So you think you know London, with its endless variety and numerous quirks? For those who’ve seen it all, Lonely Planet has come up with a new challenge: Neighbourhoods of London. Not a conventional guidebook but a deck of cards, a way of making any journey around the city a bit more random and open to adventure. Subtitled “50 ways to see the city”, this is an invitation to wander, to rediscover familiar sights, to explore corners of the capital you didn’t even know existed.
Contents
A Deck & Guidebook
As the introduction to Neighbourhoods of London says, “you could roam this gargantuan ever-evolving metropolis for a century and not scratch the surface of what it has to offer”. This is a city of “more than 250 languages and… more than 120 cuisines”, its “infinitely diverse DNA” creating an ever changing landscape. There is more than you could ever discover through systematic exploration, so why not try a bit of pot luck?
The pack comes in two parts: a mini guidebook and a deck of 50 colour‑coded cards. The handbook is divided into separate neighbourhoods, radiating out from central London towards the South Bank, the East End, and Hampstead. It gives “an overview of each area’s unique offerings and atmosphere”, and also includes tips for using local transport.
Each neighbourhood has a map and at-a-glance tips. So you should “plan a weekend visit” to the Square Mile “if you want to avoid the crowds, but check bars and restaurants are open before you go”, or “if you are on a budget look for the cheap local markets” in east London.
Then it is on to the cards…
50 Ways To See The City
This is where the fun begins. Each card offers a different sight or location, with a map on one side and a short introduction and background information on the other. The cards are small enough to slip into a pocket and sturdy enough to survive a day’s exploring (and even a bit of rain). You could work through them systematically or draw one at random – either way, they’re designed to spark curiosity.
The experiences range from well known landmarks to unexpected detours. In the West End, for instance, you’ll find opera and Buckingham Palace, but also a wander through historic streets and an action-packed evening in Soho. The City of London naturally includes the Tower, but you’ll also find Roman ruins and the city’s iconic modern buildings. And – one of my own favourites – over on the South Bank is a card dedicated to the area’s vibrant street art.
Beyond The Ordinary
There is something for everyone here, from history, culture and sport to street food, independent shops and markets, and much more. But the real feature of these cards is their embrace of the quirky, the hyper‑local, and the lesser known. Some entries were new to me – the art of Kensington Gardens, the haunted pubs of Hampstead, and the Bermondsey Beer Mile, a trail of microbreweries and taprooms. And I had never even heard of the River Wandle…
Some of the most intriguing options appear when you venture further from the centre. Would you have thought of “cycling London’s wilds”, taking in the Lea Canal and the Hackney Marshes? Or exploring London’s abandoned tube stations? (I had done some of the latter on a tour with Hidden London, but I now know where to find some more closed stations for myself…)
Even with well known places there is something new to learn. “Insider’s Tower of London” gives you the best way to visit and uncovers a few quirks. Then there is “Shop Harrods on a Budget” (I didn’t even know such a thing was possible…) And there are snippets of tantalising information such as how to stay overnight in Hampton Court Palace (yes, it’s perfectly legal).
How To Use Neighbourhoods Of London
This pack works best as a flexible companion. Use the booklet to orient yourself, then let the cards shape your day. Or pick a neighbourhood and slip the relevant cards into your pocket. Or shuffle the whole deck and let chance decide your next adventure. The colour coding makes it easy to group locations, while the mix of experiences ensures variety.
Whether you’re an occasional visitor or a long‑time Londoner, this pack is a challenge to look with fresh eyes. Not just a guide, but a prompt to rediscover the city.
Neighbourhoods of London: 50 Ways to See the City, Lonely Planet, 2026, 9781806532971
