An enthralling and entertaining -miscellany of fascinating facts and surprising stories about the Scottish.
Christopher Winn takes us on an eye-opening journey around Scotland, discovering en route the intriguing and surprising ways the places and their history contribute to the Scottish character. As he travels through the Highlands and cities, he unearths the traditions, triumphs and disasters, foibles, quirks and customs that come together to make up the Scottish people.
From the capital Edinburgh, birthplace of Henry Brougham who made the longest-ever speech in the House of Commons, over six hours, to Callander, birthplace of Helen Duncan, the last person in Britain to be imprisoned for witchcraft after correctly divining the sinking of HMS Barham, the book uncovers little-known facts and amusing anecdotes.
Illustrated throughout with beguiling pen and ink drawings, I Never Knew That About the Scottish is guaranteed to have you exclaiming: "I never knew that "

The inspiration for the primetime ITV series on Great Britain, this is a spellbinding journey around Wales by bestselling author Christopher Winn. Packed full of legends, firsts, birthplaces, inventions and adventures, I Never Knew That About Wales visits the thirteen traditional Welsh counties and unearths the hidden gems that they each hold. Discover where history and legends happened; where people, ideas and inventions began; where dreams took flight; where famous figures were born and now rest. A glittering pantheon of writers and artists, thinkers and inventors, heroes and villains have lived and toiled in this small country. Remarkable events, noble (and dastardly) deeds and exciting adventures have all taken place with Wales as their backdrop. This book seeks out their heritage, their monuments, their memories and their secrets. You'll be able to visit Britain's smallest city, St David's with its glorious 12th-century cathedral slumbering in a sleepy hollow near the sea. Explore Britain's greatest collection of castles from the first stone fortress at Chepstow to Britain's finest concentric castle at Beaumaris and the magnificent Caernarvon, birthplace of the first Prince of Wales. Browse through the second hand book capital of the world, Hay-on-Wye, wander the glorious Gower peninsula, Britain's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Take a trip to Fishguard, where the last invasion of Britain took place in 1797. Marvel at Thomas Telford's Menai Bridge, the world's first iron suspension bridge or Pontcysyllte, the longest bridged aqueduct in Britain. This irresistible compendium of interesting facts and good stories will give you a captivating insight into the people, ideas and events that have shaped the individual identity of every place you visit, and will have you exclaiming again and again: 'Well, I never knew that!'

Bestselling author Christopher Winn takes us on a fascinating journey through the Lake District, that majestic landscape in Cumbria beloved of poets and tourists, hill walkers, seekers of scenic beauty and those who mess about in boats. Learn about the hidden places, the secrets and legends, wild characters and human stories that haunt England's most mountainous region - from England's wettest place to the country's highest point, from the birthplace of Postman Pat to the resting place of Poet Laureates.

THE SPRITE SISTERS - FOUR SISTERS, FOUR ELEMENTS, FOUR POWERS - FIRE, WATER, EARTH, AIR. MAGIC AT DRYSDALE'S SCHOOL is the seventh title in the bestselling Sprite Sister series that has sold over 270,000 copies in Germany. The magical adventures of the four Sprite Sisters - Flame, Marina, Ash and Ariel - are aimed at girl readers aged 7-13 years. It's the autumn term at Drysdale's School and Zak makes a strong impression at his new boarding school - not all of it good. A few weeks before, he used his dark magic to summon the terrifying invasion of screeglings to Sprite Towers. Nervous of what Zak may do next, the Sprite Sisters keep a wary distance from him at school. Despite her anger, 14-year old Marina still finds herself drawn to the troubled boy when they come face to face. Meanwhile Flame, 15, anguishes about having to keep her magic power secret from her boyfriend, Quinn. When Ash's power of Earth draws her to a mysterious stone in the school grounds, she feels it holds the key to a magic pathway. Zak is not far behind her, and senses that something in this pathway will help rid him of the dark power that is consuming him. With time running out for Zak, the Sprite Sisters and their cousin Verena must find a way into the magic pathway - but much more than any of them had ever imagined awaits them there.

Discover hundreds of fascinating facts about London in this enthralling miscellany

Travelling through the villages and districts that make up the world's most dynamic metropolis, Christopher Winn takes us on a captivating journey around London to unearth the hidden gems of legends, firsts, inventions, adventures and birthplaces that shape the city's compelling and at times turbulent past.

See the Chelsea river views that inspired Turner and find out where London's first nude statue is. Explore London's finest country house in Charlton and unearth the secrets of the Mother of Parliaments. Discover which church steeple gave us the design of the traditional wedding cake, where the sandwich was invented and where in Bond Street you can see London's oldest artifact. Visit the house where Handel and Jimi Hendrix both lived. Climb the famous 311 steps of the Monument and fly the world's biggest Ferris wheel. Brimming with stories and snippets providing spellbinding insight into what has shaped the city, "I Never Knew That About London "is a beautifully illustrated gem of a book that informs and amuses in equal measure.

"Will not fail to enhance months, even years, of gentle urban exploration...Any number of morning or weekend outings can be constructed from these rich pages... the selections and observations remain unfailingly interesting." --"The Guardian" (UK)

I Never Knew That:

Tucked away below Clive Steps at the end of King Charles Street can be found the small underground rooms where Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet met during the air raids of the Second World War.

The first-ever Valentine Card was written from the Tower, where in 1415 the recently imprisoned Duke of Orleans composed a love poem to his wife.

The measurement of one foot comes from the length of the foot of St. Algar's statue, carved on the base of one of the columns near the entrance of St. Paul's Cathedral.

The design for the traditional wedding cake is drawn from the steeple of St. Bride's church in Fleet Street.

Take the ultimate trip around Ireland

Bestselling author Christopher Winn takes us on a fascinating journey around Ireland, to discover the tales buried deep in Irish history.

Packed full of myths and legends, firsts, birthplaces, inventions and adventures, this fact book visits each of the four provinces - Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connaught - and unearths the hidden gems that each county in these provinces holds.

Discover where people and ideas were born, where dreams were inspired and where the unforgettable figures of Ireland's past now slumber. You'll be able to visit the holy mountain, Croagh Patrick in Country Mayo, where St Patrick is said to have driven all the snakes in Ireland into the sea. At Lismore Castle in County Waterford you will uncover the bathroom dedicated to Fred Astaire, whose sister Adele was the hugely popular Chatelaine of Lismore in the 1930s and 40s. On the winter solstice you can bathe in the sunlight that fills the burial chamber at Newgrange, County Meath - the oldest solar observatory in the world.

This irresistible compendium of facts and stories will give you a captivating insight into the Irish, and the ideas and events that have shaped the individual identity of every place you visit, and will have you exclaiming again and again: 'Well, I never knew that!'

This charming book takes you through the counties of England, exploring Saxon churches, reflective of simple faith; Norman churches with rugged arches and powerful pillars, stamping their authority, gothic churches with their soaring arches; Decorated and Perpendicular churches made glorious with Early English style and craftsmanship; Victorian churches, resplendent with imperial pomp; eccentric Arts and Crafts churches. Every one of them has a remarkable tale to tell, that will move you to exclaim, again and again: 'I never knew that!'.

Did you know that.. From Stonebridge Park on the Bakerloo Line you can walk to the largest Hindu temple in Europe? From Ealing Broadway on the Central Line you can walk to the oldest film studios in the world? From Stratford on the Central Line you can walk to, and abseil down, Britain's tallest sculpture? London is a city of surprises and variety, over 600 square miles packed full of character. And to really know London you must look beyond the obvious; there are broad vistas and quiet corners, iconic sights and grand boulevards, quaint villages, verdant parks, cobbled alleyways, museums, monuments, markets, theatres, and ancient churches. This book unearths and explores a stupendous range of interesting places, some well known, some less well known, some almost unknown, all of within an easy walk of a Tube station. If you want a day out and you want to do something different then London is your town, the Tube is your means and London by Tube is your guide.

With the royal wedding around the corner, there no better time than the present to get acquainted with Royal Britain Bestselling author Christopher Winn explores Britain's royal past, unearthing a rich legacy of castles and palaces, cathedrals and country retreats, battlefields and monuments where kings and queens lived and died. In this exploration of royal British history, discover whose heart is buried near the Tower of London; which palace was built on top of a mulberry garden; the world's oldest and largest occupied castle and the first building in Britain to have latrines. From the Palace of Scone to the Palace of Westminster, from Pembroke Castle, the birthplace of Henry VII, to Pontefract Castle, where Richard II starved to death, and from banqueting halls to beheading sites, this gem of a book is guaranteed to inform and amuse in equal measure.

In this lavishly illustrated book bestselling author Christopher Winn takes you on a captivating journey around London. Travelling through the villages and districts that made up the world's must dynamic metropolis, I Never Knew That About London unearths the hidden gems of legends, firsts, inventions, adventures and birthplaces that shape the city's sometimes turbulent past. See the Chelsea river views that inspired Turner in his final years. Explore London's finest country house in Charlton and unearth the secrets of the mother of Parliaments and discover the village that gave its name to a car and the Russian word for station. With gorgeous colour illustrations throughout, this miscellany reveals the steeple which became the model for the traditional wedding cake, the home of the sandwich, and the house which was home to Handel and Jimi Hendrix. Brimming with facts, stories and snippets, Winn provides a spellbinding insight into the history of London. This beautiful book is guaranteed to inform and amuse in equal measure.

In I Never Knew That About New York Christopher Winn digs beneath the gleaming towers and mean streets of New York and discovers its secrets and its hidden treasures. Learn about the extraordinary people who built New York into one of the world's great cities in just 400 years. New York is one of the most photographed and talked about cities in the world but Winn unearths much that is unexpected and unremembered in this fast moving, ever changing metropolis where history is made on a daily basis!

Bestselling author Christopher Winn takes us on a captivating journey around London to discover the unknown tales of our capital's history. Travelling through the villages and districts that make up the world's most dynamic metropolis I Never Knew That About London unearths the hidden gems of legends, firsts, inventions, adventures and birthplaces that shape the city's compelling, and at times, turbulent past. See the Chelsea river views that inspired Turner in his final years and find out where London's first nude statue is. Explore London's finest country house in Charlton and unearth the secrets of the Mother of Parliaments . Spy out the village that gave its name to a car and the Russian word for railway station. Discover which church steeple gave us the design of the traditional wedding cake, where the sandwich was invented and where in Bond Street you can see London's oldest artefact. Visit the house where Handel and Jimi Hendrix both lived. Climb the famous 311 steps of the Monument, go from East to West and back again at Greenwich and fly the world's biggest big wheel. Brimming with facts, stories and snippets providing a spellbinding insight into the history of London, this beautifully illustrated gem of a book is guaranteed to inform and amuse in equal measure.

We all love to be beside the seaside! Be it the crunch of the sand beneath your feet, or the promise of an unexplored rock pool that draws you to the sea, prepare to be whisked away by bestselling author Christopher Winn as you delve into the charming tales of England's coastline. Divided into eighteen chapters - one for each of the coastal counties in the UK - this book will entertain and illuminate, by casting new light on the many points of intrigue to be explored along 3000 miles of spectacularly diverse and historically rich English coast. Illustrated with beautiful black-and-white line drawings, by Mai Osawa, this book makes the perfect companion for any seaside outing. You'll find yourself exclaiming again and again - I never knew that!

'What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.' - W.H. Davies Walking around London is one of life's great pleasures. There is a huge amount that you can only see on foot - but sometimes it is hard to know where to look. Luckily, Christopher Winn, bestselling author of I Never Knew That About London, knows where all the hidden treasures are. This book takes the reader on a series of stimulating original walks through different areas of central London, focusing on one particular period of history, the Victorian, so ubiquitous that we take it for granted, and yet so astonishing and so far reaching in its variety, imagination, ambition and detail. Discover... ..the remarkable 300-foot bell tower at the Houses of Parliament you never knew was there.... ..the extraordinary fairytale house in Kensington where the Mikado was inspired... ..the best Victorian loos in the world near Old Street... ..a hidden chapel in Bloomsbury described by Oscar Wilde as 'the most delightful private chapel in London'... ..London's best preserved high class Victorian shop near Tottenham Court Road... ...an almost complete Victorian townscape boasting the world's oldest surviving mansion block... Walk through history and discover the hidden gems of Victorian London!

The inspiration for the primetime ITV series on Great Britain, this is the ultimate journey around England. Christopher Winn takes us to each county, to see where history happened, where people and ideas were born, where dreams took flight and where men and women now rest from their labours. To tread in their footsteps, to touch and experience some of what inspired and moved them is to capture some of the flavour of their lives and make their stories alive and real. Crammed with facts and information, I Never Knew That About England celebrates the places and people that make the country unique and includes history, legends, firsts, supremes, unusuals, inventions, birthplaces and gossip. You'll be able to visit the bridge where Pooh and Piglet played Poohsticks and see where Alfred burnt the cakes. In a small village in Bedfordshire you can visit the graveyard where Long John Silver and Wendy rest. These stories will bring any place that you visit to life (keep one copy in the car and one in the house!) and enable you to discover the rich and surprising history of England.

The inspiration for the primetime ITV series on Great Britain, this is the ultimate journey around Scotland from bestselling author Christopher Winn. Travelling county by county, this irresistible miscellany unearths the enthralling stories, firsts, birthplaces, legends and inventions that shape the country's rich and majestic history. To uncover the spellbinding tales that lie hidden within Scotland's wild and romantic shores, to experience what inspired the country's powerful literature and towering castles, and to tread in the footsteps of her villains and victors, is to capture the spirit of this fascinating country and bring every place you visit to life. You will discover the story of the original 'sweetheart', John Balliol, whose embalmed heart is buried beside his devoted wife Devorgilla at Sweetheart Abbey in Kirkcudbrightshire. In Aberdeen you will find the only granite cathedral in the world. And you will hear the haunting echo of the Bear Gates of Traquair House in Peeblesshire were slammed shut when Bonnie Prince Charlie left Scotland in 1746 - legend has it that they will never be re-opened until a Stuart King once more sits on the throne. This beautifully illustrated treasure trove of interesting facts about the history of Scotland is the perfect gift, and will act as an eye-opening guide to this thrilling, alluring and ever-bewitching country.