Editor Tim Adams describes the book as “an insight into the London that Londoners might carry around in their heads.” Our contributors are eclectic, distinguished, and highly knowledgeable about the city. They include film directors Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George), and Roger Michell (Notting Hill), curators Charles Saumarez Smith (National Portrait Gallery) and Margaret Richardson (Sir John Soanes Museum); Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, playwright David Hare, and writers Mario Vargas Llosa, Romesh Gunesekera, J. C. Ballard, and Emma Tennant as well as scores of journalists and critics.

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“The other side of the moon from other city guides.”—The Irish Times

“One of our favorite guides, it offers picks by authors, artists, historians, designers, and other prominent London denizens.  It's not comprehensive, but it's definitely eclectic (bat walks in Hampstead Heath, an Art Deco barbershop, Belgravia's Grenadier pub, which is frequented by Madonna) and beautifully written.”—Quest

“...new, compact and sophisticated guidebook filled with eloquent musings...”—Town and Country

“...packed with information not easily available elsewhere.”—Barron’s

“Next time I go to London, this book goes with me.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“This mini series of cloth-bound guidebooks works on the premise that if you want to know where to go, ask a local. The ones in question here are a group of artists, archaeologists, historians, architects, chefs and writers who have opened up their address books and imparted their favourite corners of their city, adopted or otherwise. There are four guides in the series; Rome, Florence and the Towns of Italy, London and New York. Each guide is divided into sections of the city with an introduction on the area and maps pinpointing each recommendation. It’s all highly subjective and some may find the randomness a little hard to fathom, but it’s well worth dipping into to discover the likes of Marcella Hazan’s (the Delia of Italy) favourite Venetian trattoria or the best way to see the interior of the Sistine Chapel minus the crowds.”—Independent on Sunday