London Guidebook

Should I get this London book in addition to either Rick's complete England guidebook, his Best of England book, or his Great Britain book?

Probably not. If you're only spending a few days in London, as part of a longer trip in Britain, one of the larger guidebooks for the whole country is all you're likely to need.

If, however, you're spending four days or more in London, the extra information in Rick Steves London can be worthwhile. It offers more in-depth sightseeing information, several additional self-guided city walks and museum/sight tours, and more specifics on shopping and nightlife, plus suggestions for kids. Other information is generally the same, especially compared to the complete Rick Steves England and Rick Steves Great Britain guidebooks, which include nearly all the hotels, restaurants, and nitty-gritty practical advice for London and its day trips that you'll find in the city book. (But compared to Rick Steves Best of England, the London guidebook does have a few more hotel and restaurant listings, as well as more comprehensive coverage of day-trip options.)

What's the difference between this London guidebook and Rick's Pocket London guide?

Rick Steves Pocket London works best for people taking a short trip, or perhaps a return trip, to London. Like our other Pocket guides, Pocket London is smaller than the complete guidebook and in full color (but still offers our best sightseeing advice and a handful of self-guided city walks and museum tours, plus a foldout map).

For travelers who want to delve deep into London, the full-size guidebook is a better option. It offers more substantial (and more frequently updated) advice on every front: practicalities, sightseeing, self-guided tours, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, kids' activities, and the city's history and culture, plus chapters on the best day trips.