Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Issue #6 of the Anglotopia Magazine in 2017. Support great long from writing about UK Travel, Culture, and History by subscribing to the Anglotopia Print Magazine. As Christmas drew near in London in 1952, a strange phenomenon like something out of a Quatermass story became all too real […]
Laura’s London: New Exhibition Report – Charles II: Art and Power at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
After over a decade of austere Cromwellian rule, the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 led to a resurgence of the arts in England. The court of Charles II became the centre for the patronage of leading artists and the collecting of great works of art. This served not only as decoration for the royal […]
Laura’s London: Exploring London’s Newest Museum – The Secret Mail Rail and The Postal Museum
Mail Rail is London’s newest subterranean heritage attraction. Open from 4 September 2017; the disused postal railway tunnels have been brought back to life as a visitor ride for the first time in their 100 year history. This miniature railway was the world’s first driverless, electric railway and was never intended for passengers. While The […]
Riding in Black Taxis: A Personal History of a London Icon – London Long Read
In most major cities, taxis don’t really get much love or affection – that’s why the phone app Uber is so popular now. But then most cities aren’t like London—a city that loves its iconic black taxis and appreciates the work it takes to learn The Knowledge (the name for the training all London Cabbies […]
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 […]
Guest Long Read: A First Time Trip to Camden Market
As I mentioned in my previous article about Portobello Road, going to street markets has been a recent addition to my trips to the United Kingdom. In fact, if you consider that Convent Garden doesn’t count, it was only last year that I started my adventures this way. I was travelling with a group of […]
Guest Long Read: Top 10 Things to do in London with Teens and Tweens
If you are planning to visit London with older children, you might wonder where to begin. What sort of activities would appeal to teenagers and leave a lasting impression? While that might depend on your particular tastes, here is a somewhat diverse list of memorable activities that my teenagers and those in my extended family […]
Guest Long Read: Notting Hill – Portobello Road Market through the eyes of a foreigner
I have been to the United Kingdom several times and I always look forward to going back whenever I can. However, only last year did I have the chance of going to Portobello Road Market and it was an amazing experience. The following lines are about that experience and they reflect how a foreigner feels […]
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About the Iconic BT Tower You Might Not Know
Standing tall and proud in a city that is now surrounded by even taller skyscrapers, British Telecom Tower was a marvel of its time. Originally known as the Post Office Tower because it was commissioned by the General Post Office, it was built to handle the nation’s communications traffic which is why the midsection is […]
City of Footie – A Brief Guide to London’s Thirteen Football Clubs
It’s not unheard of for a larger city to have more than one professional football club (or soccer team, depending on your preference). In London, the city is so large and spread out and football is so popular that the Greater London area has no less than *thirteen* different professional league teams, though there are […]
London Taxis: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about London Taxis You Might Not Have Known
One of the iconic symbols of the city, London black cabs can be seen whizzing about the streets on a daily basis. Like the yellow cab in America, a London taxi carries with it a certain cultural significance. When Stephen Fry toured America, he did so in a black cab (and actually drives one in […]
London on Film: 10 Classic London Films Every Londonphile Should Watch – What’s Your Favorite?
Naturally, a city as old and grand as London becomes the subject of many films. It plays home to kings and queens, cops and gangsters, and everyday men and women. From views of the skyline to displays of the boroughs’ character, these are ten films that every Londonphile should watch. These films not only tell […]
The London Fiver: Spooky Edition – Five of the Creepiest Places in London You Can Visit
As Halloween approaches, our thoughts turn to the dark and macabre. Cemeteries become spookier, old houses creak louder, and the fall air is a bit chillier. London, of course, is not without its places to give you a fright. Whether a tourist attraction or a naturally creepy location, London is full of its own spooky […]
The London Fiver – Five Real Life London Filming Locations You Can Visit
With so many iconic locations and studios, it’s no surprise that London is a heavily-used place for filming. It’s ancient monuments and newer buildings can be anything from an alien world to a future dystopia or even actually the UK’s capital. Whatever it may be in a given film, many of these locations can be […]
Big Ben: 11 Interesting Facts and Figures about Elizabeth Tower – Big Ben’s Home – That You Probably Didn’t Know
When most people think of Big Ben, they think of the clock tower there at the Houses of Parliament. But the thing is, that’s *not* Big Ben. Big Ben is actually a nickname that refers to the Great Bell within the tower itself. Officially, the tower is referred to as Elizabeth Tower, connected to the […]
Haunted London – 10 London Ghosts and the Places They Purportedly Haunt
As the sun sets over London, its citizens aren’t the only ones who come out to liven up the streets. Many former Londoners who’ve shuffled off this mortal coil return to the city, haunting the places they knew in life. A city as old as this one certainly has its share of ghosts and they […]
Londontopia Exclusive: Laura Porter Explores the New Sherlock Holmes Exhibition at the Museum of London “The man who lived and will never die”
Sherlock Holmes is a London icon so it is fitting that this exhibition is at the Museum of London. ‘The man who lived and will never die’ is based on a similar observation made by Orson Welles in 1938. This is the most comprehensive exhibition about the world’s most famous fictional consulting detective in over […]
Unique London: Ten Unique London Shops To Pop Into on Your Next Trip
Stand aside Nabootique, the city of London has even stranger places to spend one’s money. From the questionable to the bizarre, there is a shop in London that caters to even the strangest of tastes (and no, I don’t mean dirty stuff). Have a look below and some of the most unique shops in London. […]
Catalog of Humanity: 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about the British Museum You Probably Didn’t Know
The British Museum is one of the world’s foremost repositories of historical artifacts. Sir Hans Sloane founded it in 1753 and filled it much of his own collection. The first museum opened in 1759 in Montague House, which sat on the current museum’s site. Have a look at some of interesting facts about the museum […]
Great London Pubs: Ten Interesting Pub Names and Their Fascinating Histories
Previously, we brought you ten pubs from around the United Kingdom that had some pretty odd names and how they came about them. Now we turn our attention to interesting pub names in London. Some are still open, while others have long since shut. Enjoy a look at some of oddest places to pull a […]
10 Interesting Facts about the British Houses of Parliament You Probably Didn’t Know
Parliament—the houses of power for the British Government. Making laws, debating important issues, and using code words such as “the right honourable member” for “that prat on the other side”. With the English Parliament around since the tenants-in-chief forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, and the British Parliament in existence since 1801, this […]
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!
