The Times Atlas of London: The Souvenir Edition

The Times Atlas of London is the definitive London guide and an indispensible souvenir for anyone looking to visit the capital for the 2012 Olympics. It maps the story of the capital from its humble beginnings to the megacity it is today, charting London’s highs and lows through maps, rarely seen photographs and texts, as well as statistics, archive images, and historical accounts.

To mark the publication of the Times Atlas of London, and to keep the tradition of the London Cockney alive, the sounds of the 'Bow Bells' are now available to download for free. With kind permission of the St Mary-le-Bow Church, parents can download and play the sound of the 'Bow Bells' at the birth of  their baby to ensure that, wherever they are in the world, they give birth to a true London Cockney.

  • Format: Hardback

    Pages: 304

  • Size: 227x186

    ISBN: 978-0-00-747878-1

    Published: June 2012

THE TIMES ATLAS OF LONDON: The Souvenir Edition
Download the sound of the 'Bow Bells', and read more about our quest to keep the tradition of the London Cockney alive 

This is the definitive London guide and an indispensible souvenir for anyone coming to visit the capital for the 2012 Olympics.

The book includes information on the make-up of London’s diverse population, a comprehensive borough-by-borough guide showing how each district has developed over the years, an illustrated chronology of London charting its remarkable history (including articles on famous Londoners, royal London, and sport in the capital), and extensive information on its parks, rivers, climate and geology.

The Atlas of London allows readers to immerse themselves in the rich history of the city, as well as navigate the streets in the present day.

Shown in the context of the rest of Britain, and in comparison to other world cities, this book conveys how London is truly distinct. It also includes:

  • A journey through the past and present streets of London
  • Stunning images of the capital
  • Historical maps and descriptions
  • Detailed information about each borough, throughout history
  • Before and after aerial photography and mapping
  • Discussions of important London themes, from literary London, to the meaning of London street names; from the capital’s theatres, to the famous Thames

Enable your family to become part of London forever, you can now download an mp3 of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow, and continue the cockney tradition.  

Sound Mapping Study reveals how far the sound of Bow Bells rang out in 1851 compared to 2012

1 (6)
To mark the publication of the Times Atlas of London, 24 acoustics have created a map to show current zones of earshot for the 'Bow Bells'. They used precision sound level measurements taken whilst the bells were tolling and calculations according to the effects of the UK’s prevailing South Westerly wind. It is the wind direction which causes the sound of the bells to travel eastwards. Most Cockneys living in the City of London close to St Mary-le-Bow Church moved east in the 19th century, but they took their devotion to the church and its bells with them.