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John Rabon

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Wandsworth

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Wandsworth is one of the oldest parts of London.  The area’s first reference goes back to the Domesday Book when it was a large manor before the ever-encroaching city swallowed it up.  Following the Industrial Revolution, Wandsworth built itself up with a gas plant, Young’s Brewery, and the iconic Battersea Power Plant.  Today, Wandsworth is very much a cosmopolitan place, … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Wandsworth

Ten Foods and Drinks You Probably Didn’t Know Were Invented in London

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Most of the world doesn’t think of Britain as a food hub, much less London as a cuisine capital.  However, it might surprise you to know some of the world’s favorite foods, and indeed, some of the UK’s most well-known dishes were invented right in London.  Drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts can all call the UK capital home.  Whatever you’re in the mood for, we recommend … [Read more...] about Ten Foods and Drinks You Probably Didn’t Know Were Invented in London

The London Fiver – Five Cool Things to Do in London in August

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As Summer starts to wind down, London still has plenty of fun activities for seasonal visitors.  While we have covered other major events that go on during this month such as the Proms, the opening of Buckingham Palace to the public, and the Notting Hill Carnival, there are many other awesome events going on.  They run the gambit of festivals, sport, musical theater, and just … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Cool Things to Do in London in August

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

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On the furthest reaches of Greater London, the Borough of Sutton is the pinnacle of suburban London.  As such, things might seem a little sleepy this far away from the center of the city, but nothing could be further from the truth.  You can find pretty fun things to do all over the borough in Cheam, Carshalton, and the eponymous Town of Sutton.  Shopping, nature, drama, and … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Sutton

Top Ten Things to See in the Imperial War Museum

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Almost immediately following World War I, the United Kingdom felt it was necessary to have a museum to document the civil and military efforts to win the war.  Since it opened in 1917, the Imperial War Museum has grown to encompass five locations throughout Britain, including three locations in London.  Its collection and exhibits have also grown to include wars from throughout … [Read more...] about Top Ten Things to See in the Imperial War Museum

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

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Like most of London, Hackney is a part of the City that’s had people living in it since before the Romans came.  This northern part of London became a haven for the nobility starting in the Tudor period, and many of its most famous structures started construction.  Today, Hackney is a melting pot of ancient structures and 21st-Century venues.  Whatever your reason for visiting, … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hackney

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See in the Tate Modern Art Museum

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Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the Tate Modern is a repository of art from 1900 to the present.  With thousands of items in their collection and over 5 million visitors per year, the Tate Modern is the second-largest art museum in the UK.  As such, you can believe there are many interesting works to see from Warhol, Matisse, Picasso, Pollack, and more.  Since art … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See in the Tate Modern Art Museum

The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in July

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By July, we’re moving into the hotter months of a London summer, and the city’s activities heat up to match the temperature.  While events like Pride in London, the Underbelly Festival, and the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships certainly attract a lot of attention, there are plenty of other great events to attend as well.  We’ve managed to identify five different events you … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in July

British Museum: Top Ten Artifacts to See in the British Museum When You Visit

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  Since 1753, the British Museum has been a repository of world culture in the United Kingdom.  The earliest exhibits came from the personal collection of physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane, but was the British Empire rose to prominence; it began to receive many unique items from locations all over the globe.  It grew so much over its 250-plus years that it … [Read more...] about British Museum: Top Ten Artifacts to See in the British Museum When You Visit

Top 10 London: Ten Things to See and Do in Shepherd’s Bush

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Located in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the area Shepherd’s Bush is thought to be have been named as a resting place for shepherds on their way to market.  It was mostly common land and remained rural up to the 19th Century, when the city’s suburban expansion eventually caught up to Shepherd’s Bush and it was swallowed up as many areas were.  Today, it is a bustling … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Ten Things to See and Do in Shepherd’s Bush

Ten Unusual London Landmarks to Visit in London On Your Next Trip

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We’ve covered weird landmarks before from a grave for a Nazi dog to a nose on the Admiralty Arch, however, these aren’t the only strange markers you can find in London.  There are any number of weird and wonderful things you can find in the city if you’re really looking.  If you’re looking for something to see beyond the normal tourist sites, you can find these odd spots and … [Read more...] about Ten Unusual London Landmarks to Visit in London On Your Next Trip

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in the West End

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When people think of London’s West End, the first thing that comes to their minds is the theatre.  There are 40 theatres in the area, with the first one opening in 1663, though that’s not all the West End has to offer.  Being a part of Central London, the West End includes many places to visit from major landmarks to the best shopping in the City.  We have laid out ten places … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in the West End

The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in June

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Summer kicks into full gear when June rolls around and London offers a lot to do as the city moves into warmer months.  Festivals, ceremonies, boot markets, and sports are just the beginning of what the city has to offer during the month of June.  No matter what you’re in the mood to do, it’s guaranteed that there is going to be something that will meet your interests.  In … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in June

Top 10 London: Ten Things to See and Do in Somers Town

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One of the smallest districts in London, Somers Town nonetheless is a bustling area of activity, in part due to being close to the transport hubs of Euston, St. Pancras, and Kings Cross.  Somers Town had been for years a part of St. Pancras until the creation of the Great London Area in 1965, at which point it became part of the Borough of Camden.  Should you find yourself with … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Ten Things to See and Do in Somers Town

The London Fiver – Five Ways to Beat the London Heat This Summer

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Sure, London summers don’t get as hot as they do in the United States, but you’d be surprised how warm it can get.  Temperatures in the 70s might seem pretty cool to us, but it’s a little toasty for the average Londoner.  If you want to experience summer the way the locals do, there are plenty of opportunities to cool off throughout Greater London.  Whether you’re chowing down … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Ways to Beat the London Heat This Summer

The London Fiver – Five Children’s Literature Statues To See in London

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London is a city that is the setting of many a children’s book from One-Hundred and One Dalmatians to Peppa Goes to London.  With hundreds of years of literary history under its belt, the city has many monuments to great works and authors—and these include statues dedicated to children’s literature.  There are at least five statues dedicated to some of the most well-known … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Children’s Literature Statues To See in London

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Brent, London

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Formed with the establishment of the Greater London Authority in 1965, the Borough of Brent was actually carved out of the former boroughs of Wembley and Willesden.  The borough was named for the River Brent which flows through it and despite being a more recent creation of London government, it certainly has its attractions both historical and recent.  From major attractions … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Brent, London

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars

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One could certainly argue that every pub in the UK is a sports bar, since it’s naturally where everyone gathers to watch a match.  Certain pubs, of course, are bound to have their favored teams’ colors adorning the walls and cheering supporters on game day.  However, some places go above this to mark themselves as true sports bars, a place seemingly designed only to watch the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to Do in Barnet, London

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On the most northern edges of Greater London, the Borough of Barnet is not only one of the largest in landmass at roughly 33.5 square miles, but also one of the largest in population with 387,800 residents.  Being further out from the center of the city, though, it hasn’t got as much to attract visitors as Westminster, Chelsea, and the City of London, amongst other parts of … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to Do in Barnet, London

All’s Well That Ends Well – How a Disease Outbreak Lead to London’s First Water and Sewer System

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Prior to the 19th Century, utilities in London were practically non-existent.  Gas lamps still lit the city at night, raw sewage was dumped into the Thames, and people still relied mostly on wells to get water for drinking and cooking.  For the last two, the lack of any kind of system carrying in fresh water and carrying out human waste was a recipe for disaster.  With the … [Read more...] about All’s Well That Ends Well – How a Disease Outbreak Lead to London’s First Water and Sewer System

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

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The London district of Lambeth is certainly one of the most happening places in the city, owing perhaps to its location along the banks of the River Thames.  The area gives its name to the larger borough of which it is part and derived from Lambehitha or “landing place for lambs,” shortened to Lambeth by 1255.  The manor of Lambeth was in the ownership of the Archbishop of … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Lambeth

Top Ten London: Top 10 Charming London Alleyways To Pass Through On Your Next Visit to London

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In America, we’re used to wide roads, streets, paths, and alleyways.  Oftentimes, an alley is used as the backend of a building, a place to keep the garbage bins, or just a pass through to another street.  However, in London, alleyways take on a life of their own.  They may include homes, shops, pubs, restaurants, and more.  They are also some of the prettiest places in … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Charming London Alleyways To Pass Through On Your Next Visit to London

Top Ten London: Top 10 London Buildings of Sir Christopher Wren

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Christopher Wren is quite possibly the most famous name in British architecture.  The structures across the United Kingdom that he designed are amongst the country’s most lauded and beautiful places.  Wren lived in interesting times, seeing the English Civil War, the Restoration, and the Great Fire of London.  The last of these events really elevated his career to legendary … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 London Buildings of Sir Christopher Wren

The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit

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Today, underground is a word that tends to conjure images of secrecy and exclusivity when it comes to places.  When it comes to London, the underground is synonymous with the city’s subterranean train service.  Of course, there is also the original meaning and applied to bars; it can mean any number of drinking establishments that can be found below the London streets.  The … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit

The Fiver – Five of the Highest Bars in London

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One of the best things to have with a good drink is a view.  Lots of places out there have rooftop bars or observation towers where one can get a cocktail, a pint, or a glass of wine and gaze out over the horizon.  London certainly has its share of high-altitude drinking establishments that rank amongst the highest in the UK and in Europe.  Whatever you’re in the mood for, each … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of the Highest Bars in London

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