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A-Z Mini London Street Atlas
New never used, best offer!!! bx 32 **
224 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1984
10 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Geographers' A-Z Map Company
781 books2 followersStarted in 1936 by Mrs Phyllis Pearsall MBE, Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd is the largest independent map publishing company in the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 14, 2019
Update I wrote this 10 years ago. Now everyone has a smart phone. Does anyone still use a paper A-Z?
This is the Londoner's bible. Just about everyone owns the paperback size but it's produced in all sizes from pocket-handkerchief (centre and City only) to atlas-sized. If you go to London this could be your bible too - but before you buy it check that you can read the print. Some of them have very tiny type and they are no better than useless.
All you can do then is stop a passerby and ask them if they know where 'x' is and hand them the A-Z and then they won't be able to read it either.
This is the Londoner's bible. Just about everyone owns the paperback size but it's produced in all sizes from pocket-handkerchief (centre and City only) to atlas-sized. If you go to London this could be your bible too - but before you buy it check that you can read the print. Some of them have very tiny type and they are no better than useless.
All you can do then is stop a passerby and ask them if they know where 'x' is and hand them the A-Z and then they won't be able to read it either.
Currently reading
October 8, 2012Some of the pictures in this are good. I hate to be critical of other peoples' work, but the narrative, plot, cloak-and-swordplay, hemistich, encomiums, quatrains, tropes, vignettes and enjambment do leave quite a lot to be desired. A promising young writer, though, with undoubted potential.
October 9, 2012
Just one word of warning - if you look up a street that has been renamed under its old name in the index, it will give you a map reference, but no indication that the name of the street on the map is the new name! This caught me out initially as I was looking for Henry Street NW8 which became Allitsen Road sometime around 1938. To be fair there is an old to new index and vice versa.
September 13, 2025
Stunning book full of lovely old maps of London. Great for historical/family research and for a glimpse into London’s past.
Read
March 14, 2010Ah, the venerable "A to Zed." This was the one guidebook my London host insisted I buy, and it makes a nice memento of the trip, too. I'll take it back with me when I go again--hope they haven't moved the streets around too much!
June 7, 2009
it's maps!
December 4, 2009
The most important accessory ever for someone like me - a Londoner with no sense of geography or direction.
September 15, 2018
GPS will NEVER replace this! I had my previous copy for so long it, literally, fell apart. I was quite put out! Only book lovers will understand how I felt. :( :D
April 25, 2020
Got a job in London. A to Zed - my Holy Graille.
September 14, 2023
Il mio GPS nella Perfida Albione. Insostituibile.
November 24, 2019
Synopsis
The London A-Z, I know her well.
I continue to use traditional methods of locating the places I wish to travel. I find looking at a page of the London A-Z allows me at a glance to find the path I want to take. I avoid the constant directions of an electronic voice dictating the one and only route to a destination. I live for the times I get lost and find strange and interesting locations with intriguing back stories. I am not a technophobe; in fact I am an advanced user, designer, and educator in technology related subjects. I prefer my choice of directions and those happy times where I occasionally meet people or accidentally visit places that would have been missed if I used my GPS.
Then there is the utility of humor built into reference materials such as the London A-Z. I have been known to flip through to the index of the book and look up the funny or unusual names contained therein. These names vary from crude and lascivious names from the deep and distant past of London. Names that echo from the Saxon roots, Roman street names, and the place names inspired by the work people did at that location in times now past. The back stories of many of the locations you can find in the index of the London A-Z can be fascinating and add to your lexicon of humorous tales or intriguing myths to discuss with those who find such matters interesting. For example there is a place called Bleeding Heart Yard, you can find it in East Central 1 (EC1). It is in Clerkenwell and is reported to be so named owing to a murder that happened there in the year 1626. It turns out however, that the woman reputed to have been murdered actually died 20 years later and not of natural causes. If you are a reader of Charles Dickens work you may recall the case; he included in his book The Little Dorrit.
Not far from the Tower of London there is a street named Knightrider Street (Knyghriderstrete in 1322 language). The street is named after the knights that would traverse this area from the Tower old London to Jousting tournaments in Smithfeilds. Then there is the plethora of funny, licentious, and salacious Public House and place names; for example there is Wardrobe Place in EC4. It was at this location that King Edward 3rd housed his walk-in wardrobe. Sadly, the building was destroyed in the now infamous Great Fire of London 1666. Then there is Cock Lane, EC1, a wonderful erection if I do say so myself. Cock Lane is another, all be it humorous, example of a place name that has relevance to the trade plied there in the past. Cock Lane was the only street in the City (City of London, The square mile, a private corporation) where ladies of the evening were allowed to live and work. Last but not least there is Hanging Sword Alley in EC4. In medieval times most of the country was illiterate and so there was no naming or numbering of houses, they preferred instead to use symbols. In the case of a coffee house there would often be a ladies arm holding a coffee pot. At the house on Hang Sword Lane there was a mansion and they used a hanging sword as their symbol. The area was known for fighting schools and as a rough place to visit which is probably why the Blood Bowl Alley came to be named. Again those of you familiar with Dickens work will find a reference to such places in A Tale of Two Cities in the form of Jerry Cruncher body-snatcher.
I suggest if you are bored and in search of adventure, turn off your GPS get yourself a London A-Z and go and lose yourself for a few hours in London. Visit the places you never knew existed and perhaps find your other self.
Always remember that a book can be much more than its cover.
Conclusion
Be it the times of Pax Romanaus or Pax Britainica always have your trusty and reliable cartographic entertainment on your person, because you never know when you’ll need the London A-Z.
The London A-Z, I know her well.
I continue to use traditional methods of locating the places I wish to travel. I find looking at a page of the London A-Z allows me at a glance to find the path I want to take. I avoid the constant directions of an electronic voice dictating the one and only route to a destination. I live for the times I get lost and find strange and interesting locations with intriguing back stories. I am not a technophobe; in fact I am an advanced user, designer, and educator in technology related subjects. I prefer my choice of directions and those happy times where I occasionally meet people or accidentally visit places that would have been missed if I used my GPS.
Then there is the utility of humor built into reference materials such as the London A-Z. I have been known to flip through to the index of the book and look up the funny or unusual names contained therein. These names vary from crude and lascivious names from the deep and distant past of London. Names that echo from the Saxon roots, Roman street names, and the place names inspired by the work people did at that location in times now past. The back stories of many of the locations you can find in the index of the London A-Z can be fascinating and add to your lexicon of humorous tales or intriguing myths to discuss with those who find such matters interesting. For example there is a place called Bleeding Heart Yard, you can find it in East Central 1 (EC1). It is in Clerkenwell and is reported to be so named owing to a murder that happened there in the year 1626. It turns out however, that the woman reputed to have been murdered actually died 20 years later and not of natural causes. If you are a reader of Charles Dickens work you may recall the case; he included in his book The Little Dorrit.
Not far from the Tower of London there is a street named Knightrider Street (Knyghriderstrete in 1322 language). The street is named after the knights that would traverse this area from the Tower old London to Jousting tournaments in Smithfeilds. Then there is the plethora of funny, licentious, and salacious Public House and place names; for example there is Wardrobe Place in EC4. It was at this location that King Edward 3rd housed his walk-in wardrobe. Sadly, the building was destroyed in the now infamous Great Fire of London 1666. Then there is Cock Lane, EC1, a wonderful erection if I do say so myself. Cock Lane is another, all be it humorous, example of a place name that has relevance to the trade plied there in the past. Cock Lane was the only street in the City (City of London, The square mile, a private corporation) where ladies of the evening were allowed to live and work. Last but not least there is Hanging Sword Alley in EC4. In medieval times most of the country was illiterate and so there was no naming or numbering of houses, they preferred instead to use symbols. In the case of a coffee house there would often be a ladies arm holding a coffee pot. At the house on Hang Sword Lane there was a mansion and they used a hanging sword as their symbol. The area was known for fighting schools and as a rough place to visit which is probably why the Blood Bowl Alley came to be named. Again those of you familiar with Dickens work will find a reference to such places in A Tale of Two Cities in the form of Jerry Cruncher body-snatcher.
I suggest if you are bored and in search of adventure, turn off your GPS get yourself a London A-Z and go and lose yourself for a few hours in London. Visit the places you never knew existed and perhaps find your other self.
Always remember that a book can be much more than its cover.
Conclusion
Be it the times of Pax Romanaus or Pax Britainica always have your trusty and reliable cartographic entertainment on your person, because you never know when you’ll need the London A-Z.
May 5, 2016
It is said that London taxi drivers know every street in the city. I happened to be staying on the one lane no one could find. Fortunately I had my copy of London A-Z(ed) on me at all times.
With this guide, I can navigate London as... well, not a native but a well-seasoned traveler of the city. It's also quite helpful in determining which tube station is nearest your destination.
With this guide, I can navigate London as... well, not a native but a well-seasoned traveler of the city. It's also quite helpful in determining which tube station is nearest your destination.
May 19, 2016
This book is very perfect! Perfect to those people who visits London for the first time. This is the best guide since it includes details of the ways, trains and many more. You can enjoy walking and riding with confidence that you’re not going to lose your way. I hope that I can read more book about other country.
February 13, 2008
Never left home without it!
June 10, 2008
The very essence of what a good map book should be and is. It fits in my back pocket and there is something beautiful about the design as well. Totally workable and enjoyable.
January 5, 2009
Although THE definitive map for London, it is at times cluttered - the street identifiers are sometimes hard to find.
Read
February 28, 2009Necessary.
February 6, 2025
Outstanding thorough, and pocket sized--what's not to love?
November 19, 2013
Yes, it's a map. I like maps and love London, so 5 stars it is. And it's incredibly detailed map.
Read
August 4, 2016Taking a walk!
September 22, 2014
Indispensable.
January 11, 2010
Saved me from getting lost on many occasions.
April 19, 2015
Don't even think about visiting London without it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews