The Original Picture of London, a guidebook "for the stranger as well as for the inhabitant", provides a fascinating insight into the appearance of the city in middle of the reign of George IV. Initially written by John Feltham at the turn of the nineteenth century, its success meant that the guide was printed almost annually, meaning that the series provides a remarkable description of the capital immediately prior to the momentous changes of the Industrial Revolution. This 25th edition, printed in December 1826, showcases a London which was starting to take on the appearance of the present-day metropolis: describing the commencement of the construction of Buckingham Palace and of the new British Museum building, the intended construction of what was to become Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, and the completion of Regent Street and its circuses.

Although on the surface it is a traditional guidebook, the Picture of London contains much more information than a modern tourist would expect. Like a modern guide, it contains the generic historical and geographical introduction, and describes some of the most important landmarks and facilities of the city. It also describes the history of several institutions, their members, lists the expenditure on new construction and restoration work and even details the history and organisation of the Houses of Parliament as well as providing a room-by-room tour of the British Museum (including a disparaging reference to the strict legislation regarding the legal deposit of new publications). It also serves as a directory, listing the addresses of artists, publishers, booksellers, inns, taverns, coffee houses and many more businesses, and it also provides a 12-day itinerary for tourists supplemented by a detailed diary on the seasons and opening times of many of the leisurely pursuits a well-to-do tourist could enjoy in the capital.

The guide also contains several maps of the city and of the surrounding area, much of which has now been absorbed into London itself, and small engravings that help to illustrate the key landmarks for the visitor to the city.