London certainly feels like the center of the universe at times, which also extends to music. Rock, pop, rap, and more have all gotten their start in Britain’s capital. We already covered groups such as the Rolling Stones and the Spice Girls in a previous article, so now we turn our attention to five other bands that started their domination of the charts in London. Punk, … [Read more...] about The London Fiver: Five More Bands Founded in London
Blog
Exploring the fascinating history of St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street – The Journalists’ Church
St Bride's Church on Fleet Street is a Christopher Wren church built after the Great Fire of London. It's the journalists' church, and the spire is the original inspiration for tiered wedding cakes. It is a City of London working parish church and welcomes visitors as a heritage attraction too. While open most days, it took Open House London to remind me that this would be a … [Read more...] about Exploring the fascinating history of St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street – The Journalists’ Church
Princess Diana honored with blue plaque at her former London flat
Diana, Princess of Wales, has been honored with a blue plaque at her former London flat. The princess lived at 60 Coleherne Court, a property in a mansion block close to the fashionable King’s Road in Chelsea when she settled in the capital as a young woman before marrying the Prince of Wales in 1981. She shared the flat with a number of girlfriends from 1979 to 1981, … [Read more...] about Princess Diana honored with blue plaque at her former London flat
Ten Interesting Facts about Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms
The Cabinet War Rooms, also known as the Churchill War Rooms, is part of the Imperial War Museums and served as the British government’s headquarters during World War II. Churchill’s government-held 115 cabinet meetings in the Central War Room, which also included a dormitory for staff, private bedrooms for important government officials and military officers, and a … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms
The London Film Fiver – Five Animated Films That Take Place in London
Animated movies are filled with wonder when you're a child and can provide a real escape as an adult. These amazing adventures can take place all over the world, and plenty of them take place right in the middle of London. In the past, we've covered such films as 101 Dalmatians and Flushed Away for all kinds of children's films based in the city; today, we're going to reach … [Read more...] about The London Film Fiver – Five Animated Films That Take Place in London
London History: Ten Important London Events of the 1930s
The 1930s were a trying time for London from the onset of the Great Depression to the early days of World War II. However, from 1931 to 1940, there were moments of positive change for the city amidst its more trying moments. Throughout ten years, London saw the first notes of new musical performances, better public transport, the emergence of a greener city, and a new … [Read more...] about London History: Ten Important London Events of the 1930s
Exploring London’s Freud Museum and a Fascinating New Exhibition – Code Name Mary
Along an unassuming residential street in the north London suburbs, there's a house whose famous 1930s resident is still a household name. The Freud Museum in Hampstead was where the father of psychoanalysis lived with his family when he fled Nazi persecution. The Jewish neurologist lived and worked for the majority of his career in Vienna. But he spent his final year in … [Read more...] about Exploring London’s Freud Museum and a Fascinating New Exhibition – Code Name Mary
London Underground Northern Line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea opens to great fanfare
London Underground’s first major line expansion this century has opened (discounting a new station at Heathrow in 2008). Two new Northern line stations opened in south London following a £1.1 billion project. The first train on the new route departed from Battersea Power Station at 5.28 am. The ticket hall at Nine Elms station (TfL/PA) It called at the other new … [Read more...] about London Underground Northern Line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea opens to great fanfare
London Alert: 101 UK Culture Tips: A Field Guide to British Culture is now officially published
Anglotopia has a new book out, and I think it’s going to become one of our cornerstone titles. We originally launched pre-orders for this back in March during the Save Anglotopia Appeal, and the publishing process delayed the release a little bit. But I’m happy to report that the book is now on its way to everyone who ordered back in the spring. Again, we would like to thank … [Read more...] about London Alert: 101 UK Culture Tips: A Field Guide to British Culture is now officially published
The Tube: New stations added to Tube map in major network expansion to Battersea Power Station
Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled a new Tube map showing the first major expansion of the network this century. The map features the two new stations making up the Northern line extension in south London. Trains will begin serving Nine Elms, and Battersea Power Station from around 5.30 am on Monday. The ticket hall at Nine Elms station (TfL/PA) It is the … [Read more...] about The Tube: New stations added to Tube map in major network expansion to Battersea Power Station
Open House London: Exploring The Old Deanery – City of London
The Old Deanery is a Grade I seventeenth-century mansion house close to the West Front of St Paul’s Cathedral. Set back with its own courtyard, it is among a small handful of surviving secular buildings erected in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1666. It is the office of the Bishop of London and recently underwent restoration. It's not somewhere we could usually see inside, … [Read more...] about Open House London: Exploring The Old Deanery – City of London
The London Fiver – Five Ted Lasso Filming Locations
Certainly, one of the bright spots during the pandemic, Apple TV’s Ted Lasso is a show that has filled its viewers with positivity when it was needed most. Starring Jason Sudeikis as the titular character, Lasso is an American college football coach who is hired to manage British football club AFC Richmond. While the new owner hopes to run her ex-husband’s beloved team into … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Ted Lasso Filming Locations
London History: Ten Important Events of the 1920s
In the aftermath of The Great War, London saw a number of changes that helped to change it permanently. Today we might take for granted the many aspects of the city that were added between 1921 and 1930. We also forget about the hardships that were endured as well, with the Depression kicking off towards the end of the decade. From taxation revolts to iconic landmarks, we’ve … [Read more...] about London History: Ten Important Events of the 1920s
Open House London: Exploring Temple Church in the City of London – Built by the Knights Templar
I have meant to visit the Temple Church for years, so I was grateful for the encouragement when it was included in the annual Open House London. Regularly cited as a 'hidden gem,' this City of London church actually does fit the bill. It's certainly challenging to find and is a delight once discovered. The church sits between Fleet Street and the River Thames, within the … [Read more...] about Open House London: Exploring Temple Church in the City of London – Built by the Knights Templar
Ten Interesting Facts about Admiralty House
Admiralty House is part of the larger Whitehall government complex and has long had an association with the power of the United Kingdom government. Once the home to the First Lord of the Admiralty, today it serves as an event location and residential flats, but its history is more than being a place to live or hold a party. This remarkable 18th Century building has plenty of … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about Admiralty House
Big Ben/Elizabeth Clock Tower refurbishment shows off original blue color scheme as the scaffolding begins to come down
The £80 million makeover of Big Ben is beginning to be unveiled as scaffolding continues to be removed from the national landmark. Pictures show the painstaking level of detail that has gone into the five-year refurbishment, which is due to wrap up next year, of the famous bell and Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower, in which it is housed. Those passing over Westminster Bridge … [Read more...] about Big Ben/Elizabeth Clock Tower refurbishment shows off original blue color scheme as the scaffolding begins to come down
Thriving seal population shows River Thames is ‘full of life’ again
The Thames’ healthy seal population is proof the river is teeming with life, conservationists have said, despite a dip in numbers over the past two years. A team of researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) found the river was home to 2,866 grey seals and 797 harbor seals following the most recent pupping season. Apart from 2020, when the … [Read more...] about Thriving seal population shows River Thames is ‘full of life’ again
London street and railway sign collection goes up for rare auction
More than 400 distinctive railway and street signs from two collections are expected to sell for thousands of pounds when they go under the hammer. The JS Collection of Railwayana was one man’s lifelong passion and focuses on rare signs from the earlier part of the 20th century. Comprising 200 lots, the collection ranges from a large tube station platform sign which shows … [Read more...] about London street and railway sign collection goes up for rare auction
Tube News: Opening date revealed for major expansion of Tube network on the Northern Line
The first major expansion of the London Underground this century will open later this month. Tube trains will begin serving Battersea in south London on September 20, Transport for London (TfL) announced. The £1.2 billion extension of the Northern line features two new stations – Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station – which will be within 15 minutes of the West End and … [Read more...] about Tube News: Opening date revealed for major expansion of Tube network on the Northern Line
Laura’s London: Exploring London’s Museum of Brands
The Museum of Brands in Notting Hill features the evolution of packaging design and brands with thousands of items on display. So many of the household items we all have in our cupboards are included in the huge glass cabinets. If you're ready for a nostalgia-filled hour, then this is the place to visit. About The Museum of Brands There's one man behind this obsessive … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Exploring London’s Museum of Brands
London’s Natural History Museum new photo exhibition to highlight a ‘planet under pressure’
A blood-spattered lioness, a gecko wrestling for its life in the grip of a snake, and a slick of dead and dying herrings are among the photographs submitted to a prestigious exhibition. The Natural History Museum has released a selection of the highly commended images for its Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which show a “planet under pressure”. Among the … [Read more...] about London’s Natural History Museum new photo exhibition to highlight a ‘planet under pressure’
Notting Hill Carnival boss ‘confident’ of 2022 return
The decision to take the Notting Hill Carnival off the streets for the second year running has affected the “hearts and minds” of those who love the event, its organizer has said. Matthew Phillip, executive director of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said canceling Europe’s biggest street party has hit those involved hard – but he is “confident” it will return next year. The … [Read more...] about Notting Hill Carnival boss ‘confident’ of 2022 return
Tube travel now at 50% of pre-pandemic levels
London Underground usage is regularly reaching at least half of pre-pandemic levels, Transport for London (TfL) said. Demand for the Tube on weekdays is often at 50% of what it was before the coronavirus crisis, and is hitting more than 60% at weekends. This is up from about 40% across the entire week in early May. An average of more than 1.8 million … [Read more...] about Tube travel now at 50% of pre-pandemic levels
The London Fiver – Five War Museums to Visit in London
Over the course of the centuries, the country has often called on its men and women to go to war to defend its ideals. In the last century, we’ve seen a greater recognition for the toll it takes and an appreciation for those who answered the call through monuments and museums. London’s war and military museums dedicate themselves to honoring all who served and remembering the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five War Museums to Visit in London
Gatwick Airport still planning to bring emergency runway into routine use, increasing capacity
Gatwick is pressing ahead with its plan to bring its emergency runway into regular use despite the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The UK’s second busiest airport said the work could be completed by 2029 and will align with the Government’s policy of “making best use of existing runways.” It also claimed it would be delivered in a “sustainable way … [Read more...] about Gatwick Airport still planning to bring emergency runway into routine use, increasing capacity
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!