Tunnels, Towers & Temples: London's 100 Strangest Places

A companion to Spectacular Vernacular, volume two takes another sideways look at London, examining the curious histories and sometimes comic assocations behind scores of places, some of which are familiar while others are largely unknown. Richly illustrated, the book reveals a strange side to the London most people never come to know, even though they walk its streets every day and take much of what they see for granted. Examples include extensive networks of tunnels running beneath high street pavements, secret transport and signalling networks criss-crossing the capital, scores of disused railway stations with a fascinating wartime past, and the tragic fate of London's last working tram. Also genuine oddities such as streetlamps powered by sewer gas, a street where you can legally drive on the right, a Russian Tsar working incognito in an English naval dockyard, even an authentic Nazi memorial which still stands among the heroes and adventurers of the British Empire.

Book Author

Well received by reviewers and readers alike, David Long's books on London include Spectacular Vernacular: London's 100 Most Extraordinary Buildings, a sequel Tunnels, Towers & Temples: London's 100 Strangest Places, and the popular Little Book of London. The trio reflects the author's longstanding interest in the quirkier, lesser known aspects of the city, its long history, streetscape and architecture, and since 2006 he has published a number of other books on related subjects together with two more volumes in the Little Book series. A writer and journalist since graduating in the 198...
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Book Reviews

• Evening Standard
  "The Book of the Week."
• Museum of London
  "A quirkier look at the subject...plenty of new places here for even the most knowledgeable Londoner to explore.’"
• Where London
  "If you’re intrigued by London’s fascinating treasures, you’ll love this beautifully illustrated book."