Why Is Downing Street Painted Black?

'Jonnie made me see London through new eyes.' James Corden

'A charming and surprising alternative tour of London. We loved this book' Map Men

Jonnie 'is a conduit for the city's soul, distilling its chaotic history into digestible, engaging narratives' The Times

Have you ever tried to find a street named Bond Street? (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t exist!)

Did you know you can’t dine for 13 at the Savoy? At least not without a cat joining you …

And have you heard about the bus that jumped Tower Bridge?

As a walking tour guide for 15 years, Jonnie Fielding has made it his mission to uncover all there is to know about London, from forgotten facts to the history hiding in plain sight.

Packed full of pub-quiz trivia and bespoke illustrations, Why Is Downing Street Painted Black? includes 365 of his favourite quirks, anomalies and eccentricities from all over town.

So whether you live in London, would love to live in London or just love a great fun fact, Jonnie is guaranteed to reignite your fascination with this weird and wonderful city.

About the Author

Jonnie Fielding is the Director of the Bowl of Chalk walking tours, which is in the top 0.8% of London's tour companies. He has been featured on Radio 4, The Independent, The Guardian, Time Out and others. Find him on Instagram and TikTok @bowlofchalk