The 1990s were a time of great change in Greater London. The country started out with a Conservative Government in Downing Street at the beginning and a New Labour government at the end. IRA attacks gave way to the Good Friday Agreement and a new period of peace. Docklands along the Thames that had grown […]
The History of the London Fire Brigade
Once upon a time, if you didn’t have enough water, the only solution to a fire was to get out and hope it didn’t burn down the whole neighbourhood. Various amateur organisations existed to fight fires, especially after the Great Fire of London, and by the 18th Century, many insurance companies had set up their […]
London Alert: Hidden London Tours Are Back – Explore London’s Abandoned Tube Stations
Last year we explored Aldwych abandoned Tube station on a Hidden London Tour – and wrote about the experience here. Hidden London tours are a unique chance to explore the bits of London that have been closed off to the public. Most of these tours are run on a limited basis and sell out up to […]
London Calling: A Brief History of London in the 1980s – Riots, Privitisation and Docklands Regeneration
The 1980s were an iconic time for the United Kingdom, and London was at the centre of it all. Short of a world war, there was probably no other period in which the social and political atmosphere changed so drastically. From the conservativism of Margaret Thatcher to the rebellion of the Sex Pistols, 1980s London […]
Great Londoners – Inigo Jones – The Hero of Palladian Architecture
One of the first great architects of modern times, Inigo Jones was one of the instigators of the Palladian style of design, introducing the classical style of Venetian architect Andrea Palladio to Britain. Several of his building projects can be seen today all over the country, and many of them are found in London, where […]
Ten Interesting Facts about Islington
Forming along the path of the Great North Road, the Borough of Islington began as a village named “Giseldone” from the Saxons, otherwise known as “Gisla’s Hill”. The village quickly became more important as a source for the city’s water, and this also made it a good place for growing vegetables that supplied London with […]
The London Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Hotels
It used to be that travelers’ only accommodations were the pubs and inns located all over the city. As the coaching inns grew in their grandeur and desire to cater to wealthy clients, they transformed into the first hotels, and then into luxury hotels during the later Victorian period. Many of the earliest hotels were […]
The London Fiver – The Five Oldest Shops in London
Shops, as we think of them, are a fairly recent invention, give or take a couple hundred years. The idea that you would go to a single place where the goods were pre-made was pretty unheard of before the 18th Century. Prior to the rise of shops, individual merchants made most goods to order, whether […]
The London Fiver – Five of London’s Biggest Criminals
Laws exist because some people just can’t behave decently towards one another. Despite a criminal justice system that holds society accountable and punishes the guilty, some men and women continue to rob, cheat, and murder their way through life. Over its long history, London has certainly seen its fair share of notorious criminals, some of […]
London Icon: A History of Harry Beck’s Iconic Tube Map
KEY FACTS Designed by Harry Beck in 1932 Set a style for transport maps around the world As instantly recognisable as the Union Jack Beck received little credit for his work during his lifetime London’s history is filled with historical figures who were just doing a job or once had an idea that turned into […]
Great Londoners: Michael Faraday – Electricity Pioneer
What we know today about electricity owes much to English scientist Michael Faraday. While his focus of studies was in the fields of chemistry and physics, he is primarily responsible for principles governing electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, and electrolysis. These principles made it possible for transformers and generators to produce power, maglev trains to run at […]
London Under: Thames Tunnels and Their Amazing Histories
With all the tunnels under the River Thames, it might seem strange to think that it was once a nearly impossible feat of engineering. By the beginning of the 19th Century, the need to move cargo was becoming more important for Britain’s economy and London’s bridges were too cramped with carriage and pedestrian traffic to […]
London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die
Check out this great video from the British Pathé archive that shows a fleet of old double decker buses being broken up at the breakers yard. On the one hand, it’s sad to watch them be destroyed, on the other, it’s pretty cool!
Streets of London: London’s Most Unique Street Names and Their Fascinating Histories
When a city has been around since Roman times, it tends to develop some very unique names for the city streets. Each era of London’s history has left its mark on the various streets, avenues, lanes, and ways. Here is a small selection of unique London street and place names and their fascinating histories. Crooked […]
Great London Buildings – The Palace of St. James
St. James’s Palace may not be a palace where Queen Elizabeth II actually resides, but it still holds a very important function for the government as the de facto seat of the monarchy. Even when ambassadors are received today, they are “admitted to the Court of St. James”. It also still provides a place to […]
Not Falling Down: Ten of London’s Beautiful Bridges and Their Fascinating Histories
Bridges don’t just connect places, but they connect people. Since the earliest days of civilisation, we’ve used them to access new areas, trade with the people there, and travel further than we once thought imaginable. With a city such as London situated on the River Thames, bridges are a necessity, and thousands of people cross […]
From Piccadilly to Portobello Road: The Origins of Ten of London’s Most Famous Street Names
Names are very interesting labels and can tell you a lot about a person, a thing, or a place. London is chock-full of interesting names whose origins are mostly unknown by the people who live, work, and visit the city. Some of these names have practically ancient beginnings, going as far back as the Romans, […]
The London Fiver – All Fall Down: Five London Nursery Rhymes Full of Death, Ruin, and Conflict
Traditionally a song or a poem meant to entertain children; many nursery rhymes are so old that their original meanings have long been forgotten by modern audiences. Much like the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen, there are darker themes and meanings behind what we treat as harmless kids’ fare. With […]
How London’s Boroughs Got Their Fascinating Names
What we know of as London is really 33 smaller districts, including the City of London. Since the original settlement of Londinium was founded by the Romans after their invasion, the city has slowly grown up around it and the 32 surrounding communities eventually became absorbed into the greater metropolitan area. But how did each […]
Great London Buildings – The Victoria & Albert Museum
Also known as the V&A, the Victoria & Albert Museum was founded in 1852 as a museum of art and design. Today, it is the largest of its kind in the world, with a permanent collection of more than 4.5 million works of art from a period of more than two thousand years. It sits […]
Londinium: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about Roman London
Londinium was the Roman name given to the settlement they founded on the Thames, after their successful invasion of Britain. There are still traces of Roman London all over the city. So, we thought it would be fun to put together 10 interesting facts and figures about Roman London that you might not know. […]
Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!
