The Tudor period was one of change and growth for London. The city quadrupled its population and established itself as the political and social capital of the country. People were drawn to the metropolis from all over Britain and also from abroad. The fabric of the city altered as the monasteries were dissolved and Henry VIII began a massive building programme for royal residences. Under Elizabeth I, London became the centre for overseas exploration and trade, literature and arts. Not all Londoners benefited from the changes. Many areas of the city became desperately overcrowded, and rising prices and inflation during Henry VIII's reign made life miserable for the less well off. This illustrated book draws on recent archaeological finds and other evidence - including the very first maps and guides to London - to describe a dynamic period of the capital's history.