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London Exhibition Report: A Look at the Blockbuster Queen Victoria 200th Anniversary Exhibition at Kensington Palace

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24 May 2019 is the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth at Kensington Palace. To mark the bicentenary of this historic event there is a new visitor route, Victoria: A Royal Childhood, through the suite of rooms she would have known well. And over in the Palace's Pigott Gallery, there is a new temporary exhibition, Victoria: Woman and Crown, that considers the private … [Read more...] about London Exhibition Report: A Look at the Blockbuster Queen Victoria 200th Anniversary Exhibition at Kensington Palace

The London Fiver – Five Children’s Literature Statues To See in London

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London is a city that is the setting of many a children’s book from One-Hundred and One Dalmatians to Peppa Goes to London.  With hundreds of years of literary history under its belt, the city has many monuments to great works and authors—and these include statues dedicated to children’s literature.  There are at least five statues dedicated to some of the most well-known … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Children’s Literature Statues To See in London

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars

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One could certainly argue that every pub in the UK is a sports bar, since it’s naturally where everyone gathers to watch a match.  Certain pubs, of course, are bound to have their favored teams’ colors adorning the walls and cheering supporters on game day.  However, some places go above this to mark themselves as true sports bars, a place seemingly designed only to watch the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars

Top 10 Works of Art to See in London’s National Gallery On Your Next Visit

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The National Gallery in London is one of the finest Art Museums in the world - and one of the oldest. It's one of my favorite places to visit when I visit London. This is one of London's top free museums, and you can just walk in whenever you like and admire some of the finest works of art humanity has ever produced. But there are thousands of works in the museum - which ones … [Read more...] about Top 10 Works of Art to See in London’s National Gallery On Your Next Visit

Laura’s London: Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition – The Design Museum – Our Review – Is It Worth Going?

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Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition has opened at The Design Museum in Kensington and is on until 15 September 2019. A global touring exhibition which started its journey in 2004, has at last reached London where so many of Kubrick's movies were filmed. Marking the 20th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick’s death, the exhibition explores his unique command of the whole creative … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition – The Design Museum – Our Review – Is It Worth Going?

THE TRIFORIUM: Behind Closed Doors at St Paul’s Cathedral

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Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Issue #10 of the Anglotopia Print Magazine in 2018. Support great long-form writing about British History, Culture, and travel by subscribing to the Anglotopia Magazine. Every subscription helps keep Anglotopia running and provides us to the opportunity to produce articles like this. You can subscribe here. St Paul’s Cathedral … [Read more...] about THE TRIFORIUM: Behind Closed Doors at St Paul’s Cathedral

Top Ten London: Top 10 London Buildings of Sir Christopher Wren

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Christopher Wren is quite possibly the most famous name in British architecture.  The structures across the United Kingdom that he designed are amongst the country’s most lauded and beautiful places.  Wren lived in interesting times, seeing the English Civil War, the Restoration, and the Great Fire of London.  The last of these events really elevated his career to legendary … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 London Buildings of Sir Christopher Wren

The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit

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Today, underground is a word that tends to conjure images of secrecy and exclusivity when it comes to places.  When it comes to London, the underground is synonymous with the city’s subterranean train service.  Of course, there is also the original meaning and applied to bars; it can mean any number of drinking establishments that can be found below the London streets.  The … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit

Laura’s London: Van Gogh and Britain – Landmark New Exhibtion at Tate Britain – Full Report

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This major exhibition at Tate Britain focuses on the time Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) spent in Britain between 1873 and 1876 when he was in his early twenties. He explored the (then) largest city in the world a decade before he became an artist. The exhibition is able to look at the artist's relationship with Britain and explores how Van Gogh was inspired by British art, … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Van Gogh and Britain – Landmark New Exhibtion at Tate Britain – Full Report

The Fiver – Five of the Highest Bars in London

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One of the best things to have with a good drink is a view.  Lots of places out there have rooftop bars or observation towers where one can get a cocktail, a pint, or a glass of wine and gaze out over the horizon.  London certainly has its share of high-altitude drinking establishments that rank amongst the highest in the UK and in Europe.  Whatever you’re in the mood for, each … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of the Highest Bars in London

Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

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Craft beer is the wave of the future.  So many new breweries have sprung up in the last few years it feels as if they’re reproducing at the same speed as rabbits.  The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) estimates there are 125 craft breweries in the city spread out amongst the boroughs and neighborhoods.  With so many throughout Greater London, it can be hard to determine which ones … [Read more...] about Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

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Tea has been an important part of British culture since the 17th Century, and you’d be hard pressed to find a society on this side of the globe that loves it more.  While coffee houses preceded tea rooms in London, the culture quickly flipped when Thomas Twining opened the city’s first tea room in 1707.  Now you can find them in every borough and neighborhood.  While many offer … [Read more...] about Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

Springtime in London: Top Things to Do in London This Spring

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Spring appears to have sprung early in London this year. With the winter weather finally starting to thaw, spring is upon us, and that means an array of seasonal events in London.  The city is awash with festivals, sporting events, and ceremonies from March through May and there is enough variety to find something anyone will enjoy.  We have identified our top ten favorite … [Read more...] about Springtime in London: Top Things to Do in London This Spring

Laura’s London: Swinging London – A Lifestyle Revolution – New Exhibition Review

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The Fashion and Textile Museum, near London Bridge, has a new exhibition about 'Swinging London' for spring 2019. It looks at a truly innovative era in London's history, exploring the origins of Pop culture and how fashion, music and art were used to demand and effect societal change in the years that followed. London-born designers, Mary Quant and Terence Conran are now in … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Swinging London – A Lifestyle Revolution – New Exhibition Review

Built London: Top Ten Most Beautiful Victorian Buildings in London

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What we think of as “Victorian” architecture more refers to the period rather than a particular architectural style.  In fact, there were really several styles prevalent during the period that were revivals of previous designs:  Gothic, Italianate, Romanesque, Renaissance, Queen Anne, and Neoclassical.  Other methods and styles also developed as new materials came into … [Read more...] about Built London: Top Ten Most Beautiful Victorian Buildings in London

Laura’s London: Take a First Look at the Beautiful Restored Painted Hall in Greenwich – Re-opening in March!

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Editor's Note: We have a real treat this week - Laura was given an exclusive tour of the newly restored Painted Hall in Greenwich before its re-opening so we're chuffed to bits that she's written up a huge report about it. Please consider subscribing to the Londontopia Magazine as it allows us to commission great articles like this. As reported here recently, The Painted … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Take a First Look at the Beautiful Restored Painted Hall in Greenwich – Re-opening in March!

New in London: Mariage Frères Elegant Tea Room and Museum is Now Open in Covent Garden – We Send Laura Porter to Check it Out!

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The world's most exclusive purveyor of luxury teas and France's oldest tea house, Mariage Frères, has opened its first UK tea emporium in Covent Garden. In addition to being a new tea house in London, it also contains a small museum dedicated to tea. I've been waiting for this one as it was supposed to open in September 2018 but, due to delays with its heritage building, … [Read more...] about New in London: Mariage Frères Elegant Tea Room and Museum is Now Open in Covent Garden – We Send Laura Porter to Check it Out!

Harry Potter News: Gringotts Bank Coming to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in April

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The Harry Potter Studio Tour is continually changing and updating to make sure they have a steady stream of repeat visitors. Today, they've announced that they'll be opening up Gringotts Bank to visitors. From the press release: For the first time ever at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, visitors are invited to enter the set of Gringotts … [Read more...] about Harry Potter News: Gringotts Bank Coming to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in April

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Small Concert Venues

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It’s good to go out and hear live music.  No matter whether it’s classical, rock, punk, rap, jazz, or whatever makes your ears ring, there’s nothing like catching the vibrations of the sound as it hits you.  While London certainly has some great larger music venues such as the O2 Arena, the Roundhouse, and Royal Albert Hall, sometimes it’s better to find a smaller place.  A … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Small Concert Venues

Future London: Take a Look at London’s Future Symphonic Concert Hall

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London is a world-class city and one thing it lacks right now is a world-class symphonic concert hall. Yes, it has the Royal Albert Hall, but that's over 150 years old and not exactly to the standard of modern concert halls. This is set to change in the coming years and we now have our first good look at what the place could look like. The London Centre for Music is due to … [Read more...] about Future London: Take a Look at London’s Future Symphonic Concert Hall

Top 10 London: Top Ten Georgian Buildings in London

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With the coming of the Hanoverian kings came a new style of architecture that bore their name—Georgian.  This style of design was defined by symmetrical features, front entries with crowns, pilasters, and transom windows, corner quoins, cornice dentils, and typically made of stone or brick.  These features had their roots in ancient Greek and Roman design and the name stuck … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Georgian Buildings in London

London Alert: The Painted Hall in Greenwich to Re-Open in March After Multi-year Restoration

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Great news! After being closed for almost two years and undergoing at £3 million restoration, The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich will be re-opening to visitors! This place is sometimes referred to as the UK's 'Sistine Chapel' and it's an incredible sight to see in person. If you've been the Greenwich the last few years, you may have been … [Read more...] about London Alert: The Painted Hall in Greenwich to Re-Open in March After Multi-year Restoration

Ten of the Best Independent Cinemas in London

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Cinemas, or movie theaters as we call them in the states, are some of the greatest places to spend time.  Watching documentaries, comedies, foreign films, and more, we open ourselves up to whole other worlds.  While there are plenty of big-name movie palaces such as Odeon and Empire, there are plenty of small chains and independent cinemas throughout the city that are worth … [Read more...] about Ten of the Best Independent Cinemas in London

Top 10 London: The Ten Best London’s Stately Homes To Visit

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Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Londontopia Print Magazine last summer. Support great long-form writing about London by subscribing to the Londontopia Print Magazine - the only print magazine dedicated completely to London. You can subscribe here. London is an incredibly posh city and some of the greatest places to live.  Beyond the palaces of royalty, … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: The Ten Best London’s Stately Homes To Visit

Alexandra Palace’s East Wing Opens To the Public After £27 Million Restoration – See Images of the New Interiors!

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It's so lovely to see London's iconic buildings get a new lease of life after restoration. The latest building in London to get the treatment is Alexandra Palace. While not really a 'palace' in the palace sense, Alexandra Palace has been a destination for entertainment since it was built in the Victorian Era. It's most famous as the place where the BBC started broadcasting … [Read more...] about Alexandra Palace’s East Wing Opens To the Public After £27 Million Restoration – See Images of the New Interiors!

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