Samuel Pepys is one of the greatest writers in British literary history—and all because he kept a diary. Today, Pepys’ Diary is considered to be the greatest personal account of life and events in 17th Century England. It is a work revered both by literary and historical scholars as a first-hand account of such important moments as the Great Fire of London, the Second Dutch … [Read more...] about GREAT LONDONERS: Samuel Pepys – The Scribe of London
History
LONDON ICONS: Fortnum & Mason – The Grocers to the Queen
When I think of iconic British Brands, particularly London based brands a few come to mind, but my first will always be Fortnum & Mason. They specialize in gourmet foods and are responsible for creating some of Britain’s most iconic foods, such as the Scotch Egg. A trip to their flagship store in London must-see for the foodie in your life. Fortnum & Mason is named … [Read more...] about LONDON ICONS: Fortnum & Mason – The Grocers to the Queen
The Temple of Mithras: London’s New Roman Museum in the New Bloomberg London HQ
New museums open in London every year - it’s a consequence of being such a history-rich city. Last year, London got a new museum dedicated to its Roman History. The new London Mithraeum is a triumph of heritage preservation and multimedia presentation and shows that as London grows and digs into its distant past, there are still wonderful discoveries to be made and shared with … [Read more...] about The Temple of Mithras: London’s New Roman Museum in the New Bloomberg London HQ
Tudor London: Top 10 Tudor Buildings in London
Tudor architecture came about as the final building design style of the medieval period. While the style’s name is attached to the dynasty that began with King Henry VI and ended with Queen Elizabeth, Tudor architecture doesn’t have quite as long a period covering the years from 1500 to 1560 and Elizabethan Style beginning thereafter. There are many hallmarks of Tudor … [Read more...] about Tudor London: Top 10 Tudor Buildings in London
Terror on the Tube: A History of Disasters on the London Underground
First off, we should point out that despite the horrific title of this article, the Tube is an incredibly safe mode of transportation when you’re in London. However, no safety record is perfect, and the Tube has on rare occasions been the target of terror groups. In fact, the London Underground sees over one billion passengers per year and averages an accident per 300 million … [Read more...] about Terror on the Tube: A History of Disasters on the London Underground
London History: A Guide to Metroland – The Suburban Expansion of London Brought On By The Tube
Also known as Metro-land, this suburban area north-west of London was a major project by the railway to transform unused land into a series of residential communities. Metroland wasn’t the first time a rail company was instrumental in growing London. In truth, the continued influx of people from the countryside to London in the 19th Century had caused the city’s metropolitan … [Read more...] about London History: A Guide to Metroland – The Suburban Expansion of London Brought On By The Tube
Exhibition Report: George IV – Art and Spectacle at The Queen’s Gallery
A new exhibition at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, looks at a king who collected and commissioned many of the finest works of art in the Royal Collection. George IV: Art and Spectacle makes it clear he was a patron of the arts and while he didn't hold back on the spending, he did have good taste. This is the official state portrait of George IV by Sir Thomas Lawrence, … [Read more...] about Exhibition Report: George IV – Art and Spectacle at The Queen’s Gallery
London Tube: The Ten Busiest London Underground Stations and their Histories
Transport for London estimates that 1.37 billion people ride the Tube every year moving through the network’s 249 miles of track and 270 stations. And while thousands of people pass through every day going to work, home, out, or just sightseeing, they don’t often reflect on the history of the stations. If you stop for a moment, we think you’ll find that London’s ten busiest … [Read more...] about London Tube: The Ten Busiest London Underground Stations and their Histories
London History: The Foundation of the Women’s Police Service in London
From its initial foundation in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel, the Metropolitan Police Service shared the prevailing attitude of the day that most jobs were not fit for women. The Met remained all-male until, like many organizations and industries across the UK, much of its membership was called up to fight in World War I. The lack of “manpower” to police London’s streets inevitably … [Read more...] about London History: The Foundation of the Women’s Police Service in London
The Thames Barrier – A Brief History – Protecting London From the Sea
Like giant conk shells rising out of the water, the Thames Barrier sits just east of Canary Wharf and provides an important service for the city. The barrier was designed and built to keep parts of Greater London from flooding in the case of storm surges or incredibly high tides coming from the North Sea. It is an incredible feat of modern engineering that’s functions and … [Read more...] about The Thames Barrier – A Brief History – Protecting London From the Sea
The Hexing of London – The City’s History of Witches
Around Halloween time, it’s likely to see many witches running around the streets of London, usually just in fancy dress. However, this modern-day bit of fun belies the city’s grim history persecuting women for witchcraft and publicly executing them on the flimsiest of evidence. Superstition against witches had long existed in England, but the Church decried such belief as … [Read more...] about The Hexing of London – The City’s History of Witches
Exploring London Mercantile History at the Lloyd’s Register Building
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
A Brief Guide to Swinging London – What Was It?
Yeah, baby! London was a happening place in the 1960s where music, fashion, and counter-culture attitudes came together. Whereas London culture since World War II had been more conservative, young people of 60s London rebelled in nearly every way possible, pushing the limits in mind-bending ways. It seemed perfectly natural that the stereotypical “stiff upper lip” would … [Read more...] about A Brief Guide to Swinging London – What Was It?
Fun Graphic Explains the Linguistic Origins of All of London’s Boroughs
A Reddit user has made a lovely graphic that explains the origins of the names of all of London's Borough. It's very fascinating history! Which one is your favorite? Check it out for your self (click for a larger version): Source. … [Read more...] about Fun Graphic Explains the Linguistic Origins of All of London’s Boroughs
Ten Foods and Drinks You Probably Didn’t Know Were Invented in London
Most of the world doesn’t think of Britain as a food hub, much less London as a cuisine capital. However, it might surprise you to know some of the world’s favorite foods, and indeed, some of the UK’s most well-known dishes were invented right in London. Drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts can all call the UK capital home. Whatever you’re in the mood for, we recommend … [Read more...] about Ten Foods and Drinks You Probably Didn’t Know Were Invented in London
Ten Unusual London Landmarks to Visit in London On Your Next Trip
We’ve covered weird landmarks before from a grave for a Nazi dog to a nose on the Admiralty Arch, however, these aren’t the only strange markers you can find in London. There are any number of weird and wonderful things you can find in the city if you’re really looking. If you’re looking for something to see beyond the normal tourist sites, you can find these odd spots and … [Read more...] about Ten Unusual London Landmarks to Visit in London On Your Next Trip
Guest Post: Five Shocking Execution Sites in Central London
Editor's Note: This guest post was written by Matt and Jess, guides from Fun London Tours. They've been an advertiser on Londontopia for several years and runs some great tours on offer for visitors to London. Vist their website here and use coupon code: TOPIA20 to save 20% off your tour! By Fun London Tours Palace of Westminster ‘Remember remember the fifth of November, … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Five Shocking Execution Sites in Central London
Top Five Interesting Facts about the Changing of the Guard Ceremony – Guest Post
Editor’s Note: This guest post was written by Matt, a guide from Fun London Tours. They’ve been an advertiser on Londontopia for several years and run some great tours on offer for visitors to London. Vist their website here and use coupon code: TOPIA20 to save 20% off your tour! If you’re heading to this world famous event, best to do so armed with a little bit of prior … [Read more...] about Top Five Interesting Facts about the Changing of the Guard Ceremony – Guest Post
London Exhibition Report: A Look at the Blockbuster Queen Victoria 200th Anniversary Exhibition at Kensington Palace
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
All’s Well That Ends Well – How a Disease Outbreak Lead to London’s First Water and Sewer System
Prior to the 19th Century, utilities in London were practically non-existent. Gas lamps still lit the city at night, raw sewage was dumped into the Thames, and people still relied mostly on wells to get water for drinking and cooking. For the last two, the lack of any kind of system carrying in fresh water and carrying out human waste was a recipe for disaster. With the … [Read more...] about All’s Well That Ends Well – How a Disease Outbreak Lead to London’s First Water and Sewer System
Exhibition Alert: Buckingham Palace to Explore the Life of Queen Victoria at Summer Exhibition Opening
Buckingham Palace only opens for a few weeks in the Summer when the Queen is away in Scotland. To coincide with each summer opening, there's usually a special exhibition on show (though seeing the Palace state rooms themselves is worth the price of admission!). This year, the Royal Collection Trust will be exploring Queen Victoria's life at the Palace. This year's summer … [Read more...] about Exhibition Alert: Buckingham Palace to Explore the Life of Queen Victoria at Summer Exhibition Opening
THE TRIFORIUM: Behind Closed Doors at St Paul’s Cathedral
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
London History: A Look at London During the Interregnum – Oliver Cromwell’s London
When King Charles I’s head fell off the chopping block on January 30, 1649, the Interregnum began. Under the leadership of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, the Commonwealth period would last eleven years. While England and Britain as a whole would change significantly during this period as Cromwell’s New Model Army would become the UK’s first standing army and new … [Read more...] about London History: A Look at London During the Interregnum – Oliver Cromwell’s London
London History: The Medieval London Murder Map Released by University of Cambridge
This is fascinating. The Violence Research Centre out of the University of Cambridge has taken the data of recorded murders in the Tudor era and plotted them on a map, which provides a macabre and fascinating look at crime in London in the middle ages. About the map: First digital map of the murders recorded by the city's Coroner in early 1300s shows Cheapside and Cornhill … [Read more...] about London History: The Medieval London Murder Map Released by University of Cambridge
A Brief Guide to London’s Lost Rivers
For many, the River Thames is the only river in London that they know. Except that London has many rivers that centuries ago flowed freely through the first settlements and the early days of the city. Of course, as London became more built up, many of these rivers were covered over and eventually forgotten. Twenty-one of these tributaries flow into the city, and some still … [Read more...] about A Brief Guide to London’s Lost Rivers
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