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Life in London

Introducing a New Weekly Column: Dispatches From London – The Adventures of an American Grad School Student in London

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Editor's Note: Let's give a big Londontopia Welcome to Samantha, an American Grad student who will be writing a weekly column for us about her adventures in London being a grad student. We can't wait to read about her adventures! Perhaps it was my mother watching British television shows with me as a kid, or drowning myself in Jane Austen novels as a pre-teen, or waiting … [Read more...] about Introducing a New Weekly Column: Dispatches From London – The Adventures of an American Grad School Student in London

Black Taxis: Iconic London Taxi Drivers Hold Massive Strike in Trafalgar Square – What’s It All About?

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There’s a battle going on in London right now and it’s battle that’s happened before but this time technology is at the forefront. The London Taxi industry was revolutionized a few years ago with the launch of Hailo, a mobile app that allows you to use GPS to hail a cab anywhere in London and have it show up within minutes. The app allowed you to arrange a ride quickly and … [Read more...] about Black Taxis: Iconic London Taxi Drivers Hold Massive Strike in Trafalgar Square – What’s It All About?

London’s Newspaper – The Evening Standard – Is Now free on the iPad!

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One of my favorite things to do in London while I'm there is to pick up a copy of the Evening Standars, which is London's local newspaper of record. It's always a joy to read. They have a website, but it's just not the same a reading the paper. Until fairly recently if you wanted to read the actual paper, you were limited to an expensive Digital Subscription that cost … [Read more...] about London’s Newspaper – The Evening Standard – Is Now free on the iPad!

Are shared traffic spaces the way forward for London?

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With successive administrators attempting to solve London’s traffic issues – from the building of the M25 to the congestion tax to Boris’ bikes, there have been no shortage of initiatives to combat the problem. But a new style of town planning could hold the key to alleviating the gridlock. A new approach to road design implemented in Ashford, Kent, is being credited with a … [Read more...] about Are shared traffic spaces the way forward for London?

London Books: Black Cab Wisdom by Mark Soloman

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I'm continually amazed by the variety of books that we get sent and the latest one is no exception. Black Cab Wisdom is a fun little project taken on by London Black Cab Driver Mark Soloman. Over a period of years, he randomly asked his fare paying passengers their most favorite quotes - whether it was their own quote or the quotes of others. He wrote down his favorites … [Read more...] about London Books: Black Cab Wisdom by Mark Soloman

6 famous people with Wandsworth connections

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1.     Clement Attlee Attlee is arguably Wandsworth’s most famous son – as the NHS was created during his reign as prime minister from 1945 to 1951 he has certainly had a profound influence on the life of the borough. The former Labour Party leader was born in Putney in January 1883 and grew up in a house in Portinscale Road. A green plaque marks the spot where Attlee … [Read more...] about 6 famous people with Wandsworth connections

Insane Property: Parking Spaces in London Cost More than a House in Northern England

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The Daily Mail is reporting interesting news that it now costs £96,000 to buy a parking space in London - which they note costs more than many houses in the North of England. From the Mail: A parking space in Central London can now be worth more than a house in other parts of the country, a study has found. A vehicle bay in Kensington and Chelsea was valued at £95,800, … [Read more...] about Insane Property: Parking Spaces in London Cost More than a House in Northern England

Great Article: 10 best guided walks in London

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The Guardian has put together a great list of the 10 Best Guided Walks in London. Here's an excerpt: Fancy a trip down Diagon Alley, a view of an elusive Banksy or a look at the spot where William 'Braveheart' Wallace was executed? Here are 10 top London guided tours. London is best seen on foot. But in a city so historically, culturally and geographically vast, you … [Read more...] about Great Article: 10 best guided walks in London

Soho Joe Pizzeria: Succulent Slices Served with a Smile

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Since when did London become so obsessed with pizza? The art of pizza making has been adopted all over the world and everybody seems to want to be in on a slice. Originating from Italy, there’s an abundance of recipes and toppings, which now include bizarre additions like roast potatoes, macadamia nuts and even aromatic duck! Soho is the place to come to enjoy this … [Read more...] about Soho Joe Pizzeria: Succulent Slices Served with a Smile

Article: Seeking Space, Well-to-Do Londoners Dig Deep

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The New York Times has a great article up on how Londoners are digging underneath their houses to get around space and planning permissions. Here's an excerpt: LONDON — To compensate for the lack of natural light around his new basement swimming pool, one London homeowner installed an outdoor camera that projects real-time images of the changing sky onto the pool ceiling. … [Read more...] about Article: Seeking Space, Well-to-Do Londoners Dig Deep

Britain’s Richest Street Revealed – Picture Inside

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The Daily Mail (we read it for amusement) recently published an article about the most expensive streets in Britain and surprise - the most expensive one is in London. It's a street so exclusive - you can't even go down it for a stroll as it's protected by diplomatic security services. Property on Kensington Palace Gardens is so expensive - it costs £1,193 per square feet … [Read more...] about Britain’s Richest Street Revealed – Picture Inside

The London American Takes a Vacation to America

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The London American is back in the U.S. this week, enjoying the heartiness of the Midwest and the sun in California. I’ve been noticing differences I’ve never before thought significant, and thought I’d share these with you – both as a guide for Americans returning home and for those traveling to London for the first time. I always suspected that culture shock is what happens … [Read more...] about The London American Takes a Vacation to America

New Restaurant: Good Godfrey’s Launches at the Waldorf Hilton, London

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The Waldorf Hilton, situated in London’s theatre land on Aldwych, is pleased to announce the opening of Good Godfrey’s Bar & Lounge.  The new venue takes its name from Howard Godfrey, the celebrity bandleader of the Waldorfians, the Waldorf house band in the 1920s. At the time, he was a household name and made hundreds of radio appearances with hit records such as "In … [Read more...] about New Restaurant: Good Godfrey’s Launches at the Waldorf Hilton, London

The London American: Eating British at Home

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One thing I've noticed while grocery shopping here is the abundance of fresh, ready-meals. In the U.S., I used to buy a whole lot of ready meals, mostly of the Lean Cuisine variety, especially while I was in the throes of writing my thesis. These would always be pretty simple: frozen pizza, frozen macaroni, frozen veg lo mein. Generally, they gave very simple instructions: keep … [Read more...] about The London American: Eating British at Home

Introducing The London American – How to Become a British American

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Editor's Note: We'd like to welcome our first official London-based columnist to Londontopia. Stacy Hackner is an American living the Anglophile dream while she studies in London. This column will be all about her trials & tribulations as well as her adventure - so let's give a big welcome to the London American! Hiya! I’m Stacy, holder of a Tier 4 student visa. I … [Read more...] about Introducing The London American – How to Become a British American