Top 25+ Non-Fiction Books About London in 2025 (History, People & Culture)

If you want to understand London beyond the tourist trail, you can’t do much better than a great book. As a Londoner passionate about the city’s history and culture, I’ve read countless titles that bring its stories to life.

This guide highlights 25 of the best non-fiction books about London — covering history, architecture, social life and hidden corners — perfect for anyone who wants to explore the real London.

If you’re more of a fan of fiction, I’ve also written a guide to the best novels about London here.

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Best books about London’s history

London: the Biography by Peter Ackroyd (2001)

Arguably the most iconic of all the many history books about London is Peter Ackroyd’s London: the Biography. Though be warned, at nearly 1,000 pages, it’s not a quick read.

But it’s no dry history book either. Ackroyd’s love for the city bleeds into every page. And throughout, it covers all sorts of interesting tangents of London’s history – from Cockney speech, London ghosts, the arts scene and even the weather.

And while we’re on Ackroyd, I’d recommend checking out his other books. Throughout his career he’s written on all sorts of elements of London’s history. I’d especially recommend Queer City: Gay London from the Romans to the Present Day.

Buy London: the Biography now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy London: the Biography now on Amazon

The London Encyclopaedia by Ben Weinreb, Christopher Hibbert & Julia Keay (2010)

The most comprehensive book about London – presenting more than 6,000 entries, organised in an encyclopedia format. It’s not one you’ll be reading back to front, but it’s an unrivalled reference guide for London history enthusiasts like me.

It was first published in 1983 and is now in its third edition. It covers just about everything you can imagine – every district, street, personality associated with London (at least up until 2010!). Dip in at random and get lost learning about the origin of a street name, or the story behind a long-demolished theatre.

Buy The London Encyclopaedia on Waterstones (UK)
Buy the London Encyclopedia on Amazon

A Short History of London by Simon Jenkins (2020)

If you want to read a history book about London but can’t quite bring yourself to tackle the 1,000 pages of ‘London: the Biography’, Simon Jenkins’ A Short History of London is an excellent choice. I’d especially recommend it for those with an interest in London’s architecture.

Also worth reading from Simon Jenkins is a Short History of British Architecture. It’s not specifically about London, but because of the importance of the city on architecture in the UK, it features very heavily. And it’s a great, digestible exploration of the architectural heritage.

Buy A Short History of London now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy A Short History of London now on Amazon

London: A History in Maps by Peter Barber (2012)

For a more visual history of London, go for Peter Barber’s London: A History in Maps.

Using maps from the British Library’s archive, Barber illustrates the history of London, from its origins to the modern day. It’s another big, heavy book, almost encyclopaedic in the amount of information given.

You can either read this in depth history in full, or flick through the maps. Either way it’s an unbeatable way to see London’s transformation throughout the centuries.

Buy London: A History in Maps now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy London: A History in Maps now on Amazon

Londonopolis: A Curious History of London by Martin Latham (2014)

Plenty of books now claim to tell you weirdest, most secret facts and stories about London. Londonopolis is one of the best, filled with fascinating stories and little gems. A fun, digestible way to learn more about what makes London so magical. And even for the biggest history nerds like me, you might just learn something new!

Buy Londonopolis: A Curious History of London now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy Londonopolis: A Curious History of London now on Amazon

London’s Underground: The Story of the Tube by Oliver Green (2023)

Londoners love talking about the Tube. Arguing about the best line, or how to get from Station A to Station B. Impressing friends with pointless bits of trivia. There’s even a popular Wordle style puzzle game, where you guess a Tube station based on a snippet of the Underground map.

So it makes sense that there are plenty of books about the Tube. London’s Underground by Oliver Green is arguably the best, tracing the history of the world’s first underground railway system. Illustrated with posters, maps and archive photographs, it also celebrates the artistry of the network – such as Harry Beck’s influential, beautifully simple tube map, and the modernist gems of Charles Holden’s stations.

Buy the London’s Underground on Amazon
Buy the London’s Underground on Waterstones (UK)

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Best books about the lives of Londoners

These books take a more personal look at London’s history. They’re the best books to step into the lives of ordinary Londoners from through history, intimate, human portraits of the city.

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold (2020)

The story of Jack the Ripper is one of the most famous associated with London. Too often, his victims are a footnote. In this vital, shocking read historian Hallie Rubenhold outlines the lives of the ‘canonical five’ women murdered by Jack the Ripper.

It’s a difficult subject which she tackles with great empathy, shining a light on the hardships these women faced in their lives. As a social history, telling the story of what it was really like for so many Londoners in the 19th century, it’s excellent.

Buy The Five now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy The Five now on Amazon

Vagabonds: Life on the Streets of Nineteenth-century London by Oskar jensen

Many novels about London delve into poverty in the city – such as the exceptional work of Dickens. But much of our imagination of what life in London was like comes from authors who didn’t experience those issues themselves.

This brilliant book allows us to hear what life was actually like on the streets of London, from 1780-1880. Oskar Jensen brings together first-hand accounts, meticulously researched from court transcripts, media coverage, memoirs, to tell a story of London – beggars and thieves, musicians, hawkers and sex workers, all in their own words.

Buy Vagabonds now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy Vagabonds now on Amazon

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (1970)

A charming collection of letters between the book’s author (resident of New York Helene Hanff) and a London bookseller (Frank Doel). What started as Helene’s search for some obscure titles turned into a 25-year (letter-based) friendship, covering everything from rationing in London to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

A great choice for book lovers (and if you’re reading this blog, surely that’s you?). In the sequel, the Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, Helene records her visit to London in 1971 to the (then sadly closed) shop on Charing Cross Road.

Buy 84 Charing Cross Road now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy 84 Charing Cross Road now on Amazon

The Diaries of Samuel Pepys – A Selection (published 2003, written in the 1600s)

Samuel Pepys was a 17th-century writer and politician. But today he’s best known for his diary, one of the most important primary sources we have of London from this time. It’s especially famous for its first-hand accounts of the plague, and the Great Fire of London.

Buy Samuel Pepys Diary now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy Samuel Pepys Diary now on Amazon

London: Immigrant City by Nazneen Khan-Østrem (2003)

London can lay claim to being one of the world’s most diverse cities. It’s one of the reasons it’s so great. In this excellent book, Khan-Østrem explores London’s migrant communities and their neighbourhoods, from Caribbean communities in Peckham and Brixton to Irish London, Pakistani London and more.

Khan-Østrem does a phenomenal job of bringing these neighbourhoods to life. She tells the stories of the people who live there, and celebrates the huge influence that immigrants from all over the world have had on London. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone wants to truly understand London and its global diversity.

Buy London: Immigrant City now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy London: Immigrant City now on Amazon

Another of the great chroniclers of London’s history is Catharine Arnold, and there are several other books written by her I could have chosen. Underworld London – gruesome at times – brings a storyteller’s touch to a darker side of London’s history – crime throughout the ages.

She explores how London’s growth has always gone hand in hand with its underbelly. From public executions at Tyburn to Victorian prisons and the shadowy corners of the East End and famous gangsters such as the Krays, it’s comprehensive, grimly fascinating, and packed with historical detail.

Arnold’s other well-regarded books include ‘Bedlam‘, which explores the shifting history of mental health, and ‘Necropolis‘, which looks at how the city deals with its death.

Buy Underworld London on Waterstones (UK)
Buy Underworld London on Amazon

Londoners by Craig Taylor (2012)

What better way to understand modern London than to hear from its residents themselves? In ‘Londoners’, Craig Taylor is the conduit for the stories of Londoners from all walks of life. It’s nearly 15 years old now, but it remains a groundbreaking piece of work, painting a remarkable picture of twenty-first-century London, capturing its vibrancy, diversity and dynamism.

Buy Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now on Amazon

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The best books for exploring London

London: A Guide for Curious Wanderers by Jack Chesher (2023)

Probably the most beautiful book about London I’ve found, by Jack Chesher of ‘Living London History’ fame on social media. Part history book and part travel guide, it’s filled with stunning illustrations by Katharine Fraser and unusual, interesting historical facts from all across the city.

One of the things that makes it so special, in my opinion, is the historical gems it uncovers literally hiding in plain sight. Things you might have walked past a hundred times, oblivious to the story behind them. It’s a wonderful companion to exploring the city.

Buy London: A Guide for Curious Wanderers now on Waterstones.com (UK)
Buy London: A Guide for Curious Wanderers now on Amazon

Secret London: An Unusual Guide by Rachel Howard and Bill Nash (latest edition 2022)

In my first years living in London, this was my indispensable guide. With more than 200 spots across the city, it’s the ultimate handbook for anyone who thinks they’ve seen everything London has to offer (you haven’t!).

It covers London’s oddities – underground crypts, hidden gardens, eccentric museums and strange pieces of architecture. One of the best travel guides about London, and always worth keeping in your bag for spontaneous detours.

Buy Secret London on Amazon
Buy Secret London on Waterstones (UK)

The Boroughs of London by Mike Hall & Matt Brown (2025)

This book is so brand new, published in October 2025, that as I write this I haven’t actually finished it yet!

But I wanted to include it on this list because, firstly, it’s beautiful, with wonderful maps for each London borough. And more importantly, while most London guides focus on the city’s famous centre, the Boroughs of London looks at the city in all its glory. It maps all 32 boroughs, exploring the key sights, buildings and lore in each. A perfect companion for London enthusiasts, or anyone looking to explore the city in-depth.

Buy the Boroughs of London on Amazon
Buy the Boroughs of London on Waterstones (UK)

London Block by Block: An Illustrated Guide to the City’s Neighborhoods by Cierra Block (2022)

Another beautiful book to explore London, featuring maps and illustrations by the aptly named Cierra Block. It has more than 50 maps, each exploring a different aspect of London – such as the top things to see in Hampstead, or the best places to eat.

Buy London Block by Block on Amazon
Buy London Block by Block on Waterstones (UK)

Walking the Lines: The London Underground, Overground by Mark Mason (2013)

This book follows author Mark Mason as he undertakes a personal odyssey: walking every London tube line from start to end, following the tracks from above the ground.

403 miles and 175 hours of walking later, and we have a wonderful book that aims to answer the impossible question – What defines London? An enjoyable read for London-lovers, filled with anecdotes, musings, observations and history.

Buy Walking the Lines now on Amazon

Do Not Pass Go: From the Old Kent Road to Mayfair by Tim Moore (2002)

There are now Monopoly boards for just about every major city, as well as everything from The Simpsons to The Walking Dead. But (in the UK at least!), London was the original.

In this book, Tim Moore takes the Monopoly board as his map and sets off across London, visiting every square from Old Kent Road to Mayfair. What sounds like a gimmick becomes an affectionate, witty portrait of the city’s variety — a mix of social commentary, travelogue and nostalgia. Moore writes with warmth and mischief, uncovering forgotten corners and the quirks of everyday London life along the way.

Buy Do Not Pass Go on Amazon.
Buy Do Not Pass Go on Waterstones (UK)

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Books That Capture London’s Spirit

The books in this section are harder to define. They include photography collections; lyrical histories; personal memoirs. But all of them capture something about London’s spirit – that ‘London-ness’, its essence that makes it unlike any other city.

All On The Board: Inspiring Notes from the Underground by @AllOnTheBoard

If you’ve spent enough time on London’s Underground, you’ll have seen some of the messages written by Transport for London staff Ian and Jeremy, better known as @AllOnTheBoard. Messages of kindness, humour, solidarity, seen by thousands of Londoners as they rush in and out of stations.

The pair started writing messages on Underground station information boards several years ago to try and make commuters smile. Since then, they’ve amassed than 1 million followers on Instagram, and in this book – a collection of their messages written on whiteboards in Tube stations – published a best seller. It’s a collection that forms a portrait of the city at its most human: tired commuters, fleeting smiles, and unexpected poetry in public spaces.

Buy All On The Board on Amazon
Buy All On The Board on Waterstones.com

The Spirit of London by Paul Cohen-Portheim (1935)

One of the most classic books about London, written by an outsider (Austrian artist and writer Paul Cohen-Portheim) between the wars. It provides a snapshot of the city nearly a century ago – its attitudes, its architecture (much lost in the Blitz a few years later) and its culture.

At less than 200 pages – and with lots of pictures – it’s a digestible and charming read, brimming with the author’s love for the city.

Buy the Spirit of London on Amazon
Buy the Spirit of London on Waterstones (UK)

Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem (2020)

An astonishing book which – along with an exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands – helped spark widespread interest in the history hiding in the River Thames.

The author, Lara Maiklem, spends her days scouring the exposed riverbanks of the Thames, unearthing fragments of Roman pottery, Tudor pipes and Victorian buttons — the discarded traces of everyday lives. Her finds become prompts for reflection on who we are and how the city remembers us.

In the book, Lara writes lyrically, bringing the history of the Thames to life, and shining a light on thousands of years of lives of Londoners.

Buy Mudlarking on Waterstones (UK)
Buy Mudlarking on Amazon

London: Portrait of a City by Reuel Golden (2012)

One of the best visual collections of what makes modern London. Spanning a century of photography, it brings together hundreds of photos to capture the city’s evolution from Victorian London all the way to 2012. What makes it special is its range — from candid street shots to sweeping skyline views, royal weddings to the gritty East End. Together, it’s a visual social history of London and Londoners, and an excellent coffee-table book for anyone with a love for the city!

Buy London: Portrait of a City on Amazon now
Buy London: Portrait of a City on Waterstones (UK)

London Clay: Journeys in the Deep City by Tom Chivers (2021)

Like many ancient cities, history in London goes deep. Like a lasagna, layers of the city’s story are built over each other.

In this book, poet Tom Chivers digs below the surface, tracing the layers of geology, history and myth that underpin London. He explores the city’s lost rivers, tunnels and excavations, uncovering how each layer tells a story about the people who built and rebuilt it.

Blending memoir, archaeology and poetry, Chivers connects the physical depths of London with his own sense of belonging and curiosity. The result is part travelogue, part meditation on time, place and memory. A quietly brilliant reflection on how cities remember themselves.

Buy London Clay on Amazon now
Buy London Clay on Waterstones (UK)

London Made Us: A Memoir of a Shape-Shifting City by Robert Elms (2019)

Broadcaster Robert Elms grew up amid the tower blocks and music scenes of 1970s London, watching the city reinvent itself again and again. In London Made Us, Elms captures personal, sometimes moving, often humorous stories, that tell a social history of London.

It’s his love letter to the city he grew up in, doubling as a chronicle of urban change, a memoir of a city that is constantly in flux.

Buy London Made Us on Amazon now
Buy London Made Us on Waterstones (UK)

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