This book and the others in the series (e.g. for Paris and Rome) provide photos, drawings and diagrams of what other books only tell about in print. Beautifully designed and easy to use, this is the one superb resource to read before your trip; you'll know London before you arrive. And during your visit you'll refer to it continually. You'll get a satisfying balance of information about the city's history, culture, arts, neighborhoods, customs, traditions, shopping, events, transporation and more...plus an excellent "survival guide" section...and detailed street and subway maps and recommendations about carefully screened lodging, restaurants and shopping. We don't travel without the Eyewitness Travel Guide. While this book is similar in style and layout to the equally excellent Knopf guides, I find a better balance of information in the Eyewitness Guides.