The Maps That Made Modern London Fascinating and beautiful maps from the London Metropolitan Archives

by Westbrook, Vincent

• ISBN13: 9781849949392
• ISBN10: 1849949395
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2025-05-13
• Publisher: Batsford

Summary

Featuring over 100 maps of London from the twentieth century, this fascinating miscellany provides an enthralling exploration of the history of the city.

One of the best ways to gain an insight into a city’s multi-layered past is by deciphering its maps, and this curated collection of over 100 historical maps of London will help you do just that. Many of these hugely interesting and significant maps are also beautiful works of art in themselves.

The majority of the maps in this collection have been drawn from the historical treasure house that is the London Metropolitan Archives, which has been housing London’s records since 1889. The maps are presented in thematic chapters, including:

• Making Connections: Maps of the railways, tube system and roads
• Out with the Old and In with the New: London’s numerous upgrades
• For Richer for Poorer: A city of extremes
• Let’s Go Outside: London’s green spaces and the River Thames
• Picture This: Pictorial, decorative and artistic maps.

Perfect for map enthusiasts, history buffs, and art lovers, this is a visually stunning book that readers will spend hours poring over.

Author Biography

Vincent Westbrook is an architect and cartophile who has worked on some of London’s most iconic buildings, including the MI6 HQ in Vauxhall, Wembley Stadium, and the Stirling Prize–winning Bloomberg HQ. Westbrook is delighted to have been able to indulge his passion for London by delving into the London Metropolitan Archives’ magnificent collection of maps. He lives in North London.