Books

Take a ride on this staggering literary tube map of London

How many great London novels have you made a stop at?

From Dickens’ Victorian Big Smoke smorgasbord to Zadie Smith’s contemporary exploration of multiculturalism and religion in North London, England’s capital has rich history of producing literary greats, using London not only as a setting but as a tool for

Now those books have been transformed into a tube map, replacing famous stations along the London Underground with famous novels based on the area they were set in.

“It was created to showcase London’s rich literary history for both locals and tourists. As bookworms ourselves we feel that literature has a unique was of painting places like few other things can,” said Tom Matthews, spokesperson for In The Book, who created the map.

“We’re all familiar with Charles Dickens, Martin Amis and Zadie Smith, but it’s also titles such as Lawless and the Devil of Euston Square and Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows that help colour areas of the city in their own unique way.

View part of the map below, and then head to In The Book to see the whole thing, plus information about the authors and books showcased.

mapp
Image: In The Book

Want more books? Pull up a pew at The Big Issue’s unrivalled books section for reviews, previews, author features and must-read lists…

Support your local Big Issue vendor

If you can’t get to your local vendor every week, subscribing directly to them online is the best way to support your vendor. Your chosen vendor will receive 50% of the profit from each copy and the rest is invested back into our work to create opportunities for people affected by poverty.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
Top 5 historically important memoirs, chosen by best-selling author Joshua Lisec
Books

Top 5 historically important memoirs, chosen by best-selling author Joshua Lisec

Napalm in the Heart by Pol Guasch review – a beautiful and affecting debut novel
Books

Napalm in the Heart by Pol Guasch review – a beautiful and affecting debut novel

Half of UK adults don't read for pleasure
Reading

Half of UK adults don't read for pleasure

The Light Room by Kate Zambreno review – a staggering breadth of knowledge
Books

The Light Room by Kate Zambreno review – a staggering breadth of knowledge

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know