Why Is Downing Street Painted Black?

And 364 Other Fun London Facts

Jonnie Fielding

$34.99

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Mudlark
25 September 2025

History of other lands; Social & cultural history; Genealogy, heraldry, names & honours; Historical geography; Trivia & quiz question books

'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.

By: Jonnie Fielding
Imprint: Mudlark
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 222mm, Width: 141mm, Spine: 36mm
Weight: 490g
ISBN: 9780008730185
ISBN 10: 0008730180
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 25 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

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

Reviews for Why Is Downing Street Painted Black?: And 364 Other Fun London Facts

'Jonnie made me see London through a whole new set of eyes, the beauty in every corner of it. He is full of intrigue, facts and fun, and has been a huge part of my love for the place I now call home.' James Corden