A curated guide to the most beautiful, intriguing and unique sites in London, from the creators of the popular Instagram account.
Based on the hugely successful @PrettyLittleLondon, your guides, Andrea and Sara, take you on a visual tour of the city – pointing out the most Insta-worthy places to visit. With everything from bars and restaurants to galleries and hotels, Pretty Little London introduces more than 100 perfect places to explore all year round. Andrea and Sara have carefully selected their favourite places, explaining why they love each one and showcasing them with enviable photography. Whether you’re looking for a wisteria-filled stroll (spring), a rooftop bar for a romantic cocktail (summer), the most inspiring museum (autumn) or a magical day of Christmas lights and festivities (winter) – Pretty Little London has a whole host of offerings. There are even a few day trips (each a train ride away) for those much-needed weekend breaks.
With tips on photography, hand-drawn maps, Instagram advice and insider tips – it doesn't matter if you're a visitor, tourist or born-and-bred Londoner, this book will inspire you to discover parts of the city you’ve never seen before.
It has been over a year since I last set foot in London, and it hurts. Obviously, in the grand scheme of things, me not being able to make my favorite trip of the year to the London theaters is a small pain, but it is there. So, when I came across Pretty Little London, I just wanted to quickly make a trip there, if not in person, at least in spirit.
The guide has been set into the different seasons, which was something I have not really seen before. I also got some very nice tips of places I will definitely check out, when it will be okay to do so again. I'm not on Instagram, so I wasn't reading for the Instagram-tips and tricks and while I thought some of the more basic advice could be helpful, I would rather suggest people taking an original style than copying someone else's.
The pictures were - as expected - nice (although my preview e-copy was not in high quality), but the accompanying texts were not that inspired. Either way, nice to be back in London for a bit!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars for nice illustrations/photographs and easy to follow format. It is a good guide if you fall for pretty travel pictures on Instagram lol It has some good ideas, not a thorough travel guide, but somewhat of a helping hand. I really liked the idea of the seasonal theme and the way the visiting points were presented, too. I would definitely recommend using this book if you are planning a trip to London, maybe not as a main guide but look up things in this book along the way.
Pretty Little London's Instagram account has done great things for putting London's pastel and flower-studded locations on the map. The photography is stunning and this is reflected within this book as well.
Unfortunately the words do not match the quality of the photos. Aside from the fact that 75% of the book is made up of restaurants and hotels (and the copy alongside them very much reads like sponsored posts), the language and tone flips between derogating and repetitive. The amount of times something is called a "hidden gem" or "Insta-famous" becomes very tiring very quickly. And the hidden gems are, mostly, not so hidden. The day trip sections in the book were very much excerpts from Top 10 "things to do" lists for the respective locations outside of London – and even the copy for the London locations felt like snippets gobbled together from other sources. And sometimes misinterpreted at that. Leadenhall Market is *not* the location for the entrance to "Dragon Alley" in Harry Potter as the book claims it is. Talk about what you know, people, not what you've heard or read online. Or at least do your research properly.
Also, personally, I did not think the book's seasonal breakdown made it very helpful as a guidebook. It would've been much more accessible, had the locations been grouped together by neighbourhood or, at the very least, if the book would've had an easily searchable index at the back. As it stands, the book is a lot of pretty pictures (and they ARE pretty) without any actual usefulness. The epitome of style over substance.
i adore london and have followed prettylittlelondon on instagram for ages and instantly requested this book to my local library when it was announced. it took forever for them to get it and oh well, wasn’t this a bit of a disappointment.
visual side is beautiful, the photos are wonderful and the hand-drawn-looking maps are fun. but the contents.. the book claims to show some hidden-gem-like spots and sure does some but also includes things like afternoon tea at claridges and liberty of london which hardly are hidden in any way 😅 also, how many times can a book use the adjective ”quirky”???
some tips were really good and unique!
what is more, this book is written for wealthy people who care about their insta photos so much they schedule a coffee shop visit in terms of when sunlight hits the place the best etc. granted, santini and di filippo have made instagram their livelihood but for me it seems tiring to think about your instagram so much that you choose places to visit in order to get the best insta shot??? yeah, that felt so superficial i became anxious. i use insta and am a visual person but yeah this was a bit much. with one cafe they even said it is not the best food-wise but pics will be great. i’ve been there and agree, and bc of that i would not include that place in a guide but that’s just me who appreciates food’s taste above its looks.
all in all a beautiful book for those with money and probably not that much experience of london. and/or for those for whom instagram feed is life.
Santini and Di Filippo, two Italian expats who run @prettylittlelondon on Instagram, have put together a book featuring both cool, instagrammable pictures and activities to do when you’re visiting London. After a small introduction with tips about how to beat algorithms and the best editing tools, we start with Spring. What does the City have to offer during every season? A lot, looks like.
I noticed a few editing issues, but on the whole this book was charming and gave me a lot of fun suggestions for things to do and places to go in London.
Ich liebe London und war schon tausendmal dort. Gefühlt habe ich jeden Blog und Website nach Ideen durchgeforstet und auch auf Instagram eine Liste. Umso beeindruckter war ich von diesem Buch, wo so viele neue Orte drin stehen, die ich mir das nächste Mal ansehen werde. Die kleinen Texte sind schön recherchiert und hatten eine persönliche Note von den beiden. Durch die Unterteilung in die Jahreszeiten macht es umso besser :D
Oh my stars! I adored this book! As someone who dreams of living in and around London, this hit all the marks for me! Gorgeous photos, helpful tips to improve your Instagram and their top picks for everything from coffee to pumpkin picking. All seasons are highlighted and there are maps to help show where things are. Totally helpful if you’ve just moved to London, but it will help grow your social media presence as well. This is a stunning coffee table book that is also helping my Covid travel withdrawals! Love it! Thanks to Frances Lincoln and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
3/5 - Liked it.
Let's start with the positives. "Pretty Little London" is a great book for those who want to visit London for the perfect Instagram shot. The book is broken down by seasonal activities, which I thought was a great idea - after all, some places in London are at their best during a specific season and most visitors to London will only get to experience that one season on their trip, so why not give them the best that the city has to offer?
Despite being very familiar with London, I was still able to discover some new places that I was unaware of, or to learn about seasonal attributes of these places that were unknown to me. The pictures that accompanied each location were beautiful and quite inspiring, helping me add more spots to visit on my London bucketlist.
Now for the negatives - this is definitely a book written for budding Instagrammers and I just don't fall into that category. Now, let me preface this by saying it's obvious in the title that this will be a feature in the book - but it feels less like a feature and more like the focus. It almost read like a "how to be an influencer in London" guide. As some other reviews mention, the hidden gems discussed are primarily restaurants and bars - and not cheap ones at that! The recommendations in this book would probably be outside of the average reader's budget. For me at least, most of these are special occasion or "splurge" nights out.
There are also countless tips of how to take the perfect Insta shot - some of which are maybe helpful, but others tell you how to take a better picture of your meal. I personally think that this book would have been better if it focused more on unique locations and beautiful hidden spots than on how to take the perfect London picture.
In summary, I did enjoy this book and I think it absolutely is helpful for those visiting London and looking for perfect photo spots to add to their itinerary. I think this book would make a lovely gift for a friend taking a trip to the UK or moving abroad, and it's a perfect "coffee table" book with gorgeous visuals. But I do feel that the content could be improved if it focused less on Instagram and more on the beauty of the city, along with its history and quirks. Whether or not you enjoy the book will really come down to personal preference, but it is a valuable guidebook of the city nonetheless.
If this book doesn't stir your passion to explore London (or anywhere), nothing will. To me London is almost a country all its own with its huge variety of multicultural neighbourhoods, city farms, glorious gardens, canals, sweet boutique shops, vibrant markets, authentic pubs, gin makers, afternoon tea, floating bookshops, antique clothing, evocative stone arches...and things you didn't even know existed. And there is so much more, too! The history alone is worth traveling to London. It is impossible to see and experience everything in this wondrous city in a lifetime. Though the old and ancient enamours me more than modern and contemporary, I appreciate the juxtaposition of both here.
The authors host a popular instagram account and include tips here as well as stupendous photography and what to do and see in London in each of the four seasons. This is not an ordinary travel guide but a complement with information you won't see in guides. Readers can find out where to see wisteria, magnolias and cherry trees in bloom! Scrumptious food descriptions make my mouth water...and I've just eaten a delicious supper. I learned about Strawberry Hill (I had no idea!), walking in Richmond (haven't done that yet) and the incomparable Spencer house (sounds like a wow place). If you can find Cooper, give him a cuddle before enjoying goat milk ice cream.
Fantastic daytrip ideas are given as well such as touring a lavender farm (I recommend this!), Cambridge, and the Cotswolds (one of my favourite regions in the country) and York (I adore it!). The sumptuous hotels are out of my price range but such fun to daydream about.
Though it sounds so trite, London cannot possibly bore anyone. It's so chock full of adventures it's breathtaking. You can immerse yourself into its colourful neighbourhoods or enjoy tranquility of gorgeous parks. This book is pure joy for London lovers but would be incredibly inspirational to others who wish to enjoy it from their favourite reading spot.
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this sublime book...I couldn't have possibly enjoyed it more. Talk about a sensory overload city!
Pretty Little London is a guide to London for Instagrammers written by the pair behind the @prettylittlelondon Instagram account. The book is broken down into the four seasons pairing the time of year with when certain locations are most photographic. Each location had a couple paragraph description and a photo showcasing its beauty. The book includes everything from buildings, parks, hotels, restaurants, markets, etc. There are also a few day trips to places outside of London like Cambridge, York, and the Cotswalds included. I was pleased to see a few of my favorite London locations mentioned like Jo Loves in Belgravia and Kappacasein in Borough Market. In addition to information about the locations there were tips about when certain locations are least crowded or where to go to get the best view for your photo. The book also started by providing information about how they take their photos (camera used, editing software used, etc.).
I got the feeling while reading this that it was more-so meant for Instagrammers who live in London and know their way around than tourists who want to take cool pictures. While the nearest tube stop to each location and a neighborhood was provided, there was no other practical information like an address or website. Those unfamiliar with the city would have to spend a lot time Googling how to find some of the places. Let me put it this way, I have lived in London and I would struggle to find the vast majority of the places named using only the book. Overall this book would be a very fun coffee table for any lover of London and a great resource for any London based Instagrammer.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quatro Books, and Frances Lincoln for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cela fait plusieurs années que je suis le compte d’Andrea et Sara : @prettylittlelondon. Adorant la capitale du Royaume-Uni, c’était un peu un moyen de toujours avoir un œil sur Londres même de chez moi. Et le couple sait comment nous faire voyager en explorant leur ville et ses environs à la recherche d’endroits magiques. Quand j’ai vu qu’ils publiaient un guide, je n’ai pas hésité bien longtemps.
Je m’attendais à plus de photos, vu que c’est en grande partie le métier des deux instagrammers, mais au final le fait d’avoir un guide détaillé n’est pas plus mal. Une photo fait beaucoup, mais avoir des informations sur un lieu, surtout quand on veut le visiter, c’est tout de même plus intéressant ! D’autant plus que le couple ne fait pas que nous présenter ces endroits, ils nous donnent également des petits « tips ». De quoi se sentir privilégié et de pousser encore plus loin la découverte. Si certains lieux sont connus, pour la plupart, si vous n'êtes pas londonien, c’est un moyen de préparer un voyage qui sortira des sentiers battus.
Le guide est divisé en saisons. Une idée que je trouve très sympathique car il faut bien se l’avouer le temps capricieux peut influencer grandement une visite. Alors autant s’adapter plutôt que de devoir changer ses plans.
Andrea et Sara étant instagrammers tous les deux, le guide va aussi dans ce sens. L’ouvrage commence par des conseils sur le matériel pour sublimer ses photos, ainsi que des conseils pour bien les réussir. Personnellement comme j’aime beaucoup la photographie, je trouve encore une fois l’idée judicieuse, surtout que le livre finira dans la bibliothèque de nombreux membres de la communauté @prettylittlelondon.
On voyage donc dans cette ville sublime aux mille facettes. On apprend aussi à la voir sous un autre angle, et à apprécier ses contradictions. Petit plus que j’adore : des cartes stylisées sont présentes dans l’ouvrage pour bien situer les différents points de visite. Parfait pour préparer des petits road-trips.
Bien sûr, nous sommes loin des guides du Routard, Le petit futé… mais j’aime l’idée de ce guide, fait par des amoureux de Londres qui continuent encore à s’émerveiller malgré les années passées à arpenter les rues de la capitale.
This is a beautiful book, full of photos of London through the seasons, including shops, restaurants, hotels, parks, galleries, and other sites that you shouldn't miss on a visit to the capital.
The idea of sectioning the book in seasons is an excellent one, as it points up the best times of year to visit although, of course, you can visit whenever you wish.
Sara Santini and Andrea Di Filippo are Italian but now base in London, and have created an Instagram account - @prettylittlelondon - to showcase their photos of unique and stylish destinations in the capital. As well as the gorgeous photos, they provide detailed information and background, and insider tips to read for additional insight.
The other aspects of the book I loved were the walks and day trips, with destinations including the Cotswolds and York. Also, there are some wonderful food destinations just begging to be tried!
I am not a Londoner, but would happily have this book on my coffee table as a conversation starter, and refer to it when planning a visit to London - it will complement a Rough Guide or Lonely Planet type book very well.
Definitely my coffee table book of the year so far.
I was sent an advance review copy of this book by Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, in return for an honest appraisal.
Lots of inspiration to plan your trips in and around London whether or not you use Instagram. Peppered with plenty of colour photos. Organised into seasonal sections, but I don't find that particularly helpful unless chasing blooms.
Notes for places mentioned that I'd like to try out:
***Roof Top spaces: *Tate Modern Cafe on 6th Floor, London Bridge Tube station.
*Drinks at Madison, views over St Paul's Cathedral, St Pauls Tube station. Or if you don't want to go into the bar, you can still get the view by going up to One New Change rooftop, next to Madison, which is free of charge
*Drinks, food at the Treehouse Hotel, 'Nest' is their restaurant perched on the roof. Emptier at opening time 12pm as it gets busy quickly.
***Interesting venues *V&A Museum *Kyoto Garden, Japanese garden near Holland Park tube.
***Interesting places to eat/drink:
*Serata Hall, Old Street Tube, perfect after a stroll in Shoreditch. Double ceiling height floor plan with palm trees. On site bakery. Great breakfast apparently. Makes it's own fresh bread, pizza dough and pasta.
*White Mulberries, St Katherine's Dock, Tower Hill tube. Laptop friendly with wifi
*Afternoon Tea at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London Bridge Tube.
***Interesting places to visit for the day: *Greenwich
The book, Pretty Little London, had its origin in an Instagram account. The account belonged to a couple who did not grow up in England. The two wanted to enhance their sense of London as a beautiful city with all it has to offer. The result is a beautiful compilation of photos showing London in every season.
Each seasonal chapter opens with a detailed map. I found these to be very appealing with their cute drawings. Thanks to these, readers who visit or live in London can find the locations that are described in the book. For each entry readers will find both beautiful photos and text. The text includes descriptions of things to see and also what look like great suggestions for eating, drinking, shopping and more.
This title also includes some advice on Instagramming and taking photos. These sections will be of interest to those who want to work on their own projects.
I really love this book. It makes me want to hop on a plane and visit one of my favorite cities while having the chance to make new discoveries.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
The title says it all. This is a book with pretty photos of London. The book is by a couple who instagram in London. Beyond lovely photos laid out in the four calendar season the book gives instagrams suggestions on photography, filters, editing etc. I've been to London multiple times and recognized and appreciated shots of some of my favorite locations. But as a tourist I've rarely gotten shots without crowds or extra traffic. These photos require off peak hours and much editing as the authors mention.
There are cartoon drawn maps and mentions of nearby tubes but exact locations would be hard to find from this book. This is not a travel guide. A lot of the photos are of different foods. Again an instagram thing, but not as important to a busy traveler. I enjoyed the photos and appreciate how beauty can be found in many nooks and corners of a busy city. I'd recommend this book as a keepsake for lovers of London or for instagramers looking for ideas on setting up their own shots. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-White Lion for a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was full of beautiful photos of London, and the book’s organization by season was a treat. I especially enjoyed seeing the attention to flowers and foliage as well as holiday decorations. There are some historic places that are mentioned but the photographer authors try to emphasize parts of London that are less discovered. Of course, they are catering to those interested in Instagram photos so there is that element of framing. The authors include tips for framing better photos and/or for times of the day that are best for capturing a particular atmospheric tone. Tube stations are listed for each space but there seems to be an understanding that these locations are somehow easy to locate from there. There are a few day trips including places just outside of London proper that are included for those who seek a more pastoral experience. The photographers include plenty of places to eat while taking a break from photography; it’s a nice way to experience a beautiful place and support small businesses. I think there could have been greater cultural diversity represented as immigrants have brought so much to celebrate and enjoy in London.
When I requested this title on NetGalley, I wasn’t aware of the authors’ Instagram account, but I was interested in travel and in London specifically. It turns out I was still the perfect target audience - I really enjoyed reading this book and got a lot out of the photos and the text/recommendations. I visited London last year, and this book mentions some of my favorite spots I visited during that trip, while pointing to lots of others I’d like to explore in the future. The photos are lovely and there is a nice blend of timeless London locations and trendier places like new restaurants and coffee shops. I liked the down-to-earth but professional and helpful advice on Instagram curation and photography more generally, as well as the organization of the book into “seasons” and the illustrated maps of London neighborhoods. Would absolutely recommend this book whether you’re interested in travel, social media, or both! I viewed the title as a PDF but it would be lovely as a coffee table book. I received an ebook arc of this title from NetGalley for review purposes.
Forty-nine years ago, I went to London for the first time and lived there for three years. From the moment I landed to my entire stay and each successive visit later, London was MY city. I loved it dearly and enjoyed nothing more than sharing the special places and character that I had come to love.
Then in 2019, I spent time in London and could not believe how much it had changed. It did not feel like my city any more. I did not enjoy that visit and thought I would not come again. Thank you for this delightful book. It reminded me of all those lovely nooks and curiosities that made London so approachable. The pictures reminded me that you could escape the chaos and the darkness and find oasis of calm and beauty. Now I think, once travel recommences, that I have at least one more trip in me. I am glad. It has been a long love affair and I did not want it to end badly.
I’ve always been fascinated by London, this amazingly superb book took me on a wonderful tour of all the iconic spots, red phone boxes included! A perfect coffee table book, sure to start all sorts of special conversations! The photography is first rate, descriptions are precise and descriptive, the authors have displayed exceptional skills, bravo! I became totally captivated by the accommodations, parks and food outlets, the quaint little towns, an outstanding look at some of the parts of London you’ll never otherwise see! Please take the time to look at this outstanding portrayal of a deeply historic city!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Pretty Little London is a book that will appeal to Instagrammers who have just moved to London. The book is absolutely gorgeous as it is filled with stunning photographs of the prettiest areas of London. The authors also provide some interesting information on the places they feature in the book. There are even chapters on areas outside London that are perfect for a day trip. One of the most useful sections of the book contains photography and Instagram tips.
I will admit that I am not entirely smitten with this book. I feel the target audience is limited to people visiting London or people who have just moved there. Any Londoner who has lived there a while will know many of the places listed. There are also better guides to the different areas of London and there are also entire books dedicated to places you can easily travel to in a day. I am also slightly uncomfortable that the book features private houses and residential streets. Admittedly, there aren't many included but I really wish there were none. Instagrammers already have a poor reputation due to some individuals not respecting the privacy of homeowners.
I feel that Pretty Little London is one of those books that will be perfect if you are part of the narrow group it is targeted at. I love London and I enjoy taking photos for Instagram but I still felt that this book is not aimed at me. I did enjoy browsing through the photos in this book but I still did not feel that I was part of the target market and I can think of books that I would find more useful.
This is so much more than just a blog extension or photo anthology. It’s part social media guide, part photography primer, part travelogue, and all love letter to one of the most vibrant, beautiful cities in the world.
The photos are stunning, of course, and this would make a wonderful city guide for residents and travelers alike. It would be lots of fun to make a project out of following any or all of the excursions described.
This will definitely be accompanying me on my next trip to London! In the meantime it satisfies all my armchair traveling wishes.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
I truly adored this book! It’s like a tour guidebook, but better. I loved how the chapters are broken into the four seasons and truly make you feel like you are right there. The pictures really capture the essence of the city and the imagery that draws people from all over the world. The beginning of the book gives some photography and video tips to help you get the best shots out of your time there. Most entries also provide an Insider’s Tip to help to best navigate your time, energy, and resources. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
A beautiful book but with a couple problems. It is divided by seasons and has a map of places described at the beginning of each section (nice) but it lacks an index. And the photos are only sometimes captioned, instead using the space for helpful hints. I like to know exactly what I'm looking at so the only-occasional use of captions irritated me. Still, there are tons of gorgeous photos and lots of ideas for places to stop for food and drinks, exteriors to photograph, and the best times to do so. I enjoyed this book and it made me long to return to London.
Pretty Little London is the quintessential hybrid coffee table book, tourist guide, & Instagram photo guide for amazing photos.
This book is divided into Seasons for tourists, but can be seen at any time of year. Not only are to taken to top tourist destinations, but also top hidden gems explored by the authors.
Even if you can't currently travel, this beautiful guide will transport you to some of the most pretty places in London.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy to review.
I really enjoyed this book and found lots of great new places to visit in London next time I visit. I loved the story of how they started their Instagram account and the way the book is split up into seasons makes it easy to pick the perfect place to visit at the right time of year. This would make a great gift for someone living in London or someone who visits London enough to need some cool places to visit. They include some more well known locations as well as many I've never been to despite visiting London dozens of times.
I was sent an ARC by the publisher for an honest opinion. If you are a follower of prettylittlelondon on Instagram am sure you have heard about this book. They have a beautiful page and they bring that into a book. I may call this a coffee table essential. As part of ARC i was sent an ebook but id definitely recommend you get a hardcopy of this one. They also let you in on their inside story of how to take those instagramable pictures. Enjoyed going through this so much
This is such a beautiful book. I have visited London a few times and adore the city but this book has given me so many ideas of the different places I could be going and makes it very easy for you to find them. I’ve already added plenty of places to my next trip which hopefully won’t be to far in the future.
I’d also like to note how much I enjoyed the layout of this book, I found it very helpful that I was able to see the attractions by seasons.
This is a surprising book, filled with beautiful images of a London that many won’t recognise, or even be aware exists. It would be good to check this book out if you don’t know the city and want to see some of its hidden gems while visiting. Definitely would recommend it to anyone planning on visiting the city with enough time to do more than just the usual sights. My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.
Wonderful book, in which I stopped for awhile in each page and marvel every photo. With important insider tips, you can do London tour by yourselves. Moreover, classified per season, what you can do in summer, like having tea on an alley won't be the same as having wine on winter. With interesting tips on how to take pictures, the hidden gems, this book is for you to plan your next London sightseeing.