I Never Knew That About the River Thames

Christopher Winn's first book was the bestselling I Never Knew That About England. Volumes on Ireland, Scotland, Wales and London followed as well as books on the English, Scottish and Irish, alongside an illustrated edition of I Never Knew That About England and London. A freelance writer and collector of trivia for over 20 years, he has worked with Terry Wogan and Jonathan Ross and sets quiz questions for television as well as for the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. He was also the Associate Producer for a TV series by ITV on Great Britain. He is married to artist Mai Osawa, who illustrates all the books in the series. His website is http://www.i-never-knew-that.com.

Bestselling author Christopher Winn takes us on a captivating journey out of London along the banks of the River Thames to discover the secrets and stories of England's most famous waterway. Discover the Thames's literary heritage at Pangbourne, near Reading, famous as the home of The Wind in the Willows's Kenneth Grahame, then explore Mapledurham House, the inspiration for its famous Toad Hall. Explore Henley-on-Thames, where the first Oxford and Cambridge boat races were held, then marvel at Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world. 
 
As he follows the river from source to sea, visiting its towns, villages and places of interest, Winn unearths a fascinating array of facts, folklore, landmarks and legends that are guaranteed to have you exclaiming 'I Never Knew That!'. Illustrated with line drawings this charming gem of a book is guaranteed to inform and delight in equal measure.

I Never Knew That About Coastal England

A fascinating tour of England's much loved coastline in the company of a million-copy selling author

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!

I Never Knew That About Ireland

Glorious miscellany of intriguing stories and interesting facts about Ireland in bestselling format

'there's stuff in here that would have taken St Patrick aback...Hibernia will stand astonished'

a colourful array of Irish trivia...If you are holidaying in Ireland, this would serve as an amusing companion to a conventional guidebook

'If you thought you knew about Ireland, think again...irresistible reading'

'Chock full of  fascinating facts, funny stories and exquisitely fine drawings...This is a fabulous book

Christopher Winn's first book was the bestselling I Never Knew That About England. Volumes on Ireland, Scotland, Wales, London, the English, Irish and Scottish followed and he has recently published books on the Lake District, Yorkshire and the River Thames alongside an illustrated edition of I Never Knew That About England. A freelance writer and collector of trivia for over 20 years, he has worked with Terry Wogan and Jonathan Ross and sets quiz questions for television as well as for the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. He is married to artist Mai Osawa, who illustrates all the books in the series. His website is www.i-never-knew-that.com.

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!'

I Never Knew That About Royal Britain

A charming compendium of facts and tales about Britain's rich royal history of kings, queens and castles

A treasure trove of amazing facts and anecdotes - a right royal treat

The Telegraph’s master quiz-setter and trivia collector has mined the depths of his Royal knowledge in this ultimate guide to some of the people, places, events and corgis that have been connected with the crown throughout history. A book to dip in and out of, with its facts displayed in bite-size chunks interspersed with pictures. 
 Star rating: * * * *

Packed full of fascinating facts and anecdotes, Christopher Winn's I Never Knew That About Royal Britain contains entertaining trivia about the UK's royal castles and palaces.

Royally good and that's a fact... it's an ideal companion to the upcoming Diamond Jubilee, 4*

Christopher Winn's first book was the bestselling I Never Knew That About England. Volumes on Ireland, Scotland, Wales, London, the English, Irish and Scottish followed and he has recently published books on the Lake District, Yorkshire and the River Thames alongside an illustrated edition of I Never Knew That About England. A freelance writer and collector of trivia for over 20 years, he has worked with Terry Wogan and Jonathan Ross and sets quiz questions for television as well as for the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. He is married to artist Mai Osawa, who illustrates all the books in the series. His website is www.i-never-knew-that.com

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.

Discover Victorian London

Walk Through History

Walk in Victorian footsteps and see London as you've never seen it before

Christopher Winn has done us all a great service. No need anymore to be   tongue tied... His books are so informative and interesting!

'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!

I Never Knew That About England's Country Churches

Organized county-by-county, a beautifully packaged miscellany of stories about England’s country churches and the history that surrounds them

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!’.

Christopher Winn

This delightful guide to England, organised county by county, is now published in lavishly illustrated format. Alongside the charming black and white drawings of the original edition now sit gorgeous colour photographs of rolling hills, famous monuments and hidden treasures, plus quirky posters from a bygone age. 
 
Crammed with interesting facts and enthralling stories, Christopher Winn once again takes us on a journey round England, celebrating the people and places that make up the country - from history, legends and firsts to birthplaces and gossip. From Oakley Court in Berkshire, which served as the headquarters of French resistance during WW2, to Burghley House in Northamptonshire which grew the first tomatoes in Britain and north to Ripon, Britain's oldest city, this book offers a spellbinding insight into England, its people and its history.

Christopher Winn

Books by Christopher Winn

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