jonathan

About jonathan

Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.

The Tate Britain Gets a Colorful Winter Makeover With Annual Art Installation

Nov 19, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

The last few years the Tate Britain has commissioned a colorful light-based art project to adorn the front of the building. The results have been both controversial and beautiful. This year, a year where most of us can't even see it in person, Tate has unveiled the latest Winter Commission, which takes inspiration from Bollywood and many other sources. It's beautiful when … [Read more...] about The Tate Britain Gets a Colorful Winter Makeover With Annual Art Installation

We’re Discontinuing Website Notifications in January, Please Download Our Free App To Continue With Them

Nov 7, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

An important short housekeeping post. For a couple of years now, we've had a service called OneSignal that sends website users 'push notifications' whenever a new article was posted on Anglotopia and Londontopia. We're discontinuing this service starting January 1st, 2021, for various reasons: Few people actually want them They're annoying Users hate them And … [Read more...] about We’re Discontinuing Website Notifications in January, Please Download Our Free App To Continue With Them

Through the Lens: Behind the Scenes of London’s (Closed) Theatres From New London Theatres Book

Nov 5, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

London photographer Peter Dazeley's beautiful photos of London's Theatres were released in a book a few years ago and as a fan of London, architecture and pretty pictures, I loved the book. Well, this year, the publisher has issued a new edition, with ten additional theatres included. Peter has contacted us and offered to let us share a selection of the pictures from this … [Read more...] about Through the Lens: Behind the Scenes of London’s (Closed) Theatres From New London Theatres Book

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Oct 25, 2020 By jonathan 3 Comments

I don’t normally post about other social media influencers but this one is so amazing, I had to share (and the creator said it was all right if I did). So, we’re all missing London a lot right now. It’s going to be a LONG time until those of us outside the UK are going to be able to go to London. Well into 2021 at least (we’re hoping to go October 2021 at this point). But … [Read more...] about Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Londontopia Announcement: Introducing The New Full-Color 101 London Travel Tips 2nd Edition

Oct 1, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

Today we’re coming out with a new guidebook. We’ve spent the last few months retooling our guidebook 101 London Travel Tips. We’ve given it a new look, higher-quality printing, added color photos and overall updated all the writing to be relevant to today. Today it’s available to buy from us or from bookstores everywhere. This book is an important milestone in a new direction … [Read more...] about Londontopia Announcement: Introducing The New Full-Color 101 London Travel Tips 2nd Edition

Come Discuss London in the New Anglotopia Discussion Forum!

Aug 29, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

We have launched a new British topic discussion forum! It's something we should have done long ago, tried in the past, but failed at. It's time to try again. We've been in beta now for a couple of months, and it's now ready to share with everyone. Thank you to all the beta testers who helped us iron out the kinks and get the conversation going. This is one of many new … [Read more...] about Come Discuss London in the New Anglotopia Discussion Forum!

Interactive Doctor Who Experience Coming to London – Advance Booking Opens Soon

Aug 18, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

This showed up in the inbox today and will delight Doctor Who fans who have been hungry for a Doctor Who themed attraction since the exhibition in Cardiff closed a few years ago. Though, I'm really surprised anything this far in advance has been announced when no one really knows what travel will look like in 2021. Still, it sounds fun. Might be worth booking anyway, even if … [Read more...] about Interactive Doctor Who Experience Coming to London – Advance Booking Opens Soon

A Changing Heathrow: My Personal Relationship With the Gateway to Britain

Apr 13, 2020 By jonathan 4 Comments

When I first arrived at Heathrow Airport on my first trip to Britain in 2001, I was not impressed. The airport was over capacity even then, and our plane arrived late, so we had no gate for the plane to park at. We parked out on the tarmac, far away from the terminal. We had to queue for a bus, which then took us on a circuitous route to the terminal. While parking on the … [Read more...] about A Changing Heathrow: My Personal Relationship With the Gateway to Britain

Scenes from the Tube: A London Photo Essay

Apr 7, 2020 By jonathan 2 Comments

I am in love with The Tube. It's a magical thing, this network of underground (and overground) trains that can take you anywhere in London. London is a city that grew organically, chaotically, yet the Tube gives the city an order that is entirely unexpected. Just looking at the Tube map evokes a romance for London - the names of all the distant places on the Tube map are … [Read more...] about Scenes from the Tube: A London Photo Essay

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

Apr 3, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

This video is breathtaking. Jason Hawkes, the renowned aerial photographer has shared this beautiful video of London from above, showing off his amazing skills. It captures London in the most perfect light. It makes me miss it so much it hurts. We'll all get to go back soon enough... Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxqVA8vMLnI Check out some of his amazing … [Read more...] about Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

LONDON TOP FIVE: Our Favorite London Pubs

Apr 2, 2020 By jonathan 1 Comment

Over the years we’ve had the pleasure of visiting many pubs all across London. Some have been terrible. Some have been wonderful. Here’s a list of five of favorites that we go back to again and again. The Mayflower - Rotherhithe The Mayflower tries to claim the title of the oldest pub on the Thames (the history is murky). This pub was founded in 1550 as The Shippe and is … [Read more...] about LONDON TOP FIVE: Our Favorite London Pubs

LONDON TOP FIVE: Trendy Chain Restaurants To Try On Your Next Trip to London

Jan 23, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

American style chains proliferated in London in the ’90s and ’00s, but as tourists have developed a more refined palate for good dining while traveling, the restaurant market in London has provided a series of innovative new trendy chain restaurants that focus on specific cuisine and do it well. Here are our favorites. Flat Iron - Flat Iron is a restaurant concept that focuses … [Read more...] about LONDON TOP FIVE: Trendy Chain Restaurants To Try On Your Next Trip to London

LONDON TOP FIVE: Our Personal Favorite Bookstores in London – What’s Your Favorite?

Jan 16, 2020 By jonathan 2 Comments

I love books. I love London. London has the best bookshops in the world. Here’s my roundup of my top five favorites. We’ve made a note of which ones will be happy to send your book finds back home, so you don’t have to worry about cramming everything back into your suitcase! Hatchards -The word I would use to describe Hatchards is Stately. It’s the oldest bookstore in Britain … [Read more...] about LONDON TOP FIVE: Our Personal Favorite Bookstores in London – What’s Your Favorite?

The Temple of Mithras: London’s New Roman Museum in the New Bloomberg London HQ

Jan 2, 2020 By jonathan 2 Comments

New museums open in London every year - it’s a consequence of being such a history-rich city. Last year, London got a new museum dedicated to its Roman History. The new London Mithraeum is a triumph of heritage preservation and multimedia presentation and shows that as London grows and digs into its distant past, there are still wonderful discoveries to be made and shared with … [Read more...] about The Temple of Mithras: London’s New Roman Museum in the New Bloomberg London HQ

London Alert: Black Friday Sale is ON – Big Discounts On Everything We Have In Stock!

Nov 29, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

The Anglotopia Store Black Friday Sale is ON! We're offering discounts on pretty much everything we have in stock. No coupon codes are needed, discount reflected in the price. Discounts on puzzles, maps, Tube gear, back issues, magnets, gift wrap, Christmas Cards and more! You can browse the entire sale here and when everything is gone, it's gone until next year. The sale ends … [Read more...] about London Alert: Black Friday Sale is ON – Big Discounts On Everything We Have In Stock!

Hidden London Announces New Tour: London Moorgate Disused Station Tour

Nov 15, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

The Hidden London tours run by the London Transport Museum are some of my favorite special tours to go on in London. We've been on several over the years, as has our London correspondent Laura Porter. Tickets will go on sale very soon for their next roster of tours, and this time around they have added a new one - an exploration of the Moorgate Disused Station. Details from … [Read more...] about Hidden London Announces New Tour: London Moorgate Disused Station Tour

London Alert: The National Portrait Gallery to Close for Three Years for Major Refurbishment

Nov 7, 2019 By jonathan 1 Comment

The National Portrait Gallery is often lost in the museum shuffle in London, mostly because it's located behind the National Gallery, so it's often an afterthought for tourists. And frankly, if you're walking from Trafalgar Square to Leicester Square or Covent Garden, it's easy to walk right past it and not know that it's there. They aim to change that with a major renovation … [Read more...] about London Alert: The National Portrait Gallery to Close for Three Years for Major Refurbishment

London Alert: Order Your London Tube Lights For Christmas – Limited Stock Coming!

Oct 4, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

We've gotten word from our supplier that we'll be able to make one more order between now and Christmas. We'll be getting 100 mini-Tube lights and 25 large Tube Lights in early December. We're opening orders NOW. If you want to give the perfect gift for the London lover in your life - you need to order as soon as possible. We will not be able to get more than this before … [Read more...] about London Alert: Order Your London Tube Lights For Christmas – Limited Stock Coming!

Fun Graphic Explains the Linguistic Origins of All of London’s Boroughs

Aug 15, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

A Reddit user has made a lovely graphic that explains the origins of the names of all of London's Borough. It's very fascinating history! Which one is your favorite? Check it out for your self (click for a larger version): Source. … [Read more...] about Fun Graphic Explains the Linguistic Origins of All of London’s Boroughs

First Look at the Proposed Designs for the new Museum of London

Jul 16, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

The Museum of London is moving in a few years, in a deal that has long been in the works. They're moving to the abandoned Smithfield Market, which has been derelict for a few years. It's going to be an amazing project that will transform an iconic London landmark and save it from demolition. As they begin the planning application process to get approval for the new museum, the … [Read more...] about First Look at the Proposed Designs for the new Museum of London

Heathrow Airport Unveils Master Plan for Third Runway – Standby for Pretty Pictures

Jul 15, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

Heathrow is getting a third runway whether anyone likes it or not. It's been a long, drawn-out process but it's the policy of the current British government that a third runway at Heathrow be permitted. As Heathrow Airport, which is now privately owned and desperately wants the new runway to increase capacity, begins the massive consultation process needed to get it approved, … [Read more...] about Heathrow Airport Unveils Master Plan for Third Runway – Standby for Pretty Pictures

London Alert: Tube Light is Back and Introducing the NEW Smaller Version

Jul 10, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

Big news! The most popular product we've ever offered - the LED Tube Light is back and we're excited to introduce a smaller version! If you felt the original Tube light was too large, then the mini-Tube light is for you. It's more suitable for bookshelves and desktops. It's powered by 2 AA batteries or the included USB Cable. The Mini Tube Light includes 3 signs - Underground, … [Read more...] about London Alert: Tube Light is Back and Introducing the NEW Smaller Version

Ian McKellen’s One-Man Show Comes to the West End for One Man Show from September

Jun 17, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

Ian McKellen has been touring Britain, doing a one-man show based on his career, raising money for charity in celebration of his 80th birthday. The show sold out and he's been wowing crowds all over Britain. Now, news has come in that he will continue to the show with an extended run in the West End at the Harold Pinter Theatre starting September 20th. It will continue until … [Read more...] about Ian McKellen’s One-Man Show Comes to the West End for One Man Show from September

Guest Post: London’s Top 7 Lost Street Names

Jun 6, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

Editor's Note: The following is a guest post from Evan Evans Tours in London. The history of London is long, complicated and steeped in mystery. Fortunately for us, there are clues to the truth of it woven into the very fabric of its streets. When you take a walk through London, you’re contributing to the story of a city that has been thousands of years in the making. We’re … [Read more...] about Guest Post: London’s Top 7 Lost Street Names

London Alert: St Paul’s Cathedral Has Lifted Its Ban on Photography (with come caveats)!

Jun 3, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

Great news for photographers and visitors to St Paul's Cathedral in London. They have ended their ban on photography within the cathedral. This is wonderful news. Many people flouted the ban anyway (and if you did, you would get a telling off, as I did 15 years ago). Now, the Cathedral has decided to let everyone take pictures of this truly wonderful architectural jewel. They … [Read more...] about London Alert: St Paul’s Cathedral Has Lifted Its Ban on Photography (with come caveats)!