Founded in the 18th century, the Foundling Hospital was the first children's home in Britain. After much campaigning, sea captain and philanthropist Thomas Coram opened the doors in 1739 to care for babies at risk of abandonment. 18th Century London Hospitals In 1700 the only medical hospitals in London were the Royal Hospitals of St Bartholomew and St Thomas. There were … [Read more...] about London Long Read: The Fascinating History of the Foundling Hospital – London’s First Children’s Home
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Terrible Thames Boat Tour Review – Horrible Histories Fun On The River
Who doesn't love a boat trip on The Thames? Combine that thrill with the fun of Horrible Histories 'on location,' and you're ready for the new Terrible Thames River Tour. Horrible Histories Horrible Histories is a multi-award-winning comedy sketch series from Children's BBC with some great songs as well (this one may well remind you of an Elvis tune!). Fact-filled and … [Read more...] about Terrible Thames Boat Tour Review – Horrible Histories Fun On The River
Big News: The London Annual Returns for 2022 – Help Anglotopia and Get a Beautiful Guidebook to London in 2022
Prepare for the Great Return to London in 2022! After a 4 year hiatus, we're excited to announce that the London Annual, the magazine/guidebook we produced for several years, is BACK! And we need your help to make it happen. It’s becoming increasingly clear that travel to the UK for Americans (and Canadians, Australians, etc) will return to some semblance of normality … [Read more...] about Big News: The London Annual Returns for 2022 – Help Anglotopia and Get a Beautiful Guidebook to London in 2022
Paddington: The Story of the Bear – New Exhibition at the British Library
The famous polite bear from deepest darkest Peru is the feature of a new exhibition at the British Library. Paddington: The Story of a Bear is a family-friendly exhibition celebrating one of the world's most beloved fictional bears over 60 years on from when he was first published. As it's summertime, you may not need your duffle coat, but a marmalade sandwich packed lunch … [Read more...] about Paddington: The Story of the Bear – New Exhibition at the British Library
Picnic in the Queen’s Private Garden – Laura Porter Visits Buckingham Palace’s Garden
When attending the annual summer opening of Buckingham Palace, you do get to exit along the side of the garden. But for this year, there is a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to freely explore the garden for the first time. And to enjoy a picnic on the lawn overlooking the Palace from July to September 2021. As I noted in my long-read about Buckingham Palace, the palace … [Read more...] about Picnic in the Queen’s Private Garden – Laura Porter Visits Buckingham Palace’s Garden
Museum of the Home (formerly the Geffrye Museum) Re-opens After 3-year renovation – Check Out What’s Changed
When the Geffyre Museum closed in 2018, there was a lot of trepidation about its future. Often called a 'hidden gem,' it was a lovely little free museum that gave us an insight into Londoners' home life over the last 400 years. Three years later, it has been transformed and is now double the size with 80% more exhibition space. Still free, but with a new name, The Museum of … [Read more...] about Museum of the Home (formerly the Geffrye Museum) Re-opens After 3-year renovation – Check Out What’s Changed
Laura’s London: Bow Street Police Museum – A Brand New London Museum
London has a new independent museum in Covent Garden! Bow Street Police Museum is housed in one of London's first police stations. No. 28 Bow Street was the home of Bow Street Police Station and Magistrates' Court for over a century. The Museum tells the story of the Bow Street Runners, the country's first organized police force, and the Metropolitan Police officers who … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Bow Street Police Museum – A Brand New London Museum
Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits – New Major Exhibition at The National Maritime Museum
This royal portraits exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich looks at the kings and queens who have shaped British history for over 500 years. There are many loans from the National Portrait Gallery, which has been made possible while that gallery is closed for redevelopment until spring 2023. For me, this was a real delight, and not only because it was my … [Read more...] about Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits – New Major Exhibition at The National Maritime Museum
London Histories: A Look at Queen Elizabeth I’s Hunting Lodge in Epping Forest
As I mentioned in the recent Copped Hall article, I have been enjoying exploring Epping Forest during the lockdown restrictions. This time, we will have a closer look at an early and rare example of a hunting lodge in Chingford. Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge is a Grade II* listed building that has been saved as a museum. This old timber-framed and plastered building is a … [Read more...] about London Histories: A Look at Queen Elizabeth I’s Hunting Lodge in Epping Forest
Ten Interesting Facts about St. James’s Palace
The most senior Royal Palace, St. James’s Palace, has been the seat of the British monarchy for centuries even though the Sovereign does not live there. As such, the gorgeous Tudor-style building has been a key part of history since its construction and has many interesting stories to tell. We’ve collected at least ten of these into the facts below, and they range from the … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about St. James’s Palace
Laura’s London: Exploring Copped Hall – A Stunning Abandoned Stately Home in Epping Forest
During lockdown, I've been enjoying getting to know Epping Forest. It's truly vast and stretches across northeast London and out into the Essex countryside. A friend gave me a tip to find a disused stately home that had been left empty but was now being renovated. Copped Hall is near to Epping in Essex. It is an 18th-century mansion situated on high ground at the end of a … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Exploring Copped Hall – A Stunning Abandoned Stately Home in Epping Forest
London Histories: A Look Number 10 Downing Street – Home of Britain’s Prime Ministers – Long Read
Inspiration for new articles comes from many places, and this one was inspired by a bar of soap. No, really. I'll explain that connection below. It got me thinking about this seat of power that is both the home and workplace for the British Prime Minister. Number 10 Downing Street is a terraced Georgian building off Whitehall, and a short walk away from the Houses of … [Read more...] about London Histories: A Look Number 10 Downing Street – Home of Britain’s Prime Ministers – Long Read
Laura’s London: Your Guide to The Thames Path – Come on a Virtual Walk!
We've looked at London's bridges over The Thames, with an in-depth look at London Bridge, so I thought it was time to look at the 'walking by the river' opportunities in London. The Thames Path National Trail The Thames Path has had National Trail status since 1989. It is a pedestrian route from the river's source near Kemble in Gloucestershire (Cotswolds) to the Thames … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Your Guide to The Thames Path – Come on a Virtual Walk!
London Histories: A History of All of London’s Royal Parks
There are eight royal parks in London that are royal because the lands have been owned by Kings and Queens. Most have been used as hunting grounds, so I thought it would be interesting to find out more about each park. Knowing you can take a stroll or stop for a picnic on a location once frequented by marauding royal hunters certainly adds to the sense of history in … [Read more...] about London Histories: A History of All of London’s Royal Parks
Laura’s London: A History of Hyde Park – Long Read
While it is a wonderful place for a walk, Hyde Park is also used for major concerts and the annual Winter Wonderland. But the park has a long history that includes reviews of troops, encampments, duels, highway robberies, executions and more. One of London's eight royal parks, Hyde Park is in central London and adjoins Kensington Gardens. Its borders start from the west of … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: A History of Hyde Park – Long Read
Ten Interesting Facts about Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is part of London’s colorful ecology that blends the modern urban concrete of the city with the green lusciousness of its past. The Heath, as it’s known locally, has been a part of London since ancient times and today is one of the finest green spaces in the entire city. It’s also full of conservation areas, freshwater swimming ponds, lovely monuments, and … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about Hampstead Heath
London Vignettes: Old Whiteleys – Hardy Books, Muji, and Internet Cafes
Editor's Note: This is a new ongoing article series telling short little stories about London from our 20 years of travel there. Stories we haven't told before or stories that we think will be interesting. If they prove popular, we may compile them into a book like our Anglophile Vignettes book we released last year. Whiteley’s was in the news recently, it recently got … [Read more...] about London Vignettes: Old Whiteleys – Hardy Books, Muji, and Internet Cafes
Ten More Interesting Facts about Regent’s Park
Another green space that was once the personal property of King Henry VIII, by the 19th Century it was transformed by landscape architect John Nash into the public park it is today. Last time we wrote about Regent’s we covered such interesting stories as its zoological history, the view from Primrose Hill, and the ties to the 2012 Olympic Games. However, the fascinating … [Read more...] about Ten More Interesting Facts about Regent’s Park
Ten Interesting Facts about St. James’s Park
In the heart of Westminster, St. James’s Park is a Royal Park in the truest sense. St. James’s borders Buckingham Palace on one end and 10 Downing Street on the other, with St. James’s Palace a stone’s throw from the park’s northern border. As with many of the Royal Parks, it began as the personal property of King Henry VIII which was later developed under King James I and … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about St. James’s Park
A Brief History of London’s Buses
London’s buses are an iconic symbol of the city. The red double-decker isn’t seen as heavily in any other part of the world and they are as much a part of London as the Tower Bridge, Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. Of course, these buses known as the Routemaster weren’t the first to offer transport for Londoners. buses on the streets of this great metropolis stretch back … [Read more...] about A Brief History of London’s Buses
LONDON UNDER: Exploring Hidden London’s Abandoned Charing Cross Station
London Transport Museum has a really interesting selection of ‘Hidden London’ tours that give us occasional access to tunnels and stations on the London transport network that are no longer in operational use. The ‘Charing Cross: Access All Areas’ tour looks at the out of service Jubilee line platforms and construction tunnels left over from the excavation of the Jubilee line … [Read more...] about LONDON UNDER: Exploring Hidden London’s Abandoned Charing Cross Station
Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
So you’ve traveled all the way to London—and you want to go to the mall. Well, while London certainly has many a great market, arcade, and high street, you’ll be glad to know that shopping malls aren’t exclusively American. London has plenty of its own great shopping centers that offer a British take on the mall experience. Visitors to one of these shopping centers may find … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
The London Fiver – Five London Christmas Songs
The holidays are certainly a time for new songs to hit the airwaves. When you turn on the radio, you’re bound to hear a mix of old and new Christmas singles across all genres. The United Kingdom is certainly no different and every once-in-a-while, you’ll see a British Christmas song that involves London. These songs can be entirely about London or simply make reference to … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five London Christmas Songs
Nights out in London: Top Ten Underground Bars For a Cocktail
Now, when we say underground, we’re not talking about bars you’ve never heard of before, but bars that are literally underground. London is full of places to drink that exist below the city’s streets. They’re in building basements, under railway arches, disguised behind more conventional establishments, or even converted from long-abandoned uses. They have atmospheres that … [Read more...] about Nights out in London: Top Ten Underground Bars For a Cocktail
The London Fiver – Five London Christmas Movies
Christmas movies are one of the joys of the holiday. Whether you’re going to see one in a theater, on television, DVD, or a streaming service, there are plenty of options for holiday cinema. The locations of films can certainly vary from the big city to small-town America, and London has its own share of holiday classics. These films range from classic adaptations to modern … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five London Christmas Movies
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!