The Tower of London is one of the capital’s most famous landmarks and draws countless tourists and visitors every year. This is a fascinating Pitkin guide in which Alan Brooke provides a comprehensive history of the fortress and palace, dating from the Norman Conquest through to its position today as treasury of the Crown Jewels and tourist attraction.

Detailed and well-researched, the guide is packed with information not just about the famous White Tower which forms the centre of the structure but also its surrounding buildings, such as the Bell Tower in which Sir Thomas More was imprisoned in before his execution by Henry VIII, and the Tower Green which was the site of executions of famous figures such as Lady Jae Grey and Robert Devereux.

Perfect for visitors to the Tower, there is also a detailed look at where the crown regalia has historically been stored and where visitors can find the Crown Jewels today. The famous tradition and ceremony of the Tower is also addressed, with informative sections on the Yeoman Warders and the ‘beating of the hounds’ ceremony every third year.

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English country houses represent a time now past, one of power, prestige, wealth and taste, where the privileged lived in luxury, waited on by armies of servants. This compact yet informative and well-illustrated Pitkin Guide looks at the way these houses evolved, at their heyday and decline, with beautiful photographs of some of the cream of England’s great houses. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

Edward VII reigned over a kingdom of political, social and technological change that saw the establishment of the Labour Party and trade unions, plus the arrival of the aeroplane, radio, motor car and cinema. This was a golden age of opulence and glamour before the outbreak of World War I, after which nothing would ever be quite the same again. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

On 12 June 1944, Winston Churchill crossed the English Channel to visit the Normandy beachhead. Relishing danger, he had insisted on coming on D-Day itself: ‘Nothing,’ he said, ‘is more exhilarating than being shot at without result.’

At first, the King George VI also wished to join the fleet on D-Day, but when persuaded of the danger of this plan, he attempted to dissuade Churchill too. The Prime Minister eventually deferred, and delayed his trip. This comprehensive and informative guide covers the Prime Minister’s visit in great detail. William Jordan explores Churchill’s crossing on the destroyer HMS Kelvin, the party on Juno Beach and Churchill’s time in Courseulles-sur-Mer, the events of Churchill’s ‘jolly day’ as he put it visiting the beaches and inland.

Many millions have followed his footsteps since, but none had so privileged a view as Churchill did that summer’s day. Here, in the words of those who witnessed the great man’s progress, and through photographs – many previously unpublished – we relive the events of that day.

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An indispensable guide to help discover Cambridge, a city of both modern and ancient beauty whose rich history unfolds as you explore its ancient streets and buildings.

This guide is based on two circular walks to show visitors the absolute best that the city of Cambridge has to offer, with extra diversions and places to visit for those who have longer to spend exoploring the city.

Containing informative histories of the city and of individual buildings as well as modern-day attractions, the guide tells how visitors can enjoy the university colleges, where many great scientists lived and worked, and see the wonderful buildings, courts, gardens and unrivalled architecture of Cambridge.

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Also available in: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish.

A guide to Her Majesty The Queen’s official London residence, one of the potent symbols of the British monarchy, covering a history of the architecture, the magnificent rooms and gardens and how the palace is a working building for the modern monarchy. It includes floor plans of the State Rooms open to visitors. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

To commemorate 70 years since this momentous event, the guide looks at the greatest air battle in history, fought in the skies over southern England between the RAF and the Luftwaffe in the high summer of 1940. By June 1940 the Nazi forces were poised on the Channel coast ready to invade England. In desperate air battles the ‘Few’ of the RAF succeeded in defeating a numerically superior Luftwaffe – and prevented the invasion of England by German forces.