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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

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

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Whitechapel.  The very name of this London neighborhood brings up a single image to those who know it but have never been here—an image of murder.  Jack the Ripper and his murders of at least five prostitutes in the district has cast a historical stain on a part of London that is actually full of life.  Food, art, music, and history abound in Whitechapel.  Whatever you might be … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Whitechapel

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

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In the far reaches of Northwestern London, Harrow is a sprawling suburb of over 80,000 people.  And while you’d be forgiven for thinking that a suburb would be devoid of anything remotely interesting—that’s where you’re wrong.  Harrow actually has quite a lot of interesting places to visit including sport, tea shops, and possibly the most museums of any borough outside the … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Harrow

Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

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Craft beer is the wave of the future.  So many new breweries have sprung up in the last few years it feels as if they’re reproducing at the same speed as rabbits.  The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) estimates there are 125 craft breweries in the city spread out amongst the boroughs and neighborhoods.  With so many throughout Greater London, it can be hard to determine which ones … [Read more...] about Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

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Tea has been an important part of British culture since the 17th Century, and you’d be hard pressed to find a society on this side of the globe that loves it more.  While coffee houses preceded tea rooms in London, the culture quickly flipped when Thomas Twining opened the city’s first tea room in 1707.  Now you can find them in every borough and neighborhood.  While many offer … [Read more...] about Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

Springtime in London: Top Things to Do in London This Spring

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Spring appears to have sprung early in London this year. With the winter weather finally starting to thaw, spring is upon us, and that means an array of seasonal events in London.  The city is awash with festivals, sporting events, and ceremonies from March through May and there is enough variety to find something anyone will enjoy.  We have identified our top ten favorite … [Read more...] about Springtime in London: Top Things to Do in London This Spring

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

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Nestled in the Borough of Lambeth, Clapham has lived many different lives over the centuries.  First home to a Roman military road, that gave way to farmland, country houses, and then the sprawling metropolis that is Greater London.  Today, Clapham is almost in the very heart of the city and has a vast array of places to visit, things to do, and events to attend.  Whether … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Clapham

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do Along The River Thames

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Lifeblood to London, the River Thames enabled the earliest settlements to take place in prehistoric England, giving way to the Romans who would formally establish the city.  The Thames has unquestionably been a major player in London’s history over the years, providing the citizens with water, serving as a means of transport to goods and people, and even responsible for the … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do Along The River Thames

Built London: Top Ten Most Beautiful Victorian Buildings in London

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What we think of as “Victorian” architecture more refers to the period rather than a particular architectural style.  In fact, there were really several styles prevalent during the period that were revivals of previous designs:  Gothic, Italianate, Romanesque, Renaissance, Queen Anne, and Neoclassical.  Other methods and styles also developed as new materials came into … [Read more...] about Built London: Top Ten Most Beautiful Victorian Buildings in London

Top 10 London: Ten Places in London for the Perfect Selfie

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Simultaneously the most hated thing tourists do but also the most popular thing they actually do. Ever since cell phones got cameras, a self-shot (or “selfie”) photo is the norm for most of us.  Whether you want to capture a memory or blow up Instagram while you’re in London, the city certainly has plenty of excellent spots for a selfie.  Of course, there are places not to take … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Ten Places in London for the Perfect Selfie

Top Ten London: Top 10 Most Romantic Places in London

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Love is in the air when February rolls around, and London is a great place to experience it.  Most people might think that Paris would be the best place to spend Valentine’s Day, but the UK capital has a charm to rival its competition across the Channel.  If you’re in London on February 14th, you might want to consider one of the ten places below to spend the holiday with … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Most Romantic Places in London

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Small Concert Venues

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It’s good to go out and hear live music.  No matter whether it’s classical, rock, punk, rap, jazz, or whatever makes your ears ring, there’s nothing like catching the vibrations of the sound as it hits you.  While London certainly has some great larger music venues such as the O2 Arena, the Roundhouse, and Royal Albert Hall, sometimes it’s better to find a smaller place.  A … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Small Concert Venues

Top 10 London: Top Ten Georgian Buildings in London

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With the coming of the Hanoverian kings came a new style of architecture that bore their name—Georgian.  This style of design was defined by symmetrical features, front entries with crowns, pilasters, and transom windows, corner quoins, cornice dentils, and typically made of stone or brick.  These features had their roots in ancient Greek and Roman design and the name stuck … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Georgian Buildings in London

London History: A Look at London During the Interregnum – Oliver Cromwell’s London

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When King Charles I’s head fell off the chopping block on January 30, 1649, the Interregnum began.  Under the leadership of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, the Commonwealth period would last eleven years.  While England and Britain as a whole would change significantly during this period as Cromwell’s New Model Army would become the UK’s first standing army and new … [Read more...] about London History: A Look at London During the Interregnum – Oliver Cromwell’s London

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

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The City of Westminster is one of the most important places in Greater London.  Home of all aspects of the British government, the Houses of Parliament, the Court of St. James, the principal residence of the monarch, and the church in which every Sovereign has been crowned since 1066 are all found here.  However, that’s not all you’ll see in this London borough, and we have … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Westminster

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

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Fitzrovia is one of those districts in London that seems to touch everyone important.  Partly in Westminster and Partly in Camden, it also touches the West End and is a prime example of a mixed-use area of the city.  As such, it has residences, shops, businesses, bars, restaurants, and plenty of attractions for everyone.  No matter what you’re interested in seeing, you can find … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Fitzrovia

Ten of the Best Independent Cinemas in London

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Cinemas, or movie theaters as we call them in the states, are some of the greatest places to spend time.  Watching documentaries, comedies, foreign films, and more, we open ourselves up to whole other worlds.  While there are plenty of big-name movie palaces such as Odeon and Empire, there are plenty of small chains and independent cinemas throughout the city that are worth … [Read more...] about Ten of the Best Independent Cinemas in London

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

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The London Borough of Bromley is the largest in greater London, covering fifty-nine square miles.  Like many of London’s boroughs, it was formed in 1965 by the London Government Act of 1963 and was created out of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Bromley and Beckenham as well as the Urban Districts of Penge, Orpington, and Chislehurst.  Being the biggest of London’s boroughs, there … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Bromley

Top 10 London: The Ten Best London’s Stately Homes To Visit

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Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Londontopia Print Magazine last summer. Support great long-form writing about London by subscribing to the Londontopia Print Magazine - the only print magazine dedicated completely to London. You can subscribe here. London is an incredibly posh city and some of the greatest places to live.  Beyond the palaces of royalty, … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: The Ten Best London’s Stately Homes To Visit

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Tower Hamlets

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The Borough of Tower Hamlets inherited its name from the unit located there that was once obligated to defend the Tower of London.  It was born in 1965 with the creation of the Greater London Council and the merger of Stepney, Poplar, and Bethnal Green.  As a result, Tower Hamlets is a very large borough that covers many important London neighborhoods from Whitechapel to Canary … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Tower Hamlets

A Brief Guide to London’s Lost Rivers

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For many, the River Thames is the only river in London that they know. Except that London has many rivers that centuries ago flowed freely through the first settlements and the early days of the city.  Of course, as London became more built up, many of these rivers were covered over and eventually forgotten. Twenty-one of these tributaries flow into the city, and some still … [Read more...] about A Brief Guide to London’s Lost Rivers

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Kings Cross

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Once known as Battlebridge, the London neighborhood known today as Kings Cross got its name from being a crossing point where the Romans fought the Celtic leader Boudica.  The name changed due to the construction of a monument to King George IV that stood in the crossroads of what is now known as Euston Road, Gray’s Inn Road, and Pentonville Road from 1830 to 1845.  Now mostly … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Kings Cross

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