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London History: A Look at London During the Interregnum – Oliver Cromwell’s London

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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

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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

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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

London Alert: Tower of London Lights 10,000 Torches in its Moat in Remembrance of World War I – See it by Sunday!

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A very moving scene has been created in London at the Tower of London and you only have until the 11th to see it. 10,000 gas lanterns have been lit in the Tower's moat in commemoration of the end of World War I. If you're in London right now, you have until Sunday to see this. Go! I wish I was there to see it in person. From Historic Royal Palaces: As the nation … [Read more...] about London Alert: Tower of London Lights 10,000 Torches in its Moat in Remembrance of World War I – See it by Sunday!

A Brief History of London’s Parks

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London’s parks are some of the best in the world.  From Hyde Park to Hampstead Heath, they are beautiful places that create pockets of greenery throughout the city, offering Londoners a chance to connect with nature, be active, speak out, and have fun.  However, these parks didn’t always exist, and their creation has a story all its own.  In fact, there are several stories as … [Read more...] about A Brief History of London’s Parks

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

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  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

The London Fiver – Five of the Oldest Schools in London

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In the West, organized educational institutions have been around since the Middle Ages when churches set up schools to teach future priests and administrators.  Besides that, few educational institutions existed until the first universities and almost nothing for children beyond apprenticeships.  Greater London has over 3,000 schools today, and some of them have foundations … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Oldest Schools in London

Top Ten London: 10 Fascinating and Beautiful London Housing Estates

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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

Great Londoners – Michael Faraday – The Master of Electricity

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Michael Faraday is one of those great scientists whose discoveries really changed the world.  Focused on electromagnetism and electrochemistry, Faraday changed what we know about electricity.  His discoveries also led to several inventions including electrolysis, the Faraday cage to block electromagnetic fields, and the electric motor.  It’s certainly fair to say that Faraday … [Read more...] about Great Londoners – Michael Faraday – The Master of Electricity

Laura’s London: Four New Permanent Galleries at the National Maritime Museum – Here’s Our First Look!

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Following a major £12.6M redevelopment project, The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has new permanent galleries open from 20 September 2018. 1,000m2 of space in the Museum's East Wing, previously closed to visitors, has been converted to public use adding an additional 40% of gallery space. And just like the rest of the Museum, these galleries are free to visit. The … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Four New Permanent Galleries at the National Maritime Museum – Here’s Our First Look!

Great Londoners – Geoffrey Chaucer

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Geoffrey Chaucer was one of the greatest contributors to English literature with his work The Canterbury Tales.  However, being a writer and poet was only part of what he did during his remarkable life.  Chaucer was a Renaissance man before the term was even coined, serving as a bureaucrat, courtier, diplomat, astronomer, and philosopher.  Part of what makes him one of the most … [Read more...] about Great Londoners – Geoffrey Chaucer

The Regency Period in London

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The Regency Period for Britain is one that begins with King George III’s temporary madness and the appointment of Prince George (later King George IV) as Prince Regent in 1811.  This period marked the final and permanent case of the king’s mental illness from which he did not recover.  Depending on who you ask, the period either technically ends once George III died in 1820 or … [Read more...] about The Regency Period in London

Exploring Down Street Tube Abandoned Station: Churchill’s Secret Wartime Bunker

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Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue #6 of the Anglotopia Print Magazine in 2016. Support great long-form writing about Britain by subscribing to the Anglotopia Print Magazine today. You can subscribe here. London’s abandoned Tube stations have a special aura about them. It’s hard to believe that in a city of eight million people, some tube stations were … [Read more...] about Exploring Down Street Tube Abandoned Station: Churchill’s Secret Wartime Bunker

London and the Industrial Revolution

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The Industrial Revolution changed the world forever.  The coming of mechanized production marked a shift from a mostly agrarian society to a technological one.  That shift also brought a population migration from the country to urban areas, resulting in an explosion in city populations and a strain on infrastructure.  This was most evident in London, which was arguably the … [Read more...] about London and the Industrial Revolution

The Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Theaters

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London is home to one of the best theater districts outside of Broadway.  Most can be found throughout the city’s West End in Westminster and Camden.  Naturally, being the center of the drama world means that the West End is also home to London’s oldest still-standing theaters, grand palaces built to house everything from Shakespeare to modern productions.  We’ve managed to … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of London’s Oldest Theaters

Voice & Vote – Women’s Place in Parliament Exhibition at the Palace of Westminster

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I hope you saw The London Annual 2018 as I had a feature in the magazine about Vote 100 marking the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918 which gave most men and some women the vote for the first time. There have been events all year to celebrate this 100 year anniversary but as this is about the right to vote it's fitting that the one you should really want … [Read more...] about Voice & Vote – Women’s Place in Parliament Exhibition at the Palace of Westminster

How London Changed During the Victorian Period

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The 19th Century was a time of great change for Britain, and especially its capital of London.  Some of London’s most iconic landmarks were constructed during this time or altered to a look that we recognize today.  In the midst of the effects of the Industrial Revolution, the population exploded, and the city grew to meet it.  While London’s prosperity grew, the divides … [Read more...] about How London Changed During the Victorian Period

London Annual: Ten of the Oldest Businesses in London

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People have been exchanging money for goods for centuries, and London has seen some kind of commerce since the Romans first built the city as we know it.  Most companies that we know of today, however, are fairly recent inventions in the grand scheme of things.  It wouldn’t be until the 17th or 18th Centuries that most shops and restaurants would even come into being.  Some … [Read more...] about London Annual: Ten of the Oldest Businesses in London

Exhibition Alert: My Visit to the New James Cook Exhibition at the British Library – Review

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On my final day in England for my trip over to cover the Royal Wedding, I decided to pop into London and visit an exhibition I really didn’t want to miss. The British Library just launched a new exhibition about the voyages of James Cook, putting them into context and showcasing the discoveries he and his crews made (and the damage they wrought). As someone interested in … [Read more...] about Exhibition Alert: My Visit to the New James Cook Exhibition at the British Library – Review

The London Fiver – Five Major Scientific Discoveries Made in London

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Progress in science is one way by which we may judge a society, and London is a city that certainly has made a lot of progress over the centuries.  Some of the greatest discoveries in biology, physics, chemistry, and medicine have been made on the streets and in the laboratories of London.  Some of them are very well-known, while others might surprise you to know.  Each of the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Major Scientific Discoveries Made in London

Laura’s London: Exploring Clapham South Subterranean Shelter – Hidden London – From the Blitz to the Windrush

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We all know there are tube train tunnels under London's streets, and we could guess there are some service tunnels for pipes, but it's still always a surprise to head down underground and find enough space for a village to live safely below. And that's what there is at the Clapham South Subterranean Shelter. This deep-level shelter had room for 8,000 people, and it only took … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Exploring Clapham South Subterranean Shelter – Hidden London – From the Blitz to the Windrush

The Tube: A History of the London Underground

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The world’s first underground railway, the London Underground was constructed as a response to the city’s rapid growth during the 19th Century.  Today, it is the 11th-busiest subway system on the planet with 1.379 billion passengers using it from 2016-2017.  Its tunnels stretch for 249 miles throughout London, often overlapping and giving passengers plenty of options for … [Read more...] about The Tube: A History of the London Underground

Fit for a Queen: A Traveler’s Guide to Royal London

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London has been a seat of power since the Romans made it their capital in 50 A.D.  After they abandoned the settlement in the 5th Century, it would not become a seat of leadership again until Alfred the Great retook control in 886, rebuilding the fortifications, adding new defenses, and transforming the old Roman city into a new population centre for his kingdom.  It was from … [Read more...] about Fit for a Queen: A Traveler’s Guide to Royal London

The London Fiver – Five Ancient Ruins in London to Visit That Haven’t Been Swept Away By Time

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London is an ancient city.  Even before the Romans established their settlement of Londonium, people had lived in the area.  However, the Romans were the first to erect permanent structures here, some of which have survived today as ruins, hiding amongst the buildings that succeeded them and today’s skyscrapers.  Of course, not all of these buildings are Roman, and some of … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Ancient Ruins in London to Visit That Haven’t Been Swept Away By Time

Great Londoners: Joseph Bazalgette – The Man Who Ended The Great Stink

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  Joseph Bazalgette may not be a name that immediately comes to mind when you think of the city's greatest citizens, but people use his biggest contribution every day--the sewer system.  During the 19th Century, he was London's chief engineer for the Metropolitan Board of Works and used his position to ease the city's sanitation problems.  Bazalgette's efforts had a range of … [Read more...] about Great Londoners: Joseph Bazalgette – The Man Who Ended The Great Stink

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