Rick Steves Pocket London

by Rick Steves

Rick Steves’ Pocket guidebooks truly are a “tour guide in your pocket.” Each colorful, compact book includes Rick’s advice for prioritizing your time, whether you're spending one or seven days in a city. Everything a busy traveler needs is easy to access: a neighborhood overview, city walks and tours, sights, handy food and accommodations charts, an appendix packed with information on trip planning and practicalities, and a fold-out city map.

Included in Rick Steves' Pocket London—
Sights: the National Portrait Gallery, Courtauld Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Bankside Walk
Walks and Tours: the Westminster Walk, Westminster Abbey Tour, National Gallery Tour, West End Walk, British Museum Tour, British Library Tour, The City Walk, St. Paul’s Cathedral Tour, and Tower of London Tour

Genres: Travel, Reference, Nonfiction, Guidebook

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2011

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Steves does a great job of preparing one for a trip to London. But, and this is a big but(t) (tee hee), he fails to give all the information that one needs for a first trip to London. For example, here are a few notes about what he should include:
1. Keep receipts for money exchange. All money exchanges (unless I am mistake, if you know, fill me in) take a percentage of the money exchanged. We found that the least percentage was done at the airport. Again, if you have more info about this, let me know. But the guy in Germany told us to keep the receipt, and when you come back to re-exchange your money it's free--no percentage. But it may not be all money exchanges. It's good to ask!
2. Make sure that your hotel/air bnb/hostel is close to public transportation! It's really the best way to go, and people who travel to Europe a lot will tell you the same. Ideally, try for a block to 2 blocks away. You still have to lug your luggage (that word takes on a new meaning, now) around, so try to make it easy for yourself.
3. Make sure that your credit card has a chip in it. Europe does not take Discover card. I don't have a Discover card and all our credit cards now have chips in them, so it didn't affect me. But I personally witnessed when that happened to someone else that I know.
4. Look into Wifi for your phone carrier. Often, I went without unless I was using my brother's or the hotels. Most city's wifi is sketchy, so be prepared for that.
5. Research your water. Will discuss more about that in the Pocket Rome.
Would love to hear any feedback if I've missed something or am wrong about something. I love having as much info as possible for the next time that I go to Europe!!

[cauldronofevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m running out of time before I go to London so another pocket book is just about perfect.

I don’t know if there will be a lot of differences but having two and both maps couldn’t hurt.

I have to say that I really like the approach this book takes. It gives an example of walking tours that will maximize the sites you see. Essentially you can pick one you like and do all or just part of it. And it still leaves you with plenty of time (and money) to do your own thing.

I like the approach of the book - example of walking tours, but the first one is one I pretty much already did last time I was in London, Big Ben, London Eye, Big Church, etc.

The second one is the National Museum. Lots of velvet painting with fat chicks and Jesus on them and frankly I’d rather do anything else.

Well my trip to London was very enjoyable and while I didn’t go on any of Rick’s specific tours or walks, thanks to reading the books I knew what to look for and had a pretty good time.

I’ll go ahead and finish reading the book because I do enjoy it.

Well the “British-Yankee Vocabulary” dictionary in the back is worth the price of the book alone!

I took this book to London and it did help when I wanted to do more touristy things, so I can’t help but recommend it — especially if it’s your first time in London and you DO want to do the touristy things.

I’m glad I also had the NFT book for the non-touristy things I wanted to do (book shopping-surprise).

But this book allowed me to get the most out of time there and was quite valuable.

Plus I don’t think you can get the NFT book anymore!

So I’d give this book a strong 4 stars and I’ll keep it in case I get to go back (and its pretty small storage wise!).

[Sean Kottke]

We will have our first ever visit to London at the coda to our British Isles cruise in August. As with the Paris guide to inform the prelude to our cruise, I have no doubt this gives us all we need to make the most of three days in London. Rating to come after we’ve tested out each of the walking tours.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Steeves continues to be the best of the travel guides

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can always depend on a Rick Steves travel guide to find the must-see places in major cities as well as the restaurants and hotels. Unlike some of the other travel guides on the market, his travel guides show places to eat that are within every traveler's budget. The great thing about the pocket guides is that they fit right into your travel bag so they are always with you when you are out exploring. I wouldn't travel in Europe without a Rick Steves guide book.

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book to take with you to London! Small and light enough to carry with you on your treks through the city. Contains the main tourist attractions of the city with recommended routes through them with bits of information. Really the only book you would need to take with you as long as you plan on staying in London for your entire trip.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fantastic for helping me get around London during my solo trip and for helping me decide where to go and what to see since my time was limited. I did eat at one of the pubs he recommended, though, and I wasn't impressed. I went to other, better pubs during my trip. It makes me kind of wonder if he gets some sort of incentive for recommending a place.

[Laren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was different from the other travel books I read because it was focused on helping the reader though self-guided tours of various sights or areas of town. It was small enough to fit into a purse and bring along weighing me down too much.

[Michael McGrinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's small and light and easy to carry. It's also written with a light hand and so is easy to read. Steves knows the terrain and doesn't skip over the small things you'll want to know, i.e. when and how much to tip. Put this one in your carry-on.

[Dave C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had a 25-hour layover in London and this was the perfect companion. We did a whirlwind of all the highlights and got familiar with the city so that we know what to expect when we come back for a proper visit. The book has the perfect amount of information and is nice and small too.

[DeAnne Wolfgram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A key resource during my days in London following the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book if you are planning on going to London. It is a must read, keep it with you on the trip to refer to, well written and quite helpful as well!

[Cndngal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great idea for a guide book, but with out access tot he internet, the reader is only able to access maps and sight descriptions.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect size for travel and full of great information.

[Kristi Lovgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information

This book goes beyond just telling you what activities and sights to do and see. It gives you a ton of practical advice and does it in a uniquely humorous way.