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The London Fiver – Five Bands from London – The London Invasion

Aug 6, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

London has been a happening place for music for decades. When Blues, R&B, and Rock n’ Roll crossed the Atlantic from the United States, it caught on like fire. Eventually, Britain returned the favor by sending back The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and many many more. While The Beatles originated in Liverpool, of course, London has been the epicenter of many a great … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Bands from London – The London Invasion

The London Fiver – Five Great Places to Go Running in London

Aug 4, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Getting some exercise while you’re away from home can be difficult, but London has plenty of places to go for a run. Whether you want to hit a trail or take in the scenery, the city offers miles of track that will not only give you a good workout but help you to see more of London’s most beautiful places. No matter if you want to go for a short run or take a more scenic … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Great Places to Go Running in London

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

Jul 29, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Part of the London Borough of Hackney, Haggerston is part of the East End. The area has had a long history with London going back to before the Norman Invasion. The Domesday book recorded the name as Hergotestane, suggesting it had been settled by the Vikings. Once home to notorious criminals the Kray Twins, the rea is quite cosmopolitan today, featuring lovely parks, … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston

Blue Skies – The Fascinating History of London Air Pollution

Jul 27, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Like most cities, London has had its share of air quality problems over the centuries. Most people would think that air pollution in this part of the UK would be only a couple hundred years old, but London’s history with keeping the air clean goes back much further than that. Arguably the first-ever clean air legislation was the direct result of King Edward I banned the … [Read more...] about Blue Skies – The Fascinating History of London Air Pollution

The London Fiver – Five Video Games Based in London

Jul 23, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

With so many consoles to choose from today as well as the great advantages of PC, there are plenty of ways to enjoy great video games. What’s even better, if you love London, many games take place in the heart of the UK’s capital or a place based on it. We’ve identified five different games below from over the years that were a ton of fun. Let us know your own favorite … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Video Games Based in London

The London Fiver – Five Virtual London Museum Tours You Can Take Now From Home

Jul 21, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

So quarantine has got you stuck indoors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit London’s museums anyway. During this time, some of London’s greatest repositories of history and art have used their talents to create online portals so that visitors can still enjoy them from the comfort of home. Even when traveling to London becomes an option but you can’t make it, you can … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Virtual London Museum Tours You Can Take Now From Home

How London Became the United Kingdom’s Capital

Jul 16, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Long one of the greatest cities in the world; London is the official capital of the United Kingdom, but this was not always the case. In times before there was even a country named England, there was no formal capital as the island of Great Britain was populated by settlements of Celts, Picts, and Gaels without the commonality of a nation. This began to change with the coming … [Read more...] about How London Became the United Kingdom’s Capital

The London Fiver – Five More London-Born Dishes

Jul 16, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Sure, we’ve covered foods invented in London before, but did you know there’s even more where the likes of wedding cakes, Earl Grey tea, and Scotch eggs came from? Some are more recent inventions while others stretch back centuries. You can have just about any of these today in some of the most exclusive restaurants or mom-and-pop eateries. Each of the five foods below is a … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five More London-Born Dishes

London’s Piazza: A History of Covent Garden – From Market to Tourist Mecca

Jul 9, 2020 By Laura Porter 1 Comment

Covent Garden is popular with both locals and visitors but it wasn't always the way. The area was home to aristocracy before it became a centre of commerce. And while it is a cool hangout today, there was a time when you wouldn't want to stop here day or night. The elegant piazza and market with street cobbles and the arched market buildings hint at the rich heritage. From … [Read more...] about London’s Piazza: A History of Covent Garden – From Market to Tourist Mecca

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

Jul 8, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

The Borough of Haringey is caught in the middle between Inner London and Outer London and often stated to belong to one or the other. Over its history, it’s been home to the Celts, the Romans, the Saxons, and more. As with London’s other boroughs, it was formed in 1965 with the formation of Greater London. Today it’s home to some of London’s most famous buildings, beautiful … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey

Out of Austerity: The Festival of Britain 1951 – A History and Examination

Jul 2, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

The 1951 Festival of Britain was a post-war state-sponsored exhibition. At the time, rationing continued and austerity gripped the nation. London was shabby, rundown and gloomy so this bright and playful spectacular was a 'tonic for the nation' to promote the feeling of recovery. The city was scarred with bombsites and buildings hadn't been painted for ten years so the Festival … [Read more...] about Out of Austerity: The Festival of Britain 1951 – A History and Examination

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

Jun 30, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Redbridge is one of the most northeastern boroughs in Greater London, and like many of the outer boroughs, for years it was mostly farmland and manor estates before the city’s growth from the 17th Century-onwards turned it into a suburb. While a mostly quiet part of the city, Redbridge is quite well known for its parks and sporting facilities, offering its residents pretty of … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge

All Roads Lead to Nelson: The History of London’s Roads

Jun 26, 2020 By John Rabon 1 Comment

Prior to the arrival of the Romans, there were no real roads in London or the United Kingdom; in fact, there wasn’t even a London. The Romans founded the city in 43 AD, and as was usual for their expansion of the Empire, they brought roads with them. Being the center of Roman Britain, roads began in London and stretched out to the remainder of Great Britain, facilitating the … [Read more...] about All Roads Lead to Nelson: The History of London’s Roads

City of London Postman’s Park – London’s Special Memorial to Everyday Heroes

Jun 25, 2020 By Laura Porter 1 Comment

The City of London has over 150 open spaces from city gardens to pocket parks. Many are former graveyards, and Postman's Park fits that category. It is a shady garden with plenty of benches to stop with your takeaway lunch and enjoy the calm away from the City streets. It's also a pleasant cut-through from King Edward Street to St Martin' s-le-Grand, close to the Museum of … [Read more...] about City of London Postman’s Park – London’s Special Memorial to Everyday Heroes

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

Jun 24, 2020 By John Rabon 1 Comment

One of the outermost boroughs of London, Hillingdon was formed in 1965 out of Middlesex County boroughs such as Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, and Yiewsley and West Drayton. In many ways, Hillingdon serves as a gateway to London thanks to being the borough of Heathrow Airport. Even with the planes overhead, it’s a pretty peaceful area full of large … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon

London History: The East End Match Girls’ Strike of 1888

Jun 18, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

In nineteenth-century London, labour was cheap and expendable. The Industrial Revolution brought millions of people from the country to the cities as agricultural mechanisation took away their jobs. With so many wanting (and needing) a job, there was little incentive for industrialists to treat their workforce well. At this time, London's East End was notorious as a place of … [Read more...] about London History: The East End Match Girls’ Strike of 1888

Another London Mapping Wonder: Taking a Close Look at MacDonald Gill’s 1914 London Wonderground Map

Jun 11, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

Do you remember the days when we stood waiting for a train before we had mobile phones to distract us? Some read the paper and some simply stared into space daydreaming and avoiding eye contact with any strangers. Back in the early twentieth century, Frank Pick from the London Underground had the idea to commission a detailed illustrative map for passengers on platforms to … [Read more...] about Another London Mapping Wonder: Taking a Close Look at MacDonald Gill’s 1914 London Wonderground Map

Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Jun 5, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

A residential area of London since the early 19th Century, Canonbury can be a bit hard to define. It’s never had its own council or other administrative unit, but just about always folded into Islington. With that in mind, you might think it would be hard to find something to do in this neighborhood, but there’s always something to see in any part of London. As a residential … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

A London Mapping Wonder: A Guide to the London Theatreland Map of 1915

Jun 4, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

Back in 2015, I redecorated my dining room to include a feature wall section with a London Theatreland map from 1915. (This is the wallpaper – as an aside, I got the self-adhesive version so it was really easy to hang.) One hundred years after the map was published for London Underground, I got to admire it in large-scale at home. For a less permanent version, you can get … [Read more...] about A London Mapping Wonder: A Guide to the London Theatreland Map of 1915

London’s Social History: The History of Public Housing in London

Jun 2, 2020 By John Rabon 1 Comment

Also referred to Social Housing or Council Housing, public housing has long been an issue of greater interest in the United Kingdom and especially in the capital city of London. Prior to the Victorian era, the government had never thought to provide housing to lower-income citizens. Prior to this, the need for housing fell on the Church or private entities. Since the 10th … [Read more...] about London’s Social History: The History of Public Housing in London

A Guide to London’s Historical Ethnic Neighborhoods

May 28, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

London is a socially rich and diverse place, with 44% of the city’s population representing various ethnicities and over 300 languages spoken. Many areas of the city are inhabited by immigrants and their descendants from all over the world. These neighborhoods have a history and culture that gives their residents a sense of community while also making London a truly … [Read more...] about A Guide to London’s Historical Ethnic Neighborhoods

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

May 27, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Part of the Borough of Southwark, Bermondsey is an area of London that for centuries did not have a large population or many homes, save for land owned by the Church or the Crown. This began to change following the Great Fire of London when many of London’s well-to-do citizens moved here. The population increased further beginning after this though the area became more … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Bermondsey

Ten Things to See at the Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood

May 25, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Despite the name, the V&A Museum of Childhood is a place for all ages. Located in Bethnal Green, the Museum of Childhood is a museum both for children and about adolescence. Founded in 1872 as the Bethnal Green Museum, its collection is the largest amount of childhood objects in the United Kingdom, featuring over 26,000 pieces of art, literature, clothing, toys, and more, … [Read more...] about Ten Things to See at the Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood

Top Ten Things to See at the London Transport Museum

May 21, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Getting around London has been a big deal for centuries. Going back to the beginning of the 1800s when horse-drawn buses transported everyday citizens and handsome cabs were available for those with more means, transporting Londoners from one point to another has been a major part of the city. The London Transport Museum exists to document this history from its earliest days … [Read more...] about Top Ten Things to See at the London Transport Museum

War Comes to London – The City’s History of Armed Conflict

May 19, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

When people think of London and war, they usually think of the Blitz, the German bombing campaign during World War II. However, as a capital city, London has known much more fighting, stretching back centuries since the founding of the city. While there is evidence of settlement in the London from as early as the Bronze Age, a lack of written history precludes us from knowing … [Read more...] about War Comes to London – The City’s History of Armed Conflict