London is the focus of the world's attention this month! We have a number of great guidebooks that will enhance a visit to this historic city. The following are some of the newest.

Time Out 1000 Things To Do In London for Under £10

1,000 inspirational ideas of what to do in London, all costing less than £10 and a great number of them absolutely free. This is a guide for Londoners as well as tourists; a delightful armchair read as well as an indispensable handbook. Includes well-known Londoners' top ten inexpensive things to do, cheap nights out, budget shopping and dining, quirky walks, low-cost cultural experiences and tickets for free. From once-in-a-lifetime experiences to everyday pleasures. Packed with photos and specially commissioned illustrations, 1000 Things... offers new ways to navigate the city. Fall for London all over again, without breaking the bank!

Walking London [2012]: The best of the city

See the best of London with this streamlined, itinerary-driven guide, created in a handy, take-along format. Part of a brand-new series from National Geographic that showcases the world's great cities, Walking London is divided into the following sections. The Whirlwind Tours section shows you how to see the entire city in a day or a weekend; what sights will interest kids most; plus, a hedonist's tour that's pure pleasure from dawn to midnight and beyond. The Neighborhoods section of the book presents the city broken down into 15-odd itineraries that lead you on a step-by-step tour to the best sights in each of the city's greatest neighborhoods--from The City and Westminster to Kensington and Knightbridge. Travel Essentials provides information on how to get to the city and how to get around, as well as hand-picked hotels and restaurants. Each itinerary includes the following features: Distinctly London: Explore the city through 2-page features that showcase the quintessential aspects of the city, such as Royal London, Shakespeare London, and London Pubs: Here you'll get intriguing background information to help you understand why this city is one of the world's greatest. Best of: Specific thematic groupings of sights are described, such as ancient markets, posh shopping, and London clubs. In-depth: These spreads take a deep dive into a major museum or other sight--Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, the National Gallery--providing step-by-step guidance on what to see and how to plan your visit. Sidebars throughout give you the lowdown on shopping, eating, and going out on the town, offering insider tips and interesting asides.

Royal London [2012]: a guide to the Capital's historic and iconic royal sites

In anticipation of Queen Elizabeth's 2012 diamond jubilee, celebrate the enduring influence of the British monarchy on the cultural, social, and architectural landscape of London. Sumptuously illustrated with specially commissioned photographs, and containing new features on William and Kate's wedding, this fully updated edition of Royal London reveals the fascinating history behind over 130 buildings, parks, gardens, statues, and other London attractions--and even includes a locator map so you can plot your own regal walking tour.

How to see the great cities of Europe and not spend a lot of money? Try walking the streets.

Calgary Public Library has many books on walking and walking tours. Just recently received are these great guides from National Geographic.

Walking London and Walking Paris are "part of a brand-new series from National Geographic that showcase the world's great cities, These guides are divided into the following sections. The Whirlwind Tours section shows you how to see the entire city in a day or a weekend; what sights will interest kids most; plus, a hedonist's tour that's pure pleasure from dawn to midnight and beyond. The Neighborhoods section of the book presents each city broken down into itineraries that lead you on a step-by-step tour to the best sights in each of the cities' greatest neighborhoods...Travel Essentials provides information on how to get to the city and how to get around, as well as hand-picked hotels and restaurants."

Check out our other guidebooks, such as:

Think about using local transit to get around various cities. Check out the options for purchasing a transit pass for multiple days or stops.

You can also save money in many European cities, by purchasing a European City Card. Thirty-six of Europe’s most popular cities now offer ‘city cards’. Most City Cards offer free public transport, free entrances and discounts in restaurants, shops and entertainment.

Sandeman's New Europe Tours offer free tours of 14 European cities. Their guides operate on a 'tips only' basis.

Slow travel is all about getting to know a place and connecting with the people. What better way to see a country than to walk the highways and biways?

The library has some great books that you can check out on walking vacations for locations both near and far.

One of our newest is by Countryfile, Great British Walks. This book features 100 unique walks through the British countryside and has clear, easy-to-follow routes and ordnance survey mapping. It includes notes on what you will see and some lovely colour photographs. It has everything from gentle strolls through the countryside to challenging hikes into the wilderness.

"With its strong binding, attractive photographs, and variety of walks, this guide will make a wonderful companion for enthusiastic country walkers. (Library Journal Review)

You can walk through Provence or Paris:

Or perhaps you would like to walk Down Under.

Or you can stay close to home:

Whether you are a meanderer or a serious hiker, there is something here for you. Happy trails!!

I always laugh when I see trips advertising three days in Rome or two days in Paris. What could you possibly do in that short amount of time? A visit to the Louvre alone will kill the better part of a day! In my mind, it’s only worth travelling if you can slow down and enjoy the city you’re in. I don’t want to have to rush from venue to venue, trying to keep a strict schedule; I don’t like to feel that I’m a slave to my itinerary. Besides, two days in the City of Light would mean a huge amount of bus touring, or taxi rides, or some other mode of convenient transportation.

Instead, where possible, I like to do most of my travelling on foot. It’s good for my soul, my pocketbook, and my planet.

For instance, when I went to New York, I made sure to borrow books about self-directed walking tours. That way I could decide where and when to stay or go. I did the same thing in Florence and Rome.

If you’d like information about slow travel, visit your local library branch, or the experts on Central Library’s 4^th floor. Slow Travel isn’t only about walking around in your chosen destination. It’s about finding all sorts of ways to enjoy travelling and the new experiences you’ll have, without leaving a trail of enormous carbon footprints behind you.

Slow Travel could be taking a boat or a train, riding horseback or hoofin’ it on your own. It could mean carpooling or cycling, or even kayaking. Check out some of these titles for ideas about Slow Travel from Alistair Sawday:

Go Slow France: Special Places to Stay, Slow Travel and Slow Food

Go Slow England and Wales: Special Places to Stay, Slow Travel and Slow Food

Go Slow Italy: Special Places to Eat, Stay and Savor by Alastair Sawday with Jackie King

Slow Travel and Tourism by Janet Dickinson and Les Lumsdon

This book is not so much a guidebook as an exploration of the concept of slow travel. It does include some case studies from around the world, promoting travel by train, bus, cycling and walking.

Katherine

I love this new series by Lonely Planet. The Discover guidebooks highlight the 25 top experiences for each travel destination as well as including practical itineraries and "must-see" recommendations from local experts. The books include beautiful colour photographs as well as maps and practical information. We have the following destinations here already with others on order, arriving soon.

We also have Discover Australia, Discover Thailand, and Discover Germany with destinations like Great Britain, France and Peru on order. Discover this great series for yourself!!