Although a mere moment in the 2,000 years of London’s recorded history, the last five decades have seen unprecedented change in some parts of the capital – the soaring architecture of the City skyline, for example – while other historic corners have remained practically unaltered down the centuries. Important shifts in the nature of London’s commercial activities, the development of tourism as a major international industry, and the vast growth of road traffic, have all left their mark on the fabric and character of the city.

In the second of two volumes, using more than 140 ‘past and present’ photographs – including fascinating ‘aerial’ panoramas taken from the top of the Shell Tower and Westminster Cathedral – the authors take us on a tour of the vibrant heart of the West End – Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square – then to Royal London and Whitehall, the historic seats of Monarchy and Government.