The Amateur Historian's Guide to Medieval and Tudor London, 1066-1600

by Carole Trimble and Sarah Valente Kettler

Book Overview

Medieval and Tudor London is a thoroughly enjoyable travel guide aimed at the vast number of travelers who like to trace history as they explore the British Isles. Chapters cover the people, places... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1892123320
• ISBN13: 9781892123329
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Capital Books (VA)
• Length: 309 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable style, a good read, not a true "guide book"

I very much enjoyed this book for many reasons, not just that it provides information you will never find anywhere else. The book covers many sites that I was familiar with and many that I have heard of and didn't know were accessible and many that I have never heard of. I will definitely take it with me on my upcoming trip, my 18th to London. I like the style of the book, just casual enough to let you know the authors are real people (and have really been to the sites), but not overdone, which can get annoying with other authors. In fact, I skimmed through the entire book at one sitting, reading many parts entirely, as I found it interesting. I have a few minor criticisms. (I'm still giving a five-star rating, especially since there is no other book quite like this, so invaluable.) A few things people should know in advance: there is one general map at the beginning -- the authors state you need to pick up a map in London as this is not an easy city to navigate (I use London A-Z) -- and there are no floor plans of the sites. This is good (smaller size and price) and bad (toting and flipping from book to book or purchasing high-priced on-site guides). I'm sure it would be impossible to locate a floor plan for some of the more obscure buildings, so really can't blame the authors. My main complaint (not major) is there is not a rating system, formal or informal, for sites. I know a lot of what is "worth seeing" depends on a person's individual interest, but, well, just because a site exists doesn't mean it's worth taking time out for if you just have a week or so in London. There's a big difference between "don't miss this hidden treasure" and "seek this out if you are in the neighborhood" or "best for those with a special interest in Edward IV, or stained glass windows, or gothic arches, or whatever." Once again let me state that a major plus is the feeling that the authors have really been there and know what they are talking about. By comparison, many years ago I bought a guide to London by a very well known guidebook publisher. I made a bed-and-breakfast booking on their recommendation of a charming hotel with a bright, cheery breakfast room. I won't tell you the full horrors of the place, other than to mention the tiny rooms with plywood walls and door, and the very dark basement breakfast room done up like a dungeon, complete with instruments of torture on the walls. And one shared toilet per floor, which sometimes actually flushed. I didn't just check out -- I escaped. It was very obvious that the authors of that other book had never set foot in the place, and I have more or less ignored mass-produced guidebooks ever since.

mapping the way

Travellers on the trail of history in London know how frustrating it can be to locate Tudor and medieval places still in existence in that busy, crowded, vibrant, thoroughly modern city. Last year we spent a week with this guide in hand, feeling a bit Sherlockian in our quest. Even with the detailed directions provided by the authors, finding most of these hidden, nearly forgotten sites was a challenge. But with persistence and patience, our efforts were rewarded. What fun! Couldn't have done it without this guide. But if you aren't particularly interested in the places, the era, and the difficult pursuit, better not bother.

Tudor History

I've never known a lot about medieval and Tudor history, but a friend gave this book to me to help me plan a trip to England. Now I can't wait to see the places described in the book. These authors have a fan in me.

A different look at London

Anyone who has ever been to London knows all the basics--The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace--but this book takes you off the beaten path to some of the lesser known but still exciting places to vivist in London. The quirky stories behind the places are great, and I really appreciated all of the useful information, like hours of operation and admission costs. I can't wait for my next trip to London so I can use this fantastic guide some more!

An traveler's book of British history and then some....

While planning an upcoming trip to London, I stumbled across this new title and have been delighted with its very refreshing approach to British history and travel. I don't necessarily consider myself a history buff, but this book's anecdotal approach to the(sometimes quirky) history behind some well known and lesser known tourist sites is quite interesting. For me, this title has also served as a jumping off point to more scholarly tomes related to my trip. This would be good for the armchair traveler as well.