Blog

Buck House: A History of Buckingham Palace – Long Read

Oct 20, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

Editor's Note: You're going to want to brew a cuppa and read this one! While it has a much longer history, Buckingham Palace only became the London residence of Britain's sovereigns in 1837. The Palace is the administrative headquarters of the monarchy and the royal family. (The Queen refers to Buckingham Palace as "the office" as it's where she works rather than … [Read more...] about Buck House: A History of Buckingham Palace – Long Read

The London Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Breweries

Oct 14, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Ale has had a long history in the United Kingdom. By some accounts, it even predates the Romans as some historians evidence that the Romans often enjoyed a Celtic ale or two during their occupation of Great Britain. By the Medieval period, ale was mostly brewed on the premises of the inns and later taverns in which it was sold. The introduction of hops meant a new drink was … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Breweries

The Fiver – Five More Tudor Buildings in London

Oct 7, 2020 By John Rabon 2 Comments

Last year we covered some of the buildings that remain in London from the Tudor architectural style. Popular from the end of the medieval period through the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (for whom there is a subset of this design style), the Tudor style is characterized by hammer-beam roofs, long chimneys, timber framing, and brick masonry. While in the past we covered such … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five More Tudor Buildings in London

A Guide to London’s Underground Abandoned Ghost Stations

Oct 2, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

There are 270 functioning stations across the 249 miles of Transport for London network. But more interesting to us for this article are the 40+ Overground and Underground stations still in existence that are no longer used for travel. Some people refer to these simply as abandoned stations and others use the name 'ghost stations' (my preferred name choice). All refer to … [Read more...] about A Guide to London’s Underground Abandoned Ghost Stations

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

Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums

Sep 29, 2020 By John Rabon 4 Comments

When people go to London, they tend to hit the major sites from Buckingham Palace to the Tower Bridge. This extends to the city’s museums as well, with most people opting for The National Gallery, The British Museum, the V&A, and so on. But what of London’s smaller museums? Don’t they deserve love too? Sure they do, and while they may not have the biggest draws, they … [Read more...] about Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums

London Long Read: A History of London’s 35 Bridges Over The Thames

Sep 24, 2020 By Laura Porter 3 Comments

Did you know, there are 35 bridges over The Thames in London? No, me neither so this was a really interesting article to research. From Hampton Court Bridge in the west (just within the Greater London boundary) through to Tower Bridge there are road bridges, railway bridges and footbridges too. Have a read through, admire the photos, then let us know which is your favourite. … [Read more...] about London Long Read: A History of London’s 35 Bridges Over The Thames

Top 10 London: Ten London Colleges and Universities

Sep 22, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

A university degree is certainly a sought-after prize in any country. While Oxford, Cambridge, St. Andrews, and other institutions of higher learning in the UK certainly get their fair share of attention, London has quite a lot to offer as well. Some of these schools are hundreds of years old, and others rank amongst the top schools in their respective fields. Below we have … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Ten London Colleges and Universities

The Suffragettes of London

Sep 17, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

It’s said that well-behaved women rarely make history. In this day in age, it seems as true as ever that any progress made is done by passionate activists, and the suffragettes were no different. Now, before we move any deeper into this subject, we must make an important distinction between suffragettes and suffragists. Suffragists, for the most part, where dedicated to … [Read more...] about The Suffragettes of London

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Libraries in London

Sep 16, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

You might not think that a library is the best place to spend some time when you’re in London, but my how wrong you would be. London has some of the best libraries in the world and their sheer beauty as well as their contents. Whether you’re doing research, looking for a great story, or want to delve further into the collections of the city’s museums, the libraries are the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Libraries in London

London Bridge is Falling Down… A History of London Bridge and Where To Find ‘Old’ London Bridge

Sep 11, 2020 By Laura Porter 6 Comments

London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady. The popular nursery rhyme would have you believe that the river crossing here has had some issues. But as there has been a bridge over The Thames at this location for 2,000 years it's unsurprising that it has had to be replaced a few times. (The rumour from the nursery … [Read more...] about London Bridge is Falling Down… A History of London Bridge and Where To Find ‘Old’ London Bridge

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

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Donut Shops in London

Aug 13, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Found, fried, doughy goodness. Everyone loves a good donut in the morning—or for dessert—or any time really. There are plenty of great places in the States to get them such as Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, and even the high-class Dominique Ansel Bakery. Of course, London has its share of these places and even more to boot. Whether you’re in the mood for a plain cake donut, a … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Donut Shops in London

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 2 Comments

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 1 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