The mad shopping season of Christmas is upon us. As we venture out of our homes, we brave crowded streets and shopping centers in search of those items that will tell our friends and family how much we love them. London is a shopper’s paradise throughout the year, but things turn up a notch after Halloween ends. The Christmas decorations go up on the high streets, the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Places for Christmas Shopping On Your Holiday Visits to London
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London Alert: The National Portrait Gallery to Close for Three Years for Major Refurbishment
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
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Merton, London
The Borough of Merton is a more recent creation, born out of the historic parishes of Wimbledon, Merdon, Mitcham, and Merton by the London Government Act of 1963. For centuries, each parish had been part of Surrey, and like much of Greater London, industrialization brought a population and economic boom that saw the future borough swallowed up by the ever-expanding city. … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Merton, London
The History of Jim Henson and the Muppets in London
Jim Henson and the Muppets have long had a history with London. Well before they crossed the Atlantic Ocean, however, the Muppets were a creation of Jim Henson originating in 1955 with Kermit the Frog. For much of the 50s and into the 1960s, Henson’s Muppets (a portmanteau of “marionettes” and “puppets”) featured in late-night talk shows and commercials. It was the advent of … [Read more...] about The History of Jim Henson and the Muppets in London
The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in November
Things certainly start getting colder in London during November, but the city is still smoking hot with events all month long. From Diwali on the Square to the Lord Mayor’s Show, there are plenty of major things happening, but that’s not all. Food, art, and automobiles are also on tap for this month, and we’ve outlined five cool events going on during November that you should … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in November
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Barking & Dagenham
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, like other modern London boroughs, was born out of the London Government Act of 1963. It was formed from the Municipal Boroughs of Barking and a large part of the Municipal Borough of Dagenham. Following World War I and World War II, the borough became increasingly residential as housing projects exploded for returning soldiers. As … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Barking & Dagenham
The Thames Barrier – A Brief History – Protecting London From the Sea
Like giant conk shells rising out of the water, the Thames Barrier sits just east of Canary Wharf and provides an important service for the city. The barrier was designed and built to keep parts of Greater London from flooding in the case of storm surges or incredibly high tides coming from the North Sea. It is an incredible feat of modern engineering that’s functions and … [Read more...] about The Thames Barrier – A Brief History – Protecting London From the Sea
The Brit Film Fiver – Five Scary London Horror Films To Watch This October
Awooooooooo! Werewolves of London! Of course, the werewolves aren’t the only monsters haunting the city’s streets in horror films. London has seen itself preyed upon by all manner of creatures in cinema including werewolves, mummies, aliens, murderous fiends, and the devil himself. Plenty of films made have used London as a backdrop and provide any Londonphile with … [Read more...] about The Brit Film Fiver – Five Scary London Horror Films To Watch This October
The London Fiver – Five of the Most Unusual London Restaurants
Food’s great, but sometimes you need a little ambience. In a city such as London, the atmosphere in a restaurant can range from the traditional to the eclectic and plenty of restaurants offer their own unique experience along with a great menu. Looking at London’s more colorful restaurants, you can find places where performances are happening all around you, you can dine like … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Most Unusual London Restaurants
Exhibition Report: The New Hidden London Exhibition at the London Transport Museum
I'm fortunate to have been on all of the London Transport Museum 'Hidden London' tours of disused stations and tunnels but not everyone has had that opportunity. The tours are only available on certain dates (not all year round), and the (sometimes) long climbs may have put you off. Some say the tours are expensive (I think they are exceptional value) and also, children can't … [Read more...] about Exhibition Report: The New Hidden London Exhibition at the London Transport Museum
London Alert: Order Your London Tube Lights For Christmas – Limited Stock Coming!
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!
The Hexing of London – The City’s History of Witches
Around Halloween time, it’s likely to see many witches running around the streets of London, usually just in fancy dress. However, this modern-day bit of fun belies the city’s grim history persecuting women for witchcraft and publicly executing them on the flimsiest of evidence. Superstition against witches had long existed in England, but the Church decried such belief as … [Read more...] about The Hexing of London – The City’s History of Witches
The Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in October
The spookiest month of the year is upon us and that brings with it a number of Halloween and fall-related events to Greater London. However, if you don’t feel up for the festivities, you can get into costume for other reasons, experience art and literature, or celebrate other cultures. We’ve found five different activities going on in London during the month of October that … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in October
Top Ten London: Top 10 London Street Markets
Perhaps one of the greatest things about a city like London is the number of street markets all over the city. Each borough seems to have its own commercial thoroughfare that’s filled with produce, street food, vintage clothes, antiques, and more. Whether you intend to buy anything or not, you can spend a wonderful afternoon perusing the stalls and shops of London’s street … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 London Street Markets
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Enfield
Enfield is one of London’s boroughs that was named in the Domesday Book, where it was listed as Enefelde in 1086. Since that time, it was home to a palace lived in by King Edward VI and his sister, then the Princess Elizabeth (years before she would become Elizabeth I). Enfield grew with the Industrial Revolution, as much of London did, and today is one of the many outlying … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Enfield
Exploring London Mercantile History at the Lloyd’s Register Building
While you may have seen the Lloyd's of London building in the City of London designed by Richard Rogers, do you know about the Collcutt building? As part of Heritage Open Days, I went to visit the Lloyd's Register building on Fenchurch Street. Designed by Thomas Collcutt, this late-Victorian office opened in 1901 as a statement building and a sign of prosperity. Lloyd's … [Read more...] about Exploring London Mercantile History at the Lloyd’s Register Building
Top Ten Works of Art to See at the Tate Britain
The Tate Britain is the flagship of the Tate museum group and has been a fixture in British art since it opened in 1897. Its collection is full of art from throughout the United Kingdom going back to the Tudor era and includes some of the country’s biggest names from J.M.W. Turner to William Blake. With so many works over such a long span of time, there are plenty of … [Read more...] about Top Ten Works of Art to See at the Tate Britain
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Waltham Forest
One of the northernmost boroughs of Greater London, Waltham Forest formed in 1965 from the merger of Leyton, Walthamstow, and Chingford. Like much of Greater London, the area that is now Waltham Forest was mostly undeveloped until the Victorian period, but now is a thriving part of the city which offers plenty of things to do and places to see. We’ve outlined ten of our … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Waltham Forest
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sweet Shops To Visit On Your Next Trip (Don’t Tell Your Dentist!)
Besides the costumes, one of the top reasons to celebrate Halloween are the sweets that flow freely around the holiday. London certainly has its share of candy shops, from stores selling classic treats to chefs with confectioneries of their own making. No matter what kind of candy you want, you should be able to find it in London, and we’ve outlined five different candy shops … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sweet Shops To Visit On Your Next Trip (Don’t Tell Your Dentist!)
The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in September
As we move fully into Autumn, London ramps up its events, with festivals, live art, concerts, plays, and more. In the past, we’ve covered events such as the Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival, the Totally Thames Festival, and the Underbelly Festival that all go on during this month. Well, we’ve brought you five new events that you may not have known about until now. … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in September
A Brief Guide to Swinging London – What Was It?
Yeah, baby! London was a happening place in the 1960s where music, fashion, and counter-culture attitudes came together. Whereas London culture since World War II had been more conservative, young people of 60s London rebelled in nearly every way possible, pushing the limits in mind-bending ways. It seemed perfectly natural that the stereotypical “stiff upper lip” would … [Read more...] about A Brief Guide to Swinging London – What Was It?
Top Ten Things to Do in Kensington
Perhaps one of the most (if not the most) affluent areas of London, Kensington is part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. As befitting its title, Kensington is home to some of the city’s most expensive real estate as well as many of its biggest tourist attractions. Whether you’re looking for some high-end shopping or to spend time with the wealthiest museum … [Read more...] about Top Ten Things to Do in Kensington
Fun Graphic Explains the Linguistic Origins of All of London’s Boroughs
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
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Wandsworth
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
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
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!
