With shelves and shelves of London guidebooks and some great blogs out there to offer advice, it’s easy to find out loads about London as a tourist destination. If you want to explore London in a different way without breaking out the brolly on a rainy day, dig into a novel set in the capital. Here’s a few recommendations from me and a couple from a friend thrown in:
253 by Geoff Ryman
The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
Cityboy by Geriant Anderson
From There to Here: Sixteen True Tales of Immigration to Britain
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Londonstani by Gautam Malkani
Saturday by Ian McEwanThe Scent of Dried Roses by Tim Lott
White City Blue by Tim Lott
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
As I find more that I enjoy, I will add them to the list, but leave your own suggestions in the comments!
Little London Observationist 
London Belongs to Me by Norman Collins
One Week in December by Sebastian Faulks
A Dance to Music and Time series by Anthony Powell
Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now – As Told by Those Who Love it, Hate it, Live it and Long for it by Craig Taylor