LONDON UNCOVERED

(Frances Lincoln £30) ISBN 9780-7112-38091

This sumptuous coffee table book offers high quality colour images of historic homes, theatres, churches, shops, museums, inns of court, science and education — more than 60 places in all.

It’s a marvellous collection of photos and compelling historic information about a bewildering array of venues. (304pp, hardback)

Built just before the First World War, in between the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, this is the former Michelin House and tyre depot on the Fulham Road. Bibendum was the original name for the chunky Michelin tyre man, who rode a bike before he...