Cold, geometrical, bland. These are some of the words used to describe the aptly-named “Brutalist” style of architecture. Brutalism had its heyday from the early 1950s through the mid-1970s and is largely associated with government buildings or government-sponsored projects. In the United States, we can see examples of it in the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., Boston … [Read more...] about Built London: Brutalist Architecture in London
About John Rabon
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Marylebone
Marylebone earned its name from a church located there on the bank of a stream (also known as a “borne”), becoming first St. Mary at the Bourne and then through settle iterations before settling on the current name for the district. Part of the City of Westminster, it is naturally a very affluent part of London and certainly has many great places to visit. No matter whether … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Marylebone
The London Fiver – Five of the Oldest Schools in London
In the West, organized educational institutions have been around since the Middle Ages when churches set up schools to teach future priests and administrators. Besides that, few educational institutions existed until the first universities and almost nothing for children beyond apprenticeships. Greater London has over 3,000 schools today, and some of them have foundations … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Oldest Schools in London
Top Ten London: 10 Fascinating and Beautiful London Housing Estates
Since the Victorian period, the British government and local councils have taken it upon themselves to ensure that housing was provided to the working classes. Part of this was out of concern for the health of lower-income persons who were often packed into slums as well as being a progressive step toward municipal planning. In the wake of destruction caused by the London … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: 10 Fascinating and Beautiful London Housing Estates
Great Londoners – Michael Faraday – The Master of Electricity
Michael Faraday is one of those great scientists whose discoveries really changed the world. Focused on electromagnetism and electrochemistry, Faraday changed what we know about electricity. His discoveries also led to several inventions including electrolysis, the Faraday cage to block electromagnetic fields, and the electric motor. It’s certainly fair to say that Faraday … [Read more...] about Great Londoners – Michael Faraday – The Master of Electricity
Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Holborn
Striding the boroughs of Camden and the City of Westminster, Holborn is a district close to the center of London. The first documented reference to Holborn was in 959, but the district itself wasn’t created officially until 1855. It has had an interesting history from hosting one of the city’s most famous molly houses for gay men in the 18th Century, a setting for many of … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Holborn
The London Fiver: 5 Christmas Markets To Plan To Visit During the Holiday Season
Once we get into November, the Christmas decorations go up all around London, and the Christmas Markets come out onto the city’s streets. Unlike the usual markets selling vintage goods, food, or clothing, obviously, these are geared more towards the festive season. While some take on the normal look of market stalls, others look like little cottages decked out in lights and … [Read more...] about The London Fiver: 5 Christmas Markets To Plan To Visit During the Holiday Season
Great Londoners – Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer was one of the greatest contributors to English literature with his work The Canterbury Tales. However, being a writer and poet was only part of what he did during his remarkable life. Chaucer was a Renaissance man before the term was even coined, serving as a bureaucrat, courtier, diplomat, astronomer, and philosopher. Part of what makes him one of the most … [Read more...] about Great Londoners – Geoffrey Chaucer
Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Ealing
Once a rural Middlesex village, Ealing was swallowed up along with much of the surrounding area as London grew into the metropolis it is today. Ealing was made its own borough in 1901 and became part of Greater London in 1965. While once a sleepy community, today Ealing is alive as a commercial and event center of West London. As such, there’s much to do within the borough, … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Ealing
Top Ten – Hammersmith and Fulham
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham was formed in 1965 out of the districts of Hammersmith, Fulham, and Shepherd’s Bush. All three have had very interesting histories, with Fulham having been around since the 12th Century, Hammersmith hosting one of the early Olympic Games, and Shepherd’s Bush being home to the BBC Television Service for decades. Today, the borough … [Read more...] about Top Ten – Hammersmith and Fulham
Tipsy Touring: Your Guide to London Brewery and Gin Distillery Tours
Besides tea, a couple of drinks that are endemic to Britain's identity are ale and gin. Ale is a combination of yeast, hops, and barley that is warm fermented and there are many different types of beer you can make from it depending on the amount and types of ingredients. Gin, on the other hand, is a spirit developed from juniper berries. Both beverages not only have a … [Read more...] about Tipsy Touring: Your Guide to London Brewery and Gin Distillery Tours
Ten Interesting Facts about the Notting Hill Carnival
Most Mardi Gras celebrations, or Carnival as its known in Central and South America, take place prior to the season of Lent in February. Notting Hill’s Carnival is a little different, however, happening in August instead. And while other Carnivals are about getting out your excesses ahead of Lenten period, Notting Hill’s event is more a celebration of the Caribbean cultures … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about the Notting Hill Carnival
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Chelsea
One-half of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Chelsea is a fairly posh area of London (see: massive understatement) that’s been an important part of London since the first Synod of Chelsea in 787 AD. It later became the property of the Crown when King Henry VIII acquired it in 1536. From that point on, its association with the monarch made it a fashionable area to … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Chelsea
The Regency Period in London
The Regency Period for Britain is one that begins with King George III’s temporary madness and the appointment of Prince George (later King George IV) as Prince Regent in 1811. This period marked the final and permanent case of the king’s mental illness from which he did not recover. Depending on who you ask, the period either technically ends once George III died in 1820 or … [Read more...] about The Regency Period in London
Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Pimlico
Pimlico, like many areas of London, was mostly farmland for centuries until the city’s expansion in the 1800s made it a desirable place to live. The district’s closeness to the Houses of Parliament led to it becoming a center of political activity beginning in the 20th Century, but it has largely remained a residential district with few major tourist attractions. However, … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Pimlico
London’s Autumn Season: Ten Things to Do in London This Coming Autumn
Autumn is a wonderful time of the year just about anywhere in the world, and no more so than in London. You can believe that no matter what day it is, there’s going to be something to see and do. From street festivals to culinary celebrations, pageantry to tradition, and sport to costuming, there is much London has to offer from September through November. We have outlined … [Read more...] about London’s Autumn Season: Ten Things to Do in London This Coming Autumn
More Secret London – Twenty Hidden Places in London for You to Explore
There are plenty of places in London you may not know exist unless someone points them out. You might have to go behind a door or down an alley to find them. You may walk past them all the time without seeing what’s right in front of you. Even so, you may know about them, but not know exactly what they keep hidden from the public. Fortunately, we here at Londontopia will … [Read more...] about More Secret London – Twenty Hidden Places in London for You to Explore
The London Fiver – Five Movies That Make Modern London Look Beautiful
Scenery porn is a phrase used to describe camera shots in films and TV programmes that take a long view of the landscape. Any production that films in a city certainly isn’t immune to it and London has a lot to show off. With that in mind, cinematographers certainly love to linger on shots of London’s skyline and landmarks, making our mouths water at the thought of visiting … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Movies That Make Modern London Look Beautiful
Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Richmond Upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames is one of the greenest places in all of London, with great tracks of parkland existing alongside homes, businesses, and historic landmarks. This creates a wonderful mix of urban culture and natural splendor that makes it a top destination in the city. Of course, this also gives tourists a wonderful array of places to visit. From one … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Richmond Upon Thames
London and the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution changed the world forever. The coming of mechanized production marked a shift from a mostly agrarian society to a technological one. That shift also brought a population migration from the country to urban areas, resulting in an explosion in city populations and a strain on infrastructure. This was most evident in London, which was arguably the … [Read more...] about London and the Industrial Revolution
Top Ten London Top 10 Things to See and Do on the South Bank
When the City of London put heavy restrictions on such entertainments as the theater and bear baiting during the Medieval Period, everything that was now illegal or frowned upon decided to move across the Thames River to South Bank. Now home to both legal and reputable forms of entertainment, South Bank offers visitors a lot to see and do from theater to rides to life itself. … [Read more...] about Top Ten London Top 10 Things to See and Do on the South Bank
The London Fiver – Five London Bars Based on Television and Film To Visit
There are literally hundreds of pubs and bars all over London, and while many have a great British charm to them, sometimes you might be looking for something different. If you’re anything like me, you love movies and TV shows. You also love an immersive experience from your favorites in both mediums. As it so happens, there are several bars in London that can provide you … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five London Bars Based on Television and Film To Visit
Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Wimbledon
One of the best-known districts’s in London, Wimbledon’s name is synonymous with the tennis championship that takes place there every year. In history, Wimbledon has been inhabited since the Iron Age and has quite a relationship with the aristocracy, including King Richard II, before the creation of the London and South Western Railway led to its eventual absorption into … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Wimbledon
Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Belgravia
One of the more affluent areas of London, Belgravia of the Middle Ages was a vastly different place known as Five Fields in which it was likely you’d find yourself poor courtesy of a thief or highwayman. The area’s reputation changed once King George III moved into what was then Buckingham House and a row of homes was constructed on Grosvenor Place. Its maintained its status … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Belgravia
Streets of London: Amusing London Street Names
Street names can be funny things. Most often the name originates from long ago and the original meaning behind the name was lost. People forget the person it was named for, or the trade that was located there has since moved on. Still, the names remain and their meaning often becomes something new and hilarious. Enjoy these twenty-five London streets with funny names and … [Read more...] about Streets of London: Amusing London Street Names
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!
