Walks Through History: Liverpool

David Lewis £9.99

Liverpool celebrates its 800th birthday this year, but the party really gets going next year when its status as the 2008 European Capital of Culture begins. Good news for residents, but not for fans of historic architecture, warns David Lewis, who has updated his 2004 book of 11 historic walks around Liverpool with an additional route showcasing its Georgian heritage. "Now is a good time to explore the city as it is," he says. "After[wards] the city will… be unrecognisable."

Lewis has foraged the Liverpool Record Office for some terrific old photographs to accompany his detailed and frequently engrossing accounts of times past, often contrasting the best and worst attempts to regenerate the former major port over recent decades. Shorter routes through local woodland, parks and an excellent historic pub crawl offer variety to the urban theme. While too impractical for an 'in the field' guide, Lewis' book makes ideal preparation for walkers seeking a rewarding city tour.

Breedon Books Publishing, www.breedonbooks.co.uk
ISBN: 9781859835500

Reviewed on 25/05/2007 by Dominic Bates