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Original poster

Books set in London

115 replies

argyllherewecome · 25/02/2025 20:08

Needing a bit of a London fix, any suggestions for books set in London? Doesn't have to be a major part, just small references. Bonus points if it's a mews setting or somewhere quite nice.

OP posts:
Westfacing · 25/02/2025 20:39

Caledonian Road - a great read.

www.amazon.co.uk/Caledonian-Road-Andrew-OHagan/dp/0571381359

Nitgel · 25/02/2025 20:38

Not fiction but London Made Us by robert elms is the definitive london book

RockStarMartini · 25/02/2025 20:37

Several Nick Hornby books are set in North London, I love his writing.

maslinpan · 25/02/2025 20:36

Kate Atkinson Palace of Gaiety set in the first Soho nightclubs.

bookgirl1982 · 25/02/2025 20:36

Capital by John Lanchester
The Slow Horses series by Mick Heron

MissRoseDurward · 25/02/2025 20:36

Rivers of London series

You beat me to it!

roselilylavender · 25/02/2025 20:35

Rivers of London series

Tortielady · 25/02/2025 20:34

Brick Lane - Monica Ali
Hangover Square - Patrick Hamilton (published in the 1930s, beautifully atmospheric, set in Earl's Court area in smoky pubs and grotty bedsits)
Loads of Dickens eg, David Copperfield. It's a fat novel, but not a hard read and it has some of his most memorable characters.
84 Charing Cross Road. An epistolary account of Helene Hanff's relationship with a London bookseller.
Mary Poppins - PL Travers, it's a children's book but it's sharper and darker than the film and Mary isn't as nice.
The End of the Affair - Graham Greene
Most of CJ Sansom's Shardlake series of Tudor murder mysteries are set in London
Nightwatch - Sarah Waters
A Far Cry From Kensington and The Ballad of Peckham Rye- Muriel Spark

AgileEagle · 25/02/2025 20:33

Freida klien series by Nicci French

Lamelie · 25/02/2025 20:33

The Paying Guests- very strong sense of place and time.
Siân Busby Commonplace killing ditto.
Lots of Julian Barnes- Metroland, north London suburbs in the 60’s
The Only Story, South London.

NetballHoop · 25/02/2025 20:22

A Thousand Paper Birds by Tor Udall. It's set around Kew Gardens.

ShittyShouter · 25/02/2025 20:17

Jane Fallon books.
Apple Tree Yard

LaVitesse2022 · 25/02/2025 20:16

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

WhySoManySocks · 25/02/2025 20:10

The Cormoran Strike series?

KarateSchnitzel · 25/02/2025 20:10

I recently read the book of beginnings which is set mostly in London. Was a nice, easy read. I enjoyed it.