In the era of smartphones equipped with maps, it’s easy to forget that we once had to rely on street atlases to find where we’re going. While survey maps of London existed long before the 20th Century, it was London: A to Zed from Phyllis Pearsall that really changed everything. With millions of copies printed and sold, the Geographers A to Zed Street Atlas still finds … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Geographers’ London A to Z Street Atlas
About John Rabon
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Balham
Balham is a neighborhood in South West London that is old enough to appear in the Domesday Book, where it was listed as Belgeham. It was meadows and farmland for centuries until the expansion of the city engulfed it and turned it into another suburb. Without much history of note, today, Balham offers a lot for people visiting. Those who are into greenspace will want to visit … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Balham
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the London Overground
A complement to the London Underground, the London Overground is the Tube’s lesser-known cousin, a network over commuter trains that rely on above-ground tracks. This is similar to the group of private-owned organizations that make up National Rail, though the Overground is a public service owned by Transport for London and is exclusive to the city. Today, the London … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the London Overground
The DLR: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About Docklands Light Railway
Like a little brother to the London Underground, the Docklands Light Rail transportation system was developed following the revitalization of the Docklands in East London. The DLR as it’s known opened in 1987 serving much of Eastern London like its own little Underground. While still under Transport for London, it’s run as a separate light metro rail service, though it does … [Read more...] about The DLR: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About Docklands Light Railway
The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in March
Once March rolls around, the weather starts being a little warmer and friendlier, leading to a number of London festivals and other events throughout the city. Of course, the big event for the month is the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival, but there are plenty of other events you should check out if you’re going to find yourself in London during this time and don’t … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in March
Ten Interesting Things to See at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich
Greenwich has been an important place to seafaring and exploration for centuries since the Romans first landed their boats here to King Charles II establishing the Greenwich Observatory for “finding the longitude of places”. Recognizing this long history, the National Maritime Museum was officially established in 1934 in the Royal Greenwich Park, with the building itself … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Things to See at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich
Dark Age London: London After the Romans
While human settlements had existed in the area around London since before written history, it was really the Romans that created the city as we know it today. The Romans founded the city, which they named as Londinium, in 43 AD and remained here until the Roman Army completely withdrew from around 409 AD to help defend the Empire from invaders. What few units were left … [Read more...] about Dark Age London: London After the Romans
The London Fiver – Opening in 2020 – Five New Bars and Restaurants to Visit
So it’s a new year and you might be wondering, “where should we go tonight?” After ticking through a list of bars and restaurants you’ve been to a hundred times already, you could be at a loss. Fear not, for we at Londontopia have looked into this and found some new nightlife spots for you to consider whether you’re a longtime London resident or just visiting. Each of the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Opening in 2020 – Five New Bars and Restaurants to Visit
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Victoria Line
Named for one of the greatest monarchs in British history, the Victoria line is one of the newer additions to the London Underground, if newer can be said to include a line that opened over fifty years ago. Of course, saying that it’s named for Queen Victoria could also be a stretch, since originally the line ran from Victoria station to Walthamstow. Of course, even though … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Victoria Line
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Hounslow
The London Borough of Hounslow was one of many crafted by the London Government Act 1963 and was a combination of three other government bodies: Brentford and Chiswick, Heston and Isleworth, and the Feltham Urban District. Formerly home to a number of farms and large estates, several of the latter still exist in the borough as house museums and grand parks. Of course, these … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Hounslow
Top Ten Things to See and Do at Westminster Abbey
Known formally as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, Westminster Abbey has been at the center of Christian life in London since the 7th Century when the first church was founded on the site. The Abbey got its start when Saint Dustan and King Edgar founded a Benedictine community there around the 960s or 970s. Edward the Confessor then began construction of … [Read more...] about Top Ten Things to See and Do at Westminster Abbey
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Northern Line
Running from Southwest London to Northwest London on a crescent-shaped path, the Northern Line has an interesting history that separates it from the other Underground routes. Whereas most of the other original lines that made up the London Underground were formed out of complete, pre-existing railways when they merged as part of the London Transport Safety Board, the Northern … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Northern Line
The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in February
Past the winter wonderland of the holidays and not yet into the warmth of Spring, London sees a number of events in February that get people out into the streets and into its venues. Several festivals take place during the month along with a couple of major events that provide just about anyone something fun to do. Whether you’re into cars, art, sport, or food and drink, … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in February
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly Line is one of the most popular in the London, owing largely to the facts that most of the city’s greatest monuments fall along its route including the British Museum, Hyde Park, and Buckingham Palace. Running from Cockfosters, it spits towards its western terminus with one line going to Uxbridge and the other to Heathrow Airport, which helps to make it the … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Piccadilly Line
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts About the Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan Line (or “Met” as it’s known) is the oldest line on the London Underground. It was founded in 1863 as the Metropolitan Railway and ran from Paddington to Farrington Street, mostly running goods as well as people. It expanded further shortly after it opened and today runs from Aldgate all the way out to Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. In all that time, the … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts About the Metropolitan Line
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham had its origins as far back as the 6th Century when the Jute Leof settled in the area, making it “Leofshema”. The name then evolved into Levesham and then the Lord Manor of Lewisham by the Saxon period. As with much of inner London, it went from pastoral estate to suburban metropolis as London expanded and the Borough of Lewisham was officially … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Lewisham
GREAT LONDONERS: Samuel Pepys – The Scribe of London
Samuel Pepys is one of the greatest writers in British literary history—and all because he kept a diary. Today, Pepys’ Diary is considered to be the greatest personal account of life and events in 17th Century England. It is a work revered both by literary and historical scholars as a first-hand account of such important moments as the Great Fire of London, the Second Dutch … [Read more...] about GREAT LONDONERS: Samuel Pepys – The Scribe of London
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts About the Central Line on the London Underground
Earning its name by running through Central London, the Central Line is one of the most important lines in the London Underground. The Central Line started as the Central London Railway in 1900 running east to west through the city. In 120 years of its existence, the Central Line has built up a very interesting history and some great facts to go with it. Combing through the … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts About the Central Line on the London Underground
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Stockwell
Stockwell was once part of a sprawling country estate before the expanding London turned it into a middle-class suburb in the 19th Century. Since that time, Stockwell has seen mixed fortunes, much was rebuilt after World War II and the district became a home to several public housing estates. Part of the larger Borough of Lambeth, Stockwell today offers plenty to see and do … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Stockwell
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury is one of the busiest areas of London and with good reason. Quite a number of the city’s museums are here along with several green spaces and University College London. Bloomsbury was described in the Domesday Book as having hogs and vineyards, though the modern name for the area didn’t appear until the 13th Century. As London grew, Bloomsbury began to develop in … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Bloomsbury
Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Paddington
Most people might associate the name Paddington with a certain bear; in fact, doing the research on this article requires some modifiers to my search to specifically point out that I’m not looking for him. However, the area from which the famous fictional character takes his name has plenty of distinction in itself. Once a medieval parish and then a London borough, the latter … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Paddington
Tudor London: Top 10 Tudor Buildings in London
Tudor architecture came about as the final building design style of the medieval period. While the style’s name is attached to the dynasty that began with King Henry VI and ended with Queen Elizabeth, Tudor architecture doesn’t have quite as long a period covering the years from 1500 to 1560 and Elizabethan Style beginning thereafter. There are many hallmarks of Tudor … [Read more...] about Tudor London: Top 10 Tudor Buildings in London
London 101: Where to Go if You Need Help in London
Travel can be adventurous and wonderful, but it also carries its own dangers anywhere in the world—even in London. In case the worst should ever happen, it’s good to be prepared and know where you can find help. Such help can come in many forms from London’s own Emergency Services to the US Embassy. Whether you’ve had your wallet stolen or you need medical attention, we’ve … [Read more...] about London 101: Where to Go if You Need Help in London
Top 10 London: Top Ten “Small” Museums
London certainly as a lot of great museums to visit: The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Natural History Museum, The London Museum, and of course The British Museum. However, there are dozens more museums that might get overlooked because they’re not as large, even though they can be just as fascinating. These museums are dedicated to different facets of British culture, … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten “Small” Museums
Terror on the Tube: A History of Disasters on the London Underground
First off, we should point out that despite the horrific title of this article, the Tube is an incredibly safe mode of transportation when you’re in London. However, no safety record is perfect, and the Tube has on rare occasions been the target of terror groups. In fact, the London Underground sees over one billion passengers per year and averages an accident per 300 million … [Read more...] about Terror on the Tube: A History of Disasters on the London Underground
Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!
