Hidden Treasures of London

A lavishly illustrated guide to London’s lesser-known cultural gems

Nobody could deny that London is one of the most culturally and architecturally rich places in the world. We cannot think of it without calling to mind buildings such as the Houses of Parliament and St. Paul's Cathedral, monuments such as Nelson’s Column and the Cenotaph, and the incredible collections of museums such as the V&A and Natural History Museum. But such glories can make us overlook some of the other, less obvious wonders that the city has to offer. Michael McNay has collected these more esoteric attractions here, highlighting masterpieces and locations of significance the length and breadth of the city and its suburbs. In some cases an entire building may draw his attention; perhaps a beautiful church tucked away on a backstreet or an unobtrusive townhouse which lodged some great figure. In other cases it may be only a particular object or feature; a display of photographs, or some particularly fine relief sculpture. In every case McNay describes the subject at hand in vivid detail and provides the reader with the cultural and historical context needed to fully appreciate it. However well you may think you know the capital, this book is certain to unlock more of its secrets to you, leading you away from well-trodden tourist destinations to explore the amazing secret history of this great city.

Michael McNay worked for the Guardian for 37 years, during which time he wrote and edited features, was the paper's first arts editor, and wrote frequently on fine art and cinema. He was closely involved in the paper's root and branch redesign of the late 1980s, and, to see it through, moved on to laying out and editing the front page for several years. He is now a freelance writer. His books include Hidden Treasures of England and a study of the St Ives painter Patrick Heron.