London's book benches – readers' photos
Visitors to London this summer have had an extra attraction to seek out – book-shaped benches scattered across the capital. Not only are they are a beautiful tribute to some of the best London-themed literature, but they are raising money for a great cause. We challenged readers to track them down, and here is a selection of the photos you shared with us. See all the contributions on GuardianWitness
And we have some exciting news! A bench dedicated to Neverwhere (by Neil Gaiman) will be installed at the free Guardian Gallery very soon. This was the book voted by our readers as the the one they would most like to sit on. Gaiman himself nominated Chris Riddell to design the illustration. Watch this space for details!
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My meerkats on and behind Usborne’s ‘That’s not my meerkat’ bench. Photograph: rasker/GuardianWitness
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Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, Gordon Square Park. Photograph: NunNicer/GuardianWitness
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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Front view of this splendid Narnia-themed book bench, painted by Mandii Pope. Photograph: adriantribe/GuardianWitness
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Jeeves and Wooster stories, by PG Wodehouse Photograph: charcot/GuardianWitness
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James Bond. Photograph: ID398330/GuardianWitness
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The Canterbury Tales. Photograph: ElenaxElena/GuardianWitness
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Samuel Pepys’ Diary. Back side Photograph: ElenaxElena/GuardianWitness
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Shakespeare book bench outside Shakespeare’s Globe. Photograph: verity wade/GuardianWitness
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Peter Pan. “Don’t forget to check out the sides for hidden images and messages ...” Photograph: Barbara Band/GuardianWitness
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War Horse Photograph: ID4846725/GuardianWitness
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Pride and Prejudice. “Here is a front view of Charlotte Brown’s book bench celebrating Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.” Photograph: adriantribe/GuardianWitness
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In a handbag??! The Importance of Being Earnest - in the heart of Bloomsbury Photograph: juliac2/GuardianWitness
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Peter Pan in Bloomsbury. Here’s one of two book benches representing JM Barrie’s Peter Pan character. This is the one on the Bloomsbury Trail, in Red Lion Square. Photograph: adriantribe/GuardianWitness
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Mary’s bench. On Sunday 6 July Mary Poppins arrived on the breeze to see her book bench, give away copies of her story and meet fans of all ages at St Paul’s Cathedral churchyard Photograph: Michèle Rogers/GuardianWitness
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The back of the How To Train Your Dragon bench at More London Place. Photograph: Michèle Rogers/GuardianWitness
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Darwin’s Tree of Life Photograph: TanPan/GuardianWitness
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Jungle Book. Photograph: TanPan/GuardianWitness
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Being a big kid. Peter Pan bench, outside ST Paul’s. One of my favs! Photograph: ID7555303/GuardianWitness
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Darwin’s Tree of Life. Photograph: TanPan/GuardianWitness
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Dickens In Liverpool ?? Photograph: Martin Pettitt/GuardianWitness
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James Bond Stories by Ian Fleming. Painted by Freyja Dean, this James Bond-themed book bench is located in Bloomsbury Square Gardens. Photograph: adriantribe/GuardianWitness
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Bridget Jones’s Diary, Paternoster Square. Photograph: Barnetc/GuardianWitness
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Jaclyn Wilson bench St Paul’s. Photograph: Barnetc/GuardianWitness
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“Paul Kidby is a genius - just how I imagine the Librarian in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. Probably my favourite so far” Photograph: juliac2/GuardianWitness
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Dr Seuss Photograph: LeedsTim/GuardianWitness
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