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
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LONDON TOP FIVE: Our Favorite London Pubs
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
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Geographers’ London A to Z Street Atlas
In the era of smartphones equipped with maps, it’s easy to forget that we once had to rely on street atlases to find where we’re going. While survey maps of London existed long before the 20th Century, it was London: A to Zed from Phyllis Pearsall that really changed everything. With millions of copies printed and sold, the Geographers A to Zed Street Atlas still finds … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Geographers’ London A to Z Street Atlas
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Balham
Balham is a neighborhood in South West London that is old enough to appear in the Domesday Book, where it was listed as Belgeham. It was meadows and farmland for centuries until the expansion of the city engulfed it and turned it into another suburb. Without much history of note, today, Balham offers a lot for people visiting. Those who are into greenspace will want to visit … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Balham
Laura’s London: Special Exhibition Report – Andy Warhol at Tate Modern
A new major exhibition at Tate Modern looks at Andy Warhol from his childhood in Pittsburgh through to his one of his final works. It's a fresh look at the extraordinary life and work of the pop art superstar and offers a rare personal insight into how Warhol and his work marked a period of cultural transformation. Featuring over 100 works, the exhibition shows how this … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Special Exhibition Report – Andy Warhol at Tate Modern
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the London Overground
A complement to the London Underground, the London Overground is the Tube’s lesser-known cousin, a network over commuter trains that rely on above-ground tracks. This is similar to the group of private-owned organizations that make up National Rail, though the Overground is a public service owned by Transport for London and is exclusive to the city. Today, the London … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the London Overground
Florence Nightingale in 200 Objects, People and Places – New Special Exhibition at the Florence Nightingale Museum
Florence Nightingale (12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910) was born in Florence, Italy, to a wealthy British family. In her bicentenary year, London's Florence Nightingale Museum is celebrating the life and legacy of the lesser-known aspects of her life with a special exhibition. The museum tells the story of this deeply religious woman who broke social conventions. Nightingale in … [Read more...] about Florence Nightingale in 200 Objects, People and Places – New Special Exhibition at the Florence Nightingale Museum
London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
While London has many fantastic free museums and galleries there are some that have an admission charge. This list is by no means exhaustive but these are the ‘pay for’ London museums we would like to highlight. We’ve tried to focus on the best museums and have avoided listing common tourist traps. When you have to pay to get into a museum, especially in London where most … [Read more...] about London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
The DLR: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About Docklands Light Railway
Like a little brother to the London Underground, the Docklands Light Rail transportation system was developed following the revitalization of the Docklands in East London. The DLR as it’s known opened in 1987 serving much of Eastern London like its own little Underground. While still under Transport for London, it’s run as a separate light metro rail service, though it does … [Read more...] about The DLR: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About Docklands Light Railway
The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in March
Once March rolls around, the weather starts being a little warmer and friendlier, leading to a number of London festivals and other events throughout the city. Of course, the big event for the month is the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival, but there are plenty of other events you should check out if you’re going to find yourself in London during this time and don’t … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in March
Exhibition Report: David Hockney – Drawing from Life at the National Portrait Gallery
There's a new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery featuring one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century. David Hockney: Drawing from Life is the first major exhibition devoted to David Hockney's drawings in over twenty years. There are around 150 works from public and private collections on display. The exhibition traces the trajectory of his … [Read more...] about Exhibition Report: David Hockney – Drawing from Life at the National Portrait Gallery
Ten Interesting Things to See at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich
Greenwich has been an important place to seafaring and exploration for centuries since the Romans first landed their boats here to King Charles II establishing the Greenwich Observatory for “finding the longitude of places”. Recognizing this long history, the National Maritime Museum was officially established in 1934 in the Royal Greenwich Park, with the building itself … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Things to See at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich
Dark Age London: London After the Romans
While human settlements had existed in the area around London since before written history, it was really the Romans that created the city as we know it today. The Romans founded the city, which they named as Londinium, in 43 AD and remained here until the Roman Army completely withdrew from around 409 AD to help defend the Empire from invaders. What few units were left … [Read more...] about Dark Age London: London After the Romans
The London Fiver – Opening in 2020 – Five New Bars and Restaurants to Visit
So it’s a new year and you might be wondering, “where should we go tonight?” After ticking through a list of bars and restaurants you’ve been to a hundred times already, you could be at a loss. Fear not, for we at Londontopia have looked into this and found some new nightlife spots for you to consider whether you’re a longtime London resident or just visiting. Each of the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Opening in 2020 – Five New Bars and Restaurants to Visit
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Victoria Line
Named for one of the greatest monarchs in British history, the Victoria line is one of the newer additions to the London Underground, if newer can be said to include a line that opened over fifty years ago. Of course, saying that it’s named for Queen Victoria could also be a stretch, since originally the line ran from Victoria station to Walthamstow. Of course, even though … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Victoria Line
Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Hounslow
The London Borough of Hounslow was one of many crafted by the London Government Act 1963 and was a combination of three other government bodies: Brentford and Chiswick, Heston and Isleworth, and the Feltham Urban District. Formerly home to a number of farms and large estates, several of the latter still exist in the borough as house museums and grand parks. Of course, these … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Hounslow
Special Exhibition Report: Viewing the Armada Portraits at Queen’s House in Greenwich – Faces of a Queen and The Woburn Treasures
For the first time ever the three surviving versions of the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I are on display together in the Queen’s House in Greenwich (13 February – 31 August 2020). And a major collaboration with Woburn Abbey means even more significant works from their private art collection are on display in Greenwich too. If you do one special exhibition in Britain this year, … [Read more...] about Special Exhibition Report: Viewing the Armada Portraits at Queen’s House in Greenwich – Faces of a Queen and The Woburn Treasures
Top Ten Things to See and Do at Westminster Abbey
Known formally as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, Westminster Abbey has been at the center of Christian life in London since the 7th Century when the first church was founded on the site. The Abbey got its start when Saint Dustan and King Edgar founded a Benedictine community there around the 960s or 970s. Edward the Confessor then began construction of … [Read more...] about Top Ten Things to See and Do at Westminster Abbey
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Northern Line
Running from Southwest London to Northwest London on a crescent-shaped path, the Northern Line has an interesting history that separates it from the other Underground routes. Whereas most of the other original lines that made up the London Underground were formed out of complete, pre-existing railways when they merged as part of the London Transport Safety Board, the Northern … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Northern Line
Exhibition Report: Meet Vincent van Gogh in London
From 7 February to 21 May 2020, the award-winning Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience is on display on London’s South Bank. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has found a new approach with this touring 3D experience. The museum's collection is quite small and vulnerable so this idea makes art accessible to a wider audience. It's an interactive and multi-sensory experience that … [Read more...] about Exhibition Report: Meet Vincent van Gogh in London
The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in February
Past the winter wonderland of the holidays and not yet into the warmth of Spring, London sees a number of events in February that get people out into the streets and into its venues. Several festivals take place during the month along with a couple of major events that provide just about anyone something fun to do. Whether you’re into cars, art, sport, or food and drink, … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Things to Do in London in February
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly Line is one of the most popular in the London, owing largely to the facts that most of the city’s greatest monuments fall along its route including the British Museum, Hyde Park, and Buckingham Palace. Running from Cockfosters, it spits towards its western terminus with one line going to Uxbridge and the other to Heathrow Airport, which helps to make it the … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Piccadilly Line
Laura’s London: Exploring Lambeth Palace Library
Lambeth Palace Library has been kept within Lambeth Palace for 400 years, but things are changing as a new Library is currently under construction. ABOUT LAMBETH PALACE Across the river Thames from the Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster), Lambeth Palace is a working palace and for over 800 years has been the Archbishop of Canterbury's residence. In 1197 land was … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Exploring Lambeth Palace Library
LONDON TOP FIVE: Trendy Chain Restaurants To Try On Your Next Trip to London
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
The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts About the Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan Line (or “Met” as it’s known) is the oldest line on the London Underground. It was founded in 1863 as the Metropolitan Railway and ran from Paddington to Farrington Street, mostly running goods as well as people. It expanded further shortly after it opened and today runs from Aldgate all the way out to Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. In all that time, the … [Read more...] about The Tube: Ten Interesting Facts About the Metropolitan Line
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!
