Yeah, pity it won't zoom further. What's wrong with the 'tilt' facility on google earth though? I reckon it's a pretty fantastic feature to help visualise landscapes, elevations and wot not.
And this is rather interesting (though not terribly megalithic)- a map of london from 1827. eg Earl's Court all surrounded by fields, New Cross just a tiny crossroads, Euston with no station, etc. http://users.bathspa.ac.uk/greenwood/