111 Places/Shops – serie

Which garden can you only enter if you are accompanied by children? Where can you find walrus bones, vampire stories and inspiration for red telephone boxes? And since when do you see skateboards and mobile phones in roman mosaics? London's gardens and parks form the green lung of the multimillion-housing capital, but also its heart and soul. Londoners commemorate their beloveds on park benches, they volunteer to keep up community gardens and nature reserves, and they get upset when snails attack their favourite plant. The city's 400-plus green spaces are not only testament to the English love of gardening; they are also steeped in history. Kings hunted here, airships were built in London parks, and many famous Londoners are buried in graveyards-turned-gardens. Our guide leads the way into the unknown: dark corners of major parks, enchanted green paradises, and tiny gardens tucked away in rubbish skips or on the rooftops.

Singapore - the world's laboratory for a future society enthrals even the most seasoned of traveller with its diversity of cultures and cuisines. Here Chinese and Indians, Malays and delegates from all over the world live together in peace. The southeast Asian city-state is forever redefining itself, and only reveals its century-old secrets by degrees. Visitors marvel at its unique mixture of tradition and modernity. There are secrets and stories lurking under the shiny modern surface of the metropolis, just waiting to be discovered. This is the book that will lead you to these incredible places.

Myanmar is a land of many contrasts. Fascinating discoveries await in the dense crowds of the capital metropolis, as well as in the remoteness of the Chin Mountains. When you go beyond the tourist highlights in Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake, you can now experience the authentic Myanmar. Many regions have been inaccessible for decades, which is how so many places of breathtaking originality and rare cultural achievements survived. The co-authors offer knowledgeable and entertaining insights into their own favourite places and lead you to the secluded and impressive gems.How do you paint pictures using gemstones? Where do you find white elephants? Why do you dry tea in an old colonial school? And who lives in the last village off the Himalayas?111 Places in Myanmar That You Shouldn't Miss gives extensive insights into the history, geography and culture of this magical country. Learn about the special and intriguing places where new worlds open up.

Manchester is far more than a grey provincial city preoccupied with the business of making money. The bales of cotton goods awaiting export have gone from the grand warehouses styled like palaces, and the cotton mills no longer hum with the sound of machinery. Yet the buildings remain in all their glory of tiles, terracotta and stained glass - converted to hotels, offices, chic apartments, hipster bars, fine eateries or gritty drinking dens. The textile trade may have disappeared, but you can find sustainable fashion in the old rag-trade district, and top quality coats and jackets are still being hand-sewn in the last remaining family-owned clothing factory. This book will also take you to alternative Manchester - Radical Manchester from Peterloo to the Pankhursts, Literary Manchester from Elizabeth Gaskell to Anthony Burgess, and of course to Madchester, the crazy music scene of Morrissey, Tony Wilson, the Hacienda and Factory Records.

Liverpool's unique history as an international port and a cultural melting pot has given it a character all its own. The city has produced music that conquered the world and is home to more historic buildings than any other British metropolis outside London. It features two magnificent cathedrals and many world famous museums. But beyond its renowned exterior is a labyrinth of places hidden and unknown. This deliciously offbeat guidebook will lead you to a different Liverpool: down tunnels, up skyscrapers, and into secret bars, speciality shops, and disused factories. You will see Balenciaga trainers and football trophies, rolling bridges and disappearing statues, Liver Birds and suitcases, extravagant cakes and cast-iron churches. Explore Britain's first mosque. Wander a roof garden of wild flowers, where different species bloom each month of the year. Marvel at the world's most expensive book or largest brick building (27 million bricks!). Relax in a hip tea bar with over 50 varieties of tea (loose leaf, naturally); or visit a place where you can drink Dandelion and Burdock with your fish and chips. Think you know Liverpool? Think again!Whether you're a first-time tourist, a repeat visitor, or a long-time local, prepare to be charmed and surprised by 111 eccentric and unusual places you'd never expect to find in the city best known for football and the Fab Four.