Bird's-eye shots show stunning Britain

In a year that marks a celebration of Britain, one photographer has taken to the skies to offer a different perspective on world-famous landmarks including Trafalgar Square, The Angel of the North and Stonehenge.

Britain from Above Month by Month was released last week with dramatic shots taken from a helicopter. It offers views of coastlines and medieval ruins, industrial cities and iconic buildings.

Jason Hawkes, who has photographed Britain for 22 years, said it was a "stunning" country to photograph. He timed the book to come out in the year of the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympic Games. "I thought that in 2012 there will be a lot of interest in Britain and London and this would offer a good way to celebrate it," he said.

Images include Brighton pier, Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, as well as No 1 Court at Wimbledon. "Often you fly over places that are boring from the ground, but from the air they are really interesting," said Mr Hawkes.

He said Britain had "surely one of the richest landscapes in the world for ancient monuments and magnificent architecture, both old and new", adding: "It's a thrilling place to discover on foot, but perhaps all the more intriguing from the air."