The illustrated set of Old and New London: a Narrative of its History, its People, and its Places , with numerous engravings throughout from 'the most authentic sources' was produced in six volumes. The first two volumes are by Walter Thornbury entitled The City, Ancient and Modern beginning with Roman London and with chapters relating to various areas in London, periods of time in its history or places. The third to sixth volumes are by Edward Walford, entitled as follows; volumes three and four discuss Westminster and the Western Suburbs, volume five The Western and Northern Suburbs and volume six The Southern Suburbs.

George Walter Thornbury (1828 - 1876) was an English author. A journalist by profession, he also wrote verse, novels, art criticism and popular historical and topographical sketches. He began his career in 1845 with contributions to Bristol Journal and wrote later mainly for the Athenaeum. His Old and New London: a Narrative of its History, its People, and its Places was first published in two volumes in 1872, and in an undated edition of 1878 in six volumes, the last four being by Edward Walford. Edward Walford (1823 - 1897) was a British magazine editor and a compiler of educational, biographical, genealogical and touristic works, perhaps best known for his Old and New London in six volumes (the first two of which were written by Walter Thornbury), 1878.