Hi - I will be visiting London in September for the 1st time and am interested in recomendations on a good guide book - any favorites out there? Thanks!

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide - London

The best on the market in my opinion.

Hi
As an alternative opinion, I like the Eyewitness for pre and post-trip reading, but find them heavy to carry, and for some reason I don't find them useful while walking around.

I like Fodors guide to London as a basic, but for walking around while I am there, the London Mapguide is wonderful. Detailed, clear map pages, a listing of most streets, and basic information on sightseeing, including
churches. It's not a comprehensive book, just an excellent pocket-sized, lightweight asset.

I'll second the vote for the London Mapguide. I used it when I was there last week. The maps are much easier to read and handle, since they are broken down by area and presented in book form. The author is Michael Middleditch.
I bought mine from amazon . com

Here's another recommendation for London Mapguide. Also, Access for dining, shopping, descriptions of most of the historical buildings.

London Walks is very good for planning your days.

Timeout London. Written by Londoners about their own town. What more could you ask for?

Assuming you are not buying the guide for hotels and restaurants, look at the Michelin Green Guide, my favorite.

If you are looking for hotel and restaurants, try the Michelin Red Guide.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions - looking forward to planning the trip!

We love Timeout London. Great layout some off the beaten track stuff and good maps and websites etc... I have lived in London and parents live their now, so we go every other year, and I really like this guide to update us. It is updated annually!

Blue Guide for London. Superb information on all quarters. No pictures, just well written informative text, with just a bit of opinion, in the form of walks.

David

My local library had every London travel guide known to man, so I read them all for free. My favorite was London top 10, I think it is a DK guidebook.

Check out time at libraries are usually 3 weeks, enough time to take the book with you.

Thanks again for all the suggestions - I already took a few guidebooks out of the library - that was a great suggestion. I usually go to the library first and sometimes purchase my favorite.