Guides

The London Borough of Lewisham had its origins as far back as the 6th Century when the Jute Leof settled in the area, making it “Leofshema”.  The name then evolved into Levesham and then the Lord Manor of Lewisham by the Saxon period.  As with much of inner London, it went from pastoral estate to suburban metropolis as London expanded and the Borough of Lewisham was officially … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Lewisham

Stockwell was once part of a sprawling country estate before the expanding London turned it into a middle-class suburb in the 19th Century.  Since that time, Stockwell has seen mixed fortunes, much was rebuilt after World War II and the district became a home to several public housing estates.  Part of the larger Borough of Lambeth, Stockwell today offers plenty to see and do … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Stockwell

Most people might associate the name Paddington with a certain bear; in fact, doing the research on this article requires some modifiers to my search to specifically point out that I’m not looking for him.  However, the area from which the famous fictional character takes his name has plenty of distinction in itself.  Once a medieval parish and then a London borough, the latter … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Paddington

Stepney is a district in London with an interesting history.  Also known as Stepney Green, this area is a part of East London that blew up during the 19th Century as new residents flooded to London for work.  This new population was mostly made up of immigrants and low-income workers, shaping the district into a place largely known for poverty, a reputation that changed little … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Stepney

Kennington has long been a place for gatherings, dating back to ancient times when burial mounds were sacred places to honor the dead.  Today the people who assemble in Kennington are most likely there for a cricket match at the Kia Oval where a very different kind of sacred activity is taking place.  Kennington as a district has seen its ups and down, swelling in the … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and do in Kennington

Enfield is one of London’s boroughs that was named in the Domesday Book, where it was listed as Enefelde in 1086.  Since that time, it was home to a palace lived in by King Edward VI and his sister, then the Princess Elizabeth (years before she would become Elizabeth I).  Enfield grew with the Industrial Revolution, as much of London did, and today is one of the many outlying … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Enfield

On the furthest reaches of Greater London, the Borough of Sutton is the pinnacle of suburban London.  As such, things might seem a little sleepy this far away from the center of the city, but nothing could be further from the truth.  You can find pretty fun things to do all over the borough in Cheam, Carshalton, and the eponymous Town of Sutton.  Shopping, nature, drama, and … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Sutton

Located in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the area Shepherd’s Bush is thought to be have been named as a resting place for shepherds on their way to market.  It was mostly common land and remained rural up to the 19th Century, when the city’s suburban expansion eventually caught up to Shepherd’s Bush and it was swallowed up as many areas were.  Today, it is a bustling … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Ten Things to See and Do in Shepherd’s Bush