Nightingale, football legend Brian Clough, and artist Joseph Wright.
With a mix of quirky history and local humour, this guide is a perfect blend of intrigue, charm, and fun. 111 Places in Derby is a must-read for anyone eager to explore this unique and versatile English city.
In 111 Places in Buffalo That You Must Not Miss, author Brian Hayden reveals the lesser-known stories, off-the-beaten path locales, and hidden gems that make Buffalo and nearby Niagara Falls extraordinary. Journey through the region and explore century-old ethnic clubs, neighbourhood taverns with incredible wings, a hiking trail in the shadow of a collapsed power plant, possible buried treasure in the Niagara River and the small town that invented the kazoo.
Find out why Irish Civil War Veterans launched an invasion on Canada from Buffalo, how the manuscript of a Mark Twain masterpiece ended up in a downtown library, and where you can see a “stunter’s row” of daredevils buried together in a Niagara Falls Cemetery. Shop for unique finds in the city’s last “junk shop,” browse for produce grown by recently resettled refugees at an urban farm, and play Buffalo Gay Bingo in an Amvets Hall. Discover the places and people who have called this region home for centuries – and the new arrivals from around the world who have infused New York’s second largest city with new life. Experience the Buffalo and Niagara Falls that even locals might not know about – and come away with a renewed appreciation for this historic and inspiring region.
Experience the less explored nooks and pockets of Britain’s capital through the eyes of a passionate local. With its labyrinth of characterful streets and alleys, charming squares, open green spaces, monuments and museums, public artworks, bustling markets, and tempting boutiques and restaurants, London is a walker’s paradise. Whether you’re a first time visitor or longtime local, the city offers endless surprises – fascinating sights and stories, both ancient and modern, hidden in plain view. London insider and native Nicola Perry leads you away from the famed attractions on 33 strolls through the city’s most interesting enclaves, sharing entertaining insights, historical anecdotes, and engaging tips at every cobblestoned turn. Each walk burrows its way into the heart of a neighbourhood, crafting and curating a path that reveals its individual essence and personality. Also available: 111 Coffee Shops in London That You Must Not Miss ISBN 9783954516148 111 Places in London That You Shouldn’t Miss ISBN 9783740816445 111 Shops in London That You Shouldn’t Miss ISBN 9783954513413
Often called the ‘Heart of the Midlands’, Nottingham has given the world Robin Hood, Raleigh bikes, John Player cigarettes and Boots the chemists – and it was here that Ibuprofen first saw the light of a petri dish to the benefit of a million hangovers. As if that wasn’t enough, Alan Sillitoe and D. H. Lawrence went to school here, Lord Byron’s ancestral pile is just on the city’s outskirts, and it was here that King Charles I raised his battle standard at the start of the English Civil War – though precious few rallied to the cause. Local heroes include the cantankerous Brian Clough, who led Nottingham Forest Football Club to a pair of European Cups, the fast bowler Harold Larwood, who famously bowled Donald Bradman during the Body Line Ashes of the 1930s, and the charismatic William Booth, who founded a worldwide movement, the Salvation Army.
Despite all this and much more, Nottingham wears its charms lightly, avoiding the tourist crowds, but this fascinating city has much to offer – and we have selected 111 Places to intrigue, amuse and illuminate.
San Francisco: the home of hills and valleys, of dreamers and trailblazers, of hippies and hipsters. From the gold rush to the Golden Gate, the City by the Bay has always basked in the glow of its colourful and celebrated history and world-renowned landmarks. But for those who live and love on this compact, seven-mile by seven-mile metropolis, San Francisco is a treasure trove of unusual neighbourhood sights and places that sparkle with the allure of hidden pleasures and local lore. Discover a stairway that transports you from the depths of the ocean to the heights of outer space; take a spin class amidst the grand elegance of a repurposed 1920s movie palace; or slide down a century-old sundial that sits at the centre of what was once California’s first racetrack for cars. This is the real San Francisco. Strung together, the 111 experiences gathered here tell the B-side story of the city once romantically known as the Paris of the West.
Whistler is so much more than one of the best places on Earth to ski. Tucked in the southwestern corner of British Columbia, less than two hours from Vancouver, the resort municipality is really as much a state of mind as a destination. Its modern culture, firmly rooted in the great outdoors, offers a unique healthy and active lifestyle that people around the world can only dream about. Yet many of the over two-million people that visit Whistler annually from every corner of the world are in such a hurry to get up into the mountains they miss so many of the secret sites, hidden gems and offbeat attractions scattered throughout the Sea to Sky corridor – home of Canada’s most scenic road. When you know where to look, you’ll be amazed by Whistler’s rich diversity and quirky surprises, from the funky dives where local “Liftees” dine, to high-end, glamorous shops in the village, aboriginal landmarks, ghost towns, and left-over traces of the Winter Olympics. And although mining and logging have been replaced by tourism, vestiges of the early pioneer days still pop up in the most unusual places.
Cheshire is one of England’s most stylish and elegant counties, a land of picture-postcard villages, rolling countryside and captivating river views. Perfectly placed between Wales, Manchester and the Peak District, it is the gateway to the North-West. Though it has little traditional coastline, the sweeping estuaries of the Dee and Mersey give it an unexpectedly long sea edge, while its landscapes stretch from fertile plains to upland fringes. At its heart lies Chester, a historic gem with Roman ruins and the longest city walls in Britain. Across the county you’ll find grand estates such as Lyme Park and Tatton Park, the awe-inspiring radio telescope at Jodrell Bank and some of the country’s most striking streets. Cheshire also delights with its quirks and secrets: the home of the Cheshire Cat, mystical mines at Alderley Edge, the nation’s oldest racecourse, vast wartime shelters and intriguing modern legends. This guide reveals a county that is endlessly surprising, rich in stories and full of unmissable places.
Whether you’re a lifelong local or a curious visitor, this is your essential guide to the county’s hidden gems and eccentric delights. Immerse yourself in colourful confetti, glinting Venetian glass or the thrum of cars racing to beat speed records. Admire Birmingham’s skyline, meander through meadows or peer through a window into the underwater world of the River Severn. Discover a TARDIS in the National Collection of telephone kiosks, the history of electric milk floats or how to create the eye of a needle. From Elgar’s grave to George Bernard Shaw’s mulberry tree and from fairy houses to a nuclear bunker and Civil War sites, every entry offers a fresh perspective on Worcestershire’s past and present. Whether you’re entertaining guests, planning a weekend escape or simply curious about your own backyard, this guide will take you on a journey through the county’s most unexpected places.
The Yorkshire Dales is a truly special corner of Britain, offering a glorious mix of beautiful countryside, charming villages and prosperous market towns. It’s a place to climb high peaks or venture deep underground, and to enjoy local arts and crafts, good food and locally made drinks. This book explores a quirkier side of the Dales and includes 11 carefully chosen walks to help you discover it on foot. Find out where a queen lost a valuable item of clothing, visit the world’s smallest art gallery, take on the Three Peaks Challenge, meet a jolly gang of scarecrows and learn how to forecast the weather the Yorkshire way. Along the way you can explore fictional villages and their real-life inspirations, meet a god trapped forever in stone, follow in Robin Hood’s footsteps (and perhaps glimpse his bare bottom), party like it’s 1959 in an authentic American diner and search for Yorkshire’s own Atlantis beneath a lake. Written by an author with deep local knowledge, this guide reveals the many hidden splendours of the Yorkshire Dales.
It’s easy to fall in love with the Hamptons. Charming towns, pristine beaches – and that luminous light cherished by locals and generations of beach lovers. While it’s famous for its magnificent mansions and coiffed hedges, there is so much more here to than meets the eye. Come find the hidden secrets of the Hamptons waiting to be discovered with 111 Places in the Hamptons That You Must Not Miss. Hang ten at a secret surfers’ beach. See the studio where artist Jackson Pollock painted his masterpieces. Get lost in a field of lavender. Visit a haunted lighthouse. Ride a horse along a secluded beach. Take a stroll in the graveyard where Picasso’s forgotten muse is buried. From wood-shingled windmills to hydrangea-rimmed roads. White, sandy beaches – to calm, bayside views. These places of nature, history, art, and delightful quirkiness are the very reasons why the East End of Long Island has become one of the most beloved travel destinations in the world.
111 Places for Kids in Chicago That You Must Not Miss is not your typical kid-centred guide to Chicago: Step off the beaten tourist path, lace up your gym shoes and get ready to set off on 111 adventures across Chicagoland. Feed a giraffe; kiss a beluga; find a ghost; descend into an energy portal; see (and smell!) a corpse flower in bloom. Learn how soap is made; meet a million dollars and more. If you’re looking for out-of-the-box family adventures, this is the guide for you.
Toronto, from its humble beginning as Muddy York, has emerged as an exemplary, world-class city. As the 4th largest urban area in North America, it is a treasure trove of obscure, trend-setting Canadian places. Ranked as one of the world’s leading places to live, it represents home to almost 20% of Canada’s population. Toronto has become the nation’s capital of business, culture, sports and entertainment. A place where you can take in the best of all sports, especially hockey, live music, art, and an award-winning culinary scene, all in a weekend. The city’s strength and roots come from its diverse population. Toronto takes from its indigenous and British past, a welcoming and collaborative twist on this dynamic multicultural city. Toronto has been described as a city within a green space. Hike inner city trails along the many ravines. Ride in a canoe or skate along the water’s edges. Take the longest streetcar ride in North America through flourishing neighbourhoods, full of hidden gems to discover. Find the small artisanal ice creameries, wander the graffiti alleys, or make music at a karaoke cocktail lounge. Explore the allure of the 6ix, with 111 Places in Toronto That You Must Not Miss.