Stephen Platten Book order (chronological)

Beautifully illustrated with over 130 stunning colour images, this is a guide to Britain's most notable abbeys and priories as well as a much-cherished souvenir of a visit.

A fully illustrated guidebook to Northumberland, including a gazetteer, maps and more than 240 photographs

Exploring the significance of pilgrimage for Christians, this book delves into various renowned pilgrimage sites across Britain and Ireland. Each chapter provides historical context and examines the reasons these locations have attracted pilgrims throughout history, highlighting their spiritual and cultural importance.

For centuries the great religious buildings of Great Britain have inspired and fascinated pilgrims and visitors from around the world. The beauty and diversity of British ecclesiastical architecture is superbly captured in this guide to over 60 of Britain's finest cathedrals.

A gripping account of China’s nineteenth-century Taiping Rebellion, one of history's largest civil wars, this narrative features unforgettable characters and vivid depictions of massive, often gruesome battles. Set in the early 1850s during the Qing dynasty's decline, it chronicles a major revolution led by a failed civil servant who claimed divine heritage. The Taiping rebels, fueled by the poor and disenfranchised, ignited widespread ethnic rage against their Manchu rulers. This seemingly unstoppable movement faced intervention from Britain and the United States, which supported the Qing, ultimately quashing opposition for generations. The story unfolds through two compelling figures with contrasting visions for China's future: Zeng Guofan, a conservative Confucian scholar turned influential military strategist, and Hong Rengan, a visionary Taiping leader whose aspirations for a modern, industrial, pro-Western China ended in tragic failure. This essential history explores the rise and fall of a movement that, had it succeeded, might have altered China's trajectory into the modern world. Through spellbinding detail, the account reveals the complexities of a pivotal moment in history.

This definitive handbook contains over 130 specially commissioned colour photographs and six maps. It will enable everyone to experience the enduring appeal of those great monuments to the great Christian tradition. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.