John Rabon

About John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

Nights out in London: Top Ten Underground Bars For a Cocktail

Nov 25, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Now, when we say underground, we’re not talking about bars you’ve never heard of before, but bars that are literally underground. London is full of places to drink that exist below the city’s streets. They’re in building basements, under railway arches, disguised behind more conventional establishments, or even converted from long-abandoned uses. They have atmospheres that … [Read more...] about Nights out in London: Top Ten Underground Bars For a Cocktail

The London Fiver – Five London Christmas Movies

Nov 24, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Christmas movies are one of the joys of the holiday. Whether you’re going to see one in a theater, on television, DVD, or a streaming service, there are plenty of options for holiday cinema. The locations of films can certainly vary from the big city to small-town America, and London has its own share of holiday classics. These films range from classic adaptations to modern … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five London Christmas Movies

The Bard’s Town: Shakespeare in London

Nov 23, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

William Shakespeare is regarded as one of the greatest literary figures in English history and quite possibly the greatest playwright in the world. Interestingly enough, for a man who spent the entirety of his life in England and London (and of course, Stratford-on-Avon), most of his plays seem to be set elsewhere. Italy, Scotland, Denmark, and other parts of Europe provide … [Read more...] about The Bard’s Town: Shakespeare in London

The London Fiver – Five London Romantic Comedies

Nov 19, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

In troubling and lonely times, a good romantic comedy can help you feel better about life. London has been the setting of dozens of romantic comedy films over the years, and we have covered some others in the past. If you’ve already gotten through the previous ten, have a look at these five romantic comedies set in one of the world’s biggest cities. Each of these films … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five London Romantic Comedies

The London Fiver – Five Sci-Fi Films Set in London

Nov 9, 2020 By John Rabon 2 Comments

England is arguably the home of science-fiction thanks to Mary Shelley and her novel Frankenstein, so it stands to reason that London would be a prime location for the setting of many sci-fi films. However, most of the genre’s movies that take place in the city seem to fall into either being about an alien invasion of a dystopian future. Yet there still manage to be a great … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Sci-Fi Films Set in London

The London Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Breweries

Oct 14, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Ale has had a long history in the United Kingdom. By some accounts, it even predates the Romans as some historians evidence that the Romans often enjoyed a Celtic ale or two during their occupation of Great Britain. By the Medieval period, ale was mostly brewed on the premises of the inns and later taverns in which it was sold. The introduction of hops meant a new drink was … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Breweries

The Fiver – Five More Tudor Buildings in London

Oct 7, 2020 By John Rabon 2 Comments

Last year we covered some of the buildings that remain in London from the Tudor architectural style. Popular from the end of the medieval period through the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (for whom there is a subset of this design style), the Tudor style is characterized by hammer-beam roofs, long chimneys, timber framing, and brick masonry. While in the past we covered such … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five More Tudor Buildings in London

Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums

Sep 29, 2020 By John Rabon 5 Comments

When people go to London, they tend to hit the major sites from Buckingham Palace to the Tower Bridge. This extends to the city’s museums as well, with most people opting for The National Gallery, The British Museum, the V&A, and so on. But what of London’s smaller museums? Don’t they deserve love too? Sure they do, and while they may not have the biggest draws, they … [Read more...] about Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums

Top 10 London: Ten London Colleges and Universities

Sep 22, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

A university degree is certainly a sought-after prize in any country. While Oxford, Cambridge, St. Andrews, and other institutions of higher learning in the UK certainly get their fair share of attention, London has quite a lot to offer as well. Some of these schools are hundreds of years old, and others rank amongst the top schools in their respective fields. Below we have … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Ten London Colleges and Universities

The Suffragettes of London

Sep 17, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

It’s said that well-behaved women rarely make history. In this day in age, it seems as true as ever that any progress made is done by passionate activists, and the suffragettes were no different. Now, before we move any deeper into this subject, we must make an important distinction between suffragettes and suffragists. Suffragists, for the most part, where dedicated to … [Read more...] about The Suffragettes of London

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Libraries in London

Sep 16, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

You might not think that a library is the best place to spend some time when you’re in London, but my how wrong you would be. London has some of the best libraries in the world and their sheer beauty as well as their contents. Whether you’re doing research, looking for a great story, or want to delve further into the collections of the city’s museums, the libraries are the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Libraries in London

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Donut Shops in London

Aug 13, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Found, fried, doughy goodness. Everyone loves a good donut in the morning—or for dessert—or any time really. There are plenty of great places in the States to get them such as Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, and even the high-class Dominique Ansel Bakery. Of course, London has its share of these places and even more to boot. Whether you’re in the mood for a plain cake donut, a … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Donut Shops in London

The London Fiver – Five Bands from London – The London Invasion

Aug 6, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

London has been a happening place for music for decades. When Blues, R&B, and Rock n’ Roll crossed the Atlantic from the United States, it caught on like fire. Eventually, Britain returned the favor by sending back The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and many many more. While The Beatles originated in Liverpool, of course, London has been the epicenter of many a great … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Bands from London – The London Invasion

The London Fiver – Five Great Places to Go Running in London

Aug 4, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Getting some exercise while you’re away from home can be difficult, but London has plenty of places to go for a run. Whether you want to hit a trail or take in the scenery, the city offers miles of track that will not only give you a good workout but help you to see more of London’s most beautiful places. No matter if you want to go for a short run or take a more scenic … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Great Places to Go Running in London

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston

Jul 29, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Part of the London Borough of Hackney, Haggerston is part of the East End. The area has had a long history with London going back to before the Norman Invasion. The Domesday book recorded the name as Hergotestane, suggesting it had been settled by the Vikings. Once home to notorious criminals the Kray Twins, the rea is quite cosmopolitan today, featuring lovely parks, … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston

Blue Skies – The Fascinating History of London Air Pollution

Jul 27, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Like most cities, London has had its share of air quality problems over the centuries. Most people would think that air pollution in this part of the UK would be only a couple hundred years old, but London’s history with keeping the air clean goes back much further than that. Arguably the first-ever clean air legislation was the direct result of King Edward I banned the … [Read more...] about Blue Skies – The Fascinating History of London Air Pollution

The London Fiver – Five Video Games Based in London

Jul 23, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

With so many consoles to choose from today as well as the great advantages of PC, there are plenty of ways to enjoy great video games. What’s even better, if you love London, many games take place in the heart of the UK’s capital or a place based on it. We’ve identified five different games below from over the years that were a ton of fun. Let us know your own favorite … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Video Games Based in London

The London Fiver – Five Virtual London Museum Tours You Can Take Now From Home

Jul 21, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

So quarantine has got you stuck indoors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit London’s museums anyway. During this time, some of London’s greatest repositories of history and art have used their talents to create online portals so that visitors can still enjoy them from the comfort of home. Even when traveling to London becomes an option but you can’t make it, you can … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Virtual London Museum Tours You Can Take Now From Home

How London Became the United Kingdom’s Capital

Jul 16, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Long one of the greatest cities in the world; London is the official capital of the United Kingdom, but this was not always the case. In times before there was even a country named England, there was no formal capital as the island of Great Britain was populated by settlements of Celts, Picts, and Gaels without the commonality of a nation. This began to change with the coming … [Read more...] about How London Became the United Kingdom’s Capital

The London Fiver – Five More London-Born Dishes

Jul 16, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Sure, we’ve covered foods invented in London before, but did you know there’s even more where the likes of wedding cakes, Earl Grey tea, and Scotch eggs came from? Some are more recent inventions while others stretch back centuries. You can have just about any of these today in some of the most exclusive restaurants or mom-and-pop eateries. Each of the five foods below is a … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five More London-Born Dishes

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey

Jul 8, 2020 By John Rabon 2 Comments

The Borough of Haringey is caught in the middle between Inner London and Outer London and often stated to belong to one or the other. Over its history, it’s been home to the Celts, the Romans, the Saxons, and more. As with London’s other boroughs, it was formed in 1965 with the formation of Greater London. Today it’s home to some of London’s most famous buildings, beautiful … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge

Jun 30, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Redbridge is one of the most northeastern boroughs in Greater London, and like many of the outer boroughs, for years it was mostly farmland and manor estates before the city’s growth from the 17th Century-onwards turned it into a suburb. While a mostly quiet part of the city, Redbridge is quite well known for its parks and sporting facilities, offering its residents pretty of … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge

All Roads Lead to Nelson: The History of London’s Roads

Jun 26, 2020 By John Rabon 1 Comment

Prior to the arrival of the Romans, there were no real roads in London or the United Kingdom; in fact, there wasn’t even a London. The Romans founded the city in 43 AD, and as was usual for their expansion of the Empire, they brought roads with them. Being the center of Roman Britain, roads began in London and stretched out to the remainder of Great Britain, facilitating the … [Read more...] about All Roads Lead to Nelson: The History of London’s Roads

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon

Jun 24, 2020 By John Rabon 1 Comment

One of the outermost boroughs of London, Hillingdon was formed in 1965 out of Middlesex County boroughs such as Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, and Yiewsley and West Drayton. In many ways, Hillingdon serves as a gateway to London thanks to being the borough of Heathrow Airport. Even with the planes overhead, it’s a pretty peaceful area full of large … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Jun 5, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

A residential area of London since the early 19th Century, Canonbury can be a bit hard to define. It’s never had its own council or other administrative unit, but just about always folded into Islington. With that in mind, you might think it would be hard to find something to do in this neighborhood, but there’s always something to see in any part of London. As a residential … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury