There’s been a bridge over the Thames in London for about 2000 years. In the time since its founding during the Roman Empire, London has become one of the world’s most diverse cities.
Today, it’s as well known for its Indian food (try the restaurants in Brick Lane) and Middle Eastern cuisine (visit Edgeware Road) as it is for a proper afternoon tea (finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and endless pots of tea).
It’s also a book lover’s paradise with museums dedicated to literary classics — Hello, Sherlock Holmes! Good day, Mr. Dickens! – along with the British Library (don’t miss the tour), Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey, and Shakespeare’s Globe, where you can watch a play in a faithful reproduction of the Bard’s theater.
In this episode, we clear up any confusion about London’s main bridges, make a case for why you should visit the Tower’s Ravenmaster (and his six raven friends), and learn about the mad skills of London cab drivers. Then we recommend five great books that took us there on the page, including a twisty courtroom drama, a time-traveling guidebook, a murder mystery set in North London, a beloved urban fantasy, and a modern classic with an unlikely hero.
Here are the books about London we recommend on the show:
For a complete roundup of all the books we recommend, plus a full transcript and the other cool stuff we talked about, visit the Episode 51 show notes.
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