This Historical Maps of London box-set provides a fascinating overview of 150 years of London’s rich history from 1805 to 1946, revealing how the capital engulfed surrounding villages to become, for much of this period, the largest city in the world.

There are four matching maps in the set. Each map explores a crucial period in London’s recent history: the late Georgian (1805-22), the late Victorian railway era (1897-8), the dawn of the motoring age (1919-20) and the period of reconstruction following the Second World War (1945-6). Cartographical and historical notes provide background information to help bring London’s past to life.

Each map covers an identical area, extending from Bushey to Theydon Bois and from Esher to Halstead - roughly the area within today’s M25.

The box-set also contains a free street map of Central London (1:10,000 scale) from 1891.