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All’s Well That Ends Well – How a Disease Outbreak Lead to London’s First Water and Sewer System

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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

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Lambeth

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The London district of Lambeth is certainly one of the most happening places in the city, owing perhaps to its location along the banks of the River Thames.  The area gives its name to the larger borough of which it is part and derived from Lambehitha or “landing place for lambs,” shortened to Lambeth by 1255.  The manor of Lambeth was in the ownership of the Archbishop of … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Lambeth

Top Ten London: Top 10 Charming London Alleyways To Pass Through On Your Next Visit to London

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In America, we’re used to wide roads, streets, paths, and alleyways.  Oftentimes, an alley is used as the backend of a building, a place to keep the garbage bins, or just a pass through to another street.  However, in London, alleyways take on a life of their own.  They may include homes, shops, pubs, restaurants, and more.  They are also some of the prettiest places in … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Charming London Alleyways To Pass Through On Your Next Visit to London

THE TRIFORIUM: Behind Closed Doors at St Paul’s Cathedral

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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

Top Ten London: Top 10 London Buildings of Sir Christopher Wren

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Christopher Wren is quite possibly the most famous name in British architecture.  The structures across the United Kingdom that he designed are amongst the country’s most lauded and beautiful places.  Wren lived in interesting times, seeing the English Civil War, the Restoration, and the Great Fire of London.  The last of these events really elevated his career to legendary … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 London Buildings of Sir Christopher Wren

The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit

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Today, underground is a word that tends to conjure images of secrecy and exclusivity when it comes to places.  When it comes to London, the underground is synonymous with the city’s subterranean train service.  Of course, there is also the original meaning and applied to bars; it can mean any number of drinking establishments that can be found below the London streets.  The … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Atmospheric Subterranean London Bars To Visit

London Alert: The Tube Light Returns for a Limited Time – 5 New Signs Included!

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You've been waiting and we've been waiting and now the Tube Light is BACK for a limited time! We will be getting more Tube Lights in Late May 2019 but the manufacturer will have VERY LIMITED quantities, so we need to know exactly how many to order in advance, so we're going to take orders for ONE WEEK. The box now includes an additional FIVE signs: Arsenal / West Ham / … [Read more...] about London Alert: The Tube Light Returns for a Limited Time – 5 New Signs Included!

Laura’s London: Van Gogh and Britain – Landmark New Exhibtion at Tate Britain – Full Report

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This major exhibition at Tate Britain focuses on the time Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) spent in Britain between 1873 and 1876 when he was in his early twenties. He explored the (then) largest city in the world a decade before he became an artist. The exhibition is able to look at the artist's relationship with Britain and explores how Van Gogh was inspired by British art, … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Van Gogh and Britain – Landmark New Exhibtion at Tate Britain – Full Report

The Fiver – Five of the Highest Bars in London

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One of the best things to have with a good drink is a view.  Lots of places out there have rooftop bars or observation towers where one can get a cocktail, a pint, or a glass of wine and gaze out over the horizon.  London certainly has its share of high-altitude drinking establishments that rank amongst the highest in the UK and in Europe.  Whatever you’re in the mood for, each … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of the Highest Bars in London

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Whitechapel

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Whitechapel.  The very name of this London neighborhood brings up a single image to those who know it but have never been here—an image of murder.  Jack the Ripper and his murders of at least five prostitutes in the district has cast a historical stain on a part of London that is actually full of life.  Food, art, music, and history abound in Whitechapel.  Whatever you might be … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Whitechapel

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Harrow

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In the far reaches of Northwestern London, Harrow is a sprawling suburb of over 80,000 people.  And while you’d be forgiven for thinking that a suburb would be devoid of anything remotely interesting—that’s where you’re wrong.  Harrow actually has quite a lot of interesting places to visit including sport, tea shops, and possibly the most museums of any borough outside the … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Harrow

Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

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Craft beer is the wave of the future.  So many new breweries have sprung up in the last few years it feels as if they’re reproducing at the same speed as rabbits.  The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) estimates there are 125 craft breweries in the city spread out amongst the boroughs and neighborhoods.  With so many throughout Greater London, it can be hard to determine which ones … [Read more...] about Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

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Tea has been an important part of British culture since the 17th Century, and you’d be hard pressed to find a society on this side of the globe that loves it more.  While coffee houses preceded tea rooms in London, the culture quickly flipped when Thomas Twining opened the city’s first tea room in 1707.  Now you can find them in every borough and neighborhood.  While many offer … [Read more...] about Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

Springtime in London: Top Things to Do in London This Spring

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Spring appears to have sprung early in London this year. With the winter weather finally starting to thaw, spring is upon us, and that means an array of seasonal events in London.  The city is awash with festivals, sporting events, and ceremonies from March through May and there is enough variety to find something anyone will enjoy.  We have identified our top ten favorite … [Read more...] about Springtime in London: Top Things to Do in London This Spring

Laura’s London: Swinging London – A Lifestyle Revolution – New Exhibition Review

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The Fashion and Textile Museum, near London Bridge, has a new exhibition about 'Swinging London' for spring 2019. It looks at a truly innovative era in London's history, exploring the origins of Pop culture and how fashion, music and art were used to demand and effect societal change in the years that followed. London-born designers, Mary Quant and Terence Conran are now in … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Swinging London – A Lifestyle Revolution – New Exhibition Review

LAST CALL! Last Chance to Subscribe to the Londontopia Magazine for Issue #3

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We've sent Issue #3 of the Londontopia Magazine off to the printers and approved the proofs. We should have them soon. We've ordered 300 copies and have sold about 250 of them so far, so if you want to make sure to get a copy, you need to order as soon as possible. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE! What's in Issue #3 of the Londontopia Magazine? What’s On in London for Q1 … [Read more...] about LAST CALL! Last Chance to Subscribe to the Londontopia Magazine for Issue #3

Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do Along The River Thames

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Lifeblood to London, the River Thames enabled the earliest settlements to take place in prehistoric England, giving way to the Romans who would formally establish the city.  The Thames has unquestionably been a major player in London’s history over the years, providing the citizens with water, serving as a means of transport to goods and people, and even responsible for the … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Things to See and Do Along The River Thames

Built London: Top Ten Most Beautiful Victorian Buildings in London

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What we think of as “Victorian” architecture more refers to the period rather than a particular architectural style.  In fact, there were really several styles prevalent during the period that were revivals of previous designs:  Gothic, Italianate, Romanesque, Renaissance, Queen Anne, and Neoclassical.  Other methods and styles also developed as new materials came into … [Read more...] about Built London: Top Ten Most Beautiful Victorian Buildings in London

Top 10 London: Ten Places in London for the Perfect Selfie

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Simultaneously the most hated thing tourists do but also the most popular thing they actually do. Ever since cell phones got cameras, a self-shot (or “selfie”) photo is the norm for most of us.  Whether you want to capture a memory or blow up Instagram while you’re in London, the city certainly has plenty of excellent spots for a selfie.  Of course, there are places not to take … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Ten Places in London for the Perfect Selfie

Laura’s London: Take a First Look at the Beautiful Restored Painted Hall in Greenwich – Re-opening in March!

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Editor's Note: We have a real treat this week - Laura was given an exclusive tour of the newly restored Painted Hall in Greenwich before its re-opening so we're chuffed to bits that she's written up a huge report about it. Please consider subscribing to the Londontopia Magazine as it allows us to commission great articles like this. As reported here recently, The Painted … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Take a First Look at the Beautiful Restored Painted Hall in Greenwich – Re-opening in March!

Top Ten London: Top 10 Most Romantic Places in London

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Love is in the air when February rolls around, and London is a great place to experience it.  Most people might think that Paris would be the best place to spend Valentine’s Day, but the UK capital has a charm to rival its competition across the Channel.  If you’re in London on February 14th, you might want to consider one of the ten places below to spend the holiday with … [Read more...] about Top Ten London: Top 10 Most Romantic Places in London

New in London: Mariage Frères Elegant Tea Room and Museum is Now Open in Covent Garden – We Send Laura Porter to Check it Out!

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The world's most exclusive purveyor of luxury teas and France's oldest tea house, Mariage Frères, has opened its first UK tea emporium in Covent Garden. In addition to being a new tea house in London, it also contains a small museum dedicated to tea. I've been waiting for this one as it was supposed to open in September 2018 but, due to delays with its heritage building, … [Read more...] about New in London: Mariage Frères Elegant Tea Room and Museum is Now Open in Covent Garden – We Send Laura Porter to Check it Out!

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Small Concert Venues

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It’s good to go out and hear live music.  No matter whether it’s classical, rock, punk, rap, jazz, or whatever makes your ears ring, there’s nothing like catching the vibrations of the sound as it hits you.  While London certainly has some great larger music venues such as the O2 Arena, the Roundhouse, and Royal Albert Hall, sometimes it’s better to find a smaller place.  A … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Small Concert Venues

Top 10 London: Top Ten Georgian Buildings in London

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With the coming of the Hanoverian kings came a new style of architecture that bore their name—Georgian.  This style of design was defined by symmetrical features, front entries with crowns, pilasters, and transom windows, corner quoins, cornice dentils, and typically made of stone or brick.  These features had their roots in ancient Greek and Roman design and the name stuck … [Read more...] about Top 10 London: Top Ten Georgian Buildings in London

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

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