A blue plaque is a recognised symbol of our national heritage; a living footprint of our history with each one serving as a permanent reminder of an important contribution to the history of the country.

The blue plaques commemorate notable, influential and successful people from all walks of life. They are erected in the present to celebrate our past and inspire our future.

This book contains 100 blue plaques, and the stories and people behind them, from across the United Kingdom, each linking, through a common denominator, to the next.

From David Bowie to William Shakespeare, we run the gamut of plaques remembering kings, actors, singers, explorers, footballers, cricketers, writers, inventors, scientists, politicians, musicians, reformers, broadcasters, songwriters, comedians, pioneers, artists, the military, athletes, dancers, activists, poets and education.

From Lennon and McCartney to the victims of Jack the Ripper this is an eclectic representation of British life, through our blue plaques, from the 1500s to 2017.