Buildings

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

STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE: London’s Gothic Revival Masterpiece

May 7, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

Created by Horace Walpole as his summer retreat riverside villa, Strawberry Hill House is Britain’s finest example of Georgian Gothic Revival architecture. After a £10 million repair and restoration programme, twenty rooms now appear as Walpole left them when he died at the end of the eighteenth century. Throughout his 50 years at Strawberry Hill, between 1747 and 1797, Horace … [Read more...] about STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE: London’s Gothic Revival Masterpiece

THE ALBERT MEMORIAL: A Close-up Look at Victoria’s Tribute to Her Prince

Apr 9, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

When Queen Victoria's husband died unexpectedly, it was not just the monarch that mourned as the nation too was consumed with grief along with a certain amount of guilt at not having appreciated Prince Albert and everything he had done. A grand and complex memorial was built to place Albert in the centre of arts and sciences of the 1860s. PRINCE ALBERT Prince Albert of … [Read more...] about THE ALBERT MEMORIAL: A Close-up Look at Victoria’s Tribute to Her Prince

Top Ten Things to See and Do at Westminster Abbey

Feb 11, 2020 By John Rabon 2 Comments

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

Laura’s London: Exploring Lambeth Palace Library

Jan 27, 2020 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

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

Exploring London Mercantile History at the Lloyd’s Register Building

Sep 23, 2019 By Laura Porter 1 Comment

While you may have seen the Lloyd's of London building in the City of London designed by Richard Rogers, do you know about the Collcutt building? As part of Heritage Open Days, I went to visit the Lloyd's Register building on Fenchurch Street. Designed by Thomas Collcutt, this late-Victorian office opened in 1901 as a statement building and a sign of prosperity. Lloyd's … [Read more...] about Exploring London Mercantile History at the Lloyd’s Register Building

London Alert: St Paul’s Cathedral Has Lifted Its Ban on Photography (with come caveats)!

Jun 3, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

Great news for photographers and visitors to St Paul's Cathedral in London. They have ended their ban on photography within the cathedral. This is wonderful news. Many people flouted the ban anyway (and if you did, you would get a telling off, as I did 15 years ago). Now, the Cathedral has decided to let everyone take pictures of this truly wonderful architectural jewel. They … [Read more...] about London Alert: St Paul’s Cathedral Has Lifted Its Ban on Photography (with come caveats)!

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

Apr 11, 2019 By jonathan 3 Comments

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

Apr 4, 2019 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

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

Built London: Top Ten Most Beautiful Victorian Buildings in London

Feb 15, 2019 By John Rabon 1 Comment

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!

Feb 8, 2019 By Laura Porter Leave a Comment

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!

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

Jan 24, 2019 By jonathan 1 Comment

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

Jan 21, 2019 By John Rabon 5 Comments

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

Jan 17, 2019 By jonathan Leave a Comment

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

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

Dec 12, 2018 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

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!

Nov 30, 2018 By jonathan Leave a Comment

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!

Unbuilt London: Fun Look at Bonkers London Projects That Never Happened

Nov 29, 2018 By jonathan Leave a Comment

London has had many projects that never took off the ground. They were either ridiculous, impractical or too expensive. But it sure has created some interesting planning applications and proposals throughout London's history. The folks over at Barratt Homes have taken the historical proposals and did some photoshop magic to imagine what these plans would look like in modern … [Read more...] about Unbuilt London: Fun Look at Bonkers London Projects That Never Happened

Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about the Dorchester Hotel

Oct 30, 2018 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

One of the pinnacles of prestige in London, the Dorchester Hotel is a five-star accommodation that is as known for luxury as the number of famous names who have stayed there since it opened in 1931. Its guests have included everyone from poet Cecil Day-Lewis (father of actor Daniel Day-Lewis) to Queen Elizabeth II. Designed in an art deco style, the hotel has maintained that … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about the Dorchester Hotel

Iconic Battersea Power Station to Get Great Glass Elevator in Its Chimney Offering 360 Degree Views of London from 2021

Oct 25, 2018 By jonathan Leave a Comment

No, Willy Wonka isn't building a chocolate factory in London. Battersea Power Station, made famous by the iconic Pink Floyd's album cover and then became more famous as a white elephant changing hands several times, is to get a new tourist attraction. They're going to put a glass elevator in one of the smokestacks and offer travelers a chance to get 360-degree unobstructed … [Read more...] about Iconic Battersea Power Station to Get Great Glass Elevator in Its Chimney Offering 360 Degree Views of London from 2021

Built London: Brutalist Architecture in London

Oct 18, 2018 By John Rabon

Cold, geometrical, bland. These are some of the words used to describe the aptly-named “Brutalist” style of architecture. Brutalism had its heyday from the early 1950s through the mid-1970s and is largely associated with government buildings or government-sponsored projects. In the United States, we can see examples of it in the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., Boston … [Read more...] about Built London: Brutalist Architecture in London

Stanfords, My Favorite Bookstore in London, Is Moving From its Iconic Current Location after More than a Century

Oct 12, 2018 By jonathan

This news has gutted me. I try to take the changing face of London in stride. London is an ever-changing city that has never existed in a static state. But this one hurts. Stanfords, the iconic travel bookstore, has been based in their Long Acre Street location since 1901. Famed for their selection of maps, explorers and adventurers throughout history have bought … [Read more...] about Stanfords, My Favorite Bookstore in London, Is Moving From its Iconic Current Location after More than a Century

Top Ten London: 10 Fascinating and Beautiful London Housing Estates

Oct 3, 2018 By John Rabon

Since the Victorian period, the British government and local councils have taken it upon themselves to ensure that housing was provided to the working classes. Part of this was out of concern for the health of lower-income persons who were often packed into slums as well as being a progressive step toward municipal planning. In the wake of destruction caused by the London … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: 10 Fascinating and Beautiful London Housing Estates

Exhibition Alert: Laura Visits the 2018 Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace – Prince Charles’s Favorites in the Royal Collection

Jul 23, 2018 By Laura Porter

For ten weeks each summer we get to go inside Buckingham Palace and see the State Rooms while the Queen is away at Balmoral (Scotland). There's also a special exhibition included and this year, to mark the 70th birthday of The Prince of Wales, the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace includes a special display of over 100 works of art personally selected by His Royal … [Read more...] about Exhibition Alert: Laura Visits the 2018 Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace – Prince Charles’s Favorites in the Royal Collection

Travel Alert: Reminder – Big Ben is Still Covered in Scaffolding and Will Ruin Your Tourist Pictures Until 2021

Jun 25, 2018 By jonathan

I was reading the Sunday Times yesterday, as one does, and came across an amusing article that then made me irritated. Apparently, there are lots of people who still don’t know that Big Ben/Elizabeth is covered in scaffolding right now and will remain so until at least 2021. As a result, tourists are leaving negative reviews on TripAdvisor, complaining that their dream trips … [Read more...] about Travel Alert: Reminder – Big Ben is Still Covered in Scaffolding and Will Ruin Your Tourist Pictures Until 2021

Laura’s London: A Look Behind the Scenes of the New Royal Academy of Arts Renovations Opening This Weekend

May 16, 2018 By Laura Porter

The Royal Academy of Arts is hardly new. In fact, it's celebrating it's 250th anniversary this year. But to mark the occasion the RA has undergone an enormous transformation and expansion. And the new Royal Academy is opening on Saturday 19 May 2018. About The Royal Academy The RA was founded in 1768 by a group of 40 artists and architects who became the first Royal … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: A Look Behind the Scenes of the New Royal Academy of Arts Renovations Opening This Weekend