Athens can be noisy and crowded and confusing, but it’s spontaneous and always surprising. A cable ride up Lykavittos rewards with an incredible panorama but veer off the track to discover the hill’s secret links to Parnitha. The beauty of Kaisariani Monastery’s architecture is matched by the ‘organised wilderness’ of its incredible gardens.

Ancient relics, great and small, mirror a glorious past that remains an example to the world, but they are only the start of what’s great about Athens today. There are the mountains that surround it, busy with climbers, runners and picnic-lovers during the weekends. The ubiquitous graffiti, some admirable, some abhorrent, that reveal what’s bugging the Athenians’ psyche. Bars, cafés and restaurants thronged with broke Greeks who refuse to stay inside. Stores where you can find vendors as venerable as their antiques and others that are up to date with the edgiest demands. And many surprising, sometimes downright dark, dank and mysterious pockets. Athens is changing day by day. This book will take you to places that are beyond touristy or trendy; whether hundreds of years old or contemporary, their tales are timeless.

The magnificent historic city of Bath – home to sweeping crescents in honeyed stone, restorative thermal waters, and beautiful boutiques – is no stranger to those who seek to explore its manifold charms. Most are only intrigued by the obvious: the Roman Baths, the Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent, the Circus. But for the more inquisitive there are countless hidden gems to discover.

Pick up this book and explore Bath’s best-kept secrets – stories, locations, and unique personalities from the past and present, who have been neglected by the conventional tourist routes. In these pages you’ll take a bespoke detour off the well-beaten path to unearth unexpected treasures: from secret statues and characterful pubs to artists’ studios and Georgian ballrooms, from memorials paying homage to lesser-known figures who left their indelible mark on the city to treats for foodies and fashionistas. Make your own gin, weave a scarf, tell the time with a stylish personal sundial, play ‘shove ha’penny’, bind your own book – or head beyond the city fringes, just a short hop by bike, punt, barge, or steam train, for a fresh perspective on this picture-perfect metropolis. The possibilities are endless. Whether you’re a first-timer, a frequent visitor or a native who has ‘seen it all’, here are 111 things you never thought you’d see in Bath.

From ‘Cowtown’ to the biggest town in Ohio, Columbus has always been an incubator for new ideas and products. There’s always something to do and something for everyone, whether attending one of the many professional and amateur sporting events; experiencing fine dining or experimenting with exotic cuisine; or participating in the city’s vivid, nonstop arts and cultural scene. A hidden gem that stands on its own, Columbus keeps people coming back for more.

Surrounded by water, Copenhagen is a well-loved destination for travellers, but it is also a very popular place to live among Danes. This new city guide has something to offer both, taking in overlooked and inconspicuous places that lie outside the usual mainstream attention. Jan Gralle and Vibe Skytte present an alternative vision of their city, opening up insights to special and forgotten places. Many of the locations described in the book are outside, which is largely down to the Copenhageners love of spending time outdoors. As soon as the sun peaks out from behind the clouds, everyone flocks to the harbour, to the water, onto the many enchanting squares and the numerous street cafés. This book is an invitation to both locals and visitors to drift, to explore the city from new perspectives and allow themselves to be seduced by its variety and its charm.

Mediaeval no-go zone, Victorian hell-hole, war-ravaged bomb site, 21st century shining city, the most exciting area in one of the most exciting cities in the world – the East End has often been London’s strange alter ego. Ed Glinert trawls through the strange stories, the crazed characters, the violent vignettes, the dried-up docks, the imaginative immigrants, the proud philanthropists to give a different history of the most misunderstood sector of the capital, from the Princes in the Tower to the Ratcliffe Highway murders; from Jack the Ripper to the Kray twins; the Jewish ghetto to Banglatown; Cable Street to Canary Wharf; Mahatma Gandhi to George Orwell.

Poole: home to one of the largest natural harbours in the world, award-winning sandy beaches, tons of pottery and Ryvita crispbreads. Well, yes – but what else? Loads, as it happens. Poole and its surrounding areas are fit to burst with places to explore, uncover and enjoy. Whether you’re a visitor or a local and want to discover Poole’s role in saving Labradors from extinction, where writer H.G. Wells’ ashes are scattered, a ghost village that hasn’t been inhabited since World War II, a structure built by one of James Bond’s relatives, the home of a prime suspect in the Jack the Ripper case, the location for one of Coldplay’s music videos, the best place to buy Sherbet Pips, or a very punctual miniature soldier, this guide will point them out, whisper some fun facts and little-known local knowledge in your ear and hopefully leave you raising your eyebrows and saying, ‘Well, I never… ‘

“… This book attempts to be authoritative yet accessible in exploring places of pain and shame.” — NL Magazine 

Our significant dead and mortality moments are remembered at dark tourism sites, where complex issues of politics, history and ethics are exposed. This first-ever travel guide to dark tourism in England offers a thought-provoking compendium of difficult heritage.

We remember the dead or acts of suffering through ‘heritage that hurts’. This book explores infamous acts as well as obscure dark tourism sites lost to memory. Each site is challenged by its history and its political discourse and questions are raised as to how we remember our tragic past.

Each site also has ethical issues that need to be addressed and confronted and visiting these sites are often fraught with moral dilemmas. 111 Dark Places in England That You Shouldn’t Miss will help shine light on dark tourism and inherent complex issues associated with commemorating our dead. Dark tourism is politically vulnerable and ethically laden with moral commentary. This book attempts to be authoritative yet accessible in exploring sites of pain and shame.

This unusual guidebook invites the inquisitive to head off the beaten track and explore many of the city’s lesser-known places.

111 Places In Mobile That You Must Not Miss is the ultimate insider’s guide to Mobile. It takes you on many fun adventures in the scenic port city. Although it is known for its Mardi Gras festivities, few realise that Mobile is the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States. In fact, the city was settled over a century before Alabama became a state, giving a longer recorded history than the state itself.

Delve into pure joy as you learn what exactly was the deal behind the infamous Crichton leprechaun that took the world by storm early this century. Can you recognise the artists who used oyster-shaped art to help Mobile thrive? Which connection did the city have to the Manson family? You may get a little creeped out as you learn about the arrest of a Manson family member in Mobile and visit artifacts on display in the police precinct.

Silicon Valley has become the Mesopotamia of the Digital Age, built on cycles of innovation and disruption, monstrous ambition, and a steady supply of labour and capital. Yet for all that’s known about companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook – and the personas behind those companies – the culture of Silicon Valley remains elusive and contradictory, even to many locals. This unique guidebook, written by longtime local Floriana Petersen, takes you on an insider’s tour of 111 cool, offbeat, and very compelling places that offer insight into the evolving character of Silicon Valley.

Visit the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford to see drawings done by Leland Jr. Stanford, after whom the university was named after his death at age 15 in 1884. Sit at the Rosewood Hotel bar to witness the mating habits of venture capitalists. Go to the Music@Menlo Festival to listen some of the best chamber music to be found anywhere in the country. Enjoy the Stanford Powwow, a festival to celebrate some of the great American Indian tribes of Northern California. Visit Steve Jobs’ final resting place, or spend an afternoon at the Hakone Japanese gardens. Explore the Filoli Estate, a living testimony to the wealthy families who used the Gold Rush to build the infrastructure that has become Silicon Valley.

“Whether you are new to the area or a frequent visitor, this book will be the perfect companion for your exploration of Northumberland and Hadrian’s Wall.” — Worldwide Writer
Hadrian’s Wall once marked the northern edge of the Roman Empire, and was built to intimidate the uncouth tribes of hostile local natives. Now a UNESCO world heritage site, Hadrian’s Wall is the largest and most important Roman site in Britain. Use this book to explore Hadrian’s Wall Country, from Tynemouth to the Solway Firth.

You’ll discover how the Romans took a bath – and where they went to spend a penny; why aliens came to stay in a small rural town; where King Arthur lies sleeping until his country needs him; and whether Robin Hood really did take a wrong turn on his journey from Dover to Sherwood Forest.

You can also find out if Hadrian was a great emperor or a ruthless tyrant; why pubs were state-owned in Carlisle; where to find the Centre of Britain; and why treasure may lie unclaimed at the bottom of a deep, dark lake.

Written by someone with extensive knowledge of the region, this book will help you discover the delights of Hadrian’s Wall Country, and even learn some local dialect along the way.

111 Places in County Durham You Shouldn’t Miss will unveil Durham’s secret depths and lesser-known delights, allowing it to step out from the shadow of its spectacular, UNESCO-listed cathedral and its highly-ranked university. 

This small, hilly city has its gems, but the county’s historic towns (Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, Newton Aycliffe), by the water (Hartlepool, Seaham) and nestled away in its tiniest villages (Kelloe, Tow Law) are home to Durham’s true hidden wonders. 

Discover the mysterious sea caves at Blackhall Rocks, or wander up Nose’s Point to Blast Beach. Traverse Durham city’s wonkiest staircase, or make your own mind up about the county’s most controversially-designed estate. 

Marvel at Killhope’s working Waterwheel, and uncover the county’s famous coal mining past. Unearth disused collieries and quarries reclaimed by the overgrowth surrounding them.  

Spot what’s left of a stone boar at Barnard Castle. Hear the real story behind Hartlepool’s most baffling local legend, and try to stand atop a haunted copse… if you dare.

Austin is most definitely weird If by “weird”, you mean quirky, offbeat, intriguing, and utterly lovable. The city shares that uniquely Texan pride of place, and yet it has an independent spirit and character all its own. Locals and visitors alike should look no further than these pages to explore some of the weirdest corners of Austin. Try out the latest innovations in a technology petting zoo. Get your car washed among giant dinosaurs. If you dare, spend some time in a garden inspired by Alice Cooper. Soak up the sun on the only official nude beach in Texas. And, of course, in the city of music and food, catch a live show at the spot where Janis Joplin got her start, or enjoy soul food and soul music in someone’s big backyard. Savour some of the best tacos and tamales in a city known for amazing Mexican food.

In this guidebook, you’ll find out where all the secrets are hidden and learn the unknown stories behind them too. Whether you’ve lived here all your life, you’re just passing through, or something in between, you’ll become even more enamored with the capital of Texas in all its inventive, unabashed – and weird – glory.

Brighton has transformed itself several times since the Middle Ages: once a small fishing village, it became the most fashionable seaside resort in the 18th century, a thriving tourist destination in the railway age and a liberal, multicultural university city in the 20th century. 200 years ago the party-loving King George IV built himself the playground of all royal playgrounds here: an oriental fantasy of a palace with onion-shaped domes and an exotic faux-Chinese interior, the Royal Pavilion.

Today Brighton, together with its surroundings, is culturally one of the most exciting places in Britain, boasting an impressive coast, lined with chalk cliffs and the rolling South Downs as a backdrop. Just 10 kilometres east of Brighton is the picturesque county town of Lewes, with a stunning array of historic buildings, including an 11th-century Norman castle. The people of Lewes are known for their revolutionary spirit, and host the biggest bonfire celebration in the country every year on 5 November.

“In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.” – Denzel Washington

For more than a century, seekers of sun and celebrity from around the world have flocked to this sprawling metropolis on the Pacific, which Dorothy Parker once described as “72 suburbs in search of a city.” But beyond the red-carpet reputation and Tinseltown trappings is a west coast wonderland teeming with unexpected cultural experiences, iconic architecture, gorgeous open spaces, quirky museums, hidden vistas, unconventional art, and obscure stories about the starlets, moguls, personalities, and players who have made Los Angeles their playground. This unusual guidebook explores 111 of the city’s most interesting and unknown places and experiences: wander a serpentine path in a spiritual quest of your own making; channel your inner cowboy at a tried and true honky tonk bar; pay homage to the Dude at the bungalow where the big Lebowski lived; turn your car tires into musical instruments on the country’s only ‘musical’ road; sleep with the ghosts of Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin; view a constellation of stars more vivid than anything Hollywood has to offer. From the San Gabriel Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, Angelenos and visitors will fall in love with the real Los Angeles. Adventures beckon. Surprises await. Just imagine how much more scintillating your dinner-party storytelling will be.

Most people go to Napa and Sonoma in Northern California for the wine, and rightly so. The trove of 111 unexpected treasures in this guidebook, however, vastly broadens the possibilities for exploring and experiencing this region in a whole new way. The area is filled with natural wonders, from giant redwood forests and rolling hills, to cliffs and beaches, and even a secret spot to see 20,000 migrating grey whales. Discover the history of Native people who lived here for millennia. Walk in the footsteps of titans of literature, film, and design. Linger in museums featuring fine art, culinary history, and a hubcap collection. You’ll find a sense of whimsy here, too, as you hunt for fairy doors or stroll through a pygmy forest. Visit restaurants, gardens, music venues, gravesites of people who made an impact here, and more places you never imagined existed – and, yes, a few truly unique wineries too.

There might be more books on Oxford than students who have attended the world’s greatest university, but there has never been one as dynamic and exciting as 111 Places in Oxford That You Shouldn’t Miss. Author Ed Glinert has sifted through all the college histories, records and lists of alumni; examined all the quads and cloisters of the great colleges; explored the glorious villages hewn from honey-dripping Cotswold stone; luxuriated in the glamorous coffee houses of High Street; imagined society’s earliest motor cars built at the Morris garages; been struck dumb by the never-ending peal of bells at Tom Tower; relaxed at Carfax, the very centre of the universe; and tippled at each of the legendary pubs between St Giles and Merton.

This is a volume which will send residents into paroxysms of laughter, remind students why they’re there, and warn prospective undergrads of the joys of living in one of the world’s most beautiful and cleverest cities.

Get beyond the gates of the Castle to see a side of Windsor you never knew. This thriving, bustling town may have been the home of the Royal Family for almost 1,000 years, but it is generations of local residents who have made Windsor a truly special place to be. In this book, locals and travellers alike will delight in tales that explore the mysterious, mythological and also mortal side of Windsor, weaving through tales of deceit and scandal, heroism and genius, to paint a picture of a town that is breaking away from its Royal connections and emerging as a world-class destination in its own right.

Learn how an emerging craft beer scene is bringing brewing back to Windsor. Discover local characters who have created museums and art galleries in the most unlikely ways. Explore the hidden histories of everything from a pub with a tombstone in the saloon, to a café in an old ticket office, to the world’s first augmented reality mural. If you thought Windsor was just the Castle, the Great Park, Eton College and Legoland, you’re in for a surprise.

The hidden art of London is for the ever-curious roamer of both the back streets and the familiar places you never quite see – churches, gardens, graveyards, pubs. What little garden finds the poet John Keats sitting in the corner of a bench? Which abandoned building tells the story of a great Roman Road?
There are always marvels hidden in plain view – the back corner of a museum containing great sculptures by Rodin or the naked, street-corner golden boy, who marks where the Great Fire of London finally petered out. A famous literary cat or a painting by Hogarth on the bend of a stairs in an ancient hospital.
This guidebook takes you exploring London beyond its most famous sights to find the art we have never quite noticed before: the hidden statues, paintings, and murals that have escaped from the official museums, and often live unnoticed lives in tucked away places.

Mixing Roman and medieval roots, Chichester sits at the heart of a storied landscape where South Down hills dotted with idyllic hamlets ripple back from a shoreline mixing wild dune-backed beaches with old-school seaside resorts. Reminders of smuggling and war add spice.

But a thrilling thread of modernity runs through this slice of West Sussex too. Chichester’s modernist Festival Theatre provided the foundation for London’s National Theatre, while masterpieces of contemporary architecture that draw admirers from around the world include Sea Lane House in East Preston and The White Tower in Bognor Regis.

Evocative ancient memorials abound. Chichester is blessed with the only English cathedral visible from the sea, while England’s largest castle rises above the ravishing – and cosmopolitan – riverside town of Arundel. Ancient yew trees mark the burial spots of Viking warriors in an idyllic Downland spot. And it’s a land vibrant with creative imprints: poets, painters, composers, from Blake and Keats to Joyce and Chagall.

This guidebook takes you exploring Chichester and its surroundings to find incomparable natural beauty, hidden secrets, astonishing history, art of all kinds, and much more. 

Cornwall is known for its spectacular scenery, tiny fishing harbours, sandy beaches and surfing. Outside the tourist hotspots it has an intricate landscape full of life, where the ancient meets the modern. This guide takes you deep into this landscape, to old forgotten places and new exciting venues, from Land’s End to the Rame Peninsula, from Lizard Point to Bude.

Come with us from the old – to where Excalibur was thrown into the lake hundreds of years ago – to the modern – to the settings for the Poldark TV series. Come with us from the tiny – the tombstone of Alfred Wallis – to the huge – the intricate folded rocks on Millook beach. Join us from the noisy – Trevithick’s Puffing Devil – to the quiet – the tranquil Japanese garden.

Cornwall has changed. It is an intriguing mix of modern gastronomy, mining heritage, ancient ruins, literary festivals, traditional dances and brand-new technology. This guide is a personal selection of the best places, a mix to cover all tastes; please join us on our journey. 

Space City. Bayou City. Hustletown. Clutch City. Crush City. What’s the story behind all these nicknames? 111 Places in Houston That You Must Not Miss is your guide to the hidden stories behind the city’s monikers, stereotypes, and statistics. As America’s most diverse city, this book provides 111 different ways to explore Htown.
This illustrated guidebook is a readable tour of places representing the distinct personalities that make up the population of the nation’s fourth largest city. Traverse Houston’s massive landscape of strip malls and interstates, and you will find a city that not only embraces diversity, but transforms it into its own culture, where Hindu temples take up office space, an enterprising Vietnamese jeweller supplies the hip hop scene with bling, and one man’s mission to cover his house in beer cans is now a museum.
Whether you’re a native Houstonian or a newcomer, this book serves as both a good read and a resource for getting to know the city – one unique place at a time.

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.