Exploring the Thames Wilderness


Book Description

The River Thames is an often undiscovered haven of stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife and brilliant natural beauty. As well as the famous stretches passing through our biggest cities and towns, there is a hidden side to the river - wild and natural, but surprisingly accessible. This guidebook, compiled by the two major Thames charities, contains a wealth of information on over 150 of the best places to explore the real Thames wilderness, along with enjoyable walks and activities along its course. Organised geographically, the book gives information on the history and character of each stretch of the river and the featured sites within it, travelling from source to sea. Illustrated with maps and photos, the text highlights which plants and wildlife to watch out for, activities you can do, how to get there and nearby moorings, cycle paths and car parks. Each section features a circular walk, tying together several of the sites and accompanied by an enchanting hand-drawn map. An essential source of ideas for days out and handy for on the go, Exploring the Thames Wilderness opens up the beauty of the Thames to everyone.




London's Lost Rivers


Book Description

Packed with surprising and fascinating information, London's Lost Rivers uncovers a very different side to London - showing how waterways shaped our principal city and exploring the legacy they leave today. With individual maps to show the course of each river and over 100 colour photographs, it's essential browsing for any Londoner and the perfect gift for anyone who loves exploring the past... 'An amazing book' -- BBC Radio London 'Talling's highly visual, fact-packed, waffle-free account is the freshest take we've yet seen. A must-buy for anyone who enjoys the "hidden" side of London -- Londonist 'A fascinating and stylish guide to exploring the capital's forgotten brooks, waterways, canals and ditches ... it's a terrific book' - Walk 'Pocket-sized, beautifully designed, illustrated and informative - in short a joy to read, handle and use' -- ***** Reader review 'Delightful, informative and beautifully produced' -- ***** Reader review 'A small gem. A really great book. I can't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 'Fascinating from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review ************************************************************************************************ From the sources of the Fleet in Hampstead's ponds to the mouth of the Effra in Vauxhall, via the meander of the Westbourne through 'Knight's Bridge' and the Tyburn's curve along Marylebone Lane, London's Lost Rivers unearths the hidden waterways that flow beneath the streets of the capital. Paul Talling investigates how these rivers shaped the city - forming borough boundaries and transport networks, fashionable spas and stagnant slums - and how they all eventually gave way to railways, roads and sewers. Armed with his camera, he traces their routes and reveals their often overlooked remains: riverside pubs on the Old Kent Road, healing wells in King's Cross, 'stink pipes' in Hammersmith and gurgling gutters on streets across the city. Packed with maps and over 100 colour photographs, London's Lost Rivers uncovers the watery history of the city's most famous sights, bringing to life the very different London that lies beneath our feet.




The Lost Rivers of London


Book Description




This Other London: Adventures in the Overlooked City


Book Description

Join John Rogers as he ventures out into an uncharted London like a redbrick Indiana Jones in search of the lost meaning of our metropolitan existence. Nursing two reluctant knees and a can of Stella, he perambulates through the seasons seeking adventure in our city’s remote and forgotten reaches.




Thames: Sacred River


Book Description

Just as Peter Ackroyd's bestselling London is the biography of the city, Thames: Sacred River is the biography of the river, from sea to source. Exploring its history from prehistoric times to the present day, the reader is drawn into an extraordinary world, learning about the fishes that swim in the river and the boats that ply its surface; about floods and tides; hauntings and suicides; miasmas and malaria; locks, weirs and embankments; bridges, docks and palaces. Peter Ackroyd has a genius for digging out the most surprising and entertaining details, and for writing about them in the most magisterial prose; the result is a wonderfully readable and captivating guide to this extraordinary river and the towns and villages which line it.




Adventurous Exploration Along Great Rivers


Book Description

The narrative embarks on a global odyssey, weaving together tales of intrepid adventurers and explorers who have navigated the mighty waters of iconic rivers. From the mighty Amazon to the winding Nile, each chapter unfolds as a riveting expedition, providing readers with a front-row seat to the awe-inspiring beauty and challenges encountered along the way. The book captures the essence of rivers as more than mere bodies of water; they are living arteries that carry the lifeblood of diverse ecosystems and human civilizations. Each chapter delves into the unique characteristics of the rivers, exploring the ecosystems they sustain, the cultures that have thrived along their banks, and the historical significance they hold. One of the distinctive features of the book is its emphasis on the spirit of adventure. The explorers and adventurers profiled in its pages embark on journeys that go beyond the geographical; they seek to unravel the stories etched into the landscapes, encounter the people who call these riverbanks home, and confront the untamed forces of nature.




London's Hidden Rivers


Book Description

A fantastic guide to exploring the hidden rivers of London. London has many rivers, but they are often hidden under centuries of development. Rivers like the Walbrook, the Fleet or the Effra have left their mark on the city, and still form an important part of our subterranean world. - From the former watering hole, by the Earl's Sluice, where Canterbury pilgrims rested, David Bowie rehearsed and Henry Cooper trained, to the Gardens by the Westbourne where a young Mozart performed. - From Counter's Creek and its burial grounds of Kensal Green and Brompton to the River Effra and the West Norwood cemetery. - From the pipe carrying the River Tyburn over Baker Street Underground station to the grate in Farringdon through which the River Fleet can be heard (and seen). David Fathers shows the course of London's hidden rivers in a series of detailed guided walks, illustrating the traces they have left and showing the ways they have shaped the city. Each walk starts at the tube or rail station nearest to the source of the river, and then follows it down to the Thames through parkland, suburbia, historic neighbourhoods and the vestiges of our industrial past. London's Hidden Rivers contains over 120km of walks, both north and south of the Thames. Winding through the hills, valleys and marshes that underlie the city, every page is a revelation.




The New Exploration


Book Description




London Clay


Book Description

__________________ London Clay explores the hidden layers that make up this city. Armed with just his tattered Streetfinder map, Chivers leads his reader down forgotten waterways into abandoned catacombs and buried stations, exploring the nooks and crannies of a forgotten city. His network of journeys combine together to produce a compelling interrogation of London's past. In a route that covers much of his own personal history, this is a bold exploration of the city's secrets and asks us also to consider important questions about its future.




Exploring Britain


Book Description

Explore Britain on foot, by bike, by horse, by balloon, by barge or boat, by car, by train - from coast to coast.