Pretty Little London

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.

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.

So, full disclosure, I was not aware of the prettylittelondon Instagram account before reading this book. That said, I loved it! There is a small section about how to have a better Instagram account, how to beat the algorithms and get more followers, etc…. but that’s not what I was after, so I mostly skipped that part. . The photography was beautiful and luscious! I really liked the layout and it flowed easily….I learned a lot and added a ton of new places I’d like to visit. Overall, a great little travel guide to pretty places in London.

As the massive Anglophile that I am, I needed this book, no matter how short or picture-heavy it would end up to be. Based on, and curated by the creators of the Instagram page of the same time, this nonfiction read provides a seasonal guide to the UK city's most Instagrammable sites, the blog/IG page history, and advice to take the best Insta snaps.

There's helpful text and gorgeous pics that makes this read so fun and gives me so much wanderlust! It reads like a friend giving off travel advice for little-known places you have to visit to up your IG game. With such gorgeous snapshots inside and on the cover, this book would make a perfect coffee table book for your living room.

This book advises you on the best places to visit by seasons, and the best ones to see, what to know or order, and why it's so 'grammable. It's so much fun and gives me so much serious wanderlust while reading about the best hidden gems to check out. Plus, the IG-worthy snaps are breathtaking and only add to my insatiable wanderlust now. You'll read about various categories of places, from hotels, restaurants, day trips, cafes, and more. It also gives helpful maps and nearby tube stations.

I only wish I had this guidebook before I last went to London, oh well, there's always next time...

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.

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.

Five purrs and two paws up.

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.

Instagram post coming June 25, 2021

I received an advance copy of, Pretty Little London, by Sara Santini and Andrea Di Filippo. This is a great guide to London. I loved the pictures and the description of the places in London. It makes me want to go visit London.

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!

A gorgeous curated guide to just the coolest spots in London! Filled with gorgeous photos, facts, instagram tips, and location guides, this is the ultimate guide to London! Seriously beautiful book and such an interesting read!

*Thanks Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This is such a gorgeous book. The photographs are unsurprisingly beautiful and the text is fun and informative. But it’s the recommendations that really impress. I thought I knew London fairly well but this book is crammed with locations, restaurants and experiences I’ve never heard of and everything looks and sounds wonderful. Wish I’d had this book years ago and I can’t wait for my next London visit.

I have enjoyed viewing the images produced on social media under this hashtag so expected colourful, appealing photos of different parts of London and wasn’t disappointed. I was a little concerned it was going to turn in to purely a “how to” guide for those wanting to boost their social media photos as there was much description of getting the right angles, etc at first but this then it settled into a useful and attractive guide to the city with just a few “Insta” tips on some pages.

I liked it being split into seasons and its focus on walking (some good tours recommended) to some lesser-visited parts of the city rather than suggesting all the usual tourist attractions.

The point of the Instagram account is to showcase pretty, lesser known parts of London so, to that end, the book achieves this.

I have been following PrettyLittleLondon on social media for a while, so I was thrilled to see a book by them highlighting some of the best and prettiest places to visit in London & beyond. I love that the book is categorised into seasons as you always want to visit somewhere at the best time. A real mix of food, drink, cultural, historical, fun and quirky places to visit that means it covers everyone's tastes! Great day plans in areas and also a few out of London trips. I now have a renewed list of places to visit in London again!

This is a delightful book with beautiful photos and great recommendations in London. I loved how it was divided into seasons, and the authors clearly spent a lot of time thoughtfully choosing activities, food, and drink recommendations based on the time of year. This shows how beautiful London is at every time of the year, and I can't wait to start planning my next trip across the pond!

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.

A beautiful guide to London, which is of particular interest to the Instagram-savvy. I enjoyed the seasonal layout to 'Pretty Little London,' which suggestions the best ways to experience London throughout each of the four seasons. The restaurants, shops, walks and cultural experiences highlighted range from classic London outings to lesser-known gems, and photographers will particularly appreciate tips on where to find some of London's most Instagrammed spots. That this book is geared towards those interested in social media and photography is clear from the introduction, which provides Instagram, photography and editing tips. Those who already know London well are still likely to find new places to explore through this guide, however, and I enjoyed the 'day trip' suggestions for excursions within easy reach of the city.

As a London cabbie I thought my knowledge of London was pretty comprehensive, this beautifully produced book has proved me wrong. Between the covers are hundreds of recommended places to seek out. If you love to explore the capital, this is the book for you, the photos alone are worth the cover price.

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.

gorgeous, I liked his a lot. I know next to nothing about London and this was like an amazing virtual vacation in a photoshopped kind of way..

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!

A really beautiful book a wonderful guide to London..My husband I have visited many tines and this lovely book gave us so many places to visit new restaurants to eat in places to tour.Really enjoyed tarm chair traveling through London thanks to this guide.#netgalley #quarto

I'm not one to read books about tourism and travel. But, when I saw the theme of this one, I couldn't resist. I love London so much that my dream is to live there one day (who knows...).

Sara Santini & Andrea Di Filippo, two Italians, show us the beauty of the City. Their adventure began with the creation of an Instagram account, Pretty Little London, to share their pictures, and it quickly became a huge success.

This book is divided into four parts, corresponding to the seasons. The book is divided into four parts, corresponding to the seasons, so we get to see London from every angle: houses with beautiful facades, small restaurants with delicious food, places that are a little more famous than others but just as unique. London never ceases to amaze.

However, the authors also invite us to go outside the city, to Cambridge, the Cotswolds or York.

I loved
- The small maps that the authors have drawn at the beginning of the game, which serve as a summary but also as a guide.
- The small indications corresponding to each place: the underground stations, the restaurants, the shops, etc.
- The Instagram tips to take beautiful pictures to share without moderation.

The photos are exceptionally beautiful. Whether you're a Londoner or a tourist, at the end of this book you'll want to take a walk through the City!

Thank you Quatro - White Lion and NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

I was drawn to this book to explore the city of London via armchair. I don’t use Instagram so I wasn’t interested in the authors premise of where to get the best photos around the city.

Don’t let the Instagram bit put you off if, like me you aren’t a user. The book was broken into the four season, with each season bearing a map of London and the best places to explore to see the beauty of London at that time of year. There were lots of photos of food and wine in “fancy bars” but if you overlook that you find a nice book that demonstrates great corners to explore within the city. Having never been to London it made me want to find out more about Many of the localities.

This would be the perfect gift for an expat moving to the city and would be a wonderful guide to accompany those first months in a new “town”.

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.

(gifted from Netgally) Stunning imagery and while some places are well-known there's quite a lot of hidden gems in here. My London must do-lists are bulging with ideas!

Just beautiful. Full of fabulous photographs and inspiration. It is a perfect coffee table book that you can browse through and always see something new.

This book is amazing! I’ve been to London twice and I really wish I had this guide with me. It has amazing suggestions and I love that it is divided by season. I would love to purchase this book and have it with me the next time I go to London!

I’ve never been to London. It’s an oversight from my side since it seems a pretty spectacular city, but for many reasons the UK and I never crossed paths, at least so far. While I’m still on the continent, waiting to tick that particular box off my travel notebook, all I can do is looking at pictures of my dream destinations.

(Quick, pretend to be shocked)

Sara Santini and Andrea Di Filippo came to rescue the crowd of armchair wanderers like me, providing us with Pretty Little London, a guide to all things, well, pretty about London.


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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.

208 pages
Travel, photography
Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion
Goodreads

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Cover: Cool! I’m not a big fan of covers featuring different pictures, but this one works anyway, maybe because the style is the same.

Yay!

- 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.

- Pictures! Pictures that look good enough to be on Instagram–the holy church of pictures, I mean–and therefore are good! Style spills all over the pages, with Santini and Di Filippo being generous with their shots. This is how a travel book should be, ripe with photos and info. Whimsical maps add character to Pretty Little London too, and that’s the cherry on top.

- I already mentioned the seasons-oriented structure. It’s something I already saw in other books, and in certain contexts, it works fine. It’s also a good idea for those who are planning a vacation trip.

Special mention:

- Wisteria, Islington. I love the purple door and the wisteria adorning the place.
- Coal Drops Yard. Hanging lights!
- Tulip Stairs, Queen’s House. Spiral staircases! There’s also another one in
- Hide.
- The Painted Hall, Old Royal Navy College. Fine art, fine art.
- Broadgate Circle.
- Kyoto Garden.
- Cotswolds. I wouldn’t mind living there.
- The Shambles. Cobbled streets.

Nay!

- The only thing I don’t like about Pretty Little London is that it reads a bit too commercial for my tastes.

TL;DR
4 stars on GR.

Great pictures and an excellent guide to London. It made travel to the city during different seasons and I loved it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

An absolute must have for people traveling to London. Or for people like myself, that want to go one day. The pictures are stunning. I love how the book is broken down into Seasons. Now I want to go year round!