The Best of London by Holly Ivins

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The Best of London has over 100 categories on the best places to eat, drink, shop and have fun across the city. There are more than 300 personal recommendations contributed by Londoners.

What's Inside

There are lots of grouped ideas under the basic groupings of:
Food and Drink
Shopping
Art & Culture
Open Spaces & Sport

Ideas include the perfect pubs for a summer's evening, unusual museums, secret gardens, and breathtaking views.

As people actually living in London were asked, and as we live across a wide area of Greater London, the tips are not just for central London. For example, I didn't know about Haynes Lane Market in Crystal Palace, south London which is apparently great for vintage shopping. Nor did I know about Bunny Park in Hanwell which I'll pop by one day when I'm over that side of town.

I knew about most of the other tips except the latest places for nights out as I don't get so many of those these days.

The pages of personal recommendations also have colour photos, occasional quotes from Londoners and further tips from the author.

Dissapointments

Each entry includes only a basic address - neighborhood and postcode - but not the website or telephone number. And the opening times are only included if it was part of the tip. Some recommendations are for seasonal things too so check ahead.

There is an Area Index but no other index so while you can see what's around St James's Park, for example, it's harder to refer back to an idea you remember reading but don't know where it is.

It's billed as a "unique, practical guide" with "the ultimate list of London tips" but I do think those claims are not totally true. It's a fun collection of tips but at only 96 pages it's not substantial.

I'm a Contributor

I was asked for ideas to include in this collection so I am listed as a Contributor at the back of the book. I think I suggested Teanamu in Notting Hill as it's a wonderful 'secret' teahouse, Tibits a great vegetarian restaurant near Piccadilly Circus and Chin Chin Laboratorists as it is the coolest ice-cream parlor in town.